Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Spotlight/Book Giveaway/Guest Post: How To Paint A Cat by Rebecca M. Hale






About the Book

Genre: Cozy Mystery, #5 in A Cats and Curios Mystery Series
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
Release Date: March 2014

Synopsis from Goodreads...

San Francisco isn’t the biggest city in the country, but it feels pretty vast when you’re canvassing its neighborhoods looking for clues to your missing uncle’s hidden location. Aided by my two cats, Rupert and Isabella, I try to follow Uncle Oscar’s painted clues on a trail that leads from Coit Tower’s famous murals through San Francisco’s New Deal art—all while hoping my uncle’s sudden disappearance is unrelated to the murdered intern at City Hall.

Just when it seems our search has hit a wall, we receive some surprising help from beyond. But will it be enough to save us from our own brushes with death? Here’s hoping we don’t paint ourselves into a corner…

Author Guest Post


HOW TO PAINT A CAT: Author Rebecca M. Hale conducts a rare interview with Isabella the Cat

HOW TO PAINT A CAT is the fifth book in the Cats and Curios mystery series featuring fictional versions of my two cats Rupert and Isabella. In the books, the cats don’t talk – at least, not out loud – but they’ve agreed to make an exception for this month’s blog tour. Today, I bring you excerpts from an interview with Isabella the Cat.

RMH: Greetings, Isabella. First off, there’s been some speculation over the years. Exactly what kind of cats are you and your brother Rupert?

Isabella sits still and silently ponders the question. After a moment, she tilts her head and issues a one-word answer.

Mrao.

RMH: Um, okay. That’s not exactly the response I was looking for, but then I’m probably not the first person to have difficulty securing cooperation from a cat. To clarify, Rupert and Isabella are flamepoint Siamese. That means they have a Siamese color scheme with “points” on their ears and tail. Instead of a seal gray or a chocolate color, their points are a burnt orange shade. It’s thought to be the result of breeding between a Siamese and an orange tabby. They can have long or short hair, and their body type can be sleek and angular (like Isabella’s) or plump and bulky (like Rupert’s), depending on which ancestor they take after.

Isabella lifts her head in an agreeing gesture.

Mrao.

RMH: To be honest, I’d never seen a flamepoint before I met Rupert and Issy. I thought I knew the basics about cats…

Isabella reaches out a paw and taps her person’s wrist.

Mrao.

RMH: But I was wrong.

Seemingly satisfied, Isabella resumes her seated position.

RMH: So, let’s move on to the books. The fictional Rupert and Isabella live in Jackson Square, a historic district in downtown San Francisco, with their person (a woman who looks a lot like me). They spend most of their time in the Green Vase antique shop, which their person inherited from her Uncle Oscar. Each book captures an aspect of San Francisco history, typically in the form of a treasure hunt. The more recent stories have also included a murder mystery. Generally, the niece tries to follow a set of clues…

Isabella cuts in sharply. Mrao.

RMH: Ahem. Let me correct that. In most instances, Isabella and Rupert lead their person down a trail of clues…

Isabella’s white whiskers twitch with disapproval.

Mrao.

RMH: Okay. In pretty much every case, Isabella guides her hapless and frequently dense person to the treasure and/or murderer…

Isabella paws the air instructively.

Mrao.

RMH: … while Rupert lazes about and eats all of the cat food.

Isabella assumes a regal lion stance, lying with her dainty front paws stretched out in front of her body.

Mrao.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!

How would you like to win a paperback copy of How To Paint A Cat by Rebecca M. Hale? Thanks to Berkley, I have one paperback to giveaway to one lucky winner.

Just a few simple rules...

1) You must fill out the rafflecopter form below.

2) Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old

3) US Residents Only

4) For an one extra entry: Tweet about this giveaway.

5) For an one extra entry: Leave a comment for the author.

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

The giveaway begins on March 11th (midnight est) and ends on March 18th (midnight est).

The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. The winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. I will announce the winner here on my blog.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

28 comments:

  1. Fun guest post. :D I think I read the first book in this series, the premise sounds familiar. We had several Siamese cats when I was growing up and they were great. Maybe some day I'll have another one.

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  2. Interesting and fun post :)
    I should so live in the US so I could enter

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  3. I'm not sure how I missed this series before....

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  4. Love the cat chat! I would love to read one of the Cat Mysteries. Can they be read out of order? When I saw the post on FB it brought to mind a Rehab Addict segment where the host is staining a bathroom vanity. She checks on the drying and notices the homeowner's cat walked on the vanity while it dried! Cracked me up!

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  5. This Cat Mystery sounds cativating. Love it. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. We are cat people at our house so this series is extra fun for me to read

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  7. How have I missed this series, it sounds great. Nice interview Isabella, I'm sold. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  8. Bet this cat could paint a good picture with his tail!

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  9. Fun guest post today! The book has a lovely cover and it sounds like a super cozy.

    I will add this giveaway to my blog's sidebar to share with my readers. Thanks for hosting, Yvonne.

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  10. Fun post.

    http://drusbookmusing.com

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  11. I do have the other books in this series. Have not had the chance to read the last one, I have as of yet. I love cats.

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  12. New author to me. Would love to win

    penelope223(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  13. I like this series, need to catch up on it.

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  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. I've been reading this series since the beginning. Would love to win the latest! Thanks for a great interview & giveaway chance.

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  16. I'm a huge fan of Rebecca's books and own two from this series... I'd love to win this one to add to my collection.

    Thank you for hosting this delightful giveaway.

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  17. This is one series I would love to read!

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  18. You did a great job with a difficult interview subject.
    I know I have to have every book in this series.

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  19. I love mysteries with cats. This sounds like a great book!

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  20. I love mysteries with cats. This sounds like a great book!

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  21. Sounds like a very interesting read. I really like the book's setting and storyline. Thanks for having the giveaway.

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  22. this series is in my TBR pile.........
    cannot wait to start it!!
    thank you for the giveaway!!

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  23. i need to read this! thank you for the chance to win :)

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  24. I love these kinds of books. I am going to go back and get the first one and read them all in sequence. But I need this one!!!
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

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  25. I'm really enjoying this series---and Mrao.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  26. Put your book on my tbr list - thanks for the review

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  27. This was a fun post! I have the first book in the series and this is one on my TBR...I'd love to read!

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