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