Back from the Frankfurt Book Fair. I promise to post pics and a short wrap-up as soon as I get all caught up on everything that came in while I was away and all the new requests received at the fair. In the meantime, a wonderful Halloween-themed interview with PJ Schnyder. Comment below for a chance to win a copy of her new book, Hunting Kat!
With Halloween right around the corner I find myself fascinated by Black Cat superstitions.
There’s black cats and good fortune:
In Scotland, there’s a belief that a black kitten on the porch meant future happiness and riches. And while having a black cat cross one’s path is considered bad luck in America, in some European countries it could be good OR bad. If the black cat crosses from left to right, it portends good luck, while crossing in the other direction brings the opposite.
Then there’s black cats and health:
A black cat lying on a sick bed will bring death. Stroking a black cat ensures health and wealth. Cats suck the breath from babies. (I remember a creepy movie where the cat was actually protecting a boy from a troll stealing the child’s breath.)
And what about black cats aboard ship?
In certain fishing communities, fishermen’s wives keep cats indoors to protect their men from peril while they’re away at sea. Also, there’s a sailor superstition that throwing a cat overboard would cause the ship to go down in a storm.
And here’s a personal favorite:
If a cat leaps over a corpse, the dead body will reanimate as a vampire.
So with all these superstitions, will a black cat lying in my lap as I write bring good word count? (Maybe…) Will a black cat lying on my keyboard mean I won’t get any words? (Seems likely unless I move the cat.)
I can say, though, that including a black cat in my sci-fi romance turned out pretty awesome and I don’t regret it. 😉
In Hunting Kat, Kaitlyn Darah shape shifts into a black panther. And those superstitions about black cats might pop up to haunt her someday.
As a mercenary, Kat Darah doesn’t have to pass for a normal human. On the edge of the solar system, she’s just another biped. Most of the time.
Nearing the end of his military tour, Lt. Christopher Rygard debates the idea of hanging up his uniform for good. Looking for answers at the bottom of a glass of scotch, he meets Kat.
One shared night of mutual desire seems harmless. But when their tryst is interrupted by attackers hunting Rygard, Kat must reveal her other form, the predator beneath the human façade. Together they embark on a dangerous mission—a race against time to meet the enemy’s demands, while trying to deny the passion between them.
Rygard is faced with a terrible choice in the face of duty: Report the existence of a human turned shape-shifter. Or forget he ever met her.
You can purchase Hunting Kat in eBook format at Carina Press and Amazon.com.
You can purchase Hunting Kat in Audio book format at Audible.com.
Visit PJ on her blog: http://pjschnyder.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pjschnyder
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pjschnyder
Lucienne Diver's Drivel 
I had a black cat for 16 years and he sat on my lap while I perched my laptop precariously on the edges of my knees and typed. He never stopped me from writing, or brought me bad luck. Huge congrats on the release of HUNTING KAT; it sounds like a great book.
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Thanks Janice. My ninja kitty is actually an orange tabby and he sits in my lap as I write at my desk. I’m ok with that – but when he gets on the keyboard or sits on the mouse, we have negotiations. 😛
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Love the superstition about the black cat reanimating a corpse as a vampire! (And is that Book Matrix shot an actual picture of the author? Because it’s made of awesome.)
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Hi Alyssa, yup that’s me. The photographer for Book Matrix Media was incredible!
Thanks for stopping by. 😀
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As someone called Kat, I find this book extremely interesting. Plus, I’m a registered shape-shifter at the Supernatural Registration Authority (www.monsterlicenses.com).
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Very interesting! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
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I have a cat named Fred, who is grey. Does that count?? He’s the least scary cat ever. I also have a dog named Fred. Gets a little confusing at my house. The dog is black. Does that count? He’s a rescue, and I couldn’t really change his name just because we already have a Fred in the house. :0: Love this time of year.
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Both my Big Dog and Little Dog are rescues. Big Dog came with his name: Kaiser von Romhaus.
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Love this-interesting lore about cats. And I remember that movie with the troll-Cat’s Eye-an adaptation of Stephen King short stories. That one in particular seriously freaked me out as a kid! I am a black cat lover too. I have owned two in the past and they were wonderful, loving pets. Thanks for the great post:)
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Yes! The movie is burned into my memory. Gah.
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I loved the various black cat superstitions! On the opposite side of the spectrum, I have always had white cats. Is it a subliminal fear of black cats, I wonder?
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The superstitions were fun to research. Hmm, I rescued a pure white kitten once. His eventual owner named him Othello. 😛
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Poor black cats have an undeserved bad rep. I’m quite partial to them. Your book sounds great – you sold me at shifter 🙂
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Yay! I hope you enjoy my story.
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Maybe I’m shallow … but my first comment has to be “how gorgeous is that cover?” Hot!
Black cat superstitions are fascinating, but I’m like you. I like black cats. So sensible when you wear a lot of black because cats will insist on shedding on you just as you dash out the door.
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I love the cover for Hunting Kat! I’m glad you like it too. 😉
While I love my ninja kitty, an orange tabby, I do have a soft spot for black cats. And really, so much easier when you wear a lot of black. I agree.
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So… what does it mean if you’re walking around and pass right next to a black cat that won’t pay any attention to you or even look your direction? Because it was broad daylight and its still the creepiest black cat encounter I’ve ever had.
On a different note, Hunting Kat was a lot of fun, I hear there are two more books in the works – is it true?! I can hardly wait!
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LOL. Good questions.
The one I can answer for sure is that I have two more books outlined for the Triton Experiment series. I’m glad you enjoyed Hunting Kat. 😀
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Some of those superstitions were familiar to me while others were new. Thanks for the info! Personally, I think ALL cats are good luck. Though there are times I’d like to turn mine into a frog, lol.
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“Will a black cat lying on my keyboard mean I won’t get any words? (Seems likely unless I move the cat.)” I like a woman with a sense of humour. 😉
Also, I’ve read sci-fi with a romance element, but never sci-fi romance… If it’s written with that sense of humour I think I’d enjoy it…
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I have a huge black cat…big burly boy who thinks he can boss me around most days…I remind him who’s boss though 😉
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LOL, great blog piece. I have a black cat who’s a little softy, he comes up and talks to you and does the usual cat tricks with computers (you know the ones. I’m more important that whats on that stupid box.)
In addition to him, I have a Tuxedo Cat (a posh name for a black and white), a half abysian, half begalese, a Selkirk Rex and a cat thats full moggy. All have thier own quirks, and to be honest I love them all to pieces. I’ve never understood why people don’t like certain colours and it seems a shame as for me, as long as they have character which you allow to flourish, its a gift that keeps giving.
If you ever need a laugh perhaps look up Simon’s Cat. Theres online animation and its usually pretty spot on.
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Thank you, everyone, for stopping by! 🙂
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And we have a Winner! Congrats to KimberlyFDR (@kimberlyFDR).
Please email me at pjschnyder (at) gmail (dot) com with the email address you’d like your free ecopy of Hunting Kat to go to and your preferred format (PDF or epub).
Thank you again to everyone for stopping by and leaving so many great comments. ❤
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Thank you so much! I look forward to reading this.
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