Most people who know me well would probably say that I am obsessed with and love all cats. That’s not exactly true. I like all animals, but reserve my love for the two cats who live with me and are my family.

Love doesn’t always look like the portrayals we see on TV and the movies, or read about in books. I think we find love in unusual places, and often, when we least expect it. Like when you walk down an alley in Fayette. That sounds a bit sketchy now that I reread it, but I did actually meet a lovely person several years ago as I was wandering down Crib Street on my way to work.

I have spent a lot of time contemplating which qualities and traits to include in the books as Murray’s finest.  Persistence rose to the top of the list, likely because my mom pounded it into my head every day as a child.

But I’ve also learned a lot about persistence as an adult from my first boss and mentor at the college where I teach music.  Doc Shroyer is what you would call a true Renaissance man…and likely a genius.  It was kind of scary to contemplate what was going on in that mind of his.

In my first blog post, I explained in a less than personal manner why I started writing the “Murray” books. It’s a cute story and goes over well in general conversation. Today, I will share the more personal version.

I am new to the world of children’s picture books and fell into it quite accidentally. Our tuxedo cat, Murray, went missing one week, which I can honestly say was one of the worst times of my life. He did come home eventually (which made a great children’s book), but in the meantime my husband and I were extremely sad and worried. I began to think a lot about why I love Murray so much and what characteristics make him so interesting. One night during that terrible week, I was lying in bed (halfway between being awake and asleep) and wrote the first Murray book in my head.