Franklin, Budding Editing Cat
Franklin took a brief interest in editing recently. Taking a rare glance at the screen, he was pleased to see himself in the website banner. As a budding Editing Cat, he expressed approval.
Franklin notices my Catwoods book on the Borgo Publishing site, a great place to get the book.
Then we looked at the lovely Borgo Publishing site, where my book Catwoods, Stories and Studies of Our Feline Companions, is for sale.
Frankie quibbling, against the beautiful backdrop of Borgo Publishing
“Impressive! But now that I’m up close I see that the black cat on the cover is not me, just who is that Othercat!?”
“That’s The Minx . . .”
“What the … ! Phsssst!”
The Borgo Publishing Catwoods page
It’s really quite a beautiful site, and, it’s kinetic! Getting the book at the Borgo Publishing Catwoods page will be the prettiest online buying experience ever!
Nope, says Franklin
“Nope, I’m just not gonna look at that,” says Franklin, “And I won’t be editing that second book unless I’m on the cover.”
“Um …” (The second volume is supposed to have our late Little Buddy aka Good Old Boy.)
Frankie’s got his mind made up
“Seriously, I’m just not looking, not until my own picture’s on a book cover.”
Franklin being a cat, he has territorial rivalries; for humans the Catwoods book page at the Borgo Publishing Catwoods site is a feast for the eyes.
Lagniappe:
Shelley last year
Our friend’s cat sweet Shelley!
“Phssssst,” says Franklin, ” Othercat!”
To see what friends who have read Catwoods are saying, go to my Leah T. Alford Amazon Author Page.
A few words from me about Catwoods the book:
It’s mainly about cats but also has forest and creek descriptions and history. I go for rhythm when composing word structures. I like to break the rules and have fun with language, otherwise, why bother? I kept the outmoded lavish writing quirks of some earlier decades when writing about those years. For more recent times, I employed the sparser style of today. I evolved to include more of the cadence, structure, and expressions of humans actually talking, not just in dialogue, but as the narrator. The book’s mood ranges from light and conversational to completely goofy to seriously scholarly, to feeling sad about history, and life events. Cats, too, have their own ways of being lighthearted, or studious, or gloomy. There are blissful, giddy moments, and somber moments as we look back. This is the way real life is – humans, and animals, having moods and phases.
News from the Cat Writers’ Association! They have an annual contest that is open to members and also non-members who are writing as well as creating works about cats in other media. Work must have been published in 2019. The deadline to enter is February 14th. You can read about it here: Cat Writers Association Communications Contest
Stay tuned, we will have more pictures of creek, woods, and cats, cats, cats. First we have to do some work on the computer so I can store more pictures, so that could delay my next posts.
I live near a creek in a forest, in close observation and awe of the wildlife outside, as well as the domestic animals of the household. I'm writer Leah T. Alford. I was "catwoods" on this site Catwoods Porch Party, Itchmo Forums for Cats and Dogs, and a few other sites that may or may not exist now. I have now published a book, and the publisher wanted it called Catwoods. I never expected the book title to be the same as my username, so for now I've changed the username to Leah. For more info, click the "About" button above.
Catwoods Porch Party 
Hehehe, Proper Sweeties! Franklin and Shelley Sweeties make me happy! Keep up the good work by sharing their pictures Leah! Paws Up! Ashraf
I’m glad you enjoy Franklin and Shelley Ashraf! I have a lot of fun taking their pictures! Meows!
I love the eyes!! LOL. so sweet!
Franklin and I thank you, Pam! We appreciate it!
We lost our last kitty last year in March. She was almost 19 – Hazel Jane ❤️. She was the best!
Awww, I’m sorry to hear you lost your kitty, Pam. I know how hard it is, I miss so many. Nineteen is a good long life but it’s never enough. Wishing you comfort in good memories.
Thank u! It is truly never enough. 💕
Good luck with your book sales, Leah. I know it’s a labor of love and, unfortunately, like so many other creative endeavors, very competitive.
Thanks very much for the good wishes, Candace! As you say it is a labor of love and I did have great fun writing the books!
Your cat photographs beautifully. I love black cats!
Franklin and I thank you, annabelletroy! I adore black cats too!
Franklin,
The Tribe agrees, your handsome face should grace the cover of a book. What was your staff thinking?! We do have to say though, your book page on Borgo Publishing is fantastic!
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Alberto
LOL Franklin very much likes to see this, Alberto! Franklin and I both thank you and send purrs!
Was doing a bit of catch up reading and saw you are now in the Catwriters Association and that the University published a link to your book. Congrats! (comments were closed on that post as it’s was last year but wanted to sneak one in so here we are)
Thank you MNL, I appreciate it!
Shelly is a naughty Tortie, like Sparta Puss xx
Oh yes, they are sisters in Tortitude! xo ❤
laughing, I really enjoyed the conversation with Franklin although it does sound like his budding career as cat editor may be rather shortlived unless he gets on a cover soon. You might have to sweeten up his salary with catnip and a two-hour lunch (long enough for a good catnap after brunch.)
I’m happy you laughed MNL! And ahahahaha I laughed too when I read your ideas on how to coax Franklin into being more productive in the editing department! A strange thing, Franklin hasn’t really looked at the screen since I took those pictures. He will still sit with me but he keeps his head down and just sleeps, and never sits up in front of the screen or looks at it.
Awww, he’s still jealous. He’ll get over it. Just wait and see it. His curiosity will get the better of him.
LOL!
With those eyes, Franklin should have been on the cover.
Franklin does have the biggest brightest eyes . . . but the household cat story part of the current Vol. 1 ends in early 2005, long before Franklin was born, while the study part is timeless. (He has informed me he considers the story time blip to be meaningless.) Vol. 2 extends to present day so there’s still a chance there.
Thanks for your continuing interest in Elm Drive Images
My pleasure Dan, I enjoy seeing your posts!
I’m sure Franklin is a good help, and so cute too 😸Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend🐾😽💞
Franklin and I thank you Binky, yes Franklin is helping! Purrs and all the best going out to you Binky!
Hahaha. Franklin should be on the cover. He’s quite a looker. Black cats are always so pretty to me. Thanks for sharing!
Franklin thanks you for the support, Parker! I too think black cats are gorgeous!
We really need to keep the peace here so how about writing another book and put Franklin’s picture on the cover or save yourself time and put both cats on the cover.
Thanks for following my site.
Ahahaha good idea Crystal, Although Vol. 2 is done and already in the works, maybe a third book, or maybe a collage of all the cats for cover on Vol. 2.
My pleasure following your site!
Hi Leah:
Keep spreading the word! Perhaps you’ll find a marketing scheme to promote sales. I’m led to believe that’s the most productive. Some are not too costly. Good luck with your sales!
I’d love to send you a copy of my books if you’d send me a mailing address to:
oconnor@logical.net
They are quite dog-centric, so maybe better not to tell the cats.
Seek peace,
Paz
Paz, I would be delighted to read your books and I thank you so much for your offer! I like dogs, too. I am terrible about responding to emails these days as I’m always in a crunch between the to-do list and declining energies. I also never set up to do reviews like I’ve been meaning to. Maybe one day I can accomplish that. We have a few ideas we will try regarding my book when other stuff is taken care of. BTW I hear there is also a Dog Writers’ Association if you are interested.
Hi, Leah!
So sorry I’m just now getting around to your website. I have no idea, no clue where January and most of February have gone to 🙂 Furthermore, 2020 — what a weird start to a year, so much news and worldly drama that I’m ashamed to say sucked me into its nasty web. But, alas, I’m pulling myself out (though still worrying about the Corona virus some).
So good to see these photos of handsome Franklin and learning that your book is doing well! Great news! And I do hope you decided to enter the Cat Writers Association contest — I think your work would be perfect for that honorable organization!
Hope you and your husband are weathering winter. Though I know you’re not in the north (where we’re currently getting snow), I also know your neck of the woods has had some major storms. Stay safe!
Hugs to you, Leah. Always so nice to read your lovely words and gaze at your amazing photos!
Deb
Hi Deb, I’ve been sort of suspended while time whirls by myself! And, the events are just too weird as you say. The Corona virus is certainly a legitimate worry. What a time to reduce funding to the CDC! We try to take precautions during flu season anyway and don’t go out much as we both have health problems that could be aggravated by catching URI’s. Best that everyone is extra careful now!
Deb, my book’s not doing that well in terms of sales, although I have gotten positive responses from people who have read it. That’s why I keep doing shameless self-promotion here, since I have no idea how to market a book and my activity capacity is decreasing. Anyway I did enter a few of the Cat Writers’ Association contests, and thanks so much for the encouraging words!
I did have some fun with these photos, tried out the HDR on the phone camera since it was the easiest to reach when Franklin was in the right spot. Do you know, since I took those pictures he has completely changed his routine and while he sits with me, he won’t be in front of the computer screen where I can photograph him, he will just keep his head down and sleep! Funny funny kitty!
Be careful in the snow! we have had some stormy days, groan, and now it’s cold for a short spell and then, it warms up and storms again!
Cheers and best regards, Leah
Awhh….so sweet. My pleasure🤗
Awhh…that cat looks very adorable😍
Franklin and I thank you, yaasotaa!
Franklyn is simply adorable. He makes me miss my Holly Goligthly, also a black beauty with golden eyes and a white collar ….
Franklin and I thank you, diespringerin! Your Holly Golightly sounds like she was a beautiful kitty!
Oh she had this Audrey Hepburn elegance and grace… 🙏🌸 Have a wonderful day!!!
Franklin has such hypnotic eyes!
Franklin and I thank you, iamthesunking! We think his eyes are pretty amazing too!
Franklin…you’re going to be even more famous soon!
FACE Foundation Franklin loves to hear that!
Hehehe, really amusing and I adore Franklin and Shelley. Franklin looks like when my Megan Sweetie was 3 year old and Shelley looks like my Yuki Sweetie. I think Shelley is also Calico cat like my Yuki. They only give birth to female kittens. Great post Leah and spiritedly motivating as always. Paws Up! Ashraf
Good to laugh with you Ashraf, I like it when my attempts at humor get laughs! Thank you! I saw the resemblance of Franklin and Shelley to your kitties Megan and Yuki! Meows! Leah
The internet is not good for Franklin! Better for him to turn his attention elsewhere! What big eyes he has!
Ahahaha you may be right Greg, Franklin is full of himself and perhaps does not need to know he’s not the first cat we’ve ever lived with! His eyes are indeed, so big!
I love your cover and those cute photos of Franklin. What a handsome young man he is! His girlfriend is rather pretty too. ❤️
Kerry, thanks, I’m glad you like the cover and I appreciate your kind words! ❤ Franklin and Shelley appreciate it too!
Congratulations, Leah! I love seeing your and Franklin’s success! Do carry on!
❤ Lauren
Lauren, thank you, we appreciate your kind words and your support! ❤ We are trying, it's not always easy as we age!
Leah, aging is not easy for anyone.
True for sure Lauren, and I’ve usually preferred to write light-hearted posts rather than to write at length about how limited in activity I’ve been for 27 years.
Delightful! I’ve had “editing” assistance from cats who plop down on my hands trying to write/type … more editing my attention than what I’m working on … not helpful! Franklin takes his editing SERIOUSLY it seems.
Thank you Jazz! LOL, I too have had those unhelpful cats at hand and also, reclining on the keyboard while I work! They think they are helping … Franklin has indeed had a few really serious editing moments!
I love those photos of Franklin. 🙂
Thank you Lynette, I’m happy you like them!
Wow. Those are really great, expressive shots of Franklin learning kitty editing. Which reminded me that years ago I had an app on the computer that was developed by a programmer who said his cat walked across his keyboard and managed to reek all kinds of havoc. So he developed a program that ran in the background and detected garbled keystrokes, which stopped input from the keyboard and popped up a message that read “Cat-like typing detected!” Once you selected “OK” the program released the keyboard and you could go back to normal typing. I thought it was a great program.
That cat typing detector is indeed a great program and we all really need it! I’m glad you like the pictures. They were taken with the phone, I just grabbed it because it’s unusual to have Franklin in front of the screen and I needed something fast. It was on hdr which I rarely use. I figured out that’s why he has that strange white blur by his ear in the first pic. I think it’s the white tuft of fur in his ear that you can see in other pics. While the camera was taking the 3 quick hdr pics either he moved his ear into another position, or I didn’t keep the phone camera still enough, or both.
Phones are great for quick shots. I use mine a lot for street photos and kitty shots. I keep it on HDR so I can deal with extreme lighting better. Your HDR worked well to get Franklin and detail on the screen. Often the screen just totally washes out.
I did get a lot of those washed out screen pics! And I worked so fast I don’t really know what happened in the ones that show the screen. I think the angle was just different. Franklin rarely sits up in front of the screen, he usually just hops up, keeps his head down and goes right into nap-mode.
Catnaps happen quickly.
Cats are so jealous. But I think he’ll get over it!
Indeed they are, arlingwoman. I had heard that all my life long before I had cats of my own. They’ve always shown me it’s true!
Franklin will get over it, eventually. But I am sure he will get his face on the cover of a future book. He is such a handsome boy! 🙂
Franklin and I thank you, Lavinia! I agree Franklin would make a great cover cat, for sure!
I love those photos of Franklin. He has beautiful eyes.
Charles, Franklin and I thank you so much! I think his eyes are striking too! They are so large!
Mew mew mew Franklin mee compurrmisess with LadyMew.
An mee thinkss a kitty collage iss a grate idea. You shuud have a book all ’bout you with yore foto on front Franklin….wuud bee pawsum!
Oh my BellaDharma, Franklin really likes your idea about a book about Franklin, and only Franklin, lol!
Maybe you can be on the cover of book 3- tell your mom to get writing. I entered the CWA contest for my children’s book about Emmy.
Ahahaha Ellen, Franklin will not hesitate to tell me to do a third book, but I’m not so sure at this point if I will even be able put the finishing touches on the second. I’m glad you entered the contest! I hope you win, good luck!
Hi Leah. I took a look at the Borgo website. I think you’re in good hands.
Neil Scheinin
Thanks for checking out the Borgo site, Neil! I agree, I think they’re knowledgeable and since they are local, I know they are reliable.
Sounds like Franklin has some definite ideas about improvements to your book, 🙂
Hahaha Frankie always knows what he’s about and once his mind is set on certain things, he won’t be persuaded otherwise!
Mew mew mew Franklin put yore paw down! No ‘other cat’ ….well maybee not next book as it iss b’out one of Miss Leah’ss cat’ss. 3rd book HAS to have YORE foto on it…this tech-neek iss called compurrmise 😉
Lookin guud inn yore fotoss’!!
**purrsss** BellaDharma
Ahahaha you are right, BellaDharma, we should compurrmise . . . each book has many kitties, though, although just one goes on the cover . . . and there’s about 20 cats over the years, when you add my late Mom’s cats. So, maybe the next cover should have pictures of all those cats . . . Franklin thanks you for your support and kind words!
Meow meow compurrmise all wayss werkss here at THE Purrfect Pad. Mee meowss what mee wantss an LadyMew compurrmisess an does what mee wantss Miss Leah1!! Mew mew mew….
**purrsss** an ❤ to franklin from mee, BellaDharma
Kitties always know best, BellaDharma, Franklin agrees heartily with your opinion and sends ❤ in return!
Deep rumbly ***purrsss*** back to you Franklin,,,,,