The newest mystery in Clea Simon's Witch Cats of Cambridge series has been released. She's answering our questions about the book and writing it.
How would you describe the plot of the book?
Becca Colwin has set herself up as a witch detective (following the events of “A Spell of Murder”), believing that she can use her magical powers for good. What she doesn’t know is that it’s her three cats who really have the magical powers, and whe she gets two clients who seem to have it out for each other, it’s all the sister felines can do to keep their person out of trouble.
Writers usually hate writing book summaries. Will you share with us your real book blurb or one you wish you could have used?
Ha! How about this? THREE CATS, ONE WOMAN: WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
What excited you most about writing this story?
I really loved the opportunity to develop these characters. This is the second in the series (though, plot-wise, it works as a standalone). But the first book was so involved with setting up the characters and the somewhat paranormal concept, I didn’t get to explore the characters as I would have liked. In this book, I not only got to make some of the less likable characters (Clara’s littermates) more fully developed, I really got to explore Becca’s friendship with Maddy. In many ways, Maddy is the voice of reason – and maybe the voice of the reader – but she loves Becca and supports her, and I believe Becca comes to see that.
Who is your favorite character and why?
I go back and forth: Clara, the calico and the youngest of the cats, is undoubtedly the heroine. She’s a fearless little beast and devoted to her person. But her sisters really come through for her in this second “Witch Cats of Cambridge” mystery. And, of course, I relate to the clueless (but well-meaning) human, Becca.
Were there indispensable people without whom you couldn’t have written the book?
Oh my, I have several early readers, including my husband Jon, for whom these characters are as real as they are to me. Their enthusiasm keeps me going. At one point, Clara is at risk, and Jon told me he was truly concerned for her! I had to keep writing to get her out of there safely.
The author of more than two dozen cozy/amateur sleuth mysteries featuring cats, three nonfiction books, and one punk rock urban noir, World Enough (a Massachusetts Book Award “must read”), Clea Simon lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her husband and one cat. She can be reached at www.cleasimon.com.