Allie’s story, “My Fair Kitten,” appears in Rescued Volume 2: The Healing Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes.
As Lisa:
Tell me a little bit about your background, both as a writer and a cat lover.
As an avid reader, I’ve always loved the concept of story. I ended up as a visual storyteller by profession, but the written word has always been magical to me. I wrote my first novel in the early 1990s, and was first published in 2003.
Most of my published work is non-fiction and is rooted in my love for cats, which began at an early age. One of the most difficult adjustments I had when attending college was the fact they wouldn’t allow cats in my dorm!
What inspired you to submit to this anthology?
Allie has such a strong personality, and I felt her story would be compelling. I also wanted to take the writing style from a different genre and see if I could make it work when writing from the POV of a cat.
Tell me a little bit about your relationship with the cat in your story — from your own (human) perspective.
Allie is actually my husband’s cat, not mine. She made that perfectly clear from the moment we arrived at the shelter! She has affection for me, but her bond is clearly with him. I admire her independent, sassy personality.
Why did you choose this particular rescue organization to support?
Wayside Waifs took Allie in. And it was at Wayside I first began volunteering to help homeless cats.
If you had written the story from your own perspective, how would it have been different?
It would have been much easier to write! When writing from a human point of view, you can rely on commonalities we all, as humans, understand. Things like cars, for example. How would a cat describe such a device? Remaining true to a feline POV takes work to keep the voice consistent.
What’s your next writing project that you’re working on?
I’m doing a bit of editing at the moment, reviewing manuscripts from two other authors and helping them find errors in continuity and voice. It’s a different kind of contribution to the literary world than writing, but it has its own rewards.
As Allie:
How did you feel when your story was chosen to be included in the anthology?
Well, it’s about time. I knew I was destined for greatness. I was just biding my time until the female realized it.
Tell me about your relationship with the human who submitted your story and helped you write it.
She is the human partner to my man. I adore him! He’s the one I chose, and, well, since he loves her I have come to see she has a few redeeming qualities, as well. For one, she has these lovely opposable thumbs that can pop the tops off cans of delectable goodness. Although I must say, she doesn’t do it often enough.
Is there an event or anecdote that was left out of the story that, looking back, you wish you had put in?
She did neglect to mention the time Jackson Galaxy called to tell me how much he admired me. Come to think of it, she never did hand me the telephone during that call….
What do you think of the other cats in the book? Which one do you admire or look up to the most?
Well, Ashton is a personal friend. We sisters must stand together in solidarity against those pesky younger siblings.
There are so many famous cats, in the news, in movies, and on the internet. Which one is your favorite, and why?
Oh my! I would choose Audrey Hepburn of course. Wait… you said cats? Umm… is the Fancy Feast cat with the crystal bowl and the to-die-for collar one of them?
If a movie were made of your life, which actor do you think should be cast to play you?
I have it on good authority that, even though Miss Hepburn has gone to the Rainbow Bridge, CGI technology is so advanced that I could choose her to play me. And so I will.
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