Q&A with Sofie Kelly

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I had cats growing up, but I don’t have a cat now because my husband is very allergic to them. I am lucky to have lots of cat friends, though. Peaches is a little white and ginger cat that lives across the street. She has this disdainful stare that I’ve given to Hercules. Bert and Ernie live around the corner. Ernie has exotic golden eyes, which turned into Owen’s eyes. Bert likes to squeeze into ridiculously small spaces—so does Hercules sometimes.

Pepper is a plus-sized tabby that lives at my favorite used bookstore. She seems to get a kick out of sneaking up on me. If cats can laugh, that’s what she does after she’s crept up behind me, licked my ankle, and made me jump half out of my skin. Owen definitely has her sense of humor.

I still miss George, who was a big, marmalade-colored tomcat that lived in my neighborhood. We became friends when the man he belonged to died. It turns out George liked to talk. We’d discuss everything from how the Red Sox were looking in spring training, to the cat’s opinion on what city council was up to. I’d say something and George would meow or murp his response. Sometimes he’d tip his head to one side, like he was thinking over what I’d just said. Other times he’d meow with great enthusiasm, as though he felt strongly about the subject. Kathleen talks to Owen and Hercules very much like I used to talk to George.

2)  Owen’s magical ability is turning invisible while Hercules’ talent is walking though walls. What magical powers do you think they wish they had in addition?

I think both cats sometimes wish they could talk. There are times that they seem to want Kathleen to understand something, but she doesn’t. On the other hand, if the cats could talk, there would be a lot less mystery in the stories.

3)  Who are your favorite authors? Do you have a favorite book or genre that you like reading the most?

I read everything—fiction and non-fiction, mystery, thriller, fantasy, paranormal, romance. I usually have several books going at once. I like Krista Davis’s Diva mysteries—and I’m not just saying that because she’s a friend. The late Judi McCoy’s dog-walker mysteries were wonderful. I’m sad that there won’t be any more of those books.

I’ve read every book set in Lynn Viehl’s Kyndred world and I love them all. A writer friend recently suggested Julia Spencer-Fleming’s books. I’m on the second in the series and I’m hooked.

4)  What kinds of hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?

In the summer time I like to swim. I run from the spring through the fall. I can’t exactly say I enjoy running. My favorite part is when I’ve finished. I love to cook, but I’m bad about sticking to a recipe.

I’m also a mixed media artist. A lot of my collage work at the moment involves putting images and poetry together.

5)  Can you give us a sneak peek at what you have in store for the next Magical Cats Mystery?

I think it’s time for Kathleen and Marcus to stop dancing around each other and decide if they’re going to be a couple or not. My friend, writer Laura Alden, says Marcus needs to loosen up a little, and she’s right. But Kathleen is also going to have to make some compromises. Two things to look forward to: we’re going to meet a new cat in Book 5 of the series that may have a magical skill. And Kathleen’s old boyfriend from Boston, Andrew, who got drunk and married a waitress from a 50s diner, is not completely out of the picture.

6)  Do you have a favorite word?

My favorite word at the moment is “behoove.” My daughter was reading Cue for Treason in her English class. The book is set in Shakespeare’s time and behoove was used quite a bit. “It would behoove you to clean your room,” just sounds nicer, for some reason.