The Cats Who've Come To Stay

THE CATS WHO'VE COME TO STAY
Robyn Anne Tompkins

I read somewhere that WHILE DOGS HAVE MASTERS, CATS HAVE STAFF! I imagine this is a testament to their maturity rather than dogs who are like playful children. Who says cats can't talk. Mine speak to me all the time. They tell of their desires, their constant hunger for snacks, a warm spot to nap, especially my lap. I have two cats. I have always had at least one. The only reason I can tolerate some television commercials are those starring cats. All this is said because you have been clever enough to discern that there are multitudes of people like myself who love cats. Therefore, your story will appeal to young as well as older people.

I too live in Colorado with the Rocky Mountains in my backyard. Like the sea, they are ever changing and like a grand cathedral, very peaceful and soothing to the soul. Now, you have captured that feeling. It was a privilege to read the writing you produced with The Cats Who've Come to Stay. Let us fervently hope they will always be there for us and your story will charm everyone who reads it.

Backing your book with pleasure.

Sincerely,

Mary Enck
A King in Time

Dear Robyn
Ok i was only on the site seconds and I had no idea about it all. I looked back at my comment on your book and feel ashamed i did not say more.
I just loved this read, and your completely original story. I would like more up on site please as i feel sure others would also. You have created a different world here, and one that I dont want to stop. this could well be a series if you were to write and continue writing. You have crafted a really good long pitch and it sells your book for sure, and when this hits my local store as it will i will buy it. I found the last comment however I have not found the backing so i will back it again just to make sure it registers.
if you have already backed my book thank you so much, if not would you find the time, if not that is OK also
the VERY best of luck
Denise
The Letter

Hi Robyn, An enticing fantasy. Shadow’s ancient knowledge connected with the setting is imaginative and yet there’s historical possibility to some of it. The speaking mountain cat and the way that the narrator can speak to animals is entrancing for young readers. Sticking to archeological evidence is probably a good direction however with ice ages destroying that, anything is possible. I enjoyed it. Shelved – Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

RobyneAnne:

You describe your adventure in the great Rockies with passion. Shadow was able to help connect you with a past about which you were familiar--the very pillar of your existence. I first experienced the beauty of Utah mounties, which I understand is an extension of the Rockies, over a decade ago and fell in love. Had no idea mountains were so captivating. I have never been to Colorado, but now it will be a place at the top of my list. Thanks for sharing it with me. (Shelved)

Ida L. (Silent Storm)

THE CATS WHO CAME TO STAY.

Your book fascinates me, an adult. Shadow is lovely and i think all of this work should be a movie. It would be smashing. Cats are mysterious forces of nature.

A pleasure to read this indeed.

backed

THE CATS WHO CAME TO STAY
I believe cats are secretly planning to take over the world – so I really enjoyed reading this. I think it’s a book schoolagers will enjoy reading as well. Should supply a large audience for you. I’m adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

A very delightful book. Children will love it.
Best wishes.
Dawn,
My Friends and Me

I read an article from a well-published author in which we said if you dismiss the importance of animals in our lives you do so at your peril. I have to admit when I first had a look before deciding whether to back it I wasn’t sure if the characters were cats (such is the characters you built). Will run this past the kids soon. I suspect they will like it just as much as I did. – Good luck!

Good morning Robyn, I did back your book Best of luck. A look at 'The Letter' and giving your "comments and "backing " would really be appreciated . BEST OF LUCK
Denise (The Letter)

Robyn, I love your cover and your pitch is so well crafted. it took me to want to read the book. I have not read all , however what i have read place your characters in my head vividly. I love children's books most of all. and of course you include the Rocky Mountains which is where my book is set. CONGRATS with your work BACKED earlier, but i was still reading so did not comment.

Dear Robyn --

You weave the lore of the Rockies into the story of Anna, Shadow and their other friends with terrific charm. We would have loved (and would still) if our cats could talk to us, and while they lead us on many adventures, we don't learn quite as much as Anna does. We predict that children (and adults too) will love The Cats Who've Come to Stay for the delightful ease with which you educate and entertain us. Backed with pleasure. -- Delhui, The Long Black Veil

Hello Robyn. This is a wonderful, enchanting and mystic tale. I loved Shadow's character and the way he told the story of the mountains. They say write about what you know, and you certainly know your cats. Backed and best of luck with this! mariecapri (Cosmic Linx)

Children will surely LOVE this book.
Backed with pleasure, Barry

This made for a welcome break! Very entertaining and educational read. few minor typos etc but did not detract from very readable prose. Will pop over to check out the pictures.
Jim Darcy
The Firelord's Crown

What you have posted so far is well written and your use of short paragraphs keeps your story flowing nicely. Your use of imagery is excellent and your highly descriptive writing style ensures that your finely crafted story will have a broad appeal with the children's audience. Backed.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

Utterly enchanting! There are a few editing issues to straighten out (punctuation etc) but this is minor. Backed!

Karen
The Kid: A True Story of Cocaine, Corruption, Deceit and Betrayal

Entertaining book. Backed.

Dear Robyn Anne, I got so excited when I saw that you had backed, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not." :) Thanks so very much. :) Since I have already "backed" your book, I will put your book on my "watchlist." Could you please take a moment to "back" my completed unedited memoir version? "Tell Me True Love Stories," which at the end tells of my illness now & 6th abusive marriage. I'd be ever so grateful. :) Thank you. :) Love, Susie :)
authonomy quotes: "Every time you place a book on your bookshelf, your recommendation pushes the book up the rankings. And while that book sits on your bookshelf, your reputation as a talent spotter increases depending on how well that book performs.
When you back a book, it only improves the ranking of that book, not yours. However, the author whose book you are backing may decide to back your book also, in which case yes, your ranking would be improved...authonomy.

What a beautiful cover you have - such talent - an artist and a writer! As a librarian, I try to stay away from cats since it's such a stereotype - but this is a lovely story! BACKED -Elizabeth Wolfe (Memories of Glory)

Robyn Anne, I like the original idea of your cats story and the descriptions of the Rockies which often have the quality of poetry. I find there are very few children or adults who don't like animal stories. I've backed this one.
Ann Mynard (Windshadow)

Years ago an orange cat appeared out of nowhere and adopted my house. I took him for a ride, about a mile, and dropped him off, but as the song says, 'the cat came back.' So I took him for another ride, about two miles. The next day he was back. So we named him Boomerang. I love the comic-serious tone of your story. My only critique is to watch the number of times you begin sentences with a pronoun: I, he or we. That causes some sameness in sentence structure. But this is a wonderful tale, and I'm happy to back it.
Craig
The Job

The pitch drew me to read the story, and the story is so imaginative I kept "turning" pages. Cats keep showing up at my house, as well, and have done for a long time. Very clever story and backed with pleasure.

Amy
Love Match

I live in the Rockies so this really came to life for me. I could picture your settings just by looking outside. You've written something young readers will love, it's very imaginative and fun. Always love getting inside the heads of animals! Wish a little tweaking (listed by better reviewers than I below) this will be an exceptional piece of work. Unique always catches my eye.

Missy
Mark of Eternity

I have to be honest, I would like you to consider updating your pitch. Some of it doesn't seem to flow well - 'I feel, a story that needs telling, inspirational tale...' Now just read that back. Idt doesn't seem to make much sense. That aside, I thought your prose was quite beautiful at times - 'a strikingly handsome people with alert features.' Lovely. Anyway, I wish you all the best with this. As a fellow writer for children, I know how hard it is to pitch your language for your audience.
Carl
The Time Hunters

Dear Robyn, I love your fun adventure :) - it's a shame we can't see your pictures, too. Hope you write more books. :) Before I began to read your book, I was prepared by your recap/pitch,which was very well done. :) Your story is good because you create interest by having short paragraphs & lots of dialogue, which makes me want to keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. I'm "backing" your book: When you back a book, it only improves the ranking of that book, not yours. However, the author whose book you are backing may decide to back your book also, in which case yes, your ranking would be improved...authonomy. :) Please "back" my TWO memoir books, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" & my completed memoir unedited version? "Tell Me True Love Stories," which tells at the end, my illness now & 6th abusive marriage." Thanks, Susie :)
p.s. Remember: Every time you place a book on your bookshelf, your recommendation pushes the book up the rankings. And while that book sits on your bookshelf, your reputation as a talent spotter increases depending on how well that book performs. :)

Different, imaginative and great for children/ Good Luck! E.Loraine Royal Blood Chronicles book one

Yep, wish all animals could talk, what tales they could tell us!!

Happily shelved

Melxx
Impeding Justice

Lovely child's tone of voice immediately in the prose. Watch out for adverbs with nondescript verbs.

Tim Chambers
Moonbeam Highway: With Apologies to Miguel de Cervantes.

This has moments of pure poetry, but I'm not sure Shadow convinces me as a talking cat. The voice is not extraordinary enough.
BADD

Backed with pleasure, Sana

A lovely idea, well written. There does seem to be some more work needed, good all the same.
SU DAN (Seasons)

Robyn, I've read some excellent stuff on here. I'm actually here because of your comments on my work and they stuck and finally, I got round to taking a look at yours. And yours is not a disappointment (could I understate that more? I doubt it!)

This is my kind of writing. I do not believe that poetic prose can be surpassed - no matter what critics or market-driven toadies might suggest. As with all such brilliantly crafted writing yours lulls the reader into a different world. All the vulgar familiarity melts away. There has not been a book here yet that has brought a tear to my eye - until now. Your writing has restored my faith in what we are trying to achieve in our work and that is recognised by some - but not really so many.

I could and I would read writing like this all day. I am saddened but not surprised that your work has not received many more plaudits on authonomy thus far.

Maybe this is not the best story on authonomy but it is right up there in its visceral beauty.

Now, you understand, I've had to make some concessions to the culture on here and therefore cultivate a strategy of tsr elevation - this means that my shelf experiences pressure. I do not want you to think that a delay in shelving means anything but a delay. You will be on it soon and recommended on my bio and by word of mouth even sooner.

If I were a publisher I would publish your book without hesitation. It's great to see from your blog that your work is available on Amazon and you're getting your book out there, where it belongs!

Best Wishes

Alexander

What an unusual and delightful story. Anna is a child we can relate to at once, especially as she is your first person narrator, which always works to make a character more immediate. You hint delicately about Anna's reluctance to be at home, telling us little. Later we learn that the child suffers from asthma, but we wonder if there is still more to learn. Your descriptions of the Rockies are beautiful. You fill your pages with colour, from the blue of the flowers where Anna choses to bury her treasures, to the' blues and purples, gold and yellows and reds,' which the wool of the Wooly beasts is dyed, and the colours of the cats themselves. This is a joy to read, with an underlying hint of sadness. Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

Lovely characters - very well written. Well done

Backed

Kev

Ms Tompkins, I've read the first chapter and could follow the story fairly well. It might also need another round of revision. One comment I have concerns a missing comma. In my opinion, you should change 'As he approached the sun whisked off his shinny coat....' to 'As he approached, the sun whisked off his shinny coat...' Also I'm not sure if instead of 'shinny' you mean 'sheeny' or 'shiny.' I'll back this first chapter on the premise that it is reflective of the remaining chapters.

Regards,

Joffrey

Dear Robyn Anne Tompkins,

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I grew up alongside a litter of strays, whose mother had moved to them to our porch into the shelter of a pile of water jugs. The stray kittens became tame, and the most gentle and loving was a three-legged cat named Pegleg who could move fast by hopping.

I appreciate your active verbs, such as “light whisked off his coat”. Here the cats can speak, surprising me of their love of the mountains, (for which I also have a soft spot). He goes on to give a great description of a sage-covered mountainside, and a maiden with long flowing sleeves. Your writing is dreamlike, and I have fun imaging going on adventures with a cat guide, lounging in the sun. I particularly enjoyed your description of sandstone eroded in a claw mark pattern. I believe a quotation mark went missing before “I’ve watched over you”.

Bravo! Backed.

Best wishes,
Alan Marling

I'm going to encourage my daughter to read this. She's busy with finals the next couple of weeks (she's in high school) but I think she'd appreciate your story :)

You took me bacnk to my own childhood there, only my cats didn't talk . . . I always thought that was such a shame but I really enjoyed this.
Backed & wishing you well with it.

Grace - Suitcase of Memories

An ethereal and truly lovely tale. Both timeless and still contemporary in its' themes. Engaging and deeply interesting, this book for children manages mature subjects well nonetheless; as such, it isn't 'niche' at all, and is good reading for all ages. Great work! :)

Very,very,very well written. Excellent.

Backed.
AR Latif
The Mr.Terry Mysteries

Hi Robyn,
I love cats. I have two hogging the sofa and the fire right now and can't imagine living anywhere without a cat to share it with.

And I love this - shelved.

There are occaisional formating issues in your text. The last paragraph in #2 is a good example, but these are minor matters.

Best of luck with this.

John Booth (Shaddowdon)

Mmm... A talking cat... reminds me of "The Pharaoh's Cat" on this site... very readable and enjoyable. Like TS Eliot's cats, each cat has its own character. Fascinating.
Shelved
Frank

Am travelling at moment, like the small bit i have read. Am backing I will come back to read when I get back.
Helena
A Load of rubbish.

Hi, Robyn. What a nice book. Very enjoyable. I think you've done a great job on this. Lots of things going on, good characters, believable dialog and the beginning was excellent. I find nothing obvious to crit, looks very well done. On my shelf. Best of luck with it.

John Harold McCoy - Bramwell Valley

The pitch needs help, It needs to pull the reader in and say, oh my I need to read this. Currrently it is...well to be blunt..boring. I think you are capable of much more. Actually, judging by your writing, I know you are capable of more.
You are a spinner of tales, a weaver of words, it is evident in the strong narrative, endearing characters and spot on dialogue.
I love the rocky mountains. LOVE THEM. Glad to see a novel situated there.
Backed
T.L Tyson=Seeking Eleanor

hi
i think there is more to this story than meets the eye and t hat the underlying message/lesson may not be visible to all. the story works on both levels but you do need to check your punctuation and tighten up the grammar a bit. shelved

Judith (Peaceweaver) (The Forest Dwellers)

An enjoyable read was had, thanks. Hope you don’t mind, but I think your pitch needs some working, as it didn’t really grab me. The sample, however, was charming, though perhaps for more the older YA than the younger YA ? There are several punctuation errors dotted around; you might want to have another read through (sorry to be fussy, but that’s what we’re here for, no?).

Backed, as this certainly has a lot of potential. Okay, I am biased, as I love stories that give animals voices, but this is an imaginative wee tale that gets us thinking and looking at our pets much more inquisitively.

Tony (If Only I Could Talk – a Canine Adventure)

First things first: what a delightful cover - congratulations. I like cats and I like mountains, so your story didn't need much selling and I've really enjoyed this series of episodic tales set in the Rockies and featuring characters, mostly cats of course, who speak with such great wisdom. There's more than meets they here and I'm having difficulty finding a category in which to place this book. It works well enough as a tale for children, but there's plenty here for an adult audience to enjoy.
There are errors scattered around, not detrimental to the story but a good edit will be needed at some stage and I won't get into that here apart from suggesting an easy fix of the formatting in your pitch - try and repair that dropped line after "quest" as the pitch is such an important area.
Backed for sheer enjoyment and promise.
Jared.

The idea of talking cats who contain great wisdom and spirituallity goes back to the ancient Egyptians (and I suggest you check out authonomist Maria Luisa Lang's book, "The Pharoah's Cat," for a humorous and somewhat poignant take on this. Your book is different, more like an American take on cats, what with the Rockies and all.

I like the whole idea of cats with deep knowledge (I have two myself), and the spirituality in your tale. There is something about your story, however, that seems a bit too light, something about the way the cat talks when he first appears to her and talks about the first Katz and the Keanutes. This strikes me, I hope you will forgive my using this word, as a bit silly. As such, I think it takes away from your overall tale -- unless this is the tone you want to strike (in which case, I would agree with the commenter below who sees it more as a YA tale, which is fine).

But this is just my opinion and it may be, as I read more, that I will find deeper meaning in the book. For that reason and to encourage you, I am backing it.

The Cats Who've Come to Stay has an interesting storyline set against a wonderful Rocky Mountains background, which gets you off to a flying start with this book. The opening takes us into a fantasy world of talking cats and the spirits of the Keanutes, which is well written and makes easy reading. This should appeal to older children - my 8 year old granddaughter would probably struggle with the language and the concepts - so I'd suggest a YA category. For that audience I'd back this.