By Liz – you know how much I love animals, so I love when my guests talk about the furbabies in their own books or lives! Karen Rose Smith, a fellow crazy cat lady (said with the most affection!) joins us today. Take it away, Karen!
I never expected to become a crazy cat lady! My husband and I cared for two cats for most of our marriage, but then the parade started. After we found a baby tuxedo in a bush, Zoie Joy, they kept coming. Two yellow tabbies, Lancelot and Sunnybud, appeared a year apart and lived in and out of our patio room. They had been socialized at some point because they wanted to be petted and cuddled. After we handled them, we changed clothes and used antibacterial wipes. Both eventually succumbed to FIV complications.
Sunnybud had brought a pregnant female with him. Malnourished, she would nap in our patio room on my jacket. We took her to the vet, brought her inside and she delivered her kittens under my desk. We named her Halo because of the yellow ring around her tail. We kept her and her first born, Miss Paddington. A year later, feral two year old cats, Bonnie & Clyde, came calling. They are still feral and have “an apartment” in our basement. Older now, they venture outside for a few morning hours then return inside for the rest of the day and night.
In 2018, a friend called that she found six kittens under a porch. Didn’t I want to visit them? We adopted two. Zander and Freya, long hair babies, were bonded so we had to keep them both, right? We now have four inside cats and Bonnie and Clyde in the basement. All of them, both living with us and gone, have lodged themselves forever in our hearts. From caring for them, I have learned patience I never thought I had and compassion for these furry beings whose souls shine in their eyes.
My first cozy mystery series, Caprice De Luca Home Stager, spotlighted Caprice’s desire to find homes for strays. This was before cats began appearing in my life. Maybe I manifested them because I needed a mission. My Daisy’s Tea Garden series also includes two adopted felines. In my new Tomes & Tea series, Jazzi Swanson my sleuth, finds a kitten—Zander. A friend finds his sister Freya and they are reunited. The kittens romp in her apartment above the bookstore and tea bar. Zander is pictured on the cover of Murder Marks The Page.
Cats have always played an important role in my life. After back surgery early in my writing career, I was flat on my back on a hospital bed in our family room for four years. I remember a cat we parented then would nestle on my shoulder for hours. Diagnosed with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, I could have lost interest in moving around. But after we took in a pregnant Halo, we began feeding the cat crew four times a day. Our cat family keeps me moving while I care for them and follow Bonnie & Clyde outside to garden and stay active.
My first book was published in 1992. For over thirty years writing has been therapy and a creative outlet in addition to being a job. I’m excited about this new series because my sleuth Jazzi is twenty-five, a younger character than I’ve been writing about, and the setting is a lake resort town rather than the Susquehanna Valley where I set my past two cozy series. Shaking up my comfort zone enhances my writing and tickles my curiosity along with my sleuth’s. I’m hoping my readers enjoy my new series as much as I’m enjoying creating it. And I suspect any novels I write in the future will include cats.
Readers: When you choose a cozy mystery to read, how important is it for the book to include animals? One random commenter will be chosen to win $10 Amazon gift card and bookmark!
About Karen:
USA Today Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith’s Murder Marks The Page is her 110th published novel. She writes cozy mysteries, romances and women’s fiction. One of her romances was aired as a TV movie on the UP tv network. She is recently working on her Tomes & Tea cozy series, a spin-off from her Daisy’s Tea Garden mysteries.
About Murder Marks the Page:
The first in a new series spun off from the Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries, Daisy’s daughter Jazzi Swanson has opened her own book and tea shop, providing a variety of literature and flavored beverages for a rural New York community. But Jazzi has not only inherited her mother’s gift for brewing tasty drinks—she also has a nose for sniffing out murder.
New York State’s Belltower Landing is a lakeside resort town where tourists spend their summer days boating, floating, and paddle-boarding on the water. It’s also the perfect place to cuddle up with a good book and enjoy a cup of tea, courtesy of Tomes & Tea. Owned and operated by Jazzi and her best friend Dawn Fernsby, the book bar is beloved by vacationers and locals alike, but browsers grabbing brews in the off season aren’t enough to help them make ends meet.
Between brainstorming social media publicity ideas for the shop and fending off flirtatious men she has no interest in or time for, Jazzi befriends a woman named Brie who has recently made contact with her biological father. As an adopted child herself, Jazzi is more than happy to give Brie emotional support, especially as her wealthy father’s wife and children see her as a threat.
But Brie is also looking to start a family of her own. Unfortunately, all the potential princes she’s met through a dating app turn out to be frogs. Then, when Brie is found murdered, Jazzi finds herself playing detective. With a list of suspects ranging from jealous half-siblings to less-than-suitable suitors, Jazzi may need to consult some of her shop’s bestselling mysteries to help her uncover a killer . . .
The Wickeds 
Karen, welcome to the blog from a fellow cat caretaker! Your new series sounds fabulous. I’ve had a cat in all my series except one, when I created an allergic protagonist who has an African gray parrot instead. Your Zander looks like our departed Preston, who was a Norwegian Forest cat.
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It’s a pleasure to be here! Always look forward to chatting with animal lovers and mystery readers.
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Bless you for all that you do for kitties!! I am a cat lover as well, and do appreciate having pets included in the books I read. Always seems to make the characters come more alive to me, I guess more relatable. Your book with Jazzi (which is also a great name for a cat!) sounds wonderful!
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I like her name for a cat too!
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Karen, congrats on your new series.
In answer to your question, it is not really important to me that a mystery I’m reading have a pet involved in the story. HOWEVER, when an animal is part of said story, I do want them to be interesting. Not distracting like being involved in solving the murder or anything but when they show up on the page, they provide a welcome addition to what’s going on.
I’m more of a dog person but I have noticed that most of the series I do read seem to have cats in them. I suppose cats are easier to write since they can and do seem to be better suited to being on their own for long stretches while their “owner” is out on the case.
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Since I’m around 6 cats 24 hours a day, they are easy for me to add. I believe adding animals to the plot is like adding kids. You have to monitor them closely! My Daisy’s Tea Garden series also included a cream golden retriever in the last few books. My sleuth in my Caprice De Luca series found homes for stray animals. To start, she had a cocker spaniel and a cat.
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Karen – Congratulations on the new series. Cozies don’t have to have pets; however, a pet on a cover certainly catches my eye. If the pet is well drawn it will bring me back to the series. You might like the YouTube channel Our French Chateau as Amanda is passionate about rescuing and there are quite a few cats (as well as a couple dogs and two donkeys) that feature.
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I’ll have to check that out. I often peek in on TikTok cat videos!
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It’s fun to have animals in stories but I’m fine with them in it or not.
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Love books with cats & dogs. When friend & I walk in the morning i carry a small bag kf cat food and feed the feral cats.
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Thanks for feeding the feral cats. My heart always goes out to them.
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Thanks for commenting. Good to know.
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Readers enjoy whatever cozies have to offer. Thanks for commenting.
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I enjoy having animals in my cozy mystery.
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Animals add so much warmth and flavor. 😻
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I really like animals in my cozy mysteries, but they’re not an absolute neccessity.
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A well crafted plot will carry the story.
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I love animal characters in books. I will read books that don’t have them, but I always feel like something’s missing. Congratulations on your new series and thank you for rescuing so many fur babies. I’ve rescued several cats over the years and they are always worth it.
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I’ve found they rescue me! They always appear in my life when I need them.
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Congrats on the new series. I think animals of any kind bring interest to a story.
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I believe animals show aspects of the characters’ personalities like kids do.
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Congratulations on the new book…I’m looking forward to reading it. I read some series that don’t have pets in them, but prefer books with animals. I think they enhance the story.
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Hi, Christi—animals make me smile and that’s why I include them. 😻
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Thank you for taking care of all those beautiful cats! They say not to judge a book by it’s cover, but that’s exactly what I seem to do. If there is a cute picture of a cat or dog (or once it was a bunny!) it goes right on my list of books to read. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com
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Covers definitely matter! I look twice when an animal is included. My Zander is on the cover of Murder Marks The Page.
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Congrats on the new series! As someone who was president of a cat rescue, and has had in-house cats ranging from two to eight, all rescues, I get it! I enjoy critters in books. They bring so much to the table.
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Cat rescue has taught me so many things including patience. I admire anyone involved in it.
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Congratulations on the book. When animals are in a book it gives me great pleasure. I love dogs and cats equally and they add so much to the story.
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Animals give my characters depth. They also bond characters together. My sleuth Jazzi and her roommate Dawn agree to adopt the kittens together.
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Animals are so special. When they are written into a book it is always wonderful. I have rescued dogs and cats and love them dearly.
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Animal lovers who rescue are special folks. 🥰
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Having animal in a cozy is one of the main things that draws me to a book. They help the owner solve the murder and provide comic relief.
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I definitely include animals for the humor. And the cozy warmth.
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To me the animals are important characters the same as people are. I’m not saying that I don’t or won’t read a book that doesn’t include pets, but I enjoy thrones that do have them more.
Congratulations on your new series Karen. I’m sure it will be a great success.
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Animal lovers look for the humor and comfort pets can give. Thanks so much for your congrats. This series takes me in a new direction and I’m loving it.
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That was me as anonymous and I don’t know how that happened. Anyway, animals make it more real for me
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Your new book looks so awesome. Books with cats and other animals are always fun to read. I pick a book based on the story line and who the author is.
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So happy if you choose my books!
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CONGRATULATIONS on your latest cozy MURDER MARKS THE PAGE!!!! How wonderful to know more about your love of kitties, Karen Rose! I follow you on FB, but I did not relize you had several fur babies 🙂 I am a cat person myself, thogh at the moment we are “kittyless”…our 3 year old Egyptian Mau OSIRIS had to be put down due to cancer, and our 28 year old black shorthair INKY also had to be put down due to age… when she stopped eating, our vet told us to say goodbye…very sad, as you can imagine. As to your question about cozies and animals? A 100% DEFINITELY! Animals bring another cozy element into the cozy mysteries that I read almost exclusively. I look foewrd to continuing to read your brilliant and fun mysteries. Thank you so much for the hours and hours of readin & listening (we have many of your books in audio form from Chirp Books. JOY! Luis at ole dot travel
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I’m so sorry about Inky and Osiris. It’s so hard to say good bye. We had to do that with our Halo this year. I love them as long as I can. I hope you keep enjoying my novels.
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INKY was only 18, not 28…sorry🙏
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I enjoy books with animal characters. They add to the story.
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When I think of all the books I’ve read in my lifetime, I enjoy the ones with animals the most!
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kudos to you for rescuing animals. I have been privileged to have been owned by several rescued dogs.
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It is a privilege. They give so much love. And they communicate in a way our hearts need.
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Congratulations on this new series! “Murder Marks the Page” was already on my TBR list and I’m super excited at the prospect of reading and reviewing it.
As an animal lover, one who in my deepest moment (the death of our daughter) turned to working with animals as a way to keep from sinking to a point of no return, I love animals of all sorts in stories. I have to admit that seeing an animal on the cover makes me more apt to pick the book up for further examination. Do love the way an author can work them into the story – often in the main plot or even as a background accent.
Thank you for the opportunity to win such a wonderful giveaway!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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My cats have all appeared when I needed them. Zoie on my parents anniversary after they passed. Halo on Mother’s Day when I missed her most. Zander and Freya when physical limitations were taking me down. They all keep me moving and smiling.
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My cats have appeared when I’ve needed them most. Zoie appeared in a bush on my parents anniversary. Halo appeared on a Mother’s Day when I was missing her. Zander and Freya came when I was down from physical problems. They all make me smile and keep me moving!
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I always enjoy the appearance of an animal in a book! Cats are my favorites in particular. If there is no animal, it’s not a dealbreaker, but animals are ALWAYS a plus.
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I think animals add that extra spark.
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Welcome to the blog and congratulations on the new series!
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Thank you! I enjoy interacting with readers.
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Karen, You and your husband are so awesome for rescuing all those precious fur babies. I love reading books with animals in them, as long as the animals are loved, well taken care of, nothing bad happens to them, and they are not put in dangerous situations.
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Exactly! I only want to read books with happy pets who find good homes.
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I love when the books contain animals in them!!!
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All my cozies house cats and dogs!
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Karen, I think you know I am a crazy cat lady! At one point I had 4 of my own,(3 that had been feral), one that had been my son’s came in, another that had been a friend’s then we took in 2 “temporarily” for a coworker and afterward the neighbor’s cat moved in because a former dogfriend ran him off because she had had puppies, and didn’t want the cat near them. That was many years ago; we are down to 2; the friend’s cat who is no longer young and another who showed up, spayed, declawed and starving. We are just softies for cats. I dare to guess these will not be the last.
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These furry babies steal our hearts!
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I think animals add another layer of warmth to a book. I don’t have to have the inclusion of animals, but do love animals. A friend recently adopted a variety of ragdoll cat. Hers looks similar to a Siamese with striking blue eyes. I enjoyed seeing the pictures of your various cats.
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Randall cats are so adorable. Our vet says Zander is part Maine coon. He’s a big boy and sort of chirps rather than meows.
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Love cats in my cozies! I’m glad Sander & Freya have roles in your new book. Hope there are more adventures ahead for Jazzi. Congrats on the new series!
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There are more adventures for Jazzi. I’m editing book 2–Booked For Revenge.
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Congratulations on your new series. I love pets featured in the cozies that I read. I’m definitely a cat person, I have two 🐈, Hamilton and Jefferson. My life would be so boring without them.
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I do agree that my life would be boring without them. They guard me while I write, they wake me up and put me to bed.
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Animals add to the story.
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I try to include their most endearing habits!
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I love cozy mysteries with pets in them. They add warmth and fun to the stories. Congrats on the new series!
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Thanks for the congrats. This is my first hardcover cozy and I’m excited to bring Jazzi to readers. ❤️
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Hi, Mady here from southcoast of Massachusetts. In the books that I read and write, I like the animals to be “characters” even if it is to focus on the traits of the humans, for good or bad.
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I enjoy cozies in general but truly like reading those with animals – cats & dogs mostly. I’ve had both in my life. Dogs first, miniature schnauzers. When my left home & took the dog with him, I rescued a kitten. Black birds were chasing it. Turned out to be a female had Van coloring and hid under the bathroom cabinet (gap in the baseboard). Couldn’t find her for several days but knew she was in the apartment because food was disappearing & litter box was being used. My son named her CC for chicken cat. At the vet, they wrote her name as CiCi (like the Pizza) so that’s what it became. She was with me for 18+ years. Since, there’s been a steady influx of rescues. At one point I had 5. The closest I’ve been to Cat Lady. I’m currently have only Webster (15). So nowadays my cats are in my cozies I’m reading.
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The pets that enter our lives, surely enrich us. I like the name CiCi! Our vet always comments on Zoie Joy’s middle name. I always say Zoie brought me joy from the day we found her. Give Webster a scratch from me. 😻
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I enjoy reading cozy mysteries with animals. It adds a touch of warmth & fun to the story.
Thanks so much for the chance!!
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Thanks for commenting!
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Thank you so much for featuring my pal, Karen Rose Smith. She’s an amazing person and her books are a delight!
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Mary—thanks for visiting!
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Animals are nice, but not necessary.
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I hope you enjoy every cozy you read.
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I enjoy having animals in my cozies, but it is not a necessity. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
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Thanks for stopping by to comment.
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When looking at new titles, if there is a cat on the cover I’ll look over those first – always! I’ll read a cozy without a pet but my all time favorite cozies have a cat or two 🙂
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Dianne Casey is the winner of the $10 Amazon gift card and bookmark. Dianne, an email is coming to you. Thanks to everyone who added comments and participated in this blog. 😻
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I have many authors that I love and follow. but pets in the cozies make a big difference to me. I want a pet in them. Our house is not whole without our dog. When they die, I don’t want to be in the house. When we get a new pet, the house comes alive again. We never lose the one we lost but they help us to heal. Our house hosts ghost dogs that help our next dog help us. I really mean that about ghost dogs. I would love your book. Thank you for the opportunity. Cats are good and thank you for rescuing so many.
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Hi Karen – I love your tea series! It’s not critical for animals to be included but they are always one of my favorite characters in any cozy so I really love when a pet or animals are in the story. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com
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I enjoy animals in stories since I love animals so much myself it just makes for a much lighter read. Joann Hunter
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