I am about to start undertaking my second book. The working title right now is just Skittles.
I actually am torn. I want to progress to the book idea of not being afraid (which would be
my third book) because I have numerous ideas for it, and I really like how it visually is
being produced in my mind; however, I want to finish Skittles. I started this book a long
time ago. You can read why I stopped it here:
http://www.jameswritinganddesign.com/wordpress/what-you-dont-know-can-hurt-you/
I think I said in the past that I had three pages left, which was true. They were the main
pages for Skittles to appear, and I didn’t like my Skittles pictures. Who is Skittles you
are probably wondering by now?
Skittles was a cat I had when growing up. He was a unique cat. I can’t imagine any one
having a cat like Skittles. He was utterly funny, and he acted like….Skittles.
Ok, that’s not helpful; I realize that as I write it. I just can’t unpack his personality
adequately. I will try bullet points for you.
- He chased pigs.
- He tried to catch rattlesnakes.
- He lay in the nesting boxes of chickens…over the freshly laid eggs, and he would
swat the chickens out of their boxes when he wanted a nesting box for himself. - He chased cows.
- He took naps in the motors of vehicles (found this out the hard way when we drove a
few miles to the neighbors and he plopped out. Then we started checking the
vehicles before we cranked them. ) - He got caught in the dryer and was spun around until someone figured out it was
making such a racket and got him out. - He could jump straight up in the air close to six feet when he got scared.
- He followed the dogs around on expeditions.
- He could be vindictive, and if you scolded him he would get even with you.
He truly showed me why the saying of a cat has nine lives existed. He was actually run
over one time by a car. We rushed him to the vet. The vet said he was very “lucky”
an inch either way, and he would have been killed.
Skittles…I just shake my head when I think of him. He was the best cat.
I could tell you so many stories about him.
Anyways…
The book I am working on is about him with a bigger life lesson. I always felt Skittles wanted
to be something else. It made sense with the things he was always doing or trying. He was an
unhappy, must prove myself, type of guy. Because of all the past events, his story just
swirls within my mind. I really want to share it, so this is why I am bumping it back to the
top of my list of books to make.
The problem has been to find a cat that looks like Skittles. I, unfortunately, only have
one picture of him.
A few months ago, an acquaintance was showcasing some pictures. He had some snapshots
of an ally cat that looks remarkably like Skittles. I wrote him and explained my project, and he
was more than willing to help. It seems rather fitting that the ally cat is in Asia. It reinforces
how unique this cat is to me.
Onward with the next book.
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