My feline characters share one thing in common. It doesn’t matter a “lick” to them that my stories are sweet paranormal romances where magical and Ordinary humans find their HEA.
Not one bit. No. No. Each story is all about them. In this caterview, I’m with a cat-acter who brings a unique twist to my tales. Alika is a feline with a story that’s as intriguing as mysterious. Fortunately, I snagged this interview before his latest adventure—accompanying Rhea into space.
Readers of BEWITCHING ANDIE and RHEA’S CONUNDRUM have already met the handsome, ebony-colored male with an enigmatic background. And a distinctly Scottish accent. His grand entrance occurred in BEWITCHING ANDIE where he appeared from the ether in a swirl of light and sparkles.
The fanfare of his and Rhea’s dramatic arrival was lost on Rhea’s daughter, Andie Tanner. Andie had enough on her plate as a single mother raising her emerging wizard son without dealing with her flighty mother, an unconventional witch in her own right.
Alika, with his unique abilities, built a bridge between mother and daughter right before he and Rhea departed again. (Read more about his adventures in Beyond Baga Shores.) Let’s see what he says about all this, shall we? I should warn you he’s a selective mind reader, so guard your thoughts carefully.
Enjoy this Whisker Wisdom Caterview with Alika!
ME: Alika, tell us about yourself and how you met Rhea Tanner.
ALIKA (sitting back on his tall and stately haunches, he slightly nods): Indeed, I shall. I have been a part of your mother’s life for ages, for as you know, a day feels like a year with the dear woman. Before I was assigned to her…
ME: Excuse the interruption but explain the concept of your assignment.
A: Ah. Yes. Your readers are mortal Ordinaries. Many magicals are assigned to what you call a familiar. You might remember Wishes was assigned to his family and followed them for generations. Before my pairing with Rhea almost forty years ago, they assigned me to a young woman in my hometown of St. Petersburg.
ME (after the cat’s long pause): That’s St. Petersburg Russia, right?
A nods.
ME: Are you comfortable telling us more?
A: If you’ll indulge me in a moment of reflection first. (After a pause, he continued.) I don’t share my story often. With Rhea, I violated the emotional attachment rule. It only leads to pain when the assignment ends. It was extremely difficult in Russia, and being a gifted human as she, became dangerous. Sadly, she was imprisoned and later executed.
ME: I’m so sorry. I knew you were Russian but didn’t know the rest. It must have been horrible for both of you.
A: It was, and I refused a new assignment for a long time after that. But Rhea’s story was compelling. She’d had several familiars before me who had found her too challenging. Indeed, she is a very unusual assignment, but life with her is never dull.
ME: Exactly what is the role of a familiar?
A: You’ve undoubtedly heard the saying, guide on the side. As a counselor or confidante of sorts, I hold no power over my assigned humans. They have free will to use their gifts as they wish. As you mentioned, I am Russian. But I also speak many languages. And I can read minds quite well. I converse with magicals like Rhea and sympathetic Ordinary humans like yourself. And with that gift, I can point out pitfalls with their plans. Often, I get them out of what you might term complicated situations.
ME: Rhea comes from a family of witches, right?
A: Yes. She is a witch, but a highly unconventional one. No potions or eye of newt for her. Her power is transporting to other times through meditation. I must accompany her.
ME: She’s a time traveler too?
A: Did you not write this story? (He shakes his head.) These excursions are never deliberate or planned. And they don’t happen every time she meditates.
ME: What’s been the most unusual?
A: So many. So many. Before this jaunt into space, I would have said Egypt topped the list. It still stands out. Her unconventional appearance and free-form dancing bewitched the pharaoh king. And as a feline, I lived a grand life. Remember, those wise humans considered cats gods. But then came the pharaoh’s death, which I will always hold true resulted from his son poisoning him. Because of her particular status in his court, Rhea was to be sealed in his tomb to spend eternity with him in the afterlife. I, of course, was spared.
ME: How’d you get her out of that one?
A: A group of my feline comrades created a caterwauling distraction. The humans thought the cat gods were angry and fell prostrate before us, begging our forgiveness. While they noisily pleaded for their lives, I caught up with Rhea. We found a crevice within the tomb where she could drop into her meditation session. Both of us prayed this time she could direct the session. Then, suddenly…vooom. We were back.
ME: Oooo! Exciting. That sounds like Raiders of the Lost Ark stuff. Speaking of movies, I’m told you are fond of sci-fi and horror films. Is that true?
A: Absolutely true. One of my favorite films is the original 1951 version of The Day the Earth Stood Still. Though I appreciate Keanu Reeves’ performances, particularly his superb portrayal of John Wick, I do not believe his 2008 movie version was nearly as good. But I am what you might call a black-and-white movie snob. If you’d like, I can elaborate on all the cinematic iterations of Dracula.
ME: Uhhh. Alika, that might have to wait until another time.
A (nods in deference): I understand. Human time constrains all forms of whisker wisdom.
ME (casting a wide eye roll): Most certainly. But, having you as a guest for this Caterview has been a pleasure. As we conclude, do you have anything you’d like to add?
A (ponders a moment): I wish to compliment your portrayal of Rhea in your stories. She’s a complicated person; her past behavior has caused her to do a great deal of soul-searching. She’d never win awards for exemplary parenting skills, but I think her children have grown up to be fine humans despite Rhea’s, shall we say, eccentricities?
ME: Alika, thank you for that. She’s certainly flawed, but aren’t we all? I appreciate how you’ve been her constant companion all these years and helped her and Andie become closer. And we’re all excited to see how you and Rhea manage your next adventures. Promise you’ll check in when you can.
A (clearly smiling): Madam, it will be my pleasure.
***
You might wonder why I didn’t ask Alika who makes those assignments. Rest assured, I’ve tried asking. But he and all the cats in my stories seem bound by some code of silence. They dodge the question every time.
If you haven’t met Alika yet, start with BEWITCHING ANDIE. He and Rhea begin their space adventure in RHEA’S CONDUNDRUM. All my Baga Shores Romance and Beyond Baga Shores books, and my Nocturne Falls Universe books are available on Amazon. Also, search your library’s catalog. Many have access to the e-book versions. If they don’t, please ask them to get it for you!