How Clara came to be a calico…
Clara was supposed to be a tortoiseshell. Although, Clara – the heart, if not exactly the heroine – of my new cozy cat mystery An Incantation of Cats is now a calico, she was a tortie through at least two drafts of A Spell of Murder, the first book...
It’s “Incantation” Day!
An Incantation of Cats is out today! So thrilled – and I hope you will celebrate with me. "Simon expertly casts suspicion on one member of her tiny human cast after another ... for readers who want all cats, all the time." – Kirkus Reviews "Cat lovers, even if not...
Five Questions with Clea Simon
After grilling dozens of authors, it's only fair I answer my own questions, right? And with my new An Incantation of Cats (Polis Books) out tomorrow, now is as good a time as any. This is the second in my "Witch Cats of Cambridge" cozy series, so expect the return of...
Booklist “enchanted” by INCANTATION
"Cat lovers, even if not fans of the paranormal, will be enchanted," says Booklist about AN INCANTATION OF CATS. I am overjoyed! Full review as follows: Advanced Review – Uncorrected Proof Issue: December 15, 2019 An Incantation of Cats. By Clea Simon Jan. 2020. 288p....
Don’t kill the cat!
Ever! Of course, you know that. But I shared other tips for writing mysteries with animal characters earlier this week over at the wonderful Career Authors blog. Don’t Kill the Cat! And Other Secrets to Writing about Animals Posted by Our Special...
“I could not put the book down…”
Review of An Incantation of Cats posted today on the MWA Raven Award-winning book blog Dru's Book Musings: "This was an enjoyable, fast-paced and well-written drama that quickly became a page-turner, as I could not put the book down. The heart of this story is told...
Five Questions with Triss Stein
Triss Stein and I have been colleagues for years, via Poisoned Pen Press, and I've always enjoyed seeing her at conferences such as Bouchercon. Although I'm no longer a New Yorker, I'm still referring to her hometown when I say "the City," and I love hearing about her...
Books to look forward to in 2020!
New year, new books! I like to say that books don't get stale. That means there's no reason not to read an older book (an old favorite like Hilary Mantel's A Place of Greater Safety or one I didn't get to, such as Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous ). But...
Favorite reads of 2019
This past year was the first in ages when I didn't have a new book out. I haven't stopped writing. Far from it!* But it did give me a bit of a breather in which to read – and now to talk about other's books. Therefore, in the spirit of the season, I'm giving my very...
Five Questions with Sharon Daynard
Sharon Daynard is a staple of our New England crime fiction community. I first came to know her through her short stories, which have been shortlisted for the Al Blanchard and Derringer awards. When I heard that Sharon had a novel coming out, of course I needed to...