3-Legged Cat Press

Falling back into the leaves of books

2008-11-02T04:43:00.000-08:00

Tiger here! (yawn) Just waking up and wondering why my lady is turning all of the clocks back. Humans are so weird and do useless things. Now cats, however, are totally cool and most productive. Take my Japanese kin Tama, for example, who is the only feline train conductor in the world and has saved a small town's train line from bankruptcy. Here she is in action:

Now, why can't I get a job like that? I would love to be a library cat or maybe even a bookstore cat. My lady told me there's a wicked new indie bookstore in historic and haunted Irvington, a neighborhood she has many personal ties to and which is only a short car ride away from our home. The shop is Bookmama's. Located on Johnson Street, just southeast of Ritter and Washington in Indianapolis, Bookmama's is a great place to browse for books, meditate with the Buddhist Center, get feedback from a writer's group or talk books with a reading club, find unique gifts, and just hang out and enjoy some laid-back conversation with the owner and staff or simply breathe in the oh-so-lovely smell of books. The shop's space is open to local groups and clubs, and they carry a lot of local publications, such as Irvington Haunts by Alan Hunter and Russ Simnick. You can even ask them to order books for you. My lady prefers the personal, friendly neighbor service of this little bookstore to the big corporate feel of the bookstore chains, akin to her preference for Lazy Daze Coffee House over the new Starbucks down the street. Lazy Daze is conveniently located right across the street from Bookmama's, so you can grab a book and read it while grabbing a cuppa (hint, hint). Bookmama's is also planning a big celebration for the 200th birthday of Edgar Allen Poe this coming January. Bless Poe's soul for his awe of, and admiration for, cats, especially when he said, ""I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." Maybe I can enlist the help of the lolcat known as "Hover Cat" to transport me to Bookmama's to apply for a job. They can pay me with catnip or tuna. I'm easy to please and not too picky. But they have to let me smell the books. Oh, the lovely, dusty, heavenly aroma of angelic and demonic words, ambrosia to my wiggly pink rosebud nose.

Help Stop Puppy Mills!

2008-07-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

Yo, Tiger here. I'm still basking in the glory of the song about me - "Orange Kitten's Mew" - and feeling pretty good about myself right now. I have a family who loves me and fur-siblings who, well, tolerate me most of the time, including a dog. This dog, whose name is Rascal, turned 10 years old yesterday, so I guess he's an old fart for a dog! Maybe that's why he bit me on the nose the other day. I was only trying to rub on him, because I love him so much, but I don't think we'll ever understand each other. We don't speak the same language. But that doesn't mean we aren't worthy of love. Now, you may have heard of these "pet shop puppies," dogs raised in puppy mills, deplorable places where the puppies and their parents are treated inhumanely and kept in cramped cages with no petting or love. They live in breeding farms, like chickens or pigs. Then the puppies are sold to pet shops that sell them for very high prices. Doesn't seem worth it to me. I wish I could stop this myself, but I'm just a cat, and you don't speak my language. But you speak theirs - the puppy mill owners and their customers - and you can make a difference and help stop them. Read below for more info about upcoming protests. My lady and girl have been to one protest so far, and they feel like they reached a lot of people. So, go be creative, make a cool sign and join the fight against puppy mills! Thanks.

Hello Everyone--
We are asking you to please join us in speaking out for puppy mill dogs in Indiana.
We are planning peaceful rallies at Uncle Bill's Pet Centers on Saturday July 12th.

Please consider devoting just a few hours of your time for this very important cause.
Please RSVP to this email address and let us know if you will be joining us.

Demonstration Information: July 12th

**Uncle Bill's in Greenwood
The address is 870 US Highway 31 N, Greenwood, IN.
Time: 12:00 to 1:30

**Then on to the East side Uncle Bill's on the same day.
The address is 9411 E. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN.
Time: 2:30 to 4:00

Please do not park in Uncle Bill's parking lot.
We will have posters and banners but feel free to bring your own if you choose.

Please visit our website for information on the connection between puppy mills and pet stores in Indiana as well as information on our Indianapolis billboard campaign.

Please help us spread the word.

http://www.petshoppuppies.org/index.htm

Our videos can been seen here:

http://www.petshoppuppies.org/_videoplayer/myvideoplayer.html

Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
PSP

Second Story Indy, Inc. to Help Kids Find Their Inner Artist

2008-07-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

Indy will soon have a place where kids can go to get help with their writing skills and also get in touch with their creative sides. The new organization will make its home in Fountain Square. Second Story is currently looking for volunteers. Read more at their website (just click on the title above).

Become a member of Big Car!

2008-07-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

From the Big Car website:

Do you love Big Car? Have you enjoyed our art or music shows or even participated in something there? Well, here's your chance to offer support. Big Car is in the midst of its first membership drive. Your $40 membership will help keep our non-profit space going strong. Joining Big Car is a neat deal because it provides both the warm, fuzzy feeling of helping out and great discounts at several of your favorite (or soon to be favorite) spots around the city. And you'll enjoy other benefits like special members only events, a profile on our website and opportunities to show your artwork in our spaces. Read more below (click to enlarge):

We're happy to accept memberships in person or via mail at 1043 Virginia Ave. Suite 215, Indianapolis, IN 46203.

Email membership questions here: audrey@bigcar.org.

"Whiskers in the Jar" Update (Listen Online!)

2008-04-17T05:08:00.001-07:00

Good day!

The music for Marc Gunn's new CD, "Whiskers in the Jar," is now online! For more info, go to: Irish Cat Synchronicity TEXT

Scroll down a bit and you'll find a playlist. My lady's song is "Orange Kitten's Mew." It's about me! The other songs are also delightful, and include the likes of "Harry Potter and the Rising of the Moon," "Whiskers in the Jar," and "What Shall We Do With a Catnipped Kitty."

Marc Gunn is a talented filker and Celtic musician and a member of the Brobdingnagian Bards, a duo who play at renaissance festivals, sci-fi/fantasy conventions, etc. "Whiskers in the Jar" is Marc's third kitty-related solo CD.

Please consider adopting a CD to help Marc out if you're able, since he is an independent artist and footed the bill for this CD, although he had some help from generous donors. Or, if you're stumped for cash, my lady will burn you a copy once I get mine in the mail and get some blank CDs. Marc has given permission to do so.

Here is the beautiful artwork for the new CD: Whiskers in the Jar TEXT

Kinda' looks like me, don't you think? Except I don't have those beautiful spiral stripes.

Enjoy and please share with your cat and Irish music-loving friends!

P.S. ~ Marc has encouraged his fans to make videos, so my lady might take some videos and pictures of me (including some from when I was little and some of me in a shoe box and cuddling with my gentleman) and try to make a video. She's never splotched one together like that and has no idea where to start. She's only posted one video on YouTube in her life (I know, she's such a noob), and it was a straight video downloaded from my digital camera. So, if any of you know how to make videos and add music to them, please let me know!

Thanks!!

Purrsonally yours,

~Tiger

My Lady is a Songwriter! Irish kitty drinking songs return!

2008-04-09T16:29:00.001-07:00

Here is the beautiful cover:

The recording artist is filker and Celtic musician Marc Gunn. Some may know him from renaissance festivals and conventions like Dragon*Con singing with the Brobdingnagian Bards. The cover artwork is by artist Ingrid Houwers. And the lyrics to one of the songs, "Orange Kitten's Mew" (sung to the tune of old Irish song "The May Morning Dew"), were written by my lady!

Click here to pre-order a CD:
Adopt a Cat CD

Yay, I'm so excited! "Orange Kitten's Mew" is written from the viewpoint of my girl Theresa, who found little old me under our neighbor's mini barn when I was an abandoned, skinny little kitten. Hey, that kitty on the cover looks a bit like me, don't you think? (But I'm prettier, haha.)

Kitty Drinking Songs are Back!

2007-04-18T04:05:00.001-07:00

Next week I get to receive a free preview copy of Marc Gunn's Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion. To learn more about this CD and Marc Gunn's music, visit Cat Drinking Songs or Marc Gunn. Thanks! *purrrr*

A hometown literary hero is lost

2007-04-12T04:36:00.000-07:00

Kurt Vonnegut Dies

The City of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library declared 2007 "The Year of Vonnegut." There have been, and will continue to be, numerous programs about Mr. Vonnegut, his life and family history and, of course, his novels. He was scheduled to speak here in Indy on Friday, April 27, but had to decline after his fall the other day. His son was scheduled to speak in his place, but I'm not sure that will happen now. I'm sure many thoughts and prayers will be directed to the young Mr. Vonnegut and his family in the coming days. Rest well, Mr. Vonnegut. I wish I could have seen you, but at least I can still read your words.

All Peter S. Beagle Issue of The Green Man Review

2006-07-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, Unicorns and Werewolves, and all other Fantastic Folk,

I invite you to check out the brand-new, all Peter S. Beagle issue of The Green Man Review. You'll find a recent interview with Peter by Green Man Editor-In-Chief Cat Eldridge, reviews of several of Peter's works, essays written by none other than Connor Cochran, an up-to-date list of upcoming works, audio clips of Peter reading The Last Unicorn and singing (he has a very good voice!), as well as some of his early poetry. There's also a poem inspired by a line in The Last Unicorn, written by a little cat poet from Indiana who some of you may know, accompanied by the cutest picture I have ever seen in my life.

The best thing about this journal is that you get to learn more about Peter. Each piece includes interesting facts about the various works, such as the fact that Tamsin, which just happens to be one of my favorite books, almost started out as a (gasp!) Disney movie. You'll also learn how a poem Peter wrote in high school won him a college scholarship, which led to education and encouragement that helped him grow as a writer. And you'll find some cool pictures.

This is a wonderful tribute to Peter. I encourage you to read The Green Man Review and share it with your friends and family. The Renaissance of Peter S. Beagle is upon us, my friends. So sit back in your computer chair, grab a beer or cup of tea (depending on the hour), pull your favorite cat or mythical creature onto your lap, click that mouse and enjoy!

Mmmmmm, I love mice, purrrrrr.

Note to Tiger from Your Lady: It's not that kind of mouse, fur brain! But I still love you.

A Treat for Fans of Both Cats and Celtic Music

2006-05-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

My lady left me for five whole days last summer. She went to this big gathering called Dragon*Con for humans who love fantasy and science fiction. I was happy to stay home but missed my family. They returned with amazing tales of people who dress up as everything imaginable, from stormtroopers to elves. My lady got into the fun herself, dressing as Caitenda, Priestess of the Winged Cats. To my dismay, she didn't bring me any cat toys or treats. Apparently, those are difficult to find at Dragon*Con. She did, however, find something that freaked me out at first, but which I later learned to love. It was the CD Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers by Marc Gunn.

Marc Gunn, a cat lover and performer of Celtic music, is a member of the Brobdingnagian Bards, an act based in Austin, Texas that plays filk music with a unique flair: all of their songs are based on, or inspired by, Celtic music. If you don't know what filk music is, check out Wikipedia to learn more about this unique form of musical performance. Marc had wanted to record a CD of Irish drinking songs with a cat theme for a long time, and his dream became a reality in 2005. Ever since its release, Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers has pounced into popularity, especially among existing Bards fans (who are known as Nagians), Celtic music lovers and, of course, folks who are crazy about cats.

On the CD you'll find songs like "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling," played to the tune of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," except the lyrics are about cats. Here's an excerpt:

When kitty eyes are smiling
All the world it is their play
With a leap a cat is soaring
Now your shoe lace is his prey
When kitty hearts are happy
Against your leg, you'll feel them rub
And when kitty eyes are smiling
Sure, you can't help falling in love.

Extremely talented and hilarious to watch or listen to, The Bards are well known for writing songs about their favorite fandoms, such as The Lord of the Rings. True to form, Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers contains a song about Harry Potter, "Harry Potter: Rising of the Moon," set to music of the traditional tune, "By the Rising of the Moon." This song tells the story of what the cats were doing at the time young Harry Potter vanquished Lord Voldemort, er, I mean You Know Who!

If you happen to be in the Austin area soon, be sure to check out the Bards as they go Goth. Yes, I said go Goth! They will be performing with Gothic artist, musician and satirist Voltaire at Elysium, Austin's premiere Goth club and industrial haven. On the website, Marc urges Bards fans to "don your black kilt and eyeliner, grab a copy of Voltaire's book What Is Goth to find your Goth name, and join us at Austin's Goth Club, Elysium, for a new you won't soon forget!" This is but one example of the fun-loving attitude and versatility of The Bards. Now, where can I get a spiked kitty-sized collar, black claw polish and airline‑approved pet carrier with a ticket to Austin?

Marc hopes to release another Celtic cat songs CD in the future and so do we. If you'd like to learn more about Marc, The Bards, and Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers, visit the following websites: Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers, The Brobdingnagian Bards and Marc Gunn's MySpace.

Why 3-Legged Cat Press?

2006-04-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

I know you're wondering why this is called 3-Legged Cat Press, so I guess it's time to let the cat out of the bag.

*cough*

Well then, here's the story as my lady tells it. A simple tale of a happy childhood memory, yes, but our earliest memories are often our most cherished.

When I was a little girl, before the turbulent teen years when I traded in my pink ruffly dresses for black t-shirts and my Genesis records for Alice Cooper, I actually loved going to church. It was fun sitting in the pew, sneaking sips of the magic juice and snagging a few pieces of what I called tic-tac bread to stash in my pocket for later. When the congregation sang hymns, I swung my legs and chimed, "Dog, cat, dog, cat, kitty, puppy, kitty, puppy!" This amused my brother at the time, but the admiration turned to disgust in later years when "Dog, cat, kitty, puppy!" turned into "Kill 'em all!" (don't worry, it was a Metallica song, not a threat) and "We're Not Gonna' Take It!" We were two slabs of land living on opposite sides of a shaky fault line. Needless to say, our house shook a lot back then.

But in my early years, when I was a cute, dimpled towhead, everybody wanted to adopted me, including Mr. and Mrs. Crocker. They were much older than my parents, and I think they either had kids who were grown or didn't have kids at all. They lived in a beautiful brick two-story surrounded by flowers, including a rose garden. I got to visit them a lot and, although I can't remember anything they said to me, other than wishing they could keep me, I remember being happy when I was with them. Mrs. Crocker was petite and had short black hair. Mr. Crocker was a big, plump man with a bald head who wore tiny round glasses.

My favorite feature of the Crocker house, however, wasn't the gardens or even the Crockers themselves. It was their cat. Now, don't ask me its name or whether it was a girl or boy. I can't remember. I was pretty young, maybe four or five years old. I'm not even sure if it was black and white or a tabby. I do remember that it had only three legs. I would watch this cat hop around, pouncing on bugs in the grass and smelling the flowers like a normal cat. I can't remember if the cat was born that way or if it had been hit by a car or injured in some way. I loved this cat because it let me rub its tummy and the little knob where its fourth leg used to be or should have been. It chased me around the yard and always caught me. Those three legs sure made up for the missing fourth one. I always wondered if it had the phantom itch, that strange sensation that amputees sometimes feel when their missing leg hurts or itches.

I loved that little cat. It was my first cat friend, and its spunk and love of life live on inside of me. Memory is like a severed leg. It's still there in spirit, even when you forget about it. But sometimes it wakes up and begins to itch, then you scratch and it turns real once more. Maybe it's a scientific phenomenon or perhaps the secret of immortality. I have no idea, but sometimes my 3-legged cat friend nudges me awake and I listen to the silence of its eternal meow.

Caption Contest!

2006-04-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is yours truly engaging in one of my favorite hobbies. Cassie and Nomad also enjoy this pastime. However, they are bottom feeders, slurping up the remains from the bottom of the tub, while I boldly go to the direct source of what I like to call the magic waterfall. (It's magic because I need only meow and gaze at it longingly, and suddenly the cool elixir begins to flow.)

I realize that I talk about myself a lot, so now it's your turn...to talk about me. Come up with a clever caption for my adorable picture and post it in a comment to this blog entry, or you may e-mail it to me at three(underscore)legged(underscore)cat(underscore)press(at symbol)yahoo.com. The best caption will win a free copy of my lady's chapbook, Thanatology of Moths, plus one or two other surprise goodies for you and/or your cat. (When a winner is chosen, my lady will ask whether you have a cat to help her choose the surprise goodies.) The deadline for this contest is May 30th, so you have plenty of time. I might make this a regular feature if I receive a good response, so get those captions in. I can't wait to read them, after my trek to the magic waterfall, of course. I love you guys dearly, but there's just something about a dripping faucet...

Hope Blooms After The Storm

2006-04-15T17:57:00.000-07:00

Ever hear the expression, "Curiosity killed the cat"? I have a new one: "Procrastination kills the cat inside." Which means...well, you know what it means. I've been gone for way too long. But I'm back and that, my good friends, is what counts.

Speaking of counting, my lady's feral cat colony has grown to ten cats, four of them almost-grown kittens. All but two of the kittens have been captured with the help of Indy Feral, an Indianapolis-based organization that promotes TNR (trap-neuter-release) for wild cats that cannot be tamed. After the cats are (gasp!) altered, they are released into the yards of the caretakers who make sure they are fed and cared for if injured. Frankly, I've quite enjoyed the experience of watching these strange outdoor cats through the kitchen window, and it seems to make my lady and her daughter happy, which makes me happy too.

Our new reputation as the neighborhood animal champions brought a new challenge this morning. An injured wild rabbit, who my lady's girl named Bun Bun Brown, was sitting in our neighbor's driveway. Something must have attacked or run over it, and the bunny was in deep shock. After a few phone calls, my lady reached Kristen Heitman of Providence Wildlife Rehabilitation. Kristen took the rabbit in and promised to do her best to heal it, although its injuries were serious so the outlook was not good. In addition to the bunny, other animal lovers brought in four Mallard ducklings orphaned after last night's horrible hail storm, a Coot with a broken leg, an injured Canada Goose who had lost her mate, and a Loon (a rare site indeed) that had been hit by a car.

Kristen works part-time to help fund her rescue service and, sadly, gets few donations. She hopes to create her own website soon and recruit volunteers. If you would like to help Kristen, either as a volunteer or by sending a tax-deductible donation, please call her at (317) 902-DUCK or write to her at P.O. Box 40491, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Providence is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.

I hope little Bun Bun Brown survives. There's always hope but, if not, at least the little guy will know the meaning of kindness in his final hours, which is something that all of us deserve, whether we live in a suit of skin or fur.

Words and Pictures Curled Up Together Like Two Cats

2006-01-10T20:56:00.000-08:00

I’ve probably mentioned before that my lady refers to me and my sister Cassie as The Bookend Bunch. This is because we often sit or lie opposite from one another in the exact same position. But sometimes we cuddle like two kittens, our tails braided together, so it’s difficult to tell where I begin and Cassie ends. It’s as if we’re one animal with two beating hearts. Today’s artist is like that too. Jerry Dreesen blends haiku with Asian-influenced brush style paintings to create another beautiful animal of art known as the haiga. If you’d like to encounter this rare beast, visit Jerry’s blog. You never know what you’ll find. Believe me, I speak from experience. I found one picture that looks unmistakably like your favorite poetry and art-loving kitty cat! Hmmm, wonder who that could be? =^-.-^=

Start the New Year off right...with more cat poetry

2005-12-31T09:56:00.000-08:00

Tiger here, reporting for duty. Yeah, I know I've been MIA for nearly three months but hey, a cat's gotta' live its life, right? Cats have a lot of important work to do. You think we just eat, sleep, and clean ourselves all day. If you only knew.

Anyway, now that I'm back and roaring to go, let's start the new year with some more great poetry. Today's featured poet is the lovely and talented Lisa Barton. Lisa is a friend of my lady and also a member of her writing group, The RRRRs. Here's her bio:

Lisa Barton is a graphic designer and poet living in Indianapolis. She is also the Art Director of Big Car Media, Inc., an Indianapolis based not-for-profit organization that promotes local art, music and writing by hosting shows and events. She attributes her writing success to an overactive imagination and off-beat sense of humor. Lisa has recently been published in NUVO Newsweekly, Jake Magazine and the Fall 2005 edition of the Tipton Poetry Journal. She has one cat, an orange and white tabby named Mo Zart (he also answers to Mo-Mo) and is also a dog lover (sorry, Tiger).

I forgive you, Lisa. After all, you have a cat named Mo Zart (Rock me Amadeus!) and you are an awesome poet. So that makes you okay in my book.

Here are a few of Lisa's poems:

insomnia haiku

it's three o' clock now
while my cat snores like asthma
I envy his sleep

(Note from Tiger: This reminds of my sister Cassie. She's always been a heavy breather.)

***************

prey

I've gone fishing so many times
sitting on the bank for an hour
or two
or three
with nothing biting, occasionally
pulling up an old, moldy black boot
stuffed with kelp and perhaps a dead bullfrog
or catching a puny, sad looking trout
missing one eye
and half a fin
he tries to look appealing
get me all excited
but I throw him back like so many before

now I'm trying a new sport
one with a target
I would aim for the heart
but that's been done
and seems so cliché
instead, I'll go for the jugular
they won't even know what hit them

(Note from Tiger: I have a sudden urge for salmon.)

***************

rushed

sneaker feet shuffle scratches in new pavement
waiting for my ride to come (traffic is bad)
tires screech in every direction
but curses drone out screeches and
blaring horns cover the swears
there's an old guy driving an orange VW bus
his face frowned up into his hairline
trying to focus, but he drives on
fugitive from a droning, frizzy-haired wife
or a bill collector's hollow door knock
fresh emptied beer bottles shaking together
on the passenger seat, rolling as he swerves left
rattling when he cuts right, smashing as his foot
meets the gas pedal on the floor and the bus
sails through yellow light turning red
his tired eyes filmy with sleep crust and
hair of the dog on his tongue

(Note from Tiger: I prefer cat hair on my tongue. Dog hair? *Shudder*)

Poet Showcase: Tracy R. Bowling / First Annual Indiana Poetry Festival

2005-10-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

Ah, cats and poetry. Two of my favorite things, if you don't count sleeping in laundry baskets or harassing the dog. But you know what's even better than a cat or a poem? A cat poem! Among our countless other attributes, we cats have inspired poets throughout history. A few favorites come to mind: Carl Sandburg's "Fog," William Blake's "The Tyger," William Carlos Williams' "As The Cat" and T.S. Elliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats." The cat continues to play muse to poets of our own time, and I'd like for you to meet one of them. We'll start with the poem, then introduce you to the poet, and cat, behind the words.

Finegood Morning

Fine—Good Morning, Kii.
Not sure how you think
my waking could be improved by your feet at eye level
and peculiar kisses breathed upon my nose.
It’s a fine Good Morning indeed—Thank you
for considering me worthy to share
with you a ruddy, shallow sun rising,
reflected gold in your round, changeling eyes.
(No,
maybe no one will notice your whiskers
if you comb them for once—) This,
Today
is yours as much as mine
A day to tell the truth, listen who will, and
Who’s to say that Kii’s not your right name—
not a lazy bungling of “Kitty,”
some testament to overtired tongues
and mumblers tangled in their bedsheets,
but foreign—Ours—
Yours and Mine alone,
our own strange language in secret cadence, rising,
then falling,
and I want to laugh
as I sigh, when you come to wish Good Morning to me.
True, my fine, good Kii.
It is a finegood-fabulous morning.

Copyright 2005 by Tracy R. Bowling

This poem, which describes the unspoken yet steadfast love shared between a cat and human, was written by Tracy R. Bowling. Tracy is a junior at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, majoring in English and Middle/Secondary Education. As co-editor of Butler’s literary magazine, Manuscripts, and a member of the Indy writing group The RRRRs, her goal is to encourage writers within and beyond the university setting. Tracy resides in Avon, Indiana, where her interests include quilting, foreign languages and composing music for local filmmakers.

"Finegood Morning" is about Tracy's grey cat Kii, who suffers from kitty breath mint addiction (guess catnip isn't for everybody). She also has another orange and white cat named Beau who is obsessed with "washing" people's feet. Tracy admits, "They're strange, but of course I love 'em all the better for it!" I'm sure they love you too, Tracy, and I mean that as a compliment (purr).

Tracy will be a featured poet at the first annual Indiana Poetry Festival, sponsored by The Writers' Center of Indiana, on Sunday, October 16, 2005. This event will bring together literary representatives from educational and cultural organizations across Indiana. Different tents and stages will feature the quality and variety of Indiana's poetry. This will include graduate poetry students, university poets, spoken word poets, local poets and poets featured in Indiana's varied literary publications. Music and arts entertainment and collaborations will play a vital role in attracting writers to other art forms and placing the literary arts amongst other arts forms. The Indianapolis Art Center's spectacular building and new ArtsPark will provide an exciting and appropriate venue. Here are the full details:

* When: Sunday, October 16, 2005, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
* Where: Indianapolis Art Center and Arts Park, 820 East 67th Street
* Admission Donation: $8 adults same day, $6 adults in advance, $5 students, 17 and younger free (purchase in advance or at gate, call 317.255.0710 for more information)
*Featured Poets: Poet Laureate of the United States Ted Kooser, Catherine Bowman, Dana Roeser, David Shumate, Donald Platt, Hannah Haas, Jim Walker, Karen Kovacik, Marianne Boruch, Mary Fell, Maurice Manning, Norman Minnick, Terry Kirts and many others
* Activities: Food vendors, beer and wine tastings and vendors, book sales and signings, music stage, poetry readings and kids activities
* For more information, or to learn how you can volunteer, visit the festival's website.

Special Announcement for Peter S. Beagle Fans

2005-10-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

If you love Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn and many other wonderful fantasy stories, check out the article my lady wrote about her meeting and interview with him at this year's Dragon*Con, which appears in the latest issue of Jake Magazine . You'll also find one of his wonderful tales, The Fable of the Moths there. If you don't live in the Indianapolis area and want to order a free print copy of Jake, visit the Jake blog for more details.

If you're one of the first 2,000 people to purchase one of the new The Last Unicorn audio books, read by the author himself, from Conlan Press , you can receive a free autographed copy of Two Hearts, the follow-up story to The Last Unicorn. The story is also featured in the October/November edition of Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine, which is available for $4.99 in most U.S. bookstores. If you haven't read anything by Peter, my lady strongly encourages you to check him out. I like him because of the wonderful cat characters who appear in his stories. Of course, I'm biased. (purr)

You know what really pulls my tail? Well, you would think that a classic fantasy novelist like Peter, one who has touched millions of lives over the years with his magical stories, would be living comfortably. Well, that's just not the case. I recently learned that he has not received the money he deserves for The Last Unicorn animated movie, which is based on his book and for which he wrote the screenplay. There has been talk of a live action movie as well but, since he doesn't own the movie rights to the story, the project is in limbo. I sincerely hope that the movie isn't made until Peter gets back his rights to it. It would be a tragedy to see this wonderful story in the hands of anyone else. He also didn't receive the money he deserved for writing the screenplay for the animated version of The Lord of the Rings. But, with the help of his business manager, Connor Cochran of Conlan Press, he's fighting to get back what is rightfully his.

It's a shame that Peter has been treated like this. He deserves much better. I encourage everyone out there who loves his stories to join the letter-writing campaign, buy his books from Conlan Press instead of the local bookstore and spread the word. Peter has brought magic to millions over the years; it's time he had a little magic of his own.

To learn more, and find out how you can help, visit Conlan Press. If you're still wondering, "who is this guy and why should I help?" just watch these videos that Meg (a/k/a dead_duck_soup in Live Journal) filmed during Dragon*Con. You'll see and hear Peter singing a song from one of his novels and reading a book excerpt, as well as Connor explaining the problems they've had with getting the live action movie made. (The videos are near the bottom of the page, so scroll down until you find them.)

Masterpiece in a Day and Oranje

2005-09-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 17, 2005 will be a busy day for the creative people of Indianapolis, Indiana.

First there's Masterpiece in a Day. Here's a message about the event from Jim Walker, Executive Director of Big Car:

On Sept. 17 in Fountain Square, you'll have a chance to win $1,000 for your work of visual art (representational or non-representational) your writing (poetry or prose) or your song (you are randomly paired with another musician to create a duo). All you have to do is spend a good chunk of the day in this great neighborhood being creative and hanging out with other creative types!

Any kind of art form -- even video and photography -- is welcome (as long as you can get it done in the alloted amount of time and don't leave the neighborhood to do it). Any kind of musical instrument -- or lack thereof (you can sing or beat box) is welcome (laptops, electronic
samplers, ukuleles, the spoons, etc. -- all OK). And any style of writing is fine. You could write about what you really see or soar off into fantasy... But watch those fantasies -- everything needs to be appropriate for an audience that includes kids.

Masterpiece in a Day starts with on-the-spot registration between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. You then have until 3 p.m. to make your masterpiece. Then our crack judges will pick the winners to be announced at 5 p.m.

There's no charge for competing. If you finish early or bring friends, then all kinds of other entertainment awaits -- from a free art fair to live traditional country music to a beer tent to creative activities for the kids taught by professional art, writing and music teachers.

Pre-register today (think of it as RSVP-ing at www.discoverfountainsquare.com) or visit www.bigcar.org for more info. And then you can begin thinking of how you'll spend $1,000 (or the $500 second prizes or $200 third prizes wouldn't be too shabby either) -- even though you're really in it for artistic reasons.

I hope to see all of you at Masterpiece in a Day. And I hope to be able to hand $1,000 to one of you (or the $500 second prizes or $200 third prizes wouldn't be too shabby either).

If you don't want to compete, show up to listen to poetry and short stories written on the streets and hear musicians making and performing their songs of Fountain Square. Local restaurants will be selling food and neighborhood stores will be open for shoppers.

Here's a schedule for the day:

9 a.m. -- Registration begins. Coffee and donuts for sale.

9:30 a.m. -- Art fair opens

10 a.m. -- Activities for kids begin at Contest Central (in the Murphy Building off of Virginia Ave.)

10:30 a.m. -- Contest registration closes

11 a.m. -- Traditional country music concert begins on the music stage at Shelby and Prospect streets with Marcy Hook kicking it off.

11 a.m. -- Venders begin selling food, drinks and beer

11:30 a.m. -- Graham Case on the Music Stage

Noon -- Computer labs open in the community center for writers to begin typing work

12 p.m. -- Tecumseh Flyers on the Music Stage

12:45 p.m. -- Punkin Holler Boys on the Music Stage

1:30 p.m. -- Freightliners on the Music Stage

2:15 -- Tumbleweeds on the Music Stage

3 p.m. -- All entries for art and writing contests are due at Contest Central.

3-5 p.m. -- Live performance of the Music Contest

6 p.m. -- Announcement of all winners

If you're not too worn out from Masterpiece in a Day, you might want to check out Oranje:

ORANJE, the Midwest’s premiere contemporary art & music event is back for our 4th annual showcase. ORANJE will take place on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2005 from 8pm until 3am.
We are extremely excited to announce that this year ORANJE will be held at 1601 North Pennsylvania, in the former Herron School of Art, located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis! This is a beautiful, historic building with a rich art history. Get ready for three floors filled with aural and visual stimulation that will blow your mind!!! Planning and preparations are underway for the ultimate interactive experience of art & music … ORANJE!!! INDULGE YOUR SENSES!!!

Visit http://www.oranjeindy.com/ for more info about Oranje.

Where Would Art Be Without Cats?

2005-08-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

There’s no need for a piece of sculpture in a home that has a cat.
~Wesley Bates

The smallest feline is a masterpiece.
~Leonardo Da Vinci

Tiger here, reporting for duty. Sorry I've been gone for so long. Mice happens, I suppose. (Note to self: consult funny people for jokes that won't force readers to cough up hairballs prematurely.) I know you've missed me, so I promise to never again stay away for so long. However, if for some reason I'm quiet for an extended period of time, I know you won't stay angry. All I have to do is lie on my back, chirp sweetly and look at you upside down with all four of my little paws in the air. Cuteness always wins.

During my hiatus, I discovered a talented artist named Carrie Hawks. Most of her art features fantasy cats, but in her gallery and journal you'll also find some wonderful pieces featuring dragons, humans and other magical creatures. When it comes to Ms. Hawks' cat pieces, there's something for everyone. My lady loves the winged cats best, but you'll also find alien cats, Mardi Gras cats, fairy cats, hippie cats, gothic cats, and even a merkitty! One of her pictures will be featured in a soon-to-be-released anthology of pictures and poetry called Enchanted Artists; Visions of Atlantis. Visit Tigerpixie Art Studio to view and purchase Ms. Hawks' beautiful artwork. You can also learn more about the artist through her biography and live journal, order notecards and bookmarks and enter a contest to win a fine art print of her whimsical piece, "Alien Cats." If you love cats, art and fantasy, then Tigerpixie Art is the place for you.

And now, another cat poem from my lady, Karen D. Mitchell:

A few years before I lived in the woods there was what was called a 'winged cat" in one of the farm-houses in Lincoln nearest the pond, Mr. Gillian Baker's....They gave me a pair of her 'wing,' which I keep still....This would have been the right kind of cat for me to keep, if I had kept any, for why should not a poet's cat be winged as well as his horse?
~ Henry David Thoreau, Walden

on the third day

i. guilt

After the accident, Tiger stares at me
as he’s carried away in a cardboard box.

Red paw prints scatter across the porch,
but I can’t cry.

I hear that Russian villagers have drowned
a winged cat, believing it was a messenger of Satan.

I open the piano, caress its bones,
pretend I never had a cat.

Later, I dream that an orange cat with black wings
flies out of an ivory box and bleeds
into my arms.

ii. atonement

We have to decide. Either the baby or the cat must go.

The baby wins.

So Nomad lives up to his name
and leaves us to eat another’s fruit.

When I see the blue winged cat
perched on a wooden throne behind glass
at the art museum, I want to
smash its cage and offer
a spoonful of pureed bananas.

iii. resurrection

On the Day of the Dead,
I visit altars that coax back the lost.

Green and pink sugar grin skulls linger
on picado-lined shelves.

Clay bowls hold water for the journey.

Incense mingles with marigolds
that bloom around a memory mosaic:
china pig, cigarettes, tattered diary,
bottle of tequila.

Living eyes water inside glass frames
as if they smell the freshly-baked bread
and feel the candle’s heat.

I watch him dangle from the diorama’s black ceiling,
a wooden cat with wings.
He soars over a graveyard, where skeletons
wave red handkerchiefs.

All night, I dust off the bones
until they shine and bury them
again,
wrapped in velvet,
beneath the moon.

Copyright 2005 by Karen D. Mitchell

The above poem is featured in Karen's first chapbook, Thanatology of Moths, which is available for $6.00 from 3-Legged Cat Press. E-mail us at three(underscore)legged(underscore)cat(underscore)press@yahoo(dot)com for ordering information.

The Bookend Bunch

2005-07-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

Hello, Tiger here. Sorry I've been gone for so long. Catnip abuse can do that to you. (Waits for laughs. Waits longer. Tries to think of a more clever joke. Mind glazes over. Clears throat.)

Anyway, my lady likes to call me and my sister Cassie the Bookend Bunch because we're so in tune with each other that we can often be found lying, sitting or standing in the exact same position. Sometimes we face each other, much like mirror images or bookends.

Cats and books. "You can't have one without the other," my lady says. "Nothing soothes the soul more than a book in your hands and a cat curled up in your lap."

Speaking of books, my lady recently finished reading the new Harry Potter book. Some people say it's a children's book and can't understand why she loves it so much. Maybe she's just a big kid at heart who will never grow up, but we still love her.

We also love the library, although we've never set foot in one. Cats, however, are not strangers to the library. Have you ever heard of a library cat? We never did until our lady found a video at her favorite haunt (the library, of course...duh) and brought it home for us to watch. Cassie isn't much of a couch potato, but I love to watch TV so I filled her in on the show. According to Puss in Boots: Adventures of the Library Cat, a film by Gary Roma of Iron Frog Productions, hundreds of library cats have prowled the stacks of libraries around the world. These kitties have made lots of friends and even inspired an elementary school classroom to start their own library cat fan club, but this story is not without controversy. Some people with cat allergies and phobias have spoken out against their local libraries. Sadly, some fanatical cat lovers were not very understanding, even going so far as leaving dead mice in mailboxes. It's impossible to keep everybody happy, but the libraries have done everything in their power to accommodate the wishes of all patrons.

If you'd like to learn more about library cats, visit Iron Frog Productions

Cat's Eye View: deviantArt

2005-07-09T22:33:00.000-07:00

Are you too shy or busy to join a writing group? Poems not getting accepted (yet) by your favorite journal? You want the world to read your words but don't know how to get them out there. deviantArt might be a good place to start.

deviantArt is a community with millions of members who create countless works of art, from poetry and prose to photography and computer animation. You can create a profile, post your work and wait for comments. There are also communities to join, such as Poetry Please, where you can submit your own and respond to others' poetry, participate in online collaborations, chat, network and learn. There will be a special Q&A chat session with deviantArt poet zebrazebrazebra tonight at 10:00 Est. (-GMT) in the Poetry Please chatroom.

Check out deviantArt today. Maybe you'll find some great new artists to enjoy or find that all-important poetry portal for your own work.

One Cat's Memorial

2005-07-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

Unless you've been asleep all day and most of the night, you've probably heard about today's terrorist attack on London's underground transit system, the Tube, and a double-decker bus. Cats sometimes squabble over things like food, lovers and territory, but we can't understand the rationale behind acts of violence like this. I wonder if humans will ever evolve out of their violent natures. Nothing should be an excuse for violence, not even religion. Humankind must accept their differences. Until they do so, peace will be nothing more than a wish. This is a sad day for the entire human race and concerned cats like me.

I'm also disturbed by another story I heard about today. A two-headed kitten was born last month and died before it reached the second week of life. It's amazing that the kitten had two heads. I always gawk with wonder at the Animal Planet programs that show two-headed snakes and turtles and livestock with extra limbs. But the thing that bothered me about this story is the fact that the kitten's owner has been breeding miniature cats, and this kitten was the offspring of one of these tiny felines and a normal cat. The breeder wants to market her own "line" of miniature cats. To me, this reeks of greed and a thirst for publicity, not love for cats or the desire for betterment of a species.

Two-Faced Kitten Dies

Here is a poem my lady has been working on. It's not quite where she wants it to be, but she wanted me to post it to honor the Londoners who died today for no good reason:

"Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings."
—Heinrich Heine, from his play Almansor (1821)

ALL THIS BURNING

We need fires that burn
from deep inside.

Fires that leap from our fingers,
race across countries,
ignite smoldering hearts.

Let us be fire spirits
whose flames wash away
this demon’s nest,

this burning.

Copyright 2005 by Karen D. Mitchell

Good night everyone, and take care of one another.

The Year of the Cat Update

2005-07-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

I'm a sad kitty today. My little girl went off to her first week of summer camp. My lady sent her an e-mail today with pictures of me and my sister, Cassie, so that made me feel a little better. I've also been keeping myself busy by napping, eating, stretching, grooming, sunning and--of course--checking the e-mail.

We received a very important message today from poet Laura Stamps about her new book, The Year of the Cat. Although Amazon won't have the book until late August or September, it will be available from Kittyfeather Press around July 20. Ms. Stamps said that everyone who preorders the book from her through Kittyfeather Press will receive a signed copy as well as a free gift that will delight cat and poetry lovers. What a deal! I'll make sure my lady sends for her copy right away.

In the meantime, here is a new poem my lady wrote that was inspired by that nasty...I mean intriguing...cat who's been hanging out in our weed patch:

The Weed Cat

grows in a tomato patch. The humidity is high,
so blue and black stripes peel away

from her stalk like paper from a skeleton wall.
She bats at Japanese beetles that swarm gold flames around

her pyramid head, but they continue to chew singed whiskers
and sit on her nose, causing her to sneeze out

tufts of pollen that might someday create weed kittens
whose scruffs she will never grasp in her teeth, whose stems

she will never lick. Weed cat’s eyes are lemon suns
that eat the horizon. When she cries, children hold paper cups

beneath her and sell them for a quarter each to thirsty
adults who have forgotten the taste of summer lemonade—

and weed cats that grow tall and beautiful in unkempt tomato patches—
so they don’t even know the difference.

Copyright 2005 by Karen D. Mitchell

A Whole Year of Cats

2005-07-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

I am one jealous cat today. There is a grey and black tabby hanging around in our backyard. Yesterday she scared my young human and her friend by flying out of the weed jungle that has overtaken the tomato patch. I watched from behind the window, my tail slashing Xs into the air. Then this morning, my adult humans saw the beast sunning itself on the deck. The lady swooned over the "Egyptian profile" and "yellow lantern eyes." Where's a hairball when you have a desperate need to cough out your disgust? Then I heard "Oh, she's so skinny. Can we feed her?" Next thing I know there are two plastic dishes on the deck, one filled with my food, the other with water. I guess I'm okay with this, just as long they don't bring her into the house. However, I do remember a lost kitten that slept under a deck a long time ago. Some friendly humans brought him into the house, gave him food to eat and a basket to sleep in. They didn't intend to keep him, but he grew so tall in their hearts that they could never cut him out.

If you're the type who thinks you can't ever have enough cats or, at the least, cat poems, you are in for a treat this coming September 1st. That's when The Year of the Cat: New Poems by Laura Stamps comes out. Here's a description of the book from Amazon.com:

Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, this beautiful book by award-winning poet and novelist Laura Stamps features 59 new poems sure to delight any cat-lover. Written for readers of all faiths, this mystical collection of cat poems is the perfect gift for anyone blessed by housecats or strays. The book contains three sections: "Cat Pause" (poems with housecats), "The Stray Kitten Chronicles" (poems about stray cats), and "The Year of the Cat" (a long poem, which first appeared in the prestigious literary journal Poetry Midwest).

You may pre-order The Year of the Cat from Amazon.com or directly from Kittyfeather Press. A cat-related chapbook, Cat Daze: New & Selected Poems, is also available for $5.00. You may also read a few of Stamps' poems on the website.

I hope my lady is inspired by the cat poetry of Laura Stamps and writes her own cat-related chapbook in the future. Of course, I will release it only if she agrees to feature my lovely face on the cover.

Thanatology of Moths

2005-07-01T22:43:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. It's your buddy Tiger here, taking a small break from my comfy spot on the couch to introduce you to the first book released by
3-Legged Cat Press, Thanatology of Moths. Writer Karen D. Mitchell (who also happens to be the person who feeds me and scratches my back) describes her book and how it came to be:

This book is a mini-chapbook that contains 10 poems (14 if you consider the set of five haiku to be 5 poems), photographs, collage, quotes and a few other surprises. One of my fellow writing group members challenged everyone to put together small zines on any subject and then get together in August to trade them and leave copies around town for lucky readers to discover. I have written several poems either about moths or in which moths play a role, so I thought it would be fun to create a zine with a moth theme. Like a caterpillar in a cocoon, my little moth zine kept growing as I added more poems and pictures. I purchased Microsoft Publisher to organize it into booklet form, took it to the printer and presto! my book had spread its wings. I chose the title Thanatology of Moths because thanatology is the study of death and dying, and moths are often associated with death and despair. However, we all know that moths are also attracted to light. These poems fly in a field of contrasts: darkness and light, death and life, depression and joy. They acknowledge life's darker moments, perhaps even embrace them, but at the same time they reach toward those sacred moments of illumination that we hunger for. Mirrors, a frequent poetic metaphor, also appear throughout. Reflections are always somewhat distorted, with dark and light blending together to create something new. Each section begins with a word, which I hope captures the essence of the images and poems that follow. Here is one poem from Thanatology of Moths:

moth in the lamp

In memory of all burn victims, whether Book, Cat, Jew, Christian, Witch, or Other

Satellite in orbit, it circles
a saucer of milk
that wrinkles the night and wets

the mouth, sweet
crater splashes, toothless bats dive
in and out, deliver

coded messages to whiskered
tides. Jagged tongues lap froth,

tail-waves a hurricane frenzy, bonfires

at sea. Crystal rum scalds wing,
singes antenna, burns the straw witch
and collects her tears in a glass

to count the hours, sacrifice
moonlight, allow the bodies to float
in peace.

Karen hopes to sell copies of Thanatology of Moths at future Indianapolis arts events, such as Oranje on September 15, 2005. Keep checking back for details about the many exciting events happening this fall in addition to Oranje, such as the Masterpiece in a Day competition in Fountain Square and two events sponsored by The Writers' Center of Indiana, the Festival of Writers and the Indiana Poetry Festival. If you'd like to purchase a copy right away, e-mail us at three(underscore)legged(underscore)cat(underscore)press@yahoo(dot)com for ordering information. Copies are $6.00. Shipping and handling to U.S. addresses is free. Now I don't normally brag, but I, Tiger, personally selected every poem that appears in Karen's book. If you're not into poetry, at least pick up the book for the handsome fellow who appears on the back cover. The wings were a little itchy, but I lived to tell the tale and that's all that matters.