My middle-grade book, Kiwi in Cat City, is free to read here

Hi, you can read Kiwi in Cat City, the first of 6 books for kids aged 7-100, for free here. The series was selling well until 2015, so I thought why not make it free, because the whole idea was to be read.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ihUVY_CmQpq-n9w5Y5NcfesjSv8zpE8L/view?usp=drive_link

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars   (60 reviews on Amazon)

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Book 1 in the Kiwi Series about a magical cat

Have you ever wished your cat could talk or wondered where he/she goes when you are not around? Kiwi is a black cat with a big secret – she is magical and comes from a city of catizens. One night when the moon is shaped like a cat’s claw, Amy and James follow their pet cat to see where she goes. With a flick of her tail, Kiwi turns the kids into kittens and leads them to the blue-lit Cat City, where the budding detectives help Inspector Furrball to investigate a catnapping and Kiwi meets her nemesis.

KIRKUS REVIEW – “Though the book is a mystery, the bloodshed-free crime means that the book is safe enough for younger readers to enjoy, and funny moments – provided by the bumbling Paws and lots of “cat” wordplay – keep the story light. The sleuthing will captivate young readers... Cats, a dash of fantasy, and a puzzling mystery are a recipe for a fun read...”

In the Kiwi Series, Amy, James and Kiwi go on different adventures, dealing with catnappings, jewel thieves, giant mice, time travel, haunted houses, Father Christmas, pyramids and more. The fun stories contain positive messages about loyalty, friendship, honesty, bullying and the power of friendship.

With illustrations by Nikki McBroom.

Book 4 in the series was a finalist in the Children's Books category of the National Indie Excellence Book Awards 2013.

A zany cat series for your Christmas stocking...

With Christmas just around the corner, do you know anyone who likes stories about cats? Or tales where kids go on adventures with their pet cat to a land full of cats? If so, you or they might like my Kiwi in Cat City series... They're available for under a dollar or a pound in kindle, and also for sale in paperback on Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Waterstones, and all of the regular places. 

The Kiwi Series is based on a little black, very fluffy and sometimes cheeky cat I used to have, called Kiwi. 

I wrote Kiwi in Cat City in April 2002. I had been made redundant and suddenly had a lot of free time. I began to write this book, adding more and more characters as I went along, not sure where the story would go. I sent a synopsis and a few chapters off to a big publisher, which replied with a single-line rejection. I put the book away in a drawer. In February 2011, I friend told me about Amazon Kindle Publishing. I typed up the book, edited it and published it in March 2011. This inspired me to keep on writing.

In March 2011, I published Kiwi in Cat City.

In June 2011, I published Kiwi and the Missing Magic. 

In October 2011, I published Kiwi in the Living Nightmare.

In December 2011, I wrote Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle. It was published in June 2012.
In August 2012, I finished writing the fifth book, Kiwi in the Realm of Ra. It was published in November.
In November 2012, I wrote Kiwi's Christmas Tail during NaNoWrimo, and published it in December.

The series is illustrated by the talented Nikki McBroom.

Kiwi in Cat City

Amy and James live with their parents and their little black cat, Kiwi. One dark night, Amy cannot sleep and she looks out of the window into the garden to see Kiwi transfixed by the moon, which has taken on a weird, glowing shape like a cat's claw. Waking her brother, Amy suggests they follow Kiwi to see where she goes... whether it involves a hunt for mice or something else. Little do they know that with a flick of her tail, Kiwi is going to lead them on the adventure of their lives to a land they never knew existed in their wildest dreams. In the blue-lit world of Cat City, they gain an understanding of what it's really like to be a cat while helping Inspector Furrball to investigate a missing catizens case.

Kiwi and the Missing Magic

In book two, James and Amy embark on another adventure with their little black cat, which will take them to the Land of Giant Mice. The children return to Cat City to help their friends from the first book and meet some new characters along the way, including the Worry Bee, Whiskers and Moggie. The catizens' home is at risk of invasion and some of the Magic has gone missing. Can James and Amy help Kiwi to save the day? More importantly, will James' pet hamster find his true calling in life? 

Kiwi and the Living Nightmare

In book three, Amy, James and Kiwi embark on their spookiest adventure yet – on Halloween. What begins with an eerie dream about a three-legged cat will take the budding detectives on a quest to find an old house in the middle of the woods, meeting some familiar characters and some perky squirrels along the way. Little do they know that there awaits an angry, restless spirit that will do anything to stop them leaving. 

Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle

In book four, the wedding of Inspector Furrball and Madame Purrfect approaches. But, catastrophe, the ring is stolen from the Gem Shop! A pawprint identifies Fyre Cracker as the thief, but he lives in a dark world beneath Cat City, which is inhabited by crimicats. It’s up to the Kiwi Klub to find the ring. In the human world, the hamsters decide to stand up for their rights to better plastic wheels and an abundance of sunflower seeds. Meanwhile, the dastardly Dev shocks Kiwi with the news that he knows a big secret about her family –  her father, Delphinius, may still be alive! The key is The Sculptor, who will lead Kiwi and friends on their biggest adventure yet – to the strange Isle of the Serpent where they will come face to face with their most dangerous adversary so far.

Kiwi in the Realm of Ra

In book five, inspired by the film 'Back to the Future', Whiskers invents The Time-Squeaking Mouse. He plans to take his friends on a fantastic trip to celebrate Amy's thirteenth birthday. However, the time machine falls into the wrong hands and dastardly Dev travels back to Ancient Egypt when cats were sacred. With Dev having changed the path of history, it's up to Kiwi and the gang to travel back in time to find him. What will Kiwi, Amy, James, Whiskers, Hammy, Misty, Furrball and Siam think of this desert world of tombs, pyramids and sacred gods?

Kiwi's Christmas Tail
 

Book six is set over one Christmas and involves a star, a fairy, a witch, a toad, some catizens and Santa himself. Amy, James and their magical cat, Kiwi, find a star. But this is not an ordinary star. He's living and breathing, and his name is Sharissimo. A year earlier, the star and a fairy called Lilabel were captured by an evil witch with a big wart on her nose. While Sharissimo managed to escape, Lilabel didn't. Can Amy, James and Kiwi find the fairy before Christmas Eve, and rescue her from the clutches of the witch? The witch herself is in for a shock when she finds herself in the furry land of Cat City where she might be forced to be... nice.

Cheers,

Vickie

Some of my books are free in the Smashwords sale

First of all, I hope you've had a very merry Christmas and are now totally chilling on Boxing Day.

With 2019, just around the corner, here's wishing you a forthcoming year full of health, happiness, fun, frolics, friends, love and all the good stuff. And a lot of grooviness.

Smashwords.com currently has a sale on, so I have a few kindle books for free on it if u fancy one.

These are:

Kiwi's Christmas Tail (book 6 in my magical cat series, but it can be read as a standalone book);

3 Heads & a Tail (comedy romance with dog - not for kids);

The Sea Inside (teen fantasy with magical creatures);

Day of the Living Pizza (comedy zombie book);

Life's Rhythms (poetry);

Mind-spinning Rainbows (poetry); and

Travelling Light (poetry).

This is the link for Kiwi's Christmas Tail (scroll down to the other covers and click on them) -

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/263475

Only Travelling Light is free on Amazon.

I can't make all of these books free on Amazon, but they're about 99c/99p on there (just search for Vickie Johnstone).

Also available in other places such as WH Smith, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones.

Cheers! And happy reading!

Kiwi in Cat City: on sale for #99c / 75p

Happy Saturday!! The weekend didn't come soon enough :)

One of my ebooks, Kiwi in Cat City, is on sale at the moment for #99c or 75p... purrs...

Kiwi in Cat City is the tale of a magical cat and her friends. This 6-book series is full of furry fun for ages 9-99. It has 38 4/5-star reviews and book 4 was a finalist in the Indie Excellence Book Awards 2013. 

"I love this book. I bought it this morning and just finished it. I couldn't put it down! I recommend this book to all readers who love a good crime/mystery, and if they love cats." (Katharine Robey/Amazon)

Amazon US: http://ow.ly/kSQYy
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/15Nxfsv
Book trailer: http://youtu.be/CLjmVgNJcLM
Zazzle gift shop: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/kiwiincatcity

#99c / 75p #kindle sale!

Hi, four of my books are going cheap at the moment and two are forever free. Here are the links. :) Cheers.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vickie-Johnstone/e/B004SZ9TGE
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Vickie-Johnstone/e/B004SZ9TGE

Merry Christmas & a small gift!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my family and friends - those who I know offline and those I only know in this crazy world called the internet - and all the book people I've met since self-pubbing changed my life in 2011, who are just as obsessed with writing little stories as me. Best wishes, lots of luck, good health and a big dollop of happiness to everyone. I hope 2014 rocks and all your dreams - or some of them - come true...   

Here's a little Christmas elf joy for you - I think Moggie dances the best!
http://host-d.oddcast.com/php/application_UI/doorId=1177/clientId=299/?mId=56738343.3

CHRISTMAS PRESENT - if you'd like a free copy of my Christmas book, just enter coupon code RU94G at the checkout at this link:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/263475 

#99c / 75p today! Kiwi in Cat City purrs forth!

Kiwi in Cat City, the first book in my cool-for-cats series, is just #99c / 75p today (ebook format, although paperback is available for more). It's being featured on http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/2013/12/20/free-discounted-kindle-book-offers-73/. My book has received an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars, based on 33 customer reviews. Furry fun for ages 9-99.

Here is the book’s description:

Have you ever wished your cat could talk or wondered where he/she goes when you are not around? Kiwi in Cat City opens on one star-filled night. Amy cannot sleep and she looks out of the window into the garden to see her cat, Kiwi, transfixed by the moon, which is glowing brightly like a cat’s claw. Waking her brother, James, Amy suggests they follow Kiwi to see where she goes… whether it involves a hunt for mice or something else. Little do they know that with a flick of her tail, Kiwi is going to magically change the children into kittens and lead them on the adventure of their lives to a land they never knew existed in their wildest dreams. In the blue-lit world of Cat City, the budding detectives help Inspector Furrball to investigate the mysterious catnapping of Mr Katz and find out what happened to Madame Purrfect.

The books contain fabulous illustrations by Nikki McBroom.

If you'd like to win a copy, please leave your name and email or FB link below :)

Help animals in need with these cool books: only $0.99!

September Sale! All titles just $0.99 each!

Linda Deane is a South African author who is actively involved in the rescue and rehoming network. 

She takes in abused and abandoned cats and kittens, fostering them until their forever homes are found. 

Her writing royalties go towards the sterilisation and feeding of the animals in her care. 

Ice Angel is a fictitious tribute to one of her very special rescued kitties – 

an imagined account of one of her nine lives.

Buy it here: Amazon  Amazon UK

or here: Smashwords

From best-selling author Sibel Hodge comes an inspirational coming-of-age novel...

"A percentage of the royalties from the sale of this book will be contributed to Panthera, 

a leading international conservation organisation dedicated to protecting and preserving the world's big cats, 

plus other wildlife conservation groups." - Sibel Hodge

Buy it here: Amazon Amazon UK

 or here: Smashwords

Have you ever wished your cat could talk or wondered where he/she goes when you are not around? 

Kiwi in Cat City is the first book in a fun six-book series of adventures. Furry fun for ages 9-99.

Vickie Johnstone supports Hillside Animal Sanctuary, UK, 

where unwanted and abused animals are given a much needed sanctuary. 

Buy it here: Amazon Amazon UK

or here: Smashwords

“A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to three 

of my favourite animal charities.” – Marie Symeou

This is the story of a cute tabby kitten (my Athena) as she awaits her fate at an animal rescue shelter. 

Will she find her forever home? A heartwarming story for both children and adults alike. 

Note from the author: "For this month only, I will be donating ALL ROYALTIES to my chosen charities."

 Buy it here: Amazon Amazon UK

or here: Smashwords

Thanks for reading! :)

September is for Sequels Giveaway Hop – win 2 books!

September is for Sequels giveaway Hop - September 2-9

Hosted by Lisa Loves Literature & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

My giveaway...
Paperbacks of Kiwi in Cat City & 
Kiwi and the Missing Magic

2 runners-up will win ebook copies

For a chance to win, just do the Rafflecopter. Good luck! 
Click on the links at the end to hop to the other blogs offering fantastic prizes :)

Have you ever wished your cat could talk or wondered where he/she goes when you are not around? Kiwi in Cat City is the first book in a series, of which there are six fun adventures so far. Kiwi seems like a typical moggie, content to nap in the sun and chase shadows, but she has a secret. She is a magical cat from a place called Cat City. With her two humans, James and Amy, Kiwi finds mysteries and adventures, dealing with catnappings, jewel thieves, giant mice, time travel, haunted houses, Father Christmas, pyramids and more. The fun stories contain positive messages about loyalty, friendship, honesty, bullying and the power of standing together. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ninja kitty

My cat, Mog, has turned into a ninja this week... after being pretty lethargic lately, she pounced, chased and killed a spiddy in the week, and today she was eyeballing a moth while making those wiggles that kitties do. My cat doesn't hunt birds or furries... just insects. Yep, it's weird. Speedy moth got eyeballed and tracked by moving kitty head and kitty went to pounce but realised little moth was on top of precarious pile of stuff. I guess it looked too scary cos ninja cat then simply observed... and gave up.

Kiwi in Cat City: wonderful new review

A huge furry thank you to 'Animal Blogging with Dill' for this wonderful review of Kiwi in Cat City. It brought a big smile to my face :)

http://animalbloggingwithdillthecat.blogspot.com/p/dills-libraryunder-construction.html

Kiwi in Cat City (Kiwi series) by Vickie Johnstone is a fantasy/mystery about a family’s black magical cat named Kiwi who turns the kids into her kittens and off they go to a place called Cat City to help solve a kidnapping. Nikki McBroom, the illustrator, did a wonderful job lacing her art with Vickie Johnstone’s words and between the two Kiwi in Cat City has a collection of supporting characters that could have their own books.  

Kiwi in Cat City is an imaginative, active story with charming-funny dialogue. I really enjoyed the storyteller voice of Vickie Johnstone’s writing that made Kiwi in Cat City an easy read and a book worth reading more than once. But what I liked the most was its ageless which translate into a timeless appeal. 

I don’t know if Vickie Johnstone deliberately set out to write Kiwi in Cat City for children and/or adults, but I do believe it takes a wordsmith to find harmony in such a balance. The outcome can be described in a word one. Enchanting. Kiwi in Cat City by Vickie Johnstone is.

New reviews of my books

Some new reviews of my books...

Life's Rhythms (316 haiku)

http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Rhythms-ebook/dp/B009Z0X8H8/ref=sr_1_7_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1369576105&sr=8-7&keywords=vickie+johnstone

4 out of 5 stars - Great porch reading!, May 26, 2013 By Deal Sharing Aunt  I liked this book, and reading it relaxed me. The poems were written in a way that they flowed together nicely. I read the whole book in one sitting, and they were all positive. They author uses nature and humor in her poems as well. They were all haikus and some were straight forward while others were more abstract.

I did not like that there were not chapters and I didn't know what theme I was reading. However the poems were written very well and I am going to use this as a coffee table book! It is great for chatting. I also think that this would be a great book club book. The members could write their own poems each week. As I read the poems I definitely got pictures in my mind of birds chipping and wind blowing. This was my favorite poem:

Paw prints in the snow

Whiskers watches from the wall

White envelops all.

We definitely had a lot of snow this year!
I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own!

http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/lifes-rhythms-by-vickie-johnstone-review.html

Travelling Light

http://www.amazon.com/Travelling-light-poetry-ebook/dp/B00537SN0E/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

5 out of 5 stars - Continued Read..., May 11, 2013

By Ann Johnson-Murphree (Wisconsin) 

Very enjoyable read, one that I will return to time and time again. Well worth anyone's time to get to know this poet. ajm

Kiwi in Cat City

http://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-Cat-City-ebook/dp/B004YKSZMM/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1369576105&sr=8-1&keywords=vickie+johnstone

5 out of 5 stars - Great Children's Book!, May 23, 2013 By Chatty Cupid  This was such a sweet book. I loved the cat- hope there are many more adventures of Kiwi! Great Book! 3 Heads & a Tail http://www.amazon.com/3-Heads-a-Tail-ebook/dp/B009YZRUSC/ref=sr_1_4_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1369576105&sr=8-4&keywords=vickie+johnstone 5 out of 5 stars - Fun and funny read!, May 20, 2013 By Lady Wings (South Carolina, USA)  Any book that features a dog as a main character has to be good. Right? Well, most of the time... some of the time? This book, 3 Heads and a Tail, meets my idea of a good book. It is very humorous and a fun light read. Vickie Johnstone is one of my favorite authors and I always look forward to reading her work. It is written for readers over 16 years old. Folks wanting to be entertained will enjoy this book. I highly recommend it.