Coming soon: Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle

Hi, I have a new book coming in the next week or so. It's book four in the Kiwi Series. Here's a quick preview of the cover and book blurb, along with some sample chapters. Thanks for reading and have a purrfect day! :)

Book blurb... 

In book four of the Kiwi Series, 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 the dark world of the UnderPaw 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 – that 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.

Chapter 7: A singer and some jokers

“He’s staring,” observed Siam.

“I know,” squeaked Kiwi. “Let’s sit over the other side, please, so no tailizens notice us.”

Siam grinned. Kiwi and her strong charisma, he thought. He chose a round table that was shrouded in shadows, away from the candlelight. The little stars seemed to glimmer on the dark walls.

They all sat down on the orange-fabric covered stools around the table. The kittens and Misty lapped their milk. It was really good. James thought it might even be better than the chocolate milk in Cat City, but he didn’t say anything. Inspector Furrball wouldn’t be happy with that!

The Inspector eyed his own drink suspiciously as if something evil was going to jump out of it. Siam and Kiwi pretended to drink theirs, while making sure none passed their lips. Within minutes, the first act of the night began. Miss Claws leapt on to the stage, dressed in a long red dress, high black boots with needle-thin heels, and a long red wig. Her fake eyelashes flapped heavily as she gave the audience her biggest smile.

“Well hellooooooo tomcats!” she whispered huskily, and nearly every male cat in the place started to clap.

“But she hasn’t done anything yet,” said James, confused.

“She doesn’t need to,” laughed Siam.

James frowned. He didn’t understand.

Miss Claws started to sing. It was like a low purr that gradually got louder and then softened, grew louder, and softened again. The tailizens didn’t move. Their heads fell to the side and they stared, as if hypnotised, while Miss Claws sang. James felt his own head nodding, as did Amy. They felt sleepy, carried along on the dreamy song that warbled around the room.

“Wake up,” whispered Kiwi. “Don’t fall asleep just in case there are pickpockets.”

“Oh,” mumbled the kittens, waking from their daydreaming. Misty nearly fell off the chair and then wiggled her head to wake herself.

“Look at us instead,” advised Inspector Furrball.

Siam gazed open-mouthed at Miss Claws. She was possibly the most beautiful cat he’d ever seen in his life and she really knew how to purr.

Kiwi noticed and giggled under her breath. She’d never seen Siam so hypnotised by a female. Miss Claws seemed to glide across the stage. After about half an hour, she stopped singing and there was total silence. You could have heard a feather drop this time, if you had one.

“Well, queens and tomcats, where’s my applause?” she asked, smiling.

The audience didn’t need to be asked twice. The silence was cut and the cheers went up. Tomcats banged their glasses on their tables and clapped loudly.

“Woo-hoo!” mewed Siam, jumping up and clapping.

The kittens laughed, spluttering their Chocky Chocomilk, and Kiwi giggled.

 Inspector Furrball nudged his colleague. “Sit down, Siam. What’s got in to you?”

“But she’s wondercat,” smiled Siam dreamily. “Pure wondercat.” He sat down with the biggest grin on his face.

“And for our next act, we have Slim Kits Three!” shouted the barcat from the other side of the room. The tailizens looked round at him and then back at the stage as three toms stomped on, wearing brown boots and waistcoats, and funny hats. All three were brown with white tails.

“I bet they’re brothers!” said Amy.

“What goes up when I need a cool down?” asked one.

“Your tail,” yelled the second tom.

“Pew!” shouted the third, covering his nose with his paw. “Smelly!”

“They must be a joke act,” said James.

One of the cats turned to the audience: “Did you hear about the tom who drank five bowls of water? He set a new lap record!”

The second one took his turn: “Did you hear about the cat that swallowed a ball of wool? She had mittens!”

And the third took a bow: “What’s a cat’s favourite sweet? Mice cream cones!”

James and Amy giggled. Inspector Furrball looked a bit lost.

Half an hour and much laughter later, the trio of cats trotted off the stage to a ripple of applause.

“I think I need to go to the toilet,” said James. “I drank too much Chocky Chocomilk!”

“Me too,” agreed Amy. “Quickly, before the band comes on. Where are they?”

Kiwi glanced around and pointed. “Just by the bar over there – can you see?”

“Oh yes,” said Amy, “but there are two doors – how will I tell which is for girls?”

“Easy,” said Siam. “There are always signs on the doors in public places like this. You’ll be able to tell easily – the girls’ toilet has a picture of a queen...”

“Female cat,” whispered Kiwi.

“... and the boys’ has a tomcat on it...”

Inspector Furrball interrupted, “I hope they’re clean – I don’t trust tailizen toilets! I bet they don’t change the cat litter very often and I’d be very surprised if they have a scratching post!”

“Okay,” mumbled Amy. “Thanks Siam. We’ll be right back.”

The two kittens scurried across the room towards the two toilets. The doors were shiny black and, sure enough, they had signs on them – one female cat and one tomcat – so that everyone knew where to go... in theory.

“They both look the same!” gasped James.

“I know!” agreed Amy. “Am I missing something? Is there any difference at all?”

“Nope!” James sighed. “None!”

“I guess only real cats can tell them apart!”

“What shall we do? I really want to go now!” mewed James, crossing his paws, which didn’t help at all.

“Oh, hold on, I’ll just have a quick look inside and maybe I’ll be able to tell!”

Amy opened the door on the right and peeked in. Inside was a small room, painted black and lit by an orange lamp. There were three black boxes, full of cat litter, and a scratching post. There was also a mirror and a bowl of water. It looked clean and tidy. Amy closed the door.

“And?”

Amy pouted. “Not sure. I’ll compare.”

She opened the other door and peeked inside, but it was exactly the same. They had a problem. James was hopping from paw to paw, so Amy feared they didn’t have long. But which was the girls’ toilet? They looked identical. Why couldn’t they have colour-coded them pink and blue to make things easier?

“Amy, I can’t wait any longer,” mewed James, pulling a face. He was looking a bit cross-eyed.

“Erm...”

“Excuse me, Miss!”

The two kittens looked up to see a big white cat wearing a black waistcoat, earrings, a nose ring and a black cap. He had blue stripes dyed across his fur.

“Oh, sorry,” mumbled Amy, stepping aside.

The big cat opened the door on the right and walked in, humming a tune.

“I guess that’s our answer,” said Amy.

“Phew!” squeaked James, dashing in. He couldn’t have lasted another minute.

Chapter 8: A band called Hiss

“And so we come to our final act of the night – the band you’ve all been waiting for,” mewed the barcat.

“Yeahhhhhhh!” the crowd mewed and clapped. Some tailizens began to jump around.

The kittens raced across the room from the toilets and sat down on their chairs. Kiwi crossed her paws, hoping to recognise the gem thief.

“A kitty, kitty, kitty good evening to all of you!” came a shout as four cats bounded on to the stage. One jumped behind the drum kit with a howl, two others strummed what resembled mini guitars, and the fourth needed no introduction or microphone – “Toms and kitties, we’re Hiss!” he mewed.

The tailizen was jet black with dark, brooding eyes. Some of his whiskers were missing and his mouth curled up as he snarled. On top of his head, his fur pointed upwards like some kind of cat Mohican and it was bright blue.

The crowd of tailizens were jumping up and down in time to the music, and some were dancing. Amy grinned, part of her wanting to join in. She loved music and dancing so much.

 “Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!” the audience, well, hissed back at the singer.

“Tail-tastic!” screeched Fyre and leapt around the stage, dancing around the two tomcats who were strumming the song on their guitars. It sounded like rock music, but with the same pitch as a meow. When Fyre started singing, it was the highest screech that Amy or James had ever heard. They grimaced and stuck their paws over their ears. Misty hid under the table. No-one could see her anyway so no one would be offended.

Fyre suddenly pointed at the two kittens, “Come on, rock out little kitties!” But then he started screeching again. Amy gritted her teeth. She felt the fur on the back of her neck stand on end. “I don’t know if I can take this much longer,” she muttered. “It’s so high!”

“Come on,” said Kiwi. “Let’s head over to the other room, where we came in. We can get to know Mow, and it won’t be so loud in there. I guess your ears haven’t adjusted!”

“I’ll come too,” said Inspector Furrball, getting up quickly. “Call this music? I just don’t understand it!”

“You should stay here and keep an eye on Fyre, in case anything happens!” said Kiwi.

“Oh, must I? His singing is dreadful,” sighed the inspector.

Siam laughed and patted his paw. “It’s okay, old timer!” he joked.

Inspector Furrball frowned and mumbled something inaudible.

“Come on kittens,” said Kiwi, trying not to giggle.

James and Amy nodded, holding their paws over their ears. The kittens wobbled across the room with their tails between their legs.

Fyre pointed and laughed. The toms at the back of the audience also turned and chuckled.

“I guess they’re too young to rock!” meowed Fyre, before screeching again.

“Phew!” breathed the kittens as they passed the bar and left the room.

“He was hissing so high,” complained Amy. “Is that normal?”

“For that type of singing, I’m afraid so!” said Kiwi.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/14289359-kiwi-and-the-serpent-of-the-isle

Sample Sunday: Kiwi in Cat City

Happy lazy Sunday to ya! Here's a sample taste of Kiwi in Cat City

For children aged 9+, teens and adults...

One dark 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 them 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 solve the mystery of the missing catizens and find out what happened to Madame Purrfect. 

Introduction

The night was dark and the streetlights glinted a faded blue wash across the street. It was very quiet. The little houses sat still and motionless, with curtains drawn and nearly everyone sleeping. Mr Katz looked at his watch. He was running late. Work had been so hectic this week and he was starving. He could feel his belly rumbling and his nose twitched, just like it always did when he was hungry. He began dreaming of food, lashings of food, mountains of it, steaming hot, and a nice warm mug of milk to send him off to sleep. He smiled at the idea of it. Nice and warm in bed with a nice mug of milk...tap tap tap… from behind him drifted the sound of footsteps in the dead night. In the distance, but getting louder. He turned to see who was out this late, but could see no-one. Weird. He could hear the steps getting nearer. He stopped whistling and quickened his pace.

Round the corner he went, walking fast, his breathing growing heavier. Behind him he could hear the footsteps approaching nearer and nearer. He turned but could see no-one in the dark. He turned another corner, and the next. Still he could hear the footsteps. Louder and louder. Nearer and nearer. Faster and faster. Mr Katz broke into a run. He dropped his bag and sped round the next corner and the next. And the next. Bang. He stopped all of a sudden.

“Are you alright sir? You seem in a bit of a hurry,” said the female voice. He squinted as he puffed, out of breath, but he could not see her face properly as it was so dark.

“Yes,” said Mr Katz. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I was in a bit of a rush…”

“So it seems,” she said. “But you ran in the wrong direction…”

Mr Katz felt someone grab him from behind. He coughed and his heart raced. He went cold.

“You really should have gone the other way,” said the male voice.

Then everything went dark.

Chapter one: follow, follow

Amy awoke and saw her black cat sitting perched on the end of her bed, studying the gleaming moon. She rubbed her eyes and sat up just in time to see Kiwi leap out of the window and on to the ledge below. Amy crept out of bed and peered outside. The cat was standing perfectly balanced on the wooden garden fence, calm and still, her tail perked up. A dark silhouette staring up at the moon. I wonder where she’s going, thought Amy. She crept into her brother James’ room where he was sleeping soundly, and prodded his arm until he woke with a jump.

“What?” he gasped, wiping the sleep from his eyes. “I was dreaming. You really scared me.”

“Come and look.”

“Eh?” He stumbled out of bed and, like a zombie, followed his sister to the window. Gazing out, they could see the black cat still sitting on the fence.

“She has been sitting there for ages,” said Amy.

“Maybe she’s stretching,” he shrugged.

They watched, but Kiwi didn’t stretch. Instead she leapt off the fence and stood on the path, looking up at the moon.

“Now that’s weird. That’s what I’m talking about,” said Amy. “She’s thinking about something.”

“I wonder where she goes at night,” James mused.

“Hunting mice,” grinned Amy.

“Yuk, she wouldn’t. Would she?”

“Tell you what, I’m going to follow her and see…”

“You’re crazy,” gasped James. “It’s 1am and mum will kill you.”

“I want to see what she has for breakfast,” Amy laughed. “Don’t you?”

“Yuk! That’s grim,” said James, screwing up his face.

Amy wandered back to her room with her little brother following, half-asleep and a bit confused.

“So you’re coming then?” asked Amy, putting on her shoes and jacket.

“Errm,” he murmured as his sister crept out of the room on tiptoes. “Okay, but if she catches anything I’m not touching it…”

James slid on his trainers, jeans and jacket, and crept down the stairs after his sister, being careful not to make a sound. He could hear his dad snoring like a sleeping dragon. The sound echoed off of every wall. They tiptoed to the back door and slowly opened it on its creaky hinges. It was so loud. Ahh.

Kiwi was still sitting in the middle of the garden, staring up at the moon. Holding their breath they slowly closed the door without a sound. Turning around, they were just in time to see Kiwi plunge over the fence in a single bound. The two children looked at one another, raised eyebrows, and ran to the bottom of the garden to the gate. Out they went, giggling. It was a warm summer night without a breeze. In the field beyond the gate, trees soared up against the night sky, jagged and spectre-like. Without the shine of the moon it would have been completely dark. James shivered, but he had already decided that he was not going to look scared, even if he was.

“There she goes,” pointed Amy, as they bounded across the field towards the black tail that bobbed above the grass in the distance.

They chased and chased. The black cat ran and ran. They swerved between trees and the black cat just kept running. The children started to puff and pant. “Kiwi!” they yelled.

Suddenly, the cat’s ears pricked up and she stopped with a jump. Caught unawares, the little black cat turned around, her yellow eyes wide and enquiring. “Are you two following me?”

Amy and James stopped dead in their tracks. James sat down on the grass with a bump, his mouth wide open. Amy wanted to say something, but she couldn’t speak.

“Well, are you?” asked Kiwi, standing up straight and resting one paw on her hip. “It’s a bit late to be out playing you know.”

Kiwi grinned the biggest, widest grin and flicked her tail. She sat down and started washing, knowing that she had just given her two playmates the biggest shock of their lives. She carried on washing her paw, flicked out a claw, and waited for a reply. It was a long time coming.

The children were transfixed, rooted to the spot. Cold fingers of air travelled up their spines and made all of the hairs on their necks stand up. Amy gulped. Was she dreaming?

“What’s wrong?” laughed Kiwi. “Cat got your tongue?”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!” Amy sat down with a thump.

“Yooouuuu taaaallllkkkkk,” James stuttered.

“Well, what were you expecting? Sign language?” asked Kiwi matter-of-factly.

“But, we can understand you,” mumbled Amy, pinching her arm. Ouch. She wasn’t dreaming. Could this be real after all?

“Well, I know several languages,” explained Kiwi. “It comes in handy. So you WERE following me? Ha ha!”

“Sort of,” said James. “We were wondering what you ate for breakfast.”

“Like mice?” asked Kiwi, grinning.

“Well yes.”

Kiwi laughed. “I have more important things to do. And mice taste funny. Errr. Not good. And mice have feelings too. They’re very intelligent you know. I have several good friends who are mice….” Kiwi stopped talking as the two children sat open-mouthed in shock, blinking oddly.

“Ok, well, enough of that,” she carried on. Best to change the subject. “I was joking. I don’t have any mouse friends! Well, you see that moon up there? See how it’s really bright and glowing?”

The kids nodded.

“And see how it’s shaped like a cat’s claw?”

“I guess…” said James.

“Well, nights like these are not ordinary nights,” said the cat, looking straight at the boy.

James shivered. “Why?” He wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer. Was Kiwi going to eat them?

“Well,” said Kiwi slowly, “if you really want to know… why don’t you follow me some more?”

It was a challenge. The cat was grinning from ear to ear now. Amy was cold and scared. She could only stare awkwardly as though hypnotised while her brother chatted to the cat… the cat…. THE CAT! She felt dizzy.

After a few more minutes, Kiwi gazed back at the moon. It seemed even brighter. She got up. “There is no more time to lose. I have to go now. Are you coming?” She flashed her big, yellow eyes.

James sprung to his feet. “I’m coming,” he announced.

“No,” called Amy as James started to follow the little black cat. “I’m scared. Don’t follow. This is too weird…”

But James didn’t listen and carried on walking. Amy pulled herself to her feet and looked behind her. The field was empty. It must be about 2am by now, if not later. Their parents would be getting up in a few hours for work. Morning was fast approaching. What should she do? She couldn’t let her brother go alone. What if he got lost? “Wait!” she shouted, and charged after her brother and her suddenly talking cat. Things were not how they were meant to be today.

Chapter two: as easy as one, two, three

“Come on,” said Kiwi. “We’re nearly there.”

“Where?” asked James, glancing around at the big, open and completely empty field. All around the edges, the tall trees loomed, stretching up like a giant, natural wall.

“Here,” said Kiwi.

“But there’s nothing here,” said James, cold and slightly impatient. Not only could his pet cat talk, but she was also clearly crazy.

“There’s more than the eye can see,” said Kiwi, gazing up with her big, yellow saucer eyes. “Just follow what I do. And concentrate. It’s easy.”

The cat sat down and stared up at the moon. “One, two, three, a flick of the tail, a purr, a leap and away we go…”

Puff! She vanished. All that remained was a strange, glowing, purple mist.

“She disappeared!” cried Amy, turning round in a circle. “I can’t see her. Can you?”

“Your turn,” he said quietly.

“What? Are you crazy? She‘s just hiding in the grass,” said Amy.

“You go first, like she says…”

Amy looked annoyed. “You can’t be serious. You’re not suggesting…”

James nodded. “You’re the oldest.”

“No way!” she replied. “I haven’t got a tail to flick and I’m pretty sure I can’t purr…”

“I think you’re meant to imagine one…”

“You’re mad,” said Amy.

“Mmm I’m going to try,” sighed James, and he starting counting out loud.” One, two…”

“Ok, Ok,” cried Amy, clenching her fists to her sides. “Now straight after this I’m taking you home. Okay?”

And so, Amy flicked her imaginary tail, which was pretty long in her mind, purred and leapt up into the air – into nothing, or something? She couldn’t make it out. She had this amazing feeling of pure weightlessness as if her body weighed nothing. It also felt smaller, and she seemed to be floating. All around, everything was purple…

“Wow, it worked,” shouted James, jumping up and down. And he collapsed into giggles. “Cool!”

In the spot where his sister had jumped, only a puff of purple mist was left. Now it’s my turn, he thought, and turning round with a one, two, three and a flick of his imaginary tail, a purr and a leap, away he went to who-knows-where. A feeling of sheer weightlessness gave him the impression that he was flying. Wild! But where was he flying to?

“Ahem, the landing can sometimes be a bit difficult until you get used to it,” grinned Kiwi, washing her nose with a paw as Amy found herself collapsed in a heap on the floor. “You’ll have to get used to being on four feet now!”

“Four?” Amy stuttered, bewildered.

“Sure, look down and see how many feet you’ve got.”

“Eeeeeek!” Kiwi was right. Not one, not two, not three, but four feet were attached to her new body – but they were not feet, they were paws!! Fluffy black and white paws! “No!” Amy jumped backwards and fell over. But the biggest shock of all was the big white fluffy tail that wiggled out like a worm behind her. “Oh no!” she cried, and then fell over again trying to chase round in a circle to check out the tail more clearly. “Ahhh”, she yelled, and then a small laugh bubbled up inside her, spilling over until she couldn’t stop. She rolled over on her back with her legs in the air. All four of them. “I have a tail! A tail!” And she laughed some more.

Just at that moment, James fell through the sky and bounced on the ground with a little “ouch”.

Except that, of course, it wasn’t quite James. Well, it was and it wasn’t. James was now a little, tabby kitten with a very pink nose. He wobbled a bit on his new feet when he walked, with his tail stuck up like a radar.

“Where’s Amy?” he asked as he sat down, a bit dazed.

“Don’t you recognise her?” grinned Kiwi, nodding towards the little black-and-white cat, who sat bright-eyed and staring at him.

“No, really, where is she? Is she okay?”

“I can see this is going to take a while,” said Kiwi, taking charge. “Amy meet James, James meet Amy. No, you’re not dreaming. Yes you have a tail.”

“No, you’re joking…”

“I’m afraid she’s not,” purred Amy in her feline voice.

“Ah,” shouted James and fell over. He noticed that Amy still had her flowery necklace on. “It can’t be true! Hey, what’s that? Hey, I’ve got a tail! Wow! And four paws. No way! This tail is really bushy…”

Amy started giggling. Kiwi raised an eyebrow. It was going to be a long night. Humans!

Indie Author Hop winner - congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who took part in my paperback giveaway as part of the Indie Author Hop, from June 13-19, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Krazy Book Lady

Congratulations to Elizabeth Kotkiewicz Hyatt, chosen by random through Rafflecopter, who wins a paperbackcopy of Kiwi in Cat City and a signed bookmark. I hope you enjoy it!

I really enjoyed reading all of the answers to the question:
what 5 things would you take to a desert island? 

I'd be inclined to cheat and take a house, a speedboat, friends, a fridge that never ran out of anything, especially Milky Bar choc, and... my cutie cat, of course!!

Here are the answers that I received... all anonymous, of course! I think they make great reading. They show how different we all are... but books and food are constants! And someone is even taking Mr Depp! Good taste! I love how some answers are totally serious and practical, and others are not at all! :) Thanks also to the person who nominated my book! It made me chuckle that books, food, GPS and Kindles were the most popular choices here... way above hubbies :) And kitties got a mention too :) There also seems to be a demand for solar-powered Kindles... come on Amazon... make their day!

So, what would you take?

Here are some of the replies for your enjoyment... 

My Nook, a generator (just for my Nook), Kellan Lutz, water, food and a bed

Books, sunblock, food, flashlight w/batteries and a picture of my hubby

Water, food, Just Listen, flashlight and beef jerky

A book, sunscreen, a knife, lip balm and comfortable shoes

Food, water, blanket, books and chocolate

Knife, water purifier, a tent, a torch and a pillow

If I can't take my four boys, I'd take my Kindle, my laptop, food, water and a boat!!!

A plant identification book, an axe, a lighter, a star map (a deserted island has to be great for star watching) and a camera

My Kindle, Johnny Depp, Grey Goose, a GPS with signal beacon so my rescuers could find me (attached to) and a fully equipped luxury yacht!

My iPad (assuming I had a good internet connection, LOL, and that there was a way to charge it), sunscreen, sunglasses, bathing suit and a trunk full of books in case I couldn't charge the iPad!!

My husband, an e-reader loaded with books, a camera, a solar power charger to charge the e-reader & camera, and matches

Books, pillow, duvet, books and books!

Kindle, my cat, paper and pen, food and water

Sunscreen, a thick book, toothbrush, food and water

A whole bag of books, a knife, water, GPS and a hottie to keep me company!

Books, food, water, shelter and more books :)

A book, my phone, a lucky charm, photos of my sons and husband, and my sanity

Solar-powered Kindle, my hubby, water, food and a bathing suit!

Mirror, tampons, matches, knife and a copy of your book ;)

Sample Sunday: Kiwi in Cat City

Happy lazy Sunday to ya! Here's a sample taste of Kiwi in Cat City

For children aged 9+, teens and adults...

One dark 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 them 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 solve the mystery of the missing catizens and find out what happened to Madame Purrfect. 

Introduction

The night was dark and the streetlights glinted a faded blue wash across the street. It was very quiet. The little houses sat still and motionless, with curtains drawn and nearly everyone sleeping. Mr Katz looked at his watch. He was running late. Work had been so hectic this week and he was starving. He could feel his belly rumbling and his nose twitched, just like it always did when he was hungry. He began dreaming of food, lashings of food, mountains of it, steaming hot, and a nice warm mug of milk to send him off to sleep. He smiled at the idea of it. Nice and warm in bed with a nice mug of milk...tap tap tap… from behind him drifted the sound of footsteps in the dead night. In the distance, but getting louder. He turned to see who was out this late, but could see no-one. Weird. He could hear the steps getting nearer. He stopped whistling and quickened his pace.

Round the corner he went, walking fast, his breathing growing heavier. Behind him he could hear the footsteps approaching nearer and nearer. He turned but could see no-one in the dark. He turned another corner, and the next. Still he could hear the footsteps. Louder and louder. Nearer and nearer. Faster and faster. Mr Katz broke into a run. He dropped his bag and sped round the next corner and the next. And the next. Bang. He stopped all of a sudden.

“Are you alright sir? You seem in a bit of a hurry,” said the female voice. He squinted as he puffed, out of breath, but he could not see her face properly as it was so dark.

“Yes,” said Mr Katz. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I was in a bit of a rush…”

“So it seems,” she said. “But you ran in the wrong direction…”

Mr Katz felt someone grab him from behind. He coughed and his heart raced. He went cold.

“You really should have gone the other way,” said the male voice.

Then everything went dark.

Chapter one: follow, follow

Amy awoke and saw her black cat sitting perched on the end of her bed, studying the gleaming moon. She rubbed her eyes and sat up just in time to see Kiwi leap out of the window and on to the ledge below. Amy crept out of bed and peered outside. The cat was standing perfectly balanced on the wooden garden fence, calm and still, her tail perked up. A dark silhouette staring up at the moon. I wonder where she’s going, thought Amy. She crept into her brother James’ room where he was sleeping soundly, and prodded his arm until he woke with a jump.

“What?” he gasped, wiping the sleep from his eyes. “I was dreaming. You really scared me.”

“Come and look.”

“Eh?” He stumbled out of bed and, like a zombie, followed his sister to the window. Gazing out, they could see the black cat still sitting on the fence.

“She has been sitting there for ages,” said Amy.

“Maybe she’s stretching,” he shrugged.

They watched, but Kiwi didn’t stretch. Instead she leapt off the fence and stood on the path, looking up at the moon.

“Now that’s weird. That’s what I’m talking about,” said Amy. “She’s thinking about something.”

“I wonder where she goes at night,” James mused.

“Hunting mice,” grinned Amy.

“Yuk, she wouldn’t. Would she?”

“Tell you what, I’m going to follow her and see…”

“You’re crazy,” gasped James. “It’s 1am and mum will kill you.”

“I want to see what she has for breakfast,” Amy laughed. “Don’t you?”

“Yuk! That’s grim,” said James, screwing up his face.

Amy wandered back to her room with her little brother following, half-asleep and a bit confused.

“So you’re coming then?” asked Amy, putting on her shoes and jacket.

“Errm,” he murmured as his sister crept out of the room on tiptoes. “Okay, but if she catches anything I’m not touching it…”

James slid on his trainers, jeans and jacket, and crept down the stairs after his sister, being careful not to make a sound. He could hear his dad snoring like a sleeping dragon. The sound echoed off of every wall. They tiptoed to the back door and slowly opened it on its creaky hinges. It was so loud. Ahh.

Kiwi was still sitting in the middle of the garden, staring up at the moon. Holding their breath they slowly closed the door without a sound. Turning around, they were just in time to see Kiwi plunge over the fence in a single bound. The two children looked at one another, raised eyebrows, and ran to the bottom of the garden to the gate. Out they went, giggling. It was a warm summer night without a breeze. In the field beyond the gate, trees soared up against the night sky, jagged and spectre-like. Without the shine of the moon it would have been completely dark. James shivered, but he had already decided that he was not going to look scared, even if he was.

“There she goes,” pointed Amy, as they bounded across the field towards the black tail that bobbed above the grass in the distance.

They chased and chased. The black cat ran and ran. They swerved between trees and the black cat just kept running. The children started to puff and pant. “Kiwi!” they yelled.

Suddenly, the cat’s ears pricked up and she stopped with a jump. Caught unawares, the little black cat turned around, her yellow eyes wide and enquiring. “Are you two following me?”

Amy and James stopped dead in their tracks. James sat down on the grass with a bump, his mouth wide open. Amy wanted to say something, but she couldn’t speak.

“Well, are you?” asked Kiwi, standing up straight and resting one paw on her hip. “It’s a bit late to be out playing you know.”

Kiwi grinned the biggest, widest grin and flicked her tail. She sat down and started washing, knowing that she had just given her two playmates the biggest shock of their lives. She carried on washing her paw, flicked out a claw, and waited for a reply. It was a long time coming.

The children were transfixed, rooted to the spot. Cold fingers of air travelled up their spines and made all of the hairs on their necks stand up. Amy gulped. Was she dreaming?

“What’s wrong?” laughed Kiwi. “Cat got your tongue?”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!” Amy sat down with a thump.

“Yooouuuu taaaallllkkkkk,” James stuttered.

“Well, what were you expecting? Sign language?” asked Kiwi matter-of-factly.

“But, we can understand you,” mumbled Amy, pinching her arm. Ouch. She wasn’t dreaming. Could this be real after all?

“Well, I know several languages,” explained Kiwi. “It comes in handy. So you WERE following me? Ha ha!”

“Sort of,” said James. “We were wondering what you ate for breakfast.”

“Like mice?” asked Kiwi, grinning.

“Well yes.”

Kiwi laughed. “I have more important things to do. And mice taste funny. Errr. Not good. And mice have feelings too. They’re very intelligent you know. I have several good friends who are mice….” Kiwi stopped talking as the two children sat open-mouthed in shock, blinking oddly.

“Ok, well, enough of that,” she carried on. Best to change the subject. “I was joking. I don’t have any mouse friends! Well, you see that moon up there? See how it’s really bright and glowing?”

The kids nodded.

“And see how it’s shaped like a cat’s claw?”

“I guess…” said James.

“Well, nights like these are not ordinary nights,” said the cat, looking straight at the boy.

James shivered. “Why?” He wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer. Was Kiwi going to eat them?

“Well,” said Kiwi slowly, “if you really want to know… why don’t you follow me some more?”

It was a challenge. The cat was grinning from ear to ear now. Amy was cold and scared. She could only stare awkwardly as though hypnotised while her brother chatted to the cat… the cat…. THE CAT! She felt dizzy.

After a few more minutes, Kiwi gazed back at the moon. It seemed even brighter. She got up. “There is no more time to lose. I have to go now. Are you coming?” She flashed her big, yellow eyes.

James sprung to his feet. “I’m coming,” he announced.

“No,” called Amy as James started to follow the little black cat. “I’m scared. Don’t follow. This is too weird…”

But James didn’t listen and carried on walking. Amy pulled herself to her feet and looked behind her. The field was empty. It must be about 2am by now, if not later. Their parents would be getting up in a few hours for work. Morning was fast approaching. What should she do? She couldn’t let her brother go alone. What if he got lost? “Wait!” she shouted, and charged after her brother and her suddenly talking cat. Things were not how they were meant to be today.

Chapter two: as easy as one, two, three

“Come on,” said Kiwi. “We’re nearly there.”

“Where?” asked James, glancing around at the big, open and completely empty field. All around the edges, the tall trees loomed, stretching up like a giant, natural wall.

“Here,” said Kiwi.

“But there’s nothing here,” said James, cold and slightly impatient. Not only could his pet cat talk, but she was also clearly crazy.

“There’s more than the eye can see,” said Kiwi, gazing up with her big, yellow saucer eyes. “Just follow what I do. And concentrate. It’s easy.”

The cat sat down and stared up at the moon. “One, two, three, a flick of the tail, a purr, a leap and away we go…”

Puff! She vanished. All that remained was a strange, glowing, purple mist.

“She disappeared!” cried Amy, turning round in a circle. “I can’t see her. Can you?”

“Your turn,” he said quietly.

“What? Are you crazy? She‘s just hiding in the grass,” said Amy.

“You go first, like she says…”

Amy looked annoyed. “You can’t be serious. You’re not suggesting…”

James nodded. “You’re the oldest.”

“No way!” she replied. “I haven’t got a tail to flick and I’m pretty sure I can’t purr…”

“I think you’re meant to imagine one…”

“You’re mad,” said Amy.

“Mmm I’m going to try,” sighed James, and he starting counting out loud.” One, two…”

“Ok, Ok,” cried Amy, clenching her fists to her sides. “Now straight after this I’m taking you home. Okay?”

And so, Amy flicked her imaginary tail, which was pretty long in her mind, purred and leapt up into the air – into nothing, or something? She couldn’t make it out. She had this amazing feeling of pure weightlessness as if her body weighed nothing. It also felt smaller, and she seemed to be floating. All around, everything was purple…

“Wow, it worked,” shouted James, jumping up and down. And he collapsed into giggles. “Cool!”

In the spot where his sister had jumped, only a puff of purple mist was left. Now it’s my turn, he thought, and turning round with a one, two, three and a flick of his imaginary tail, a purr and a leap, away he went to who-knows-where. A feeling of sheer weightlessness gave him the impression that he was flying. Wild! But where was he flying to?

“Ahem, the landing can sometimes be a bit difficult until you get used to it,” grinned Kiwi, washing her nose with a paw as Amy found herself collapsed in a heap on the floor. “You’ll have to get used to being on four feet now!”

“Four?” Amy stuttered, bewildered.

“Sure, look down and see how many feet you’ve got.”

“Eeeeeek!” Kiwi was right. Not one, not two, not three, but four feet were attached to her new body – but they were not feet, they were paws!! Fluffy black and white paws! “No!” Amy jumped backwards and fell over. But the biggest shock of all was the big white fluffy tail that wiggled out like a worm behind her. “Oh no!” she cried, and then fell over again trying to chase round in a circle to check out the tail more clearly. “Ahhh”, she yelled, and then a small laugh bubbled up inside her, spilling over until she couldn’t stop. She rolled over on her back with her legs in the air. All four of them. “I have a tail! A tail!” And she laughed some more.

Just at that moment, James fell through the sky and bounced on the ground with a little “ouch”.

Except that, of course, it wasn’t quite James. Well, it was and it wasn’t. James was now a little, tabby kitten with a very pink nose. He wobbled a bit on his new feet when he walked, with his tail stuck up like a radar.

“Where’s Amy?” he asked as he sat down, a bit dazed.

“Don’t you recognise her?” grinned Kiwi, nodding towards the little black-and-white cat, who sat bright-eyed and staring at him.

“No, really, where is she? Is she okay?”

“I can see this is going to take a while,” said Kiwi, taking charge. “Amy meet James, James meet Amy. No, you’re not dreaming. Yes you have a tail.”

“No, you’re joking…”

“I’m afraid she’s not,” purred Amy in her feline voice.

“Ah,” shouted James and fell over. He noticed that Amy still had her flowery necklace on. “It can’t be true! Hey, what’s that? Hey, I’ve got a tail! Wow! And four paws. No way! This tail is really bushy…”

Amy started giggling. Kiwi raised an eyebrow. It was going to be a long night. Humans!