Cats, Cats, Everywhere Cats is a delightful, rhyming picture book that celebrates the charming personalities, playful antics, and wonderful diversity of cats, inviting young readers to discover what makes every feline special. What inspired you to write this story?

Honestly, cats! I have loved cats my entire life. I can’t remember a single season of my life when I haven’t had at least one cat sharing it with me.

The inspiration for Cats, Cats, Everywhere Cats came one evening while I was putting my two-year-old granddaughter, Elsie, to bed. At the time, I had four cats, and as we went into her bedroom, several of them had made themselves right at home. We had to shoo the cats out of the room, and Elsie and I were laughing about it when I said, “Oh, Elsie, cats, cats, everywhere cats!”

Almost immediately, another line came to mind: “Cats in the country, cats in the town, cats all over, cats all around.” Then came more thoughts about cats of different colors, cats in the daytime, and cats at night.

After our little adventure with the cats, I settled down on the floor beside Elsie’s crib, as I often did, holding her hand while she drifted off to sleep. But that evening, my mind was filled with rhymes! One thought led to another, and the words just kept coming.

Once Elsie was asleep, I got up and began writing. That very evening, I wrote nearly the entire story.

What started as a simple, laughter-filled bedtime moment with my granddaughter and our cats became a children’s book. It’s a wonderful reminder that sometimes the most unexpected moments in everyday life can become something truly special.

How did you decide which feline characteristics and behaviors to highlight for young readers?

Having shared my life with cats for as long as I can remember, I’ve come to appreciate just how wonderfully different they are. Even the cats I have today have completely different personalities, yet they share some of those familiar feline characteristics that cat lovers everywhere recognize. Some are affectionate and gentle, others are mischievous and independent, and some seem to have a little attitude about everything! That’s part of what makes cats so entertaining.

What makes this book especially personal is that many of the cats featured in the illustrations are actual cats belonging to my family. There’s my fearless orange tabby, Tom, who is illustrated boldly smacking my German Shepherd, perfectly capturing the line “Cat with no fear.” My tuxedo cat, Leo, also makes an appearance, along with my son’s beautiful tortoiseshell, Luna, my daughter’s uniquely marked cat, Clover, and my mother’s lovely calico, Callie. One of the tabbies was even a stray I rescued. Over the years, I’ve rescued more than thirteen cats, helping them receive veterinary care and find loving homes.

Some of the characteristics I chose intentionally because I wanted children to see the incredible variety in the cat world. I wanted to include different coat colors, patterns, sizes, personalities, and even eye colors. Cats can have green eyes, yellow eyes, blue eyes, or sometimes two different-colored eyes! And of course, I had to include the magnificent Maine Coon! As one of the largest domestic cat breeds, I like to think of it as the lion of the domestic cat world.

Other choices came naturally through the rhyming process. I thought it would be funny to contrast a well-dressed tuxedo cat with a hairless Sphynx cat. The thought of one cat dressed for a formal occasion and another wearing absolutely nothing still makes me laugh!

I also wanted to weave little educational moments into the story. For example, one of the verses says, “Cats in a clowder, cats all alone.” Many people don’t realize that a group of cats is called a clowder! I thought it would be fun to introduce children to interesting words and facts about cats while keeping the story playful and entertaining. I also intentionally included a collection of fun facts at the end of the book, giving curious young readers an opportunity to learn even more about these fascinating animals. I love the idea that children can laugh, enjoy the rhymes, and discover something new all at the same time.

Some details were carefully chosen, while others simply fell into place as the rhymes developed. I wanted the book to be playful and educational without ever feeling like a lesson.

More than anything, I wanted children to discover what I’ve known my entire life: no two cats are exactly alike, and each one has something special about it. I’ve been incredibly blessed to share my life with these wonderful animals, and I can’t imagine a life without them.

What was your creative process for balancing rhythm, humor, and simplicity?

I’ve always had a special love for children’s books, especially those that rhyme. When my own children were little, I read to them constantly. I also provided childcare in my home for five children, and reading stories together was always an important part of our day. Now I have the joy of sharing that same love of books with my granddaughter, Elsie.

One of the things I’ve always appreciated about rhyming stories is how naturally children remember them. When my daughter Megan was just three years old, we regularly brought books home from the library. I was amazed at how quickly she memorized the rhyming stories. I remember counting the words in one particular book and discovering that she had memorized approximately 365 words, word for word, simply from hearing it read aloud over those few weeks. That experience really stayed with me. Rhyming isn’t just entertaining; it’s a wonderful tool for developing language, learning, and memory.

I’ve always enjoyed playing with words and rhymes, even in everyday conversation, so writing my children’s books in rhyme feels very natural to me.

With Cats, Cats, Everywhere Cats, the rhythm seemed to come almost effortlessly. Those very first lines had a particular cadence that I loved, and I intentionally worked to carry that same rhythm throughout the entire story. I wanted the words to flow easily, almost musically, so that children could enjoy hearing them again and again.

The humor came naturally, too, because cats are such funny, unpredictable creatures! Their personalities and antics provided endless opportunities for playful verses. I wanted to keep the language simple enough for young children to understand while making the story entertaining for the adults reading along with them.

As a Christian, I also believe the Holy Spirit leads and guides me in every area of my life, including my writing. I truly believe He helped me as the words and ideas came together so naturally.

Looking back, I think the rhythm, humor, and simplicity worked together because I wasn’t trying to make the story complicated. I was simply having fun with words, drawing from my love of cats, and creating the kind of rhyming story I’ve always loved sharing with children.

What do you hope children learn about appreciating differences?

I hope children come away from this book understanding that every cat is unique and special, regardless of its appearance, personality, or circumstances. Some cats are playful and affectionate, others are independent or timid, and some have had a much harder life than others. But every one of them deserves love, kindness, and compassion.

As I was writing Cats, Cats, Everywhere Cats, I began thinking about how I wanted to end the story. Having grown up on a country road where people frequently abandoned unwanted pets, I’ve witnessed firsthand the heartbreaking consequences of irresponsible pet ownership. Over the years, I’ve taken in numerous stray cats, and while living at Rocky Gap, I rescued more than thirteen cats, helping them receive veterinary care and find loving homes.

One of those cats was Beans, a frightened feral mother who is actually featured in the book as the beautiful black queen with three tuxedo kittens. When I first rescued Beans, she was terrified of people. After having her spayed, I kept her safely confined while she recovered. During that time, I discovered she had kittens somewhere outside. When I finally released her, she did something I’ll never forget. She went and found two of her kittens and brought them back to the very crate where I had cared for her. That frightened little mother had learned to trust me enough to bring her babies to safety. Beans still lives with me today, and although she remains somewhat skittish, we share a very special bond.

Experiences like that have given me a tremendous heart for abandoned and feral cats. I’ve also witnessed the suffering of animals that weren’t fortunate enough to receive help in time, and those experiences have stayed with me.

That’s why I intentionally ended the book with these words:

“Cats need love and cats need care. Get your cat fixed so they aren’t everywhere.”

I wanted to leave children and the adults reading to them with an important message about responsible pet ownership. Spaying and neutering, whether a cat is male or female, can help prevent unwanted litters and reduce the number of homeless cats suffering from hunger, disease, and neglect.

I also wanted to do more than simply encourage responsible pet ownership. That’s why I included resources at the end of the book to help families find free or low-cost spay and neuter services. I understand that veterinary expenses can be a financial burden, and I wanted readers to know that assistance may be available. My hope is that by providing both encouragement and practical resources, the book can make a difference in reducing the number of unwanted and homeless cats.

I have tremendous respect for the rescue organizations and individuals who dedicate themselves to helping these animals. Their compassion makes such a difference.

Ultimately, I hope children learn to appreciate the wonderful differences that make each cat special, but even more importantly, I hope they develop a heart of compassion for animals. They are living creatures deserving of kindness, protection, and care. If this little rhyming book encourages even one family to rescue a cat, provide a loving home, or make the responsible decision to have their pet spayed or neutered, then it has accomplished something truly meaningful to me.

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