Sep 29, 2014

Meet Winston from Cover Story

As regular visitors to the LoveCats will remember, a while ago I introduced Rover, the cat from The Summer of Jake. And now, to be fair to my feline characters, I thought I should also introduce Winston from Cover Story. :)

Winston is also known in the book as Attackcat. He's named after my own beautiful Winston who lived with me for 12 years, and had, let us say... an aggressive streak. That's the real Winston in the photo below. 

Here's a snippet from the first time Cover Story's heroine, Tobi, meets Winston:

I’d turned to walk back to the front door to wait for Valentina when I saw the guardcat sitting in my way. He was quite large, with fluffy black fur and a white streak starting between his eyes and running down his nose. His eyes were fixed firmly on me and they held a warning.

I might not like cats much, but I knew their warning looks. My ex, Cameron, had five cats that were definitely on the list of animals with whom I didn’t get along—it was their rude attitude I took issue with. They would ignore my entry, even when I lived with them, and I know every species has some sort of greeting ritual. Not that I wanted them to act dog-like and slobber and jump on me—no, that would be beyond endurance. Maybe a polite nod of the head or an occasional rubbing on my leg on their way past . . . when I wore something that fur wouldn’t attach to. But nothing. Cameron, they thought, was the sun and the moon—purring when he stroked their chins, sitting on his lap watching TV, rubbing against his legs when he came home.

There were only two instances where they would deign to acknowledge my existence. The first was if they were hungry and Cameron wasn’t home. Then it was a shameless about-face, trying to convince me that I was their favorite human in the world—did they think I was stupid? The second was when it was cold, Cameron had left the bed and they needed my body heat. Then, they’d lie around me on top of the quilt—two either side and one on top. I’d be cat-locked. I rarely like that much body contact with another human, let alone five cats I actively disliked. I’d have to lie there, hoping they’d move. Their collective bodyweight on top of the quilt was enough to pull it taut over my body and pin me to the spot. Any attempts on my behalf to wriggle out would be met with a swift claw to the offending body part—and those claws could somehow break skin through the quilt. I eventually devised strategies to address the situation—gentle prodding with my pillow or throwing my bedside book to the floor to startle them into leaving—but still, I was annoyed that I’d have to resort to such tactics in my own bed.

In return for their disdain, I’d refused to learn their names and would only refer to them by physical characteristics. As in, “Hey, orange cat, get out of my briefcase,” or, “Cameron, the bow-legged cat’s coughing up on your shoes.”

I surveyed Winston’s face. How much damage could he do? There wasn’t a quilt in sight so I was confident I’d be safe.

I took a step toward him and he stood, tail raised, his eyes never leaving mine. Hmm, maybe it’d be better to go around him. I walked several paces to the right to bypass, but he also moved to the right and again took up his attack stance.

I stopped.

He sat.

I moved a leg forward, cleverly feigning a step.

His ears twitched.

I stopped.

I folded my arms and tried to stare him out.

He held my gaze and twitched his tail.

I’d read somewhere that the key in a stand-off was not to blink, and to make the other person . . . er, cat . . . look away first. So I stared back, ready to wait until he faltered.

His gaze was steady, the only movement in his body was the flicking of his tail—and I knew enough to know that was a warning. But I wasn’t scared. I was in this for the long haul, I wasn’t going to be outbluffed by a cat, I wouldn’t let myself be distracted for a second –

“Hey, babe, haven’t seen you around before.”

I turned to see a cocky-looking teenage boy with his thumbs in the belt loops of his low-slung jeans. It was a look I normally liked—but he didn’t even come close to pulling it off. I was about to tell him so when I realized my mistake.

I quickly looked back to Winston, but he’d turned away and had a back leg thrown around his neck, rhythmically licking his fur.

“Damn.” I’d been outwitted by a cat.

Winston momentarily looked up at me, eyes half closed, gloating, then returned to licking himself.




Winston and the rest of the cast of Cover Story will be out in late October with Momentum. In the meantime, tell me, have you ever had a standoff with a cat? Or a dog? Or any other animal? I'd love to hear about it! 

Also, if you want a bit more of a sneak peek into the world of Cover Story, you can check out my Pinterest page for this book.


24 comments:

  1. Hm, Rachel, you sure know your felines! That scene had me smirking, Looking forward to your new book!

    My only stand off was with Rover, a neighbour's cattle dog. I was leaving their place when I sensed something odd. I looked down to see he had his jaw open and his mouth around my heel. I think if I'd jumped I would have got nipped. Fortunately I froze and said his name in voice that surprise had made quite sharp. He slunk away.

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    1. Annie, I think your ankle had a very close call there! Dougal our Border Collie has a strong instinct to nip at heels too. In general he keeps it under control, but if I call out to Mr Bailey from across the house, Dougal rushes to nip Mr Bailey's heels. When he gets into trouble, he looks incredibly offended. "I was *helping* you go faster!"

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  2. Hahaha! Oh, I loved that, Rachel..are you sure you weren't a cat in a previous life??

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    1. Robyn, thanks for dropping by! I don't think I've been a cat, but I think I must have had cats in all my past lives. ;)

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  3. Loved the scene!

    I've never owned a cat but they always seem to be drawn to me for some strange reason. Our neighbours' cat is convinced that she lives here and is very offended when we won't open the door for her despite her most appealing looks. We've been very careful not to feed her because we know that the neighbours want her to go home, but she still spends most of the day in our garden. Odd creature (but cute).

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    1. Claire, cats are only drawn to very special people, so I'm not surprised at all!

      I bet your neighbours' cat thinks she's your cat but she has to camp next door and get her food there. :)

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  4. LOL, Rachel. That's a great scene. I've never had quite a standoff like that one.

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    1. Sue, perhaps your cat standoff is in your future? Something to look forward to. :)

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  5. I had a standoff with my Dog, Budman, over some nachos that has fallen on the carpet. Who knew tiny little dogs would love vegetarian (onion-free too) nachos so much that they'd stand over them with their terrible tiny teeth bared and an Oh-don't-you-EVEN-think-about-trying-to-clean-this-up death stare?
    --Sandra

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    1. Sandra, I would have paid to see that standoff! Did you have trouble not laughing when he bared his terrible tiny teeth? Have you thought about accidentally on purpose dropping some again so you can get photos?

      Also, I'm making vegetarian nachos for dinner tonight! Have already made the guacamole. Can't wait. :)

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  6. As the owner of three cats I commiserate lol! They're wonderful creatures when they want to be fed =)

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    1. Hey, Mel! So lovely to see you, former LoveCat. Almost like old times to chat to you here. :)

      Oh, yes - when they want something, they can be sweet and charming. It's all an act!

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  7. What a fun excerpt, Rachel! I don't like Tobi's chances at all when it comes to that wicked Winston! There's nothing like a cat to use a death-ray "stare" to great affect! We had a couple of half-Chinchilla half-stray-moggie cats - the male was a big old sweetie but the female had haughtiness to spare! Woe betide the foolish human who crossed her!

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    1. Sharon, there's a stereotype of cats being aloof, but they all have such distinct personalities, don't they? Love the brother and sister combination that you had. If you can dig up some photos, I'd love to meet them in their very own blog post one day. :)

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  8. I'm looking forward to reading this story. I don't think I've ever had a stand off with any kind of animal but I'm not ruling out a stand-off with a cat or dog.

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    1. Lyn, I think you're very wise not to rule it out. And now, when you have your eventual stand off, you'll think back to this post and probably curse me! Maybe you should touch wood. ;)

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  9. Hi Rachel

    I am looking forward to this one I loved Rover and I know I am going to love Winston as well :)

    I have had stand offs with many a feral cat when I was younger I used to try and get the kittens when they were old enough and find homes for them before they got to be so feral and some of those mothers cats can be pretty nasty :) but other that that I think I am a big softy when it comes to dogs and cats and they always win LOL

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Helen, you have such a beautiful heart - I can totally imagine you out there with the feral cats, and the mother cats not understanding that you were helping and going to give their kittens a better life. That is the most heartwarming stand off I've ever heard. :)

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  10. LOL, Rach. Cats can be contrary critters. ;-) Poor Tobi.

    When I was a wee little thing my grandmother's ornery chihuahuas would bail me up on the lounge. They were too little to jump up onto it but the moment I put a foot on the floor they'd growl and bare their teeth. Had me totally fooled they did.

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    1. Michelle, how adorable! A little girl on the lounge vs chihuahuas. You have to put that in a book - perhaps with the hero on the lounge. ;)

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  11. I stare down my neighbors huskies regularly - which is hard to do. Those eyes are frrrreaky!

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    1. Oh, yes, Amy! Those eyes! Gorgeous, but if you're trying to stare them down they have a definite advantage with their eyes.

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  12. Hilarious! I'm looking forward to reading this- I loved Jake and Rover!

    I had a stand-off with a cat just a couple of weeks ago. I was staying with my sister and she has the most hostile cat I've ever met. I'd managed to keep out of its way for three days but one night I nipped from my bedroom to the loo. When I got back to my room there she was, under the sofa bed, hissing and spitting! I daren't go into the room in case she attacked. I didn't want her to wake up the sleeping 4 year old in the room next door, so I stared back at her, realising that this was not a fight I was going to win. Then I slunk downstairs to the sofa and finished my sleep on that! Cats rule. Full stop.

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    1. Louisa, I think it was a very wise decision to slink away. You have to pick your battles, and I agree that was one you probably weren't going to win!

      Though, you have to admire a tiny creature that takes on a human who clearly outweighs them and has access to resources. Bravery, thy name is cat!

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