Welcome “Charmed” to the Southwind family!

Last week, a friend accidentally called me while driving one of our mutual friends to the doctor. Synchronisticly, this friend who I haven’t seen in at least 12 years, is a cat whisperer and the woman who was integral in my rescuing my beloved cat Sarabi who passed away about 6 weeks ago.

When I told her that Sarabi had died, she offered to help me fill the void by finding another Maine Coon cat.

I gave her the go-ahead, even though I have recently rescued “Charmed” —a cat who is part Siamese and part Maine Coon—who fits in beautifully into our home even while chasing my other cat Mysty Marie around the house!

My husband, by the way, is not too thrilled about potentially having 3 cats in the house, but as my friends advise, he’ll get over it!

If you’ve already read Whistling Up the Southwind, you’ll remember that Maya is a Maine Coon cat (based on my cats Sarabi and Mysty) and is a central character in the book.

I love to include animals as characters in my novels because they are so important in my life. They add joy, peace, and wisdom to my life and writing.

In many Goddess traditions, there is a deep connection between women and animals, offering an understanding that all beings are connected, and by taking care of our animals, we are taking care of ourselves. The shared caring of the pets in my novels is symbolic of the importance of our own communities caring for each other.

Do you have pets in your life? If so, how do they add to your life?

Let me know in the comments below!

Much love,

Mary Katheen aka Kathie Bishop, Ph.D.