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I am So Excited about Zorro

I usually don't write more than one blog a month, but now that all four of my new books are out and official, I have to send another post. I am so excited about my new Zorro books coming out. It's a trilogy I drafted a while back and was recently picked up by Bold Venture Press, sanctioned by Zorro Productions, with the covers created by Francisco Silva. (Mr. Silva pulled in the action and the emotion of the novels so beautifully.) 

So why in the heck did I choose to write Zorro stories back in the beginning of a new millennium? 

How many of you are old enough to to remember turning on the bulky old TV and watching a black horse with a rider dressed all in black race across the small screen? That was back in the late fifties. I was around six at the time so I was mainly watching the horse (just as I watched Fury, Trigger, etc.) I was also living in Alaska, so there were many things to keep my attention--snow, skating, camping. Anyway, I didn't see all of the Zorro episodes until I was grown. 

By then I could appreciate all of the nuances of the show. Guy Williams, (who in my opinion was made for the role), the marvelous writers, the detail Walt Disney put into the show, as well as the coal black horse, Tornado. As brief as it ran, there were over 70 episodes and they were all fodder for thought. Was this girl or that one the best match for Zorro/Diego? What happened next? Or what happened during that time the episode didn't cover? Or simply what other adventures might Zorro have?  (Even the trilogy, has a very tenuous link to an episode.)

I wrote what came to my mind, let friends critique the stories and make suggestions. During this time my writing skills improved and my thoughts led to original characters and their adventures. I still never forgot Zorro. I have eight published books, (not including the Zorro trilogy), but when I was invited to write a story for the anthology, Zorro: The Daring Escapades, late in 2019/early 2020, I was thrilled. 

Now the publication of Zorro's Pacific Odyssey is beyond thrilling. I am so happy to be revisiting the early 1800's southern California and especially writing about a hero who has long sparked my imagination. 

I like my historical fiction to be as accurate as possible. So for Zorro's Pacific Odyssey, I started with non-fiction books from the library, looked online, and ordered books I couldn't find locally. I still have my copy of Beasty's cutaway book of the old man 'o war sailing ships. This research became the story of a hero (Diego de la Vega) kidnapped by ruthless men and indentured on board a British cargo ship under the hand of a cruel and vindictive captain. (Zorro and the Outward Journey.) It's also the story of heroic Californians who refuse to be crushed under tyranny, and about a friend from far away who helps Zorro, the person who saved his life when he had been kidnapped. (Zorro and the Forbidden Country.) How Zorro manages to return home and root out the evil in his homeland is the third book of the trilogy, Zorro and the Deadly Homecoming. 

Some people shook their heads at my desires to write stories about TV characters almost thirty years ago, but I owe much to Zorro. I am grateful for my own odyssey. 

 

 (Thanks to Francisco Silva for the picture.) Please do not copy.

Zorro created by Johnston McCulley. Copyright © 2022 Zorro Productions, Inc. 

Zorro ® & © Zorro Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Published under license from Zorro Productions, Inc.

All in all, I am very proud of these novels and hope readers will like them, too. 

The dust jacket of last year's anthology from Bold Venture Press.

Dog Fighting is Evil!

My soon-to-be-book, First Realm, a prequel to my previously published Realms of the Cat is the adventures of a young TB (Toe Biter). Part of it was written almost thirty years ago, but despite how humorous kittens are as they grow up, readers like adventure as well.  

What adventures could a young black kitten have besides catching bugs and getting slobbered on by a big red dog (no, not Clifford)? Especially if that kitten lived in a house in the country where nothing happened? Then I remembered reading about a secretive activity occurring near where we lived--something I found out was, unfortunately, quite prevalent. 

That something is dog fighting.   

When I wrote the draft of the story, incorporating the older kitten scenes into the adventure, I didn't know a lot about dog fighting. I basically wrote a story of a big dog and his doggy friend who are kidnapped by dog fighters, and their kitty pal who leaps into the fray to save them. Then I added some wild critters to help the trio get away. 

Grubbs

All I knew was that I hated the idea of animals being forced to fight each other. Now that I have done some research, I loathe it. Here are some statistics supporting my loathing.

1. It is estimate there are at least 16,000 dogs that die each year from this 'sport.'

2. Fighting dogs are raised under cruel circumstances to be aggressive and strong. They are chained, beaten, starved to make them more suitable for the fighting pits. 

3. Less aggressive animals are used as bait animals. The fighting animals practice attacking, injuring, or killing these bait animals. 

4. Other crimes often accompany dog fighting. Gambling, drugs, guns. Dog fighting is considered a gateway crime. It is also illegal in all fifty states. 

5. A single fight can last for more than two hours. 

6. More than 50% of police officers have encountered dog fighting in their careers. 

7. As many as 500 animals can be seized in a single raid. Rehabilitating is often extremely difficult or impossible. 

https://petkeen.com/dog-fighting-statistics/

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/take-action-stop-animal-fighting#

 A Cat Named Dihana Prinzess

I have been working on a new novel about a research submarine. Before you start thinking Tom Clancy or someone similar, I have tried to avoid all similarities to a cold war thriller. This is science fiction. A month or so ago, I was digging around in Amazon to see what books might be similar to what I am working on. I only came up with one thing that even came close... Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. So I guess I can say without hesitation, if you enjoyed 20,000 Leagues, you will love mine. When I finish it.

Anyway, I figured since it's a research sub, (despite it originally being a decommissioned LA class nuclear submarine), I had a bit of leeway. My devious mind decided to give  Sea Dragon a ship's cat. Normally that wouldn't have been allowed, but when my boat stopped at a port o'call in the Mediterranean, one of the crew was coerced into taking a cat. At first he didn't know he was getting a cat. The feline was part of the purchase of a nice basket a cherubic-faced boy sold him. The boy's parting shot was: "Her name is Dihana Prinzess." Being the soft-hearted soul he was, the seaman wasn't going to just dump the cat, so he smuggled her aboard. How fortuitous it was for Dihana that the cook had been complaining about mice. (Figured even subs might have a problem with them occasionally.) Dihana earns her keep before the khakis (officers) figure out they have a stowaway on board. About that time the new cook's assistant has a litter of kittens.  BTW I'm sure you figured out who the boy named the cat after.  I hope your holidays are wonderful, and don't forget... Books make the best kind of presents any time of the year! Pictures courtesy of Pixabay.

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Crossroads to the Stars

 

My first published 'adult' novel!

But that doesn't mean it's my first adult novel. The first novel length story I wrote was an adult story. It wasn't very well written and it was never published (except online to some friends--and boy was I embarrassed when I re-read it a few years later!) Also, when I say Crossroads is adult, that doesn't mean a young adult can't read it. It only means the main characters are adults. I think of this as classic space opera, written in homage to the sci fi writers of my youth. There is a little bit of language, some innuendos, but no sex and no slice and dice (graphic violence). I am so proud of this 'book baby.' Launch day on November 15th. Launch party at 6:30 central on my Facebook author page (susankitesbooks). You are all invited!

I Like Cats!

 I guess I could be called a cat person. I have always loved cats. They're soft, can be cuddly (when they choose), and they have an elegance that I have always admired. Most of the animal books I read, growing up were about cats. (Well, except during my horse phase--then I loved horses!) 

Actually I still like horses, too
(Express Clydedale Farm, Yukon, OK)

I grew up with cats. My mother had a purebred Siamese cat in Alaska that absolutely despised me, probably because I was too young to treat her like the goddess she felt she was. Ming Sue Khan became the holy grail as far as I was concerned. I wanted that cat to like me more than anything! As she and I grew older, I learned how to treat royalty properly and she allowed me into her realm. After her death, we didn't have any cats until Dad retired and bought a 'gentleman's' ranch. 

There was Tom, who mainly lived outside, (except when I let him sneak in during the cold nights of winter. Never mind that there was a barn where he could sleep very warm and cozy.) There were others, but I can't remember their names. 

When I was in Wyoming, living on my own, I had a cat I named Chewie (he was large and furry!). He followed me into marriage. Then began a procession of cats who held pieces of our hearts, because my husband is a pet person, too. We always had a dog or two, because he's a dog person, but Dan also shared my love for the aloof felines who wandered into our lives. 

Diego, an all-around phenomenal cat

Our daughter with Melvin. 

Currently, we have two black cats. The first one, Scamp, was (and still is) quite put out with our acquisition of Zorro, but he hasn't figured out how to make Zorro believe he's the alpha cat. I don't think he ever will. BTW black cats are NOT bad luck (except for me when I have to get up in the middle of the night!) The inventor of nightlights must have owned a black cat.

Scamp

Zorro

Just for laughs, I did a little video about being a cat person (not a cat lady!!) I tried to add it to my blog post, but I guess it's too long. Ah, well...