Max and Tammy

If you've read Monday, Monday in Tails From The Park, 

you met Tammy. Now I'm teaming up with Tammy and we're telling Young Adult stories with a bit of adventure (Hey, it can't be me without adventure!) and a bit of mystery.  The book is coming out this spring. Here's a bit from the beginning.

With that I slipped into the library and stopped in the middle of the room. A large window, (actually the only window) gave us a view of the grassy field. The whole of the room was painted white; along the walls were a series of white book shelves that were mostly half empty. In a corner was a little nook with a table and chairs. On the table was a single table lamp, but there was so much natural light from the big window that Tammy never turned it on.

There, sitting amongst the library things were boxes filled to the brim with books. These were the donations that Tammy and I were going to sort through. My friend immediately started opening these boxes, making stacks of books according to the author’s names. It looked like a lot of work and Tammy was hard at it when I saw my work station high up on the big window. A large empty shelf called out to me; it looked to be just the right size for a plump cat like myself. I leaped up to it easily enough and stretched out to suck up the mid–day sun. Those wonderful rays beat in through the glass, like a cat nap express. All the while Tammy kept making more and more piles of books. Every so often she squealed in her excitement.

She jumped to her feet and picked up a stack of books, she declared. “These will have to go up on that shelf you’re laying on, Max at least for the time being.” With that she placed one book after another and filled the empty space behind me with red, yellow, blue, and black colored books. In no time, I was being forced into a smaller and smaller space.

As she started on another armful of books I needed to move, so I carefully jumped over her hands, and stood precariously on top of this new row of books. Suddenly they started to wobble. Tammy stuck out her hand to help me but my balance was way off. Something which rarely ever happens to me.      

The books tipped over and plummeted to the floor. I stuck out my right paw and hooked a booked entitled Huckleberry Finn. With her other hand Tammy tried to stop me but I swung to one side as Huck and I slipped off the shelf and into mid-air.

 Now's the purrfect time to join the Max Gang. Get personal emails from me about book releases. You'll know when the first Max and Tammy book is ready. So put your paw on your mouse and click Max Gang.

Head bumps,

Max

 

Cats Love Independence

We Train Everyone!
Check out this kitty's travel

If you've read any of my stories you know I'm out and about...a lot. And, I work hard at training the humans. This kitty definitely sets a pace for an entire crew. And, he seems to have everything under control.

When I go out, trouble seems to find me even when I'm on an innocent bug chase. I need to practice this control without trouble. I'll let you know if I find the secret.

If you haven't read about my adventures where trouble meets me wherever I go, check out the books on Amazon.

Head bumps!

Max

Max in a box!

Even I don't know how I got in this box!

Good things come in small packages :)

Dad, looked down and there I was compactly curled into this small box. He was busy working on a story. Not one of my stories. He does write his own. But there I was snuggled in.

You can spread some cheer by giving small packages.

All of my 32 tales are collected in a paperback. It's the purrfect gift for your cat loving friends. What could be better than a gift of Maxitude?

And until Christmas Eve you can get the ebook of all the tales for just 99¢ more. 

Paperback Tails From The Park https://goo.gl/EX8SvM. You can add the ebook from there.

ebook Tails From The Park http://goo.gl/GoU3A2

Happy Holidays!

and a head bump!

Max

More Max! Book 4 Tails From The Park

Cat Territory

Purrrr! I'm turning in circles. The humans have done it again. My fourth book is now ready to pre-order. It will be live on October 15. Tails From The Park (Series 4)

Every cat has his territory, and he protects it. "Slippery When Wet" tells the story of a new cat coming into my space. There's a beginning which starts like the photo and an end. Read the excerpt below.


Don't forget to pre-order my next book at Amazon.

Triumphantly, he came down the path toward me. The dead rodent’s tail and short little legs hung down lifeless and limp. With his cat eyes flashing and his neck muscles popped out, this ghost held his head up high. Only once did he glance over his shoulder just to make sure he was alone and safe. I watched him intently from my perch. I sat up and hunched my shoulders forward with a paw draped over the edge of my wooden shelf. I’m sure he saw my claws when they gripped the edge just for effect.

From deep inside of me a growl built up as I glared down at him. But even forewarned, he didn’t slow down until he was almost under me. At that point he dropped his kill to the ground and looked up. Nervously licking his lips, he waited. I know fealty when I see it and I was impressed with this youngster.

I could smell the sweet scent of blood as it wafted up to me in the hot air. Even though this was his kill, and me being me, I made him wait for it. For, what you ask? Why…my approval of course. As a poacher he needed permission from me, the yard master. While he anxiously watched, I lay down on my side. Hesitantly he licked his whiskers that were matted with the dead rodent’s blood.

Droplets of red, red blood dripped off his lion’s chin. All I could think of was how slippery fur feels when it’s soaked wet with blood.

Slippery when wet, my grim little joke! 

Book Reviews - Author Gold

Tails From the Park Reviews

Purrrrrrrring! I can't decide whether to clean my whiskers, turn in circles, or go outside for another adventure.

It's one thing to tell stories and get them up on Amazon but getting reviews is the greatest gift an author can get. Thanks to my readers who took time out of their busy lives to post a review.

Reaching out with a paw of love.

If you want more Max get Tails From The Park (Series 3).

Who would think that a cat named Max would make me want to keep turning the page? Wherever he goes, something happens, and no matter how big the mess, he somehow comes out on top every time. Max continues to delight. VBF

There is more than one book in this series. The books are so cute and funny as they follow Max thru his adventures. I have already pre-ordered the next book. I just love cats. And I wlsh Max was my cat. C. A. Isbell 

Max lives a very full and exciting life, it is fun to see the world through Max's eyes.
Can't wait for the next one.Thomas Allen 

More great Max tails (tales). More scraps with the maintenance man, a conflict with a police dog causing the Sheriff to show up.... You need to read it yourself to learn of Max's other adventures including Max early life before coming to live with Mom and Dad, and Baby. This little character continues to delight and I hope there are more adventures to come.  OldGiantFan

Max continues to entertain me with his adventures.Mary E. Pergande

Max is such an interesting feline. Always getting into such cute situations.
The author Tim seems to think like a cat or does he actually converse with MAX??Nannyof4

Great fun. Great read. So glad I'm getting to know the Maxtor.Barbara Forman-Mack

Max

Meet My Arch Cat Rival, Ivan The Blue

Meet My Arch Cat Rival, Ivan!

Tails From The Park (Series 4) is coming out on October 15. Here's a preview from the chapter Amanda.

A few of his gang became unruly and the lieutenants had to scramble to keep control. Ivan held me down with one massive paw on my upper body. It was getting harder to breathe. His eyes flashed when he turned his head toward me. He opened his mouth and bared his giant fangs. From behind him Amanda jumped onto his back and drove her teeth into his side. He howled and shook her off. I watched as she landed against the sliding glass door. 

She got back up onto her paws and growled. When she stepped out, the floor seemed to jump under us. The deck became a mass of grey bodies as the gangsters flung themselves in all directions, trying to beat a hasty retreat as best they could. In a matter of seconds only Amanda, Ivan, his two lieutenants and I were left on the deck. I had double vision but I could see that the kitchen light had come on. The door’s lock unlatched and a whoosh of hot air ruffled Amanda’s fur. Unnerved Ivan’s lieutenants growled in that guttural foreign tongue of theirs. He moved and the pressure on my shoulder let up enough for me to pull myself out from under his big paw. Free, I backed up, which forced Amanda against the sliding glass door. The vertical blinds slapped wildly back and forth as the light threw itself and its shadows across the deck as my mom appeared over us. 

Spooked, the lieutenants backed away, almost falling off the front steps finally Ivan turned and then slowly almost casually he walked down the steps. 

I heard Mom’s voice, “Max, who’s your little friend there…honey?” How she missed seeing my tormenter I could only guess. My dad appeared, his head sticking out into the cold.

My other books are available on Amazon now.  Get more Max and a lot of Maxitude!

Max

Writing Is Work

But Storytelling Is Fun

Usually I leave the computer work to +Tim Hammill but every once in a while I like to...play around on the keyboard.

I had fun telling the stories in the latest book. Do you have Tails From The Park (Series 3)? Here's a little bit about how I got really cool with sunglasses.

She followed my gaze to her jewellery, and exclaimed, “I know, I can make you look really, really cool.”

She flung herself out of bed and from a chest of drawers pulled out a pair of blue jeans. Sticking one long leg then the other into them she forced herself into the tight pants. She grabbed a T-shirt that proclaimed, ‘custom shades by Stormi.’ Pulling the garment up and over her head, she flipped her mass of blonde hair about in the air. Now, she was ready to make me cool.

She picked me up off the bed and we ran down the hallway. She placed me on the work table, rummaged through a box on the floor, and pulled out a clear plastic bag filled with sunglasses marked ‘Baby shades-2 years old’.

“Oh, this is going to be a blast!” she exclaimed.

She worked in a frenzy, popping the dark lenses out of the frames. Placing them off to one side of her work bench, she cut the frames in places, and added plastic pieces where needed. We went through six or seven pair before she got her adjustments correct. They sat on my nose just fine and weren’t too heavy. The problem was with the ear pieces.

“You see, kid, your ears are in a totally different place than my usual customers. I’m going to have to make an extra bit of plastic that fits over your head a little on both sides and then mold the ear pieces around the back. Then, I’ll add a band of elastic to keep the glasses on.”

After the last of the final adjustments she slipped the glasses onto my head. I was sleepy so it didn’t bother me in the least. When she was finished, I curled up into a ball and nodded off to Z land.

Head bumps!

Max

More Max! Book 3 is out.

Get more Max!

Meet Max, a cat who tells stories, collected in a series of humorous, adventure tales full of laughter, tenderness, and escapes in Tails From The Park. 

Max has an abundance of hereditary feline curiosity. What starts out as innocent exploration often leads to unintended escapades. He lives with his human Mom and Dad in a mobile home park where life is simple, unless you are a cat. 

Full of colorful characters whose sentiments can turn Max from quiet napping intermission to extraordinary mayhem each story sets its own pace. 

Best of all, you’ll discover Maxitude. Max has a way of telling which is full of curiosity and vigor. Life is best with Maxitude. 

Fuerza Bruta: A big yellow monster and a deep hole. 
Nostalgia: A photo album and a piece of string. 
Stormi: Max gets custom sunglasses. 
The Fixer: Max enters the foodie world. 
That’s Entertainment: Max and Baby 
The Importance of Being Max: Stage debut. 

Of course, Max has trouble interfacing with computers and their periphery. His best skill is waiting patiently for paper to come out of the printer so he can pounce. He enlists his human friend, Tim Hammill, as an intermediary to put the stories into words. 

Curl up for lighthearted entertainment and get your Maxitude. 
#MaxTails 

The Sounds Cats Make

Cat Sounds 

If you've read Tails from the Park you've encountered some of my Maxisms which are the special sounds I make to communicate both with humans and other cats.

Just for Humans

Did you know that cats have a unique ability to tailor sounds to the humans in their life? When cats want your attention they will experiment with sounds until one works to get the desired results. Some people call this idiosyncratic sounds. Cats are one of the few animals that can make up their own sounds, a cat vocabulary, localized to his own human family.

Pretty cool, huh?

A Wide Variety of Sounds

Cats have a wide variety of sounds their humans should get to know.  Here's a brief list from Messy Beast

• Caterwaul - cat wants sex!
• Chatter - excitement, frustration e.g. when prey is out of reach or escapes (involves rapid teeth-chattering jaw movements)
• Chirrup - friendly greeting sound, a cross between a meow and a purr! (friendly greeting sound with rising inflection; familiar to most cat owners)
• Cough-bark - alarm signal (rare in pet cats); like us, cats can cough both voluntarily and involuntarily)
• Growl - threat, challenge, warns others to go away
• Hiss (with or without spit) - threat, fear, warns others to back off
• Meow - general-purpose attention seeking sound used by adult cats to communicate with owners or with kittens
• Mew (of kittens) - distress, hunger, cold (to attract mother's attention)
• Purr - contentment, relaxation, also to comfort itself if in pain (cats in extremis may purr); a loud purr invites close contact or attention
• Scream - fear, pain, anger, distress
• Squawk - surprise, shock (somewhat strangled sound)
• Yowl - a threat, offensive or defensive, but also used in a modified form by some cats seeking attention when owner is out of sight
• Idiosyncratic sounds - a sound which a particular cat uses in a particular context.

If you missed the Maxisms you can get all the Tails From The Park books by visiting my author page. You can leave me a message there, too. I love to here from my readers.

Traveling Round

Dad's Truck

I'm always ready for an adventure, the front of Dad's truck is a good place to scope out what's going on in the world. 

My new book Tails From The Park (Series2) is out and Dad and I get into trouble with the police. I even get arrested for defending myself. Here's an excerpt from the story Ka-Bing about how I started it all.

Ka-Bing

The squad car’s rear door opened, and the K9 officer said, “I’ll have a look around in the back with Luke. Maybe there’s another party-goer we missed.”

When the Luke’s paws hit the blacktop his head came down as my ears snapped forward. I scooted backwards behind my dad’s leg. Dad’s hand hovered above me when the Shepherd lunged straight at us. The cop who held its leash, hadn’t attached it yet. For a fraction of a second everything stood still. Did I say everything? Well, everything but me. I turned and made a beeline to the middle of the deck.

My heart pounded in my ears. The Shepherd’s pointed ears were just visible over the top step. I had maybe two seconds before total disaster would be upon me. In between our deck and Melissa’s carport cover was a line of lemon trees. I drew myself down into a coiled position, building tension in my rear legs. I felt the deck rumble with the jolt of one hundred and thirty pounds of mean police dog, the policeman’s voice grumbled “Shit! My first day with this dog and all hell breaks loose.”

Now was my time to act.

I made the leap to the metal handrail then Ka-Binged, very gracefully I must say, straight up to the nearest tree branch just as the Shepherd snapped at my tail…I always forget about my tail.

I wrapped my front paws around the branch. My hind legs dangled like a monkey’s. It wasn’t going to hold me for very long either. I made myself as comfortable as I could, and looked down at my antagonist.

He jumped up at me, but his weight carried him over the handrail and onto the ground below. Meanwhile his handler was trying to get around Stan’s truck, while the other officer had his hands full with Melissa and her boyfriend. The police dog took a second leap at me but he fell short. Feeling safe, and tired of his antics I leaned down as much as I dared. I’m sure he thought I’d made a mistake. He barked a couple of times and made another attempt at me.

As he rose he seemed to move in slow motion. With his teeth bared his dog face was getting closer and closer and getting bigger, too. His front paws moved as if he were swimming. Being the local king of swat I took dead aim on his nose which stood out for the offing. My claws were extended to the point where they hurt, I cut loose and swatted my target with all my might. My index claw made contact as he came up. I watched as the claw sank in deep, really, really deep.

Dad’s voice rang out, “Max-x-x!”

As the dog fell away, blood spray filled the air as if it came out of the garden hose. He was yelping before he hit the ground. A bit of flesh fell from the tip of my claw as it retracted.

 Well, goes to show, I know how to create a stir. But, really, dogs being aggressive is not something I tolerate.

You can read Ka-Bing and more in Tails From The Park (Series 2). Head on over to Amazon to get your copy.

And, if you want to read in style, you can keep me in treats at the same time when you get your Kindle Paperwhite.

Comment below to tell me how you like Ka-Bing.  I love my readers.

Max

Healthy Skin & Coat for Cats

A Dull Coat Needs Attention from Humans

W

Hey! We cats always think we are the best looking animal around. Sometimes we need humans to notice when things aren't quite right.  Like a dull coat.

Often, a dull coat is a result of the food we eat. We need lots of protein. (More than--OK, I'm going to say it--dogs.)

We don't have the same nutritional needs as humans either, so a "low-fat" food may really be harming our body. We need fat. Fat "lubricates" our coat and gives it tone, plus it keeps our skin supple without dry flakes. I think you humans call it dandruff. If your cat is a bit plump, try cutting back on carbohydrates rather than fat.

Here are some other signs of dry coat:

• Too many baths! Baths strip the skin of important oils. Unlike dogs (there, I said it again) cats don't need a bath unless something really sticky, or smelly is beyond our ability to clean by ourselves.
• Overweight kitty. A very plump kitty may not be able to reach all the parts of his body. This can lead to an unkempt coat, and in super fluffy cats, snarls and tangles.
• Getting older. Yep, it happens to cats, too. When we become less flexible it can limit movement and our ability to groom.
• Medical conditions. You really, really need the vet for these. Kidney problems, autoimmune diseases, diabetes and other illnesses. Your vet is your cat's friend.
• Parasites. They are more than annoying. Fleas, ticks and worms can affect the skin and coat. 

If a little change in your cat care and feeding doesn't help. Be sure to consult your veterinarian for possible causes.

The Brush

Brushing your cat on a regular basis helps to stimulate the follicles. Plus, brushing helps distribute the natural oils along the entire hair. 

So aside from getting rid of surface dust and dirt, those regular brushings help keep our coats glossy. Plus, we love the attention.

Your cat will look as awesome as she feels.

If you like cats, be sure to come to our Book Party this Saturday, August 22. Join in the fun. My co-author, Tim Hammill, will read from my stories.

Max

Easiest Way to Read Tails From The Park

Amazon Has The Right Free Reader For You

Easy way to read Tails From the Park. I had fun telling these cat adventures. Hope you enjoy.

Free Kindle Reading Apps

Read Kindle books on your computer, tablet, or mobile phone with Kindle reading apps. You can download a Kindle reading app for free at www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/kcp.

Choose your reading app below for more help:

Kindle for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch

Kindle for Android Phone

Kindle for Android Tablet

Kindle for PC

Kindle for Windows 8

Kindle for Mac

Kindle Cloud Reader

Kindle for Windows Phone

Kindle for Samsung

Kindle for BlackBerry 10

Kindle for BlackBerry

Kindle for WebOS

Max

Paradise Circus for the Max Gang

Paradise Circus for the Max Gang

Join The Max Gang

If you've read Tails From The Park you met Tammy in Monday, Monday. (Oh, if you haven't you can get it on Amazon )  Paradise Circus is a Max and Tammy story exclusive to Max Gang members.

Members get special perks, like this free book, and news about my books. I love my readers and like to stay in touch. I like getting messages from them about what they like about the stories.

You can join the Max Gang, too.  Just click here! Then download your free book.

You can always get in touch. Send me an email at maxtails123@gmail.com

I'll get right back to you.

Talk to you soon!

Max

Meet My Antagonist

Maintenance Man

He's Always After Me

In every story in Tails From The Park I'm confronted by trouble and it comes in many forms: bikers, big dogs, The Vet, a school bully, a thief, well, you get the idea. But my constant nemesis is the Park's Maintenance Man.

Maintenance Man patrols the park on an electric cart armed with various tools. His job is to keep the Park looking good. He does odd repairs, freshens up the buildings with paint, and sends wandering animals off to the Pound! No place I want to be. 

Every time he sees me he is ready to capture me.

Tim, my cat translator and co-author, tells me stories need a strong antagonist. Well, this guy is trouble walking, err, riding a cart.

In my new book Kathmandu Maintenance Man is definitely out to get me. OK, the book isn't finished yet, but I know the story. Join the Max Gang for monthly mews and updates on my publishing dates. 

#TheMaxtor

My Box

My Box
A great place to dream up new adventures stories while keeping an eye on things.

Today's the last free day for Tails From The Park. Get your copy now. 
http://goo.gl/wjzowz

And, don't forget to join the Max Gang  http://eepurl.com/bomzvr. You'll get the storyCircus Paradise free and available only to Max Gang members. Plus you'll get news of new books...those stories I'm dreaming up now. :)

#catboxSunday

#cats

#catsofgoogleplus

Healthy Food, Healthy Cat

We Are What We Eat

Water and Nutrition

Cats are hunters. All those crazy kitten moves are training for capturing prey. And, as cartoons and cats show, mice are their natural prey. Mice contain about 70% water. That water keeps everything flowing inside.

Cats with water-based food lead a more natural life with fewer health complications. So, give us wet food!

Meat is our nutritional mainstay. Cat foods with grain by-products just don't imitate the live prey we catch. Knowing this is important for human parents of indoor cats. They need water. Wet food is the best way to keep your cat hydrated. 

If you feed dry food, make certain your cats get enough water. Some cats drink more water when it is running. You can turn on the faucet for them several times a day or get a fountain with running water. Make certain you keep the fountain clean. Clean the fountain and change the water frequently. We don't like stagnant water. So, even if the water is there, we won't drink it.

A healthy cat is a happy cat. Hmmmm. I wonder how much water bugs contain.

Here’s a tasty tip to help encourage your cat to drink more, offered inThe Veterinarians’ Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats:

• Locate a couple leaves of fresh catnip

• Fill a bowl with water and crush the leaves under the water

• Sit back and watch susceptible kitties ‘go wild’

Head bumps!

Max

#cats
#catsofgoogleplus
#catnutrition

Water Time

Cats and Water

Yep, That's Me in the Tub

The widely accepted thought that cat's have an aversion to water is only partially true. OK, most of us don't like full body immersion. On the other hand, we love to watch the flow and play with the drops. So, here I am playing with water in the tub. 

But, and that's a big one, unlike the Turkish Van, I'm not fond of getting my entire body wet. Turkish Vans love to swim. I'll leave them to it. 

Some cats like to take a shower. Here's David Amerland's Nike drying out in the sun after her morning shower. 

What about a cat bath?

Yeck! and No! is my response. That's when I exhibit an extra portion of Maxitude. Normally cats stay clean with natural grooming. But sometimes your cat gets into something awful. And then, I hate to say it, it's time for a bath. 

Animal Planet has some cat-friendly advice about the dreaded bathing.

Place him in an empty tub or sink, speak reassuringly, and run a washcloth wet with room-temperature water over his fur -- just enough to get him damp. If he's calm enough, start filling the bath or use a tumbler or pitcher of warm water -- never hot -- and slowly pour this over his fur. You can also try a hose attached to the faucet to saturate his coat. Working from head to tail, apply a small amount of diluted feline shampoo and work up the suds, cleaning the cat's fur and skin. Be sure to rinse more than once to prevent shampoo residue from irritating his skin, or getting into his mouth when he tries to lick himself dry. Dry him with a clean, fluffy towel, praising him for braving bath time. 

http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/healthy-pets/do-cats-really-hate-water/



My advice is stay clean and avoid human induced baths!

Head bumps!

Max

Crazy Cats

Crazy Cat Videos

Had to share. 

Last year's top 5 crazy cat videos.

Enjoy.


Max

Who says cats are solitary?

Cats Bond

Well, they definitely hang out together. Baby and I have been together for a long time now. I'm certain we have a strong group scent. We are cat buddies.

Yes, we have our separate routines. I go out adventuring much more. She likes to stay close to home even when she is outside. I get distracted.

But, every day, several times a day, we spend time together especially if we have a window for viewing. 

Cats do balance their lives between play and sleep and just being. I like being with Baby.

Now, every cat is not my friend. For instance, there's a cat, Ivan, who lives in the park. I can't stand him. We just don't mesh. 

I can't tell you why some cats get along and others don't. Animal behaviorists have theories about how kittens are raised and if they spend enough time with their mothers before they are separated. 

I'm kinda sceptical on those theories because, just like humans--I've been watching--we like some cats and not others.

Have to tell you, Baby is a winner. 

Find out more about how we met in Tails From The Park.

Max

Amazon Says: You Won't Want To Miss This New Book

Coming Soon from Max   I Can't Sit Still Tails From The Park: Humorous adventure cat stories.  Max  Release date: July 22, 2015    Kindle Edition: $2.99   Learn more  You have subscribed to new release emails for Max. You won't want to miss this new book.

I stand at the door to go outside. I go outside. No bugs. I stand at the door to go inside. I come inside. I hop up on the sofa to see what's going on out the window. I hop off the sofa and do fierce battle with the bad Santa. I win. I stand at the door to go outside...

Amazon says "You won't want to miss this new book."  I'm excited.

Want to be an early reader? I'm looking for some early reviews. I'll collect them and post them here. Give me your email address and I'll send you a PDF file to read. 

Yes! I want to read and review.  

I know you will have a good time.

Max