The Puddle & Gosling: Charming fantasy tale about “baristing” in Scuddy Corners

On 8 Aug 20158 Aug 2015 By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Books I've read, This blog's postsLeave a comment

I’m really enjoying this trend of going through the writers on my Twitter list and reading their work. I’m trying to focus more on indie authors, because I know there are gems out there. So far, I’m batting 1000. Canadian writer C.Y. Falvey is the author of The Puddle and Gosling, about a young woman who flees her homeland after a revolution elects an emu as President of her country. Honestly, C.Y. Falvey had me at emu.

The protagonist, Mart Kokostolie is a refugee desperately trying to find a place that will accommodate her in Scuddy Corners. After being rejected by an imperious woman and a killer poodle, Mart is welcome at The Puddle & Gosling cafe, where a kindly gentleman in a tuxedo reveals their prophetic gosling was expecting her all along.

Sweeping floors until she learns how to make tea with extra pixie dust might not be the job of her dreams, but Mart copes well enough under the oppressive thumb of barista Judith. (Oh yeah, “to bariste” is apparently a verb, according to Judith.)

A bright spot at the Puddle & Gosling is Cookie, a gnome—oops, that’s not politically correct—an Ookulo, who is top chef at the cafe. Every time Cookie nicknames Mart, it’s usually after a food item, and this made me constantly hungry. I might have gained three pounds after reading the story.

I cannot talk about this book without using the word charming. The characters are enchanting and I loved ending my day by reading a few “episodes” of the story. The author left me wanting more, but additional episodes are free on the Puddle & Gosling blog.

I encourage you to support this author and buy the book on Amazon.com or Amazon.ca.

Happy reading!

/cg

Cait Gordon has been a senior technical writer for high tech and government organizations. Her first novel is with beta readers and she’s accidentally writing her second in the series. She didn’t know there would be a series. Huh.

Cait is also Madam President of her consulting company, Dynamic Canvas Inc., Chief Crafter at Cait Cards, and works part time as Assistant to the Executive Director at H’Art of Ottawa.

What Happens in Book Club: Saucy, sexy, and so much fun!

On 2 Aug 201525 Jul 2016 By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Books I've read, This blog's posts6 Comments

This spring I joined a Facebook group called Fifty Shades of Geek, which is such an awesome collection of enthusiastic folks. We’re pretty much allowed to go nerdy on anything. It’s very inclusive.

One of the admins of the group, Robin Elizabeth, is an indie writer. I just finished Episode 1 and Episode 2 of her novellas, What Happens in Book Club… I affectionately nickname them the Australian Bridget Jones’s Dairies. They tell the story of Gwyn, a high school teacher who with her besties, Selena and Mac, belong to a monthly book club that takes place in a local pub. They’ve just finished reading Fifty Shades of Grey and are trying to disinfect themselves with classics for the next year. Should be safe, right?

Except Gwyn’s finding her sex life is becoming a blur between fact and fiction, as she unwittingly chooses partners who mirror characters in the books her club’s reading.

The language is raw, the dialogue honest, and I find the women so charming. They are the saucy types I would have hung out with in my 20s. Or maybe even now.

The first novella is free on Kobo and the second one is also available on Kobo. (See Robin’s comment below, for more places where you can buy it.)

I’m totally thinking of joining a book club now. 😉

/cg

Cait Gordon is the author of Life in the ‘Cosm, which will be out in the fall of 2016. She’s also accidentally writing the second book in this series. She didn’t know there would be a series. Huh.

Why can’t I read anyone else? Or, how I’m having an affair with my book.

On 23 Jul 2015 By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn This blog's postsLeave a comment

“Hi, I’m Cait, and I’m addicted to my manuscript.”

“Hiiiiiiii, Cait.”

Holy cow, this is bonkers. I’m on a staycation/writing-free holiday. My plan was to read other authors for a change. I even bought new eBooks. Yet, every time I settle down to read, I keep peeking at my own manuscript. I’ve done this several times, feeling like I’m sneaking around on my other eBooks. I feel dirty, but soooo alive!!!

Ok, maybe not. Thanks to Diana Gabaldon, Lord John Grey has lured me into his clutches, and I have been able to read a bit from the Lord John series. (He’s fictitious, gay, and I still want him to marry me.) However, even Lord John can’t tempt me for long.

I wonder if your first novel is like a first baby—you overly dote on it and never want to let it out of your sight. Not ever being a mother, I cannot say for sure. I do suspect I’m my manuscript’s stalker, though.

The other thing I wasn’t supposed to do was peek through my beta readers comments. This was my September project. I couldn’t help myself! I snuck a glance at Terri Skuce’s notes and was like, “Oooo, this is helpful!” Then I wanted to edit. I resisted and worked on my Etsy shop and craft Website instead. That’s a victory, right? RIGHT?

I’ve pretty much been writing steadily from May 2014 to June 2015, so a break is due. Did I mention I started writing the first and second chapter for my next book? I wonder if there’s such a thing as the opposite of writer’s block. This writer should be hit with a block so she can stop clanking away at her keyboard.

This entire process is exciting for me, probably because it’s my first novel, and like most writers, I’m dying to post links that show you where to buy the flipping thing. Patience, patience, I know. It’s just that I wrote a book with words and everything!

Reading other authors is so important because it’s a break from your own work and a time to appreciate someone else’s writing. I find it fascinating that my favourite genre to read is historical fiction, while my top genre to write is humorous fantasy. Maybe that’s a good thing because what I read takes my mind on a holiday from what I’m usually looking at. I do want to read more humorous fantasy, but I’d probably only do that when I’m not writing. There will be periods of time when I don’t write, correct? Just lie and say, “Yes, Cait.”

My short-term plan is to finished reading, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, and then move onto two books from indie author Robin Elizabeth called What Happens in Book Club. I know Robin from the Fifty Shades of Geek facebook group, and am looking forward to reading her work.

So, for you, Robin, I’ll try to tear myself away from my manuscript!

(I might take a short peek at my book, though. A teensy peek, with one eye shut? Not more than a few paragraphs? Aw, nuts, fine.)

“My name is Cait, and it’s been 24 hours since I looked at my second draft.”

“Take it one day at a time, Cait.”

I sigh and eat a cupcake.

/cg

Cait Gordon has been a senior technical writer in high tech and government organizations. She is currently a Web Developer consultant for Dynamic Canvas Inc., and assistant to the Executive Director at H’Art of Ottawa. She also enjoys her crafting business, Cait Cards.