#I hope Tabby makes sense as a category

[stere0typical]

MUTUALS I need to know

(sorry if I missed any!)

[fan-clan-fun]

Hi, I am developing a suffix list for my personal warriors worldbuilding and could use an outside perspective if you're willing to have a look!

I'll gladly take a look!

I am a traditionalist and follow an ailuronymy naming style for the most part, but with some suffix additions. I want the suffixes I use to make sense and not be overly complicated or synonymous with other suffixes already in use. I also want each suffix to either 1.) highlight a notable and helpful skill, 2.) a positive personality trait or 3.) if the cat does not have any notable skills or personality, to acknowledge the cat's adult status with an appearance suffix. That being said, I am having some trouble deciding if certain suffixes would be a helpful addition to the clans and I keep going back and forth on whether some of additional suffixes make sense with world-building in mind. This is where I could use your help.

I follow a similar naming ideal when I make my suffix lists, so I understand what you're going for, let me see what I can do.

So here are the suffixes I am wanting to add:

-Feather : a cat who is skilled at hunting birds by leaping into the air to catch them. Reasoning: Catching birds requires additional skills than hunting ground prey and birds are more difficult to catch, making it quite the achievement to be good at it. Birds are also unique prey in that they have feathers and a cat who catches a bird is likely to be covered in feathers right after. (I am a little iffy on this one still, since it does kind of overlap with -whisker and -tail skills, but at the same time I like the idea of differentiating between the hunting categories. [If I do keep -feather as a suffix, -whisker would be used strictly for a cat who is skilled at hunting land prey, such as rodents and lizards.] I also worry that naming a skill suffix after the defining feature of the prey might not make sense, but then again, maybe it does. What do you think?)

I'll reserve commentary for this one until the end since I can combine commentary for both this and -splash.

-Frost : a notably determined, resilient and tough cat. A -frost cat is likely to be disciplined and hard-working, stoicly overcoming difficulties to serve their clan. Reasoning: Frost is persistent and long-lasting and cats who make it through hardships, like the cold, frosty season of leaf-bare must be to. As feral cats, the clans would value warriors who have the tenacity to survive and serve for their clan, and it may make sense to have a suffix that honors those traits. (I love the sound of -frost, but I'm pretty iffy on this one for several reasons. 1. The fandom perception of -frost from what I've seen seems to be cool & calculating, very intelligent or white markings, none of which I am trying to go for here. 2. Frost may be an overall negative sounding word to use as a personality suffix, even if the way it's used is meant to be positive. 3. -Frost may require too much explanation and be overly complicated to logically use as a traditional suffix. It might be hard to decide if a cat is eligible for the -frost suffix over another more easily defined suffix, such as -cloud or -storm.)

Personally I love the sound of -frost, but I have encountered similar issues with including it. I think you could make it work, if you gave it a special stipulation, i.e. made it a combination of both skill and personality. You would have to think about how an apprentice would earn this suffix, which can still work! I would suggest either during apprenticeships having certain sections which focus specifically on endurance, in which case a -frost cat would be extra talented in those. Or the cat is known for doing things the harder way, like hunting when other cats struggle to hunt (say the clan is diurnal but that cat hunts at night, or in winter they push themselves extra hard to provide for their clan, or they use unique or different hunting skills that other clanmates aren't aware of). This would give the suffix a more solid grounding than a vague personality trait. Frankly I think it should be the same for other personality suffixes (-cloud cats are known as peacekeepers and generally calming influences, -storm cats have an energy and adaptability which comes with personality but also the ability to learn and pick up new things quickly even if they never master any skill) but again that's a personal interpretation. So yes, I think you can make -frost work.

-Pool : a cat who is very knowledgeable on important aspects of clan life such as law, customs, history, bloodlines, myths, etc. A -pool cat would be a very attentive student and teacher and likely enjoy keeping track of minute details. Reasoning: Knowledge collects in minds like water collects in pools. Since the Clans rely solely on word of mouth to keep their lore alive, I think it would make sense to honor such an important skill with a suffix.

So I do agree with having a suffix that honors knowledge and passing it on, I have one myself! I had never considered using -pool, but honestly it works just as well!

-Splash : a cat with exceptionally honed fishing skills. Reasoning: When a cat strikes a fish it causes a splash of water. Fishing and hunting land prey require very different skills and I think it would make sense to acknowledge this. (I guess in keeping with the theme of -feather, I could instead use -fin as the fishing suffix as that is a fairly defining feature of the prey, but I'm not a huge fan of how -fin sounds.)

-Spot : a distinctive spotted tabby cat, with no outstanding talents or areas of expertise. Reasoning: If spotted tabbies are very common in a clan, I think it could make sense to use -spot for a spotted tabby in the same way -stripe is used for a mackerel tabby cat .

I think using -spot instead of -stripe is fine, it takes up the same niche of pelt related suffixes but still manages to differentiate, and is specific.

What do you think of these suffixes and their meanings? Would it make sense that the clan cats would have naturally developed these suffixes over time?

I think whether they naturally would have developed over time depends on how you tell the story. If you have a good reason and it fits with your world building, then it will work, you just have to make it work.

I'm especially interested in if it makes sense to have the distinction between -whisker (ground hunting), -feather (catching birds in midair), and -splash (fishing), or if it would be better to stick with -whisker for all types of hunting.

Now I'm regretting waiting to talk about these cause it's so simple I should have just commented above, but oh well. In my opinion, it makes sense to differentiate between certain different types of hunting! Personally I only have a fishing suffix (which is -scale) but -splash works just as good! And as for -feather I think if you have a clan where there is a higher specialization in catching birds, it makes sense to have a suffix which differentiates. In the end, you just have to build a narrative in which it makes sense for these suffixes to fit.

I'd be happy to hear your thoughts/critique! Thanks in advance!

You're welcome! Hope this was helpful!

[kurtty-drabbles]

Tail au (part 9)

N/A: Amanda is Yandere chan?

@djinmer4 @dannybagpipesarecalling @bamfoftheundead

The rumours are a powerful thing. A mutant can be ignored or be considered a cool thing(thing, in the sense of a fetish, not a person) but, exist certain labels that are more prone to ignorance than a girl who can explode objects. For example, LGBT groups are still targeted and Boom-Boom was outed as a lesbian (to be fair, she never explicitly said her sexuality, yet, she´s not denying her attraction to Amara) as well Amara Aquila and both mutants take a chance to defend themselves and the LBGT community.

What happens is a water division. More and more people who fall into the category of LGBT take sides with Boom-Boom and Magma against those who are more "traditionalist" and a social battle begins. Boom-Boom refuses to let hatred win.

"Tabby, I´m so sorry," Kitty said in regards the whole thing. And Boom-Boom does not want pity. She wants action. "Kitty Cat, I don´t need pity..." and Kitty is quick to adds. "Then no pity here. What do you need us to do?"

And Boom-Boom looks at the X-men behind her. Jean, Scott, Rogue, Spike, Kurt and Bobby are there to support their friends. "That´s better," Amara said and really, after all this, after all the trials and tribulations are good to know the X-men got each other back.

________________________________________________________________________________________

While all this turmoil carries on. Info-chan is happier that Amanda didn´t go Yandere-chan, oh, how she has nightmares about Yandere-chan killing and the gruesome ending of...everyone. Sometimes, Info -chan in her solitude, wonders if it was a mercy she survived, a fluke of luck or a curse.

Either way, Info-Chan is on the US and so far, Amanda is not killing anyone. Thank God. That being said, her actions are not entirely harmless either.

Speaking of the devil...

"Info-Chan...I get rid of Tabitha. But...why Kurt does not love me?"

"No idea, love is not my field"

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Amanda was so sure Kurt would open arms to her now, but, ever since she out Tabby and Amara all the German boy does is scowl at Amanda and ignore her completely. "Why?" she whines to herself. "What that Tabitha did to him?"

And she saw Kurt and Kitty talking and how the boy is so focused on Kitty Pryde, the fake mutant, and ignore Amanda completely. "Another rival? She?!" and Amanda watches the interaction.

Lance Alvers jumps in the conversation and subtle push Kurt to the side, the nerve. Thought Amanda, as the boy named Lance Alvers is talking about something and getting Kitty´s attention.

Amanda is not happy with this at all.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Kurt is not happy with this at all. He was talking with Kitty and out of blue, a small pun here, this boy named Lance shows up and starts to hog all Kitty´s attention and for some reason, and Kurt has no real clue for why Kurt is really bothered by this.

"Katzchen. Scott is calling us" Kurt lied and this is a good lie as Kitty stops giving Lance attention and focus on Kurt and for some reason, this is much better. Sure, Scott does not call them, but, Kurt can finish this lie here. "Jean sent me a message...Scott is calling us now"

"Oh, ok. Well, we see you later, Lance" Kitty speaks hugging her books and Lance is not very fond of this situation as he tries to make her stay, saying that Summers can wait a little longer.

"Jean told me is important" another lie and he wonders if Jean is really reading his mind right now. Maybe she is. And Kurt hopes a miracle can happen to cover such lie.

And as if God is listening to his pray Rogue shows up and gesture them to follow her. "Is important, Scott is calling us now" she said and Kurt, mentally thank God for this small intervention, and Kitty and Kurt follow the Gothic girl without any protest.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Scott is explaining the situation. It seems Prof X want them to investigate a place where he believes Mystique was doing something, it may as well be a red-herring, after all, Mystique is tricky like that, but, either way, Prof X wants his X-men to take a look.

Jean sent Kurt an amused look at his direction when Scott decides to split the group in duos. "Scott, I have a suggestion. Let Kurt and Kitty be a pair for this mission. Both are very stealth and perfect for the mission. Me and Rogue can pair up and you and Bobby take the lead" she suggests still amused and yes, there´s no doubt Jean read his mind earlier, and Scott takes this suggestion in consideration.

"Kurt, have you face Mystique before?"

"Once...she´s not very pleasant"

"She doesn´t seem like a very nice person"

Without them knowing Bobby heard that and frown at such words. In the end, Bobby was Mystique in disguise and the X-men found the real Bobby on the campus looking confused and worried for his teammates.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Lance is back to the Brotherhood. No Mystique this time and frankly, that´s better as the members can relax a bit. Todd and Freddy are doing something else outside and Pietro and Lance are now free to watch TV without anyone bothering them.

"Pietro...I think I have a crush on Kitty!"

"Catgirl? Congratulations?"

"But...I think that German boy is after her...what I do?"

"You´re asking this to me?! Well, prove you´re better than him, I guess. Mystique said girls hate violent dudes and it´s true, but, you can prove you´re better in other ways"

"How?"

"I don´t know. Listen to her, do something she likes...if this all fails...then show Kurt´s weakest point"

"Hey, that´s not a bad idea, thanks, Pietro"

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Kurt is back at the mansion, once the real Bobby is the real one and is unharmed("I was buying something to eat and when I come back you guys are already gone") and right now, the boy is on the bed looking at the ceiling and thinking about the events of this week.

Kitty is walking around with her fluffy tail and ears proudly. Tabby was outed along with Amara and that didn´t seem to stop them from continuing to date and really, Kurt is 100% happy for his friend. "I had no idea she liked Amara...which in hindsight it should have been that obvious" he speaks amused with himself.

Then his mind reels to Lance and the smiles die on his lips. "I think I´d not like that guy" suddenly, his cellphone rings and is a message from Amanda asking if he´s alright. "And I´d not like Amanda either" and Kurt blocks her asap.

[lzteach]

Thank you for interviewing me, Linda, and for reading and reviewing my books. I’m so glad you enjoyed Firefly Lake and am delighted to chat with you and your readers.

  What motivated you to write about Firefly Lake?

  When I started writing the first Firefly Lake book, The Cottage at Firefly Lake, I was living in England and, after a succession of rainy and cool summers, I longed for the sun-drenched summers I remembered from childhood and adolescence, many of which I spent at lakes, small towns and cottages like the fictional Firefly Lake, Vermont. The setting for this series is my homage to those memories.

  I also wanted to write about second-chance romance because as a reader, that’s my favorite trope, and in parallel with the central romance, I was interested in exploring tangled family relationships.

  The first book developed from these starting points, and themes of regret, healing and redemption run through both it as well as the Firefly Lake series.

  Can you give any hints what your next novel will be about?

  The third book in the Firefly Lake series, Back Home at Firefly Lake, comes out in the US & Canada on December 5, 2017. It’s a winter book and tells the story of retired NHL hockey player Luc Simard and historian Cat McGuire, two characters who were introduced in previous books.

  I hope readers will enjoy curling up in front of a fire with this story of two opposites who have more in common than they first think. I loved writing about Firefly Lake when snow is falling, skaters glide across the frozen lake, and the little town is dusted with seasonal magic.

  I read and reviewed both stories and notice that you have animals that are loved. Do you have any pets at home?

  I’m pleased you picked up on the animals in my books, Linda. I’m an animal-lover, and pets feature in all my books to help characters grow, change and become the people they’re meant to be. They’re also great fun to write about!

  My husband, daughter and I adopted a rescue dog earlier this year, and the lovely Floppy Ears (a Beagle/Walker hound mix) is my fitness pal, snuggle bug and writing buddy.

  How is your pet like the animals in the story?

  I’d written most of the Firefly Lake series before Floppy Ears arrived to bless my life, but a hound dog much like her makes an appearance in the first book in a new series I’ve just finished writing so stay tuned!

  However, Shadow, the black lab who is the hero’s dog in The Cottage at Firefly Lake, is based on my cousin’s dog. A scene where Shadow comforts the heroine by lying across her feet is drawn from such an experience with the real Shadow in my own life.

  In Summer on Firefly Lake, Pixie, a little Maltese, is based on a dog who lived down the street from me in my small town, right down to her cheeky personality and pink rhinestone collar!

  As a young adult, I shared my life with a much-loved tabby cat. Although Primrose long ago went to the Rainbow Bridge, she lives on in Back Home at Firefly Lake in the guise of the heroine’s two cuddly “senior” tabbies, Darcy and Bingley.

  Are there any other genres that you would be interested in writing?

  I write in the area between contemporary romance and women’s fiction—romantic women’s fiction. Although there’s always a love story (and sometimes two), my books also explore other issues that impact women’s lives including relationships with family, friends, work and communities.

  I love what I write but, alongside it and, at some point as my career develops, I’m also interested in writing single title women’s fiction.

  What are some of your favorite things to do when you are not reading or writing? (interesting hobbies)

  I enjoy singing and belong to a choir in my small town. Singing uses a different part of my brain than writing does so it helps me switch off from the world of my books, as well as everything else in my life.

  I also look forward to movie nights with my husband and daughter and like watching ice hockey—either on television or live at my small-town arena. I enjoy ice skating too and hope to take part in some adult skating sessions at my local rink this winter.

  What are some of your favorite authors and books?

  My very favorite author is L.M. Montgomery, best known for the Anne of Green Gables series. I’ve read her books since childhood and they’re still part of my life today. Indeed, Montgomery’s Emily trilogy (Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs and Emily’s Quest) helped nurture my dream of becoming a published author.

  Amongst contemporary authors, I’m a big fan of Robyn Carr, Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, RaeAnne Thayne and Susan Wiggs.

  What experiences from your own life do you base your characters or events on?

  Although I never put people I know in my books, snippets of my own experiences do shape aspects of my writing.

In Summer on Firefly Lake, the hero, Nick, returns to his office late one night and catches his then wife in a compromising position with the senior partner at the law firm where they both worked.

  Many years ago, I worked in the corporate world and returned to my office after hours having forgotten a file I needed for an off-site meeting the next morning. While passing an executive suite, I spotted a vice-president and director, both married to other people, in a similarly compromising position. I drew on that experience to create Nick’s backstory, and the shattered trust he must learn to overcome.

  Charlotte (Charlie) the heroine of The Cottage at Firefly Lake is a foreign correspondent based in London, England. Journalist is one of my career paths not taken, and I lived in London at different times in my life. As such, parts of those experiences and, in particular, my persistent yearning for ‘home’ when I lived outside North America, shaped parts of Charlie’s character too.

  In Back Home at Firefly Lake, the heroine is an historian and some parts of her experience are drawn from my own life as a teacher and researcher.

  I also give fictional characters the jewelry, shoes and clothing I daydream about!

  Is there anything that you want your readers to take away from your books?

  No matter which one of my books they pick up, I’d like readers to come away with a sense of comfort, encouragement and hope.

Along with the importance of being true to yourself (something that took me a long time to learn and is now a recurring theme in my fiction), my books also explore the sustaining bonds of family and friends, and the healing power of love. Even against seemingly insurmountable odds, my characters make changes in their lives and find a happy ending.

I read feel-good fiction for that promise of a happy ending, and I want readers to take that same heartwarming feeling away from my books.

Is there something special that you would like to share with your readers?

Although I’ll never meet most of my readers in person, I want each and every one of them to know how special they are to me.

I appreciate them reading my books and taking the characters into their hearts.

It gives me great joy when readers connect with me on social media or through my website.

And I’m grateful for everyone who leaves a review, or tells me that my stories have made them smile or helped them during a hard time in their life.

Each year, I choose a word for the year and for 2017 that word is “kindness.” Thank you to all the readers who have shown such kindness to me in this my first year as a published author.

Connect with Jen

Website: www.jengilroy.com

Newsletter sign-up: http://www.jengilroy.com/subscribe-to-jens-newsletter/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JenGilroyAuthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/JenGilroy1

Blog: http://www.jengilroy.com/category/blog/

        MEET AUTHOR JEN GILROY!! Thank you for interviewing me, Linda, and for reading and reviewing my books. I’m so glad you enjoyed Firefly Lake and am delighted to chat with you and your readers.