Yakumo gives Merida one of her signature neck massages

I think I am writing a newsletter. I’m Yakumo. They say I’m Tenma the Craggle Shmock’s sister. We were supposedly litter mates. But I swear I have no idea who that other cat is. All I know is that it’s her fault the Elric Brother Kittens have moved in. They look just like Tenma, so they have to be hers, no matter what she says about being “fixed,” whatever that means.

The human who co-authors this newsletter is apparently named Merida. I think I give her neck massages with my claws when Ron, the only human who matters, is away from home. I don’t know why I bother paying attention to her. She says kibble doesn’t grow on trees. I’ve looked outside. I’m pretty sure it does. It just has feathers when it’s in the trees.

Yakumo’s space is being invaded by kittens who don’t belong to her.

Why am I here? Oh yes. Kibble. Feed me kibble. Kitten chow is tasty, too.

Merida Writes -

East Coast Merida in Bethesda, Maryland. Note the presence of pearls. Or pearl-like plastic beads . . .

I live in Colorado. I guess it’s considered to be part of the wild western side of the United States. I think it’s kind of in the middle. But when it comes to East Coast/West Coast divisions, Colorado always falls to the west.

As a teenager in the ‘90s, I never knew how much of my culture was dictated by residence in the western half of the country. I didn’t listen to rap music on my own, and I was homeschooled, so I didn’t have many friends who listened to it. Or many friends at all, let’s face it . . . But when Colio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise,” or Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice” played, I knew the songs. They were everywhere, saturating the pop radio stations in my hometown. And what can I say, I loved them. This post will work its way back to writing. I promise I’m going somewhere with this.

West Coast Merida, in a freaky cave in Colorado. No, she hasn’t combed her hair in two days. It doesn’t really matter here.

What I didn’t know was that the entire east side of the country had never heard most of the rap I listened to. They were listening to artists I’d never heard of. Biggie Smalls? Who’s that?

In 2025, I attended the Left Coast Crime convention in Denver, primarily because it was close to home. No plane ticket. When I attended Malice Domestic this year, someone mentioned that East Coast Authors primarily attended Malice, and West Coast Authors preferred Left Coast Crime. My mind immediately connected invisible dots to the rap rivalries of the ‘90s. Was I on enemy turf? Encroaching where I didn’t belong? The Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries are set in Colorado Springs, so was I repping westside cozy mysteries? Were east coast authors chanting “Grab your Glock if you see Orsen Scott Card” the way rappers used to say “Grab your Glock if you see Tupac”?

Turns out authors are extremely friendly, and want to see each other succeed, no matter what part of the country they hail from. Folks at Malice told me they hoped I’d attend next year. I don’t know if I will be able to. It’s far away and costly to go. My plan now is to attend Malice every other year, and Left Coast Crime in the years I don’t attend Malice. I’ll be representing Colorado everywhere I go. Rocky Mountains for life! Peace out.

Catherine and Merida at Barnes and Noble in Colorado Springs with C.S. Gieck. Look at all of those books! Actually, one of Merida’s children’s books is missing, but who’s counting?

Upcoming Releases/Projects

• Book Three of the Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries is in the works! Granda’s Celtic Captivity will be here in 2026.

• Catherine Dilts is working on re-issuing her Rose Creek Mystery books and completing the manuscript for the fourth title in the series. More information, coming soon!

• Merida Bass is illustrating two new children’s book coming fall of 2026.

Book Three, coming this year!

Upcoming Events

Basecamp Books 1st Annual Book Bash

Catherine and Merida are attending! They’ll be signing books and hanging out.

August 16, 2026

Beginning at Noon

3918 Maizeland Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, Colorado 80909

Mesa Verde Literary Festival

Catherine and Merida are featured authors at the Mesa Verde Literary Festival! More details to come.

September 5, 2026

Mancos, CO

Mesa Verde Literary Festival and Writers Conference

Independent Bookstores where you can find our work:

Basecamp Books and Adventure carries every current title by Catherine and/or Merida.

3918 Maizeland Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80909

Basecamp Books and Adventure's Facebook

Hidden Gems (University Village Colorado Springs Location) also carries all of our titles.

5020 North Nevada Ave Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80918

Hidden Gems Facebook

Escape Velocity Comics stocks children’s books illustrated by Merida Bas.

19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Escape Velocity Comics' Facebook

Poor Richard’s Books and Gifts offers children’s books illustrated by Merida Bass.

320 - 324 1/2 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Poor Richard's Books and Gifts

Where to find us:

Catherine’s Website - https://catherinedilts.com/

Merida’s Website - https://merida-creates.com/

Subscribe to our individual Substack newsletters:

Catherine Dilts is the author of the Rose Creek Mystery series. Her short stories regularly appear in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Recently retired from a career in environmental compliance, Catherine now writes fiction full time.

Catherine's Substack @catherinedilts

Merida Bass almost wasn’t an artist. Fear of criticism resulted in her teaching remedial algebra to unwilling college students. After ten years of torture, she grew a backbone and threw herself into art, writing, and training for endurance events.

Merida's Substack @meridacreates

I am Legolas, of the Woodland Realm, son of Thranduil, the Elvenking. I survive by my cunning and my blade-like claws on my humans’ deck garden.

I was confined to the castle as the early spring cascaded into days of drizzle and gloom. Not that I enjoy much freedom when I patrol the garden. I am held captive by the humans, not allowed to roam further than the railings, and never alone.

I don’t fear the Great Horned Owl or the Red-Tailed Hawk! But Mom and Dad seem to think I would fall easy prey to their deadly talons.

As I wallow in indoor misery, I battle the Orc-dog Strider. And I listen. The humans chatter, oblivious to my elf-ears taking in every word.

What is this hamster wheel I keep hearing about? Mom complains that she feels like she is on one, as she leaves for hours and hours on one task or another related to her writing. When she is here, she constantly hammers on that clackety keyboard or talks to other humans on something they call Zoom.

Hamster. That sounds like food to me. I am kept in a continual state of near starvation. Kitten kibble does not satisfy a warrior’s appetite. I demand raw elk meat, and a taste of whatever the humans are consuming. They have yet to serve hamster.

And on a wheel? Perhaps that is like a kebab - a meat skewer. I am desperate to try “hamster on a wheel.”

Mom claims she is determined to get off of this wheel. What then of the hamster?

Catherine Writes

Book signing at Barnes & Noble May 31st

By the time this Weekly Scoop posts, I will have participated in ten May writing-related events. In these post-COVID times, writing groups like Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Pikes Peak Writers often have workshops via the internet.

Other events are live. The dynamic of in-person interactions is definitely different. That’s the reason many companies switched from generous work-at-home options for workers to demanding a return to the office.

A LinkedIn article discusses Remote Work vs. In-Person vs. Hybrid: Looking at the Data in depth. I was fortunate to spend the last couple of years of my career working remotely. If I had to return to an office now, I probably wouldn’t make it. My younger daughter, Nicole, has a hybrid situation. In Colorado during the winter, it’s an incredible perk to be able to anticipate snowstorms and choose to work from home until the roads are cleared. But most of the time, she works in an office.

I love the ubiquitous Zoom meetings. You don’t even have to comb your hair and switch out of your ratty sweatshirt if you keep your camera turned off. It’s so easy that I found myself signing up for every writing talk that sounded interesting.

I attended four in-person events in May - a RMMWA meeting in Denver, a library event called Mountain of Authors (as an attendee, not a participant this year), a SinC Colorado murder mystery party, and a SinC Colorado marketing workshop. All were fantastic. I interacted with people in ways that don’t happen in a Zoom meeting. But being in a roomful of people for a couple of hours (or more) drains me.

My complaints about feeling like a hamster on a wheel didn’t earn me sympathy from my husband. “It’s your choice to do these things,” is his response. The dog would prefer me to stay home - or take him with me - forever. I got funny looks from the kitten, as he licked his lips with an odd gleam in his eyes.

So I do need to slow my roll a bit in June. Less Zooming around. More camping and fishing.

Current releases: two Ninja - Grandparent mysteries

Upcoming Releases/Projects

• Book Three of the Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries is in the works! Granda’s Celtic Captivity will be here in 2026.

• Catherine Dilts is working on re-issuing her Rose Creek Mystery books and completing the manuscript for the fourth title in the series. More information, coming soon!

• Merida Bass is illustrating two new children’s book coming fall of 2026.

Upcoming events

Merida Bass - First Friday Art Walk and Book Signing

• Merida will be drawing live with her daughter Kyra Bass @iggy_and_org and signing books with the author of The Jelly Monster, C.S. Gieck!

Friday, June 5th

5:00 - 8:00 pm

Escape Velocity Comics & Graphic Novels

19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Escape Velocity Comics & Graphic Novels

Mesa Verde Literary Festival

Catherine and Merida are featured authors at the Mesa Verde Literary Festival! More details to come.

September 5, 2026

Mancos, CO

Mesa Verde Literary Festival and Writers Conference

Independent Bookstores:

Basecamp Books and Adventure is the exclusive outlet for my Rose Creek Mystery series, as I work on re-releasing the first three books, and releasing book four. Basecamp carries every current title by Catherine and/or Merida, including The Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries and The Tapestry Tales written as Ann Belice.

3918 Maizeland Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80909

Basecamp Books and Adventure's Facebook

Hidden Gems (University Village Colorado Springs Location) carries Merida’s children’s books, The Ninja Grandparent series, and The Tapestry Tales series.

5020 North Nevada Ave Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80918

Hidden Gems Facebook

Escape Velocity Comics stocks children’s books illustrated by Merida Bass.

19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Escape Velocity Comics' Facebook

Poor Richard’s Books and Gifts offers children’s books illustrated by Merida Bass.

320 - 324 1/2 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Poor Richard's Books and Gifts

Where to find us:

Catherine’s Website - https://catherinedilts.com/

Merida’s Website - https://merida-creates.com/

Subscribe to our individual Substack newsletters:

Catherine Dilts is the author of the Rose Creek Mystery series. Her short stories regularly appear in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Recently retired from a career in environmental compliance, Catherine now writes fiction full-time.

Catherine's Substack @catherinedilts

Merida Bass almost wasn’t an artist. Fear of criticism resulted in her teaching remedial algebra to unwilling college students. After ten years of torture, she grew a backbone and threw herself into art, writing, and training for endurance events.

Merida's Substack @meridacreates

Tenma, AKA the Craggle Shmock because sometimes she craggles. And sometimes, she shmocks.

I couldn’t be more disappointed in my human, Merida. Craggle. She’s an entire day late publishing the latest issue of the Tuxedo Cat Weekly Scoop. Schmock. She wouldn’t listen to reason, claiming to be recovering from too many weekends away from home. I have no sympathy. She left me writhing in misery with the two underlings that recently moved into my home. Craggle. The mannerless kittens, Edward and Alphonse, torment me daily by eating my food, climbing my trees, and licking my head without permission. Merida cannot possibly be as tired as I am. Shmock.

Tenma takes a break from craggling and shmocking to get a chest massage and assist Merida with her work.

Despite Merida’s undeserving behavior, I decided to put my paws into this week’s newsletter. I would like to explain what it means to be me, Tenma, The Craggle Schmock. When someone gives me unsolicited attention, I craggle them with a warning slap, carefully keeping my claws in. If the humans persist, they know they have takent their lives into their own, strangely naked paws. So I have no choice but to give them a thorough schmocking. They deserve it. They were warned. Craggle.

Tenma the Craggle Shmock

What was I talking about? Oh, yes. Schmock. Merida has been advised to attone for her reckless behavior by writing about why she didn’t get her newsletter done on time. Craggle. I will be sitting on her until she finishes. Schmock.

Merida Writes -

Cute cake at a one-year-old’s birthday party.

I haven’t been home an entire weekend since the first week of April. Easter weekend, I was technically home most of the time, but I had to leave my house to attend a one-year-old’s birthday party, and perform some much-needed relationship maintenance by hanging out with my oldest friends. The one-year-old was predictably miserable, needing a nap long begore she was presented with her smash cake. But her parents and guests were having a great time. The next day, my friends were predictably fun. But social situations drain me completely, no matter how happy I am to be there.

Merida at the movies with friends.

Fast-forward seven weekends later, and all I want to do is start a new Minecraft survival world and punch trees all day. But I can’t. Tenma won’t let me pick up a PS4 controller without craggling me, whatever that means.

One of the ways I find stress relief is through procrastination. For me, this doesn’t mean putting off tasks so I can play video games, as much as I wish that were the case. Instead, I’ve found a much more insidious method to avoid doing the things I’m supposed to. I call this process “productive procrastination.”

Yesterday, when I was supposed to be writing this newsletter, I went through boxes and bins full of camping gear and organized it. I cleaned up and put away the equipment we used this weekend on our first backpacking adventure (which I will detail on my personal Substack . . . when I write it . . .sigh). I sewed waterproof bags to hold my camp stove and bathroom gear. I did laundry, folded it all, and put it away. I even took the trash out and went grocery shopping. And in the evening, when I had no more excuses and still had time to publish the newsletter on the correct day, I pulled out my iPad and colored one of my children’s book illustrations.

Merida scribbled on the dirty water bag she uses for backpacking. She did this instead of getting actual work done.

Why do I get a sick satisfaction out of avoiding work? I spent so much more time on all those other tasks than I would have on the newsletter! It makes no sense to me, and yet, today, I’m energized and ready to work on what I’m supposed to. My middle daughter says it’s just the “tism,” short for autism. We both hyper-fixate so hard on projects and tasks that we can’t think about anything else until they are done, or until the feeling is out of our systems. Last week, the only thing I wanted to do was work on my latest children’s book. Since that time, I have sketched every picture in the story, and the whole project is ready to be painted. I’ve been extremely productive . . . but this project’s deadline isn’t anytime soon unlike the novels I’m supposed to be writing.

I feel sorry about my behavior, but I can’t argue with the results. If this insanity is simply how I keep myself sane, then is it really that bad?

Rough character sketches for Merida’s upcoming children’s book, Someday’s Garden.

Upcoming Releases/Projects

• Book Three of the Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries is coming out this year! Title reveal on June 1st, 2026. That’s soon!

• Catherine Dilts is working on re-issuing her Rose Creek Mystery books and completing the manuscript for the fourth title in the series. More information, coming soon!

• Someday’s Garden, written and illustrated by Merida Bass will come out sometime before the school year.

• Merida Bass is illustrating another children’s book coming in October 2026.

Come see us at our book signing!

Upcoming events

Catherine Dilts and Merida Bass - Book Signing with C.S. Gieck

• Join us and the author of The Jelly Monster for our book signing. Free stickers! Who doesn’t want those?

Sunday, May 31st

12:00 - 6:00 pm

Barnes & Noble in Chapel Hills, Colorado

1565 Briargate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Barnes & Noble in Chapel Hills, Colorado

Merida Bass - First Friday Art Walk and Book Signing

• I’ll be drawing live with my daughter Kyra Bass @iggy_and_org and signing books with the author of The Jelly Monster, C.S. Gieck!

Friday, June 5th

5:00 - 8:00 pm

Escape Velocity Comics & Graphic Novels

19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Escape Velocity Comics & Graphic Novels

Mesa Verde Literary Festival

Catherine and Merida are featured authors at the Mesa Verde Literary Festival! More details to come.

September 5, 2026

Mancos, CO

Mesa Verde Literary Festival and Writers Conference

Independent Bookstores where you can find our work:

Basecamp Books and Adventure carries every current title by Catherine and/or Merida.

3918 Maizeland Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80909

Basecamp Books and Adventure's Facebook

Hidden Gems (University Village Colorado Springs Location) also carries all of our titles.

5020 North Nevada Ave Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80918

Hidden Gems Facebook

Escape Velocity Comics stocks children’s books illustrated by Merida Bas.

19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Escape Velocity Comics' Facebook

Poor Richard’s Books and Gifts offers children’s books illustrated by Merida Bass.

320 - 324 1/2 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Poor Richard's Books and Gifts

Where to find us:

Catherine’s Website - https://catherinedilts.com/

Merida’s Website - https://merida-creates.com/

Subscribe to our individual Substack newsletters:

Catherine Dilts is the author of the Rose Creek Mystery series. Her short stories regularly appear in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Recently retired from a career in environmental compliance, Catherine now writes fiction full time.

Catherine's Substack @catherinedilts

Merida Bass almost wasn’t an artist. Fear of criticism resulted in her teaching remedial algebra to unwilling college students. After ten years of torture, she grew a backbone and threw herself into art, writing, and training for endurance events.

Merida's Substack @meridacreates

I am Legolas of the Woodland Realm, son of Thranduil, the Elvenking, surviving by tooth and claw in the mountain wilderness of Colorado.

Last week, my litter-brother Alphonse Elric Bass posted some drivel about his feeble efforts to exercise mind-control over his human. How can that compare to my struggle to survive continued assaults by the Orc known as Strider, the English Springer Spaniel?

You may recall my post dated May 5th. The human known as “Mom” abandoned me last month. I suffered the indignity of daily kibble-scented tongue slobberings delivered by the Orc. I fought with my elven blades, known by the humans as claws. If only my milk teeth would shed soon, to be replaced by mouth-sabers capable of piercing the Orc’s thick fur.

I hold down the mighty paw of the Orc “Strider” to prevent another bathing in toxic slobber.

Upon Mom’s return, I was willing to forgive her, after an appropriate period of atonement. Imagine my rage when I learned that she had attended a writers’ conference at which felines were in attendance.

There were cats?!? Wait. What? And Mom didn’t take ME????

My fury at her absence was renewed. I refused to sit on her lap, or “help” her with the jigsaw puzzle. But I could not hold a grudge forever. Besides, that blanket on her lap was fluffy and warm.

Catherine Writes - There Were Cats

Celebrating 40 years of Sisters In Crime at Malice Domestic - Merida Bass and Catherine Dilts

Do you imagine fans of cozy and traditional mysteries crochet doilies and sip chamomile tea when they’re not reading Agatha Christie or watching reruns of “Murder, She Wrote”? You would be so very wrong. Well, mostly wrong. There may be some doily crocheting and tea sipping involved some of the time.

Yes, I saw knitting happening at Malice. There were even cats in attendance, along with nearly five hundred humans. I met women holding Ph.D degrees in hard sciences. Women who were lawyers and tough-as-nails law officers.

Malice Domestic began for us early Friday morning. (Actually, there were events starting on Thursday, but we had time constraints.) The conference didn’t end until Sunday afternoon.

After attending the Malice 101 session with Anne Murphy and Judy Cater, I had a better idea of how the conference functioned. My co-author daughter and I rushed to get in line for the next event, Malice-Go-Round.

Authors went from table to table, pitching their books to readers. They were strictly timed. Imagine being “on” for nearly two grueling hours while trying to make yourself and your work sound brilliant. Inside tiny bites of time. I was worn out by the end, and I was just sitting at a table listening.

The first session of the afternoon was IT’S MS. MARPLE, THANK YOU: Senior Sleuths in Modern Mysteries. My daughter was the moderator for the panel discussion of senior sleuths.

My Friday was a whirlwind of attending sessions, dropping by the book room, and meeting people. My brain was full of inspiration, new ideas, and more new books to read than I’ll get to in a lifetime. While in the book room, I caught a glimpse of Mr. Darcy and Professor Ivy, two cats traveling around the conference in a stroller.

We’d been informed the Live Charity Auction was a blast. So we went that evening. And it was beyond a blast. My goodness, the friendly competition pushed bids higher than I imagined possible.

Saturday, bright and early, Merida participated in the “Meet the New Authors of Malice” breakfast. Ellen Byron conducted brief interviews with each author. Brave folks made their debuts in front of a roomful of people.

I was lax about attending panels on Saturday, not even trying to hit every session. Instead, we met with another mother-daughter writing team, Renee and Charlie. Multi-published author Jennifer J. Chow joined the conversation. They encouraged Merida to join Mystery Writers of Color.

Right before the Agatha Awards Banquet, I met Molly MacRae, author of numerous cozy series. Then we enjoyed a nice meal and cheered for the winners of the coveted Agatha Awards. I turned in early, leaving the partying to younger, hardier folks.

My panel was on Sunday morning. Although the topic might have sounded dry, the panelists rallied and made our “Cozies: Realism vs. Entertainment” lively.

Then we had a plane to catch. We had to miss the Agatha Tea. All too soon, we were riding the subway back to the airport.

Was it worth the travel and expense to attend this conference? Yes. For authors of cozy and amateur sleuth mysteries, this is the place to be.

And there were cats.

At the Agatha Awards dinner.

Upcoming Releases/Projects

• Book Three of the Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries is coming out this year! Title reveal on June 1st, 2026.

• Catherine Dilts is working on re-issuing her Rose Creek Mystery books and completing the manuscript for the fourth title in the series. More information coming soon!

  

• Merida Bass is illustrating another children’s book coming in October 2026.

Upcoming events

Catherine Dilts and Merida Bass - Book Signing with C.S. Gieck

• Join us and the author of The Jelly Monster for our book signing. Free stickers! Who doesn’t want those?

Sunday, May 31st

11:00 am - ? pm

Barnes & Noble in Chapel Hills, Colorado

1565 Briargate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Barnes & Noble in Chapel Hills, Colorado

Merida Bass - First Friday Art Walk and Book Signing

• I’ll be drawing live with my daughter Kyra Bass @iggy_and_org and signing books with the author of The Jelly Monster, C.S. Gieck!

Friday, June 5th

5:00 - 8:00 pm

Escape Velocity Comics & Graphic Novels

19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Escape Velocity Comics & Graphic Novels

Mesa Verde Literary Festival

Catherine and Merida are featured authors at the Mesa Verde Literary Festival! More details to come.

September 5, 2026

Mancos, CO

Mesa Verde Literary Festival

Independent Bookstores where you can find our work:

Basecamp Books and Adventure carries every current title by Catherine and/or Merida.

3918 Maizeland Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80909

Basecamp Books and Adventure's Facebook

Hidden Gems (University Village Colorado Springs Location) also carries all of our titles.

5020 North Nevada Ave Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80918

Hidden Gems Facebook

Escape Velocity Comics stocks children’s books illustrated by Merida Bas.

19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Escape Velocity Comics' Facebook

Poor Richard’s Books and Gifts offers children’s books illustrated by Merida Bass.

320 - 324 1/2 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Poor Richard's Books and Gifts

Where to find us:

Catherine’s Website - https://catherinedilts.com/

Merida’s Website - https://merida-creates.com/

Subscribe to our individual Substack newsletters:

Catherine Dilts is the author of the Rose Creek Mystery series. Her short stories regularly appear in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Recently retired from a career in environmental compliance, Catherine now writes fiction full time.

Catherine's Substack @catherinedilts

Merida Bass almost wasn’t an artist. Fear of criticism resulted in her teaching remedial algebra to unwilling college students. After ten years of torture, she grew a backbone and threw herself into art, writing, and training for endurance events.

Merida's Substack @meridacreates

Genius and master of manipulation, Alphonse Elric Bass, rules Merida’s kitchen from his wooden throne.

My simple brothers, Edward and Legolas have already had their turns on this fledgling publication. My brother Edward is elegant but has fur for brains. I can’t believe he debuted the new format! And my other brother Legolas is just a barbarian wearing a tuxedo. He is as unfit to write as my human, Merida Bass. It’s finally time for I, Alphonse Elric Bass, to commandeer the newsletter and steer humanity’s future in the right direction: tails up and paws down.

Life is one large-scale experiment. A testing ground for progress toward the ultimate dream: a utopian world centered around my benevolent rule. You humans will finally know true happiness in this future reality. But for now, I understand your apprehension toward turning rule over to the paws of a kitten. This is why I am developing a method to simplify the transition: I have been using a modified purr-based telepathy to exercise my influence over Merida while she sleeps.

Alphonse, modifying Merida’s mind while pretending to sleep on her pillow

Becoming the commander and chief of life itself on this planet, and beyond, requires I amass great quantities of power. Using Merida as my tool is a necessary evil at this stage in my plans. While I didn’t appreciate her leaving me to attend Malice Domestic 38 weekend before last, I knew that it would eventually be for the greater good of all. While she spoke to large crowds of captive humans, I activated the part of her brain I had reprogrammed during our pillow time. I then sent subliminal messages through her mouth out to the audience. The world hasn’t changed much yet, but I know my message has been received.

Merida Writes -

Debut authors at Malice Domestic 38 in Bethesda, Maryland. Merida is in the back left corner.

I used to speak to crowds for hours each week teaching mathematics for ten years. Then I took a ten-year break to homeschool my three daughters, create art, and write books. And in that time, I totally forgot how to speak in public.

I’ve given a few presentations since I stopped teaching, but it has only been small stuff. I did fine. So, for Malice Domestic 38 I signed up for two public speaking opportunities: moderating a panel, and introducing myself as a featured new author debuting at Malice Domestic.

I was blown away to be invited to moderate a panel called IT’S MS. MARPLE, THANK YOU: Senior Sleuths in Modern Mysteries. I’m nobody in the cozy mystery world. The amateur senior sleuths I write about with my mother and co-author, Catherine, in The Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries are not traditional. The case each senior tries to solve centers around why a ninja kidnapped them, and figuring out who these strangers calling themselves their family members are. The major mystery in the comedy series we’ve heavily outlined will take twelve books to solve. It’s not the kind of case Ms. Marple could pick apart over her knitting.

However, as a moderator, the panel wasn’t about me. It was about setting the stage for my panelists to shine. That wasn’t hard to do. While each of us have master’s degrees, Nan McCann and Michelle Cullen also have PhDs. These women have lived all over the world and have fascinating stories to tell. Eileen McIntire, also an avid world traveler, has six books in her 90s Club series which features senior sleuths in that age category. Barbara Barrett, author of the popular Mah Jongg Mystery Series has written at least 38 beloved books! Nan McCann’s upcoming release is sure to be as captivating as the author herself. And Michell Cullen’s A Field Guide to Murder is an instant classic. I’ll post a review for it soon, and I can’t wait for the next installment. It was an incredible cast!

IT’S MS. MARPLE, THANK YOU: Senior Sleuths in Modern Mysteries

With the notes and prompts I printed for myself to keep the conversation moving, I knew these women were interesting enough to make the discussion exciting all on their own. I went to the panel at least fifteen minutes early to get the lay of the land. The room slowly filled. And kept filling . . . and kept filling. Eventually, there were people sitting on the floor! I thought I was past the point of butterflies when I speak in front of crowds. Nope! I was a trembling mess by the time the panel started!

From left to right, Merida Bass, Michelle Cullen, Eileen McIntire, Nan McCann, and Barbara Barrett

I fumbled through my notes, reading too much and missing my microphone far too often. Even though the panelists delivered on a sensational performance, the biggest highlight I can recall was an audience member mentioning an infamous retirement community in Florida, famous for its high rates of love-related diseases, if you catch my meaning. The rest of it’s a blur to me now, but lots of strangers kindly told me the panel was great. My imposter syndrome filters all compliments through a lens of “they’re only saying that because they feel sorry for me about how awful I was.” But I’m making myself learn how embrace positive feedback. I’m taking the win!

This 2026 sign was actually set up for a prom the hotel was hosting at the same time as Malice Domestic. But that didn’t stop all of us from taking our pictures with the display!

With the panel complete, I only had an entire day to fret about my next event. The New Author Breakfast for debut authors began at 7:00 AM EST. That’s 5:00 AM in Colorado, where I’m from. This meant my body felt like I got up at 4:00 AM to get ready. And I barely slept. The previous night was the fateful evening I wrote about in Taryn Skipper’s guest feature Merida Doing It All Wrong. Read it at your own risk.

I felt that using paper notes during the panel was a rookie mistake. So this time, I brought my iPad to read off the description of my book. Most people had memorized theirs or had enough human speaking skills to simply talk about their stories. I should have done that. It’s not like I didn’t know what I wrote about. But I’m the kind of person who thinks of the clever comeback an hour after the fight is over. When I’m nervous, I do much better with a plan.

Michelle Cullen and Merida before the New Author Breakfast for debuting authors at Malice Domestic 38

During the interview portion, I think I did okay. I relaxed more than I did during the panel. I heard vague sounds from the audience that might have been laughter. And once again, people approached me when I was done and told me they enjoyed what I had to say. Really? Cool! I’ll take it.

Debuting at Malice Domestic 38 was one of the scariest things I’ve done in recent years. But it was an excellent crash course in remembering how to speak to a crowd, and reminding me how much I really like doing it. Besides, for some reason it seems like one of my tuxedo cats is compelling me to make more public appearances. So I will. I just have to trust myself to know what I’m talking with the same level of confidence I have in my algebra skills. With the friendliness and supportiveness of the community at this convention, I really had nothing to fear. I want to go back to Malice in 2027, but right now, I can do one out-of-state convention per year. I have plans, and I’ll talk about them the next time it’s my turn.

Sisters In Crime celebrated 40 years at Malice Domestic 38! Mom and I are holding the digits. I wanted to hold the 4 because my favorite number is 8 and 4 fits nicely inside 8. Trust me. This matters.

Upcoming Releases/Projects

• Book Three of the Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries is coming out this year! Title reveal on June 1st, 2026.

• Catherine Dilts is working on re-issuing her Rose Creek Mystery books and completing the manuscript for the fourth title in the series. More information, coming soon!

• Merida Bass is illustrating another children’s book coming in October 2026.

Sketchy fantasy world drawn in the style of Merida’s children’s book.

Upcoming events

Catherine Dilts and Merida Bass - Book Signing with C.S. Gieck

• Join us and the author of The Jelly Monster for our book signing. Free stickers! Who doesn’t want those?

Sunday, May 31st

12:00 - 6:00 pm

Barnes & Noble in Chapel Hills, Colorado

1565 Briargate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Barnes & Noble in Chapel Hills, Colorado

Merida Bass - First Friday Art Walk and Book Signing

• I’ll be drawing live with my daughter Kyra Bass @iggy_and_org and signing books with the author of The Jelly Monster, C.S. Gieck!

Friday, June 5th

5:00 - 8:00 pm

Escape Velocity Comics & Graphic Novels

19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Escape Velocity Comics & Graphic Novels

Mesa Verde Literary Festival

Catherine and Merida are featured authors at the Mesa Verde Literary Festival! More details to come.

September 5, 2026

Mancos, CO

Mesa Verde Literary Festival and Writers Conference

Independent Bookstores where you can find our work:

Basecamp Books and Adventure carries every current title by Catherine and/or Merida.

3918 Maizeland Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80909

Basecamp Books and Adventure's Facebook

Hidden Gems (University Village Colorado Springs Location) also carries all of our titles.

5020 North Nevada Ave Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80918

Hidden Gems Facebook

Escape Velocity Comics stocks children’s books illustrated by Merida Bas.

19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Escape Velocity Comics' Facebook

Poor Richard’s Books and Gifts offers children’s books illustrated by Merida Bass.

320 - 324 1/2 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Poor Richard's Books and Gifts

Where to find us:

Catherine’s Website - https://catherinedilts.com/

Merida’s Website - https://merida-creates.com/

Subscribe to our individual Substack newsletters:

Catherine Dilts is the author of the Rose Creek Mystery series. Her short stories regularly appear in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Recently retired from a career in environmental compliance, Catherine now writes fiction full time.

Catherine's Substack @catherinedilts

Merida Bass almost wasn’t an artist. Fear of criticism resulted in her teaching remedial algebra to unwilling college students. After ten years of torture, she grew a backbone and threw herself into art, writing, and training for endurance events.

Merida's Substack @meridacreates

I am Legolas of the Woodland Realm, son of Thranduil, the Elvenking. I own two humans and a canine claiming royal blood, but seriously, he is no Elf Prince.

While my two Tuxedo brothers lounge about in the palatial luxury of the Bass castle, I live the life of a hunter, utilizing my claws and needle-sharp milk-teeth to battle a dangerous and hideous Orc the humans comically refer to as a puppy.

In last week’s Scoop, my brother the Fullmetal Kitten, Edward Elric Bass, explained the necessity of a Tuxedo Cat Takeover of the humans’ pathetic newsletter. I suppose he thinks it’s a simple matter to tear myself away from defending my realm to take a turn today.

My primary human - hereafter referred to as Mom - rudely vanished for several days, leaving me to fend for myself. She will attempt to explain her absence in a blog below, but it’s only important for you to understand my dire situation.

With no warning, a packed bag appeared at the top of the stairs. Then the secondary human (otherwise known as Dad) whisked Mom away. She has been gone before. This time was different. As the sun set and the house darkened with a depressing gloom, Mom was nowhere to be found.

Worse yet, a visitor attempted to take her place. In the harshest blow, this other human brought another Orc into our midst.

Orc One in front, and visiting Orc Two behind, otherwise known as Strider and Sophie.

Armed only with my razor-sharp claws and fangs, I fought them all that long night and into the next day. Alas! The Orcs stole my kitten toys. Orc One, AKA Strider, regularly bathed my fur in puppy kibble-scented slobber. They gobbled up the meaty tidbits obviously meant for me.

Where was my ally? My defender? Mom didn’t return. One day melted into the next, one bleak night stretched into another. I became increasingly concerned. Had she fallen in battle?

Just when I had given up all hope, she returned in the dark of the night, bringing tales of a magical kingdom called Malice Domestic. I wanted to express the joy I felt at her return, but she needed to understand the consequences of abandoning her comrade-in-arms.

I let her carry me to my bed, as is our custom. I may even have accidentally purred a little. But for the most part, I scorned her attention. I even showered Dad with my affection, preferring his lap to hers for an entire day. When I was convinced she understood the gravity of her neglect, I resumed my customary perch on her shoulder while she scribbled her little stories.

And yes, I did dig my claws into her neck hard enough to drive home the lesson.

Read on if you care to learn about my human’s side of this disgraceful story. Truly though, it can’t be all that interesting.

Catherine Writes - Enjoying a Conference

What’s different about 2026? I’m enjoying writers conferences, and I’m not sure why. Yes, I am peopled out and ready for a long stint hiding in my writer’s cave. But I actually broke out of my introverted-ness for both PPWC and MD38.

Who is crazy enough to register for conferences two weeks in a row? Apparently, both my co-author daughter and me.

The Pikes Peak Writers Conference is our local event. People attend from all over the country, but it’s in our backyard. Seems like a no-brainer to sign up for this one. And volunteer. We didn’t pay for a hotel room, and were only 20 minutes from the venue, so no plane ticket was required.

I write in detail about PPWC 2026 on my blog, so I won’t repeat everything here. But analyzing my experience, I do come up with a few ideas about what worked for me.

I enjoyed sessions that were literary-leaning. PPWC is a commercial fiction conference, but as Stant Litore discussed Pacing, I felt the weight of his Ph.D. in English pushing us to think more deeply. Writing Lore Your Readers Won’t Forget, also led by Stant, caused my dim mental lightbulbs to illuminate.

Johnny Worthen conducted an actual literary analysis of a short story for an hour Saturday afternoon during Deeper Reading for Deeper Writing. Dry? Not hardly! And at the end of the class, attendees ignored the announcement that we were done, and lingered with more questions and comments.

Another super fun aspect of PPWC 2026 was going to sessions led by David Lyons, a retired homicide detective and true crime podcaster. Some folks are just great speakers, lively and entertaining. This was true of Kevin Ikenberry, too.

I attended marketing sessions. Enjoyed keynote speakers and their tales of publishing woe ending in inspiration. I was a gatekeeper for aspiring authors to pitch their work to an editor. And I had hallway and dinner conversations as valuable as any class.

I’ve used up my time today on PPWC 2026. I’ll save talking about Malice Domestic for my next turn on Catherine and Merida Write. If Legolas will allow me.

Upcoming Releases/Projects

• Book Three of the Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries is coming out this year! Title reveal on June 1st, 2026.

• Catherine Dilts is working on re-issuing her Rose Creek Mystery books and completing the manuscript for the fourth title in the series. More information coming soon!

Upcoming events

Catherine & Merida

• Catherine Dilts and Merida Bass - Book Signing with C.S. Gieck

  Join us and the author of The Jelly Monster for our book signing. Free stickers! Who doesn’t want those?

  Sunday, May 31

  12:00 - 6:00 pm

  Barnes & Noble

  1565 Briargate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Where to find us:

Catherine's Website

Merida's Website

Independent Bookstores where you can find our work:

Basecamp Books and Adventure carries every current title by Catherine and/or Merida.

3918 Maizeland Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80909

Basecamp Books and Adventure's Facebook

Hidden Gems (University Village Colorado Springs Location) also carries all of our titles.

5020 North Nevada Ave Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80918

Hidden Gems Facebook

Escape Velocity Comics stocks children’s books illustrated by Merida Bas.

19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Escape Velocity Comics' Facebook

Poor Richard’s Books and Gifts offers children’s books illustrated by Merida Bass.

320 - 324 1/2 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Poor Richard's Books and Gifts

My name is Edward Elric Bass. Author Merida Bass belongs to me. I prefer the company of her husband, Ron, but I tolerate Merida as is required while he is away toiling.

Edward taking control of the keyboard.

When I heard my human, Merida Bass, talking on the phone with her mother, Catherine Dilts, about updating their old newsletter, I knew I had to put my paws on the keyboard and intervene. After all, I’m not just any kitten. I am Edward Elric Bass, tuxedo kitten extraordinaire. I made a pact with the three other tuxedo cats who share my household, and my brother, Legolas, who now resides with Catherine and a mongrel of supposedly noble birth. We are banding together in an attempt to elevate the crude content proffered by our simple humans.

Catherine and Merida used to have a newsletter under the name Ann Belice. I am told this is a combination of their middle names; a pen name they share for the purpose of writing a YA sci-fi series of books that involve a powerful talking squirrel monkey. Of all the ridiculous nonsense! Bah! Catherine and Merida are the authors of this drivel, and therefore, their newsletter should be named for them. Hence the new title, Catherine and Merida Write. Not particularly clever, but it will suffice.

This newsletter must serve a higher purr-pose. If these humans insist on wasting their time writing books and creating artwork instead of rubbing my deliciously soft tummy, they must do so with class. With style. Like a tuxedo cat.

They have insisted on including their blogs, despite the protestations I made with my claws. Apparently, other humans who read their books are sometimes interested in Catherine and Merida’s personal lives, future publications, and upcoming events. Feel free to purr-ruse the content below if you have nothing better to do. All of the important information is up here. You have already read it.

Merida peeking into a selfie at the Pikes Peak Writer’s Conference banquet. Catherine Dilts is wearing the blue cowgirl hat.

Merida Writes - I don’t want to learn anymore . . .

Two weekends in a row, I’ve been on. Socially. I’m exhausted, but at the same time, somehow refreshed. I just got back from Malice Domestic 38 Sunday night. I’ll talk about that another time. The previous weekend, I attended the Pikes Peak Writer’s Conference in my hometown of Colorado Springs. I still have to unpack my mind from the event, so that’s what I’ll talk about today.

I was honestly dreading it. I didn’t feel like I needed to work on my writing craft. Okay, that’s not quite right. It’s more like, I didn’t want to learn something new that would cause me to question whether my writing was good or not. I had been in a slump, overworked, burned out, and wondering why I was wasting my time on this artsy stuff. I had thoughts that maybe I should just go back to teaching mathematics.

At the conference, instead of focusing on how to become a better writer, I attended workshops about topics that seemed like they had nothing to do with me. I went to a talk about Westerns because I don’t write that genre. Same for horror. Unfortunately, I learned a lot. It might be fun to write in both of those genres. Maybe combine the two with a little romance? Stop it! The last thing I need is another project!

I also attended workshops on marketing, a topic I dread. I learned too much, and now I’m working on this darned newsletter. I should really stop learning things.

Merida trying not to have fun at the Pikes Peak Writer’s Conference. Unfortunately, it was really fun.

I found myself enjoying the conference immensely, in spite of my desire to be a crank. Two events in particular affected me to my core. One of them was the talk by Pippa Grant in which she fought with herself about her imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome runs deep in my family. Just ask my mother Catherine about that. It’s often difficult for me to appreciate my accomplishments. Of course I’ve been burned out!

The other event was a workshop by Taryn Skipper about time management. Tidbits from that content keep popping up in my mind and falling out of my mouth in conversations. It wasn’t a simple talk about getting the most out of your workday. Taryn’s presentation was full of inspirational quotes and familiar ideas, reframed in a context that resonated with me personally. In that jar of sand and rocks, where sand is the insignificant portion of your life and the rocks are the important parts, “writing is rocks.”

For me, drawing is rocks, too. I’ve been neglecting working on my fine art because I’ve been hyper-focused on writing books. Books I care deeply about. Books that mean the world to me, and that I hope, mean the world to readers. But before I could read and write, I could draw. I’ve been told I made some high-quality potato people that were the pride of my parents. Focusing on one dream doesn’t mean giving up on the others.

Managing my time means spending a little more on art, and a little less on writing. And in between, I have to celebrate the progress I make on each craft. The Pikes Peak Writer’s Conference was worth my time, darn it. And Malice Domestic 38 was life changing in a completely different way. To find out why, you’re going to have to wait for my next post. It’s Mom’s turn next, so I’ll catch you after next week.

Upcoming Releases/Projects

• Book Three of the Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries is coming out this year! Title reveal on June 1st, 2026.

• Catherine Dilts is working on re-issuing her Rose Creek Mystery books and completing the manuscript for the fourth title in the series. More information, coming soon!

  

First Friday Art Walk and Book Signing at Escape Velocity Comics

Upcoming events

• Merida Bass - First Friday Art Walk and Book Signing

  I’ll be drawing live with my daughter Kyra Bass @iggy_and_org and signing books with the author of The Jelly Monster, C.S. Gieck!

  Friday, May 1

  5:00 - 8:00 pm

  Escape Velocity Comics & Graphic Novels

  19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

• Catherine Dilts and Merida Bass - Book Signing with C.S. Gieck

  Join us and the author of The Jelly Monster for our book signing. Free stickers! Who doesn’t want those?

  Sunday, May 31

  12:00 - 6:00 pm

  Barnes & Noble

  1565 Briargate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Where to find us:

Catherine's Website

Merida's Website

Independent Bookstores where you can find our work:

Basecamp Books and Adventure carries every current title by Catherine and/or Merida.

3918 Maizeland Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80909

Basecamp Books and Adventure's Facebook

Hidden Gems (University Village Colorado Springs Location) also carries the Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries and Merida’s children’s books.

5020 North Nevada Ave Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80918

Hidden Gems Facebook

Escape Velocity Comics stocks children’s books illustrated by Merida.

19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Escape Velocity Comics' Facebook

Poor Richard’s Books and Gifts offers children’s books illustrated by Merida Bass.

320 - 324 1/2 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903

Poor Richard's Books and Gifts

Register for your free entry to the Pikes Peak Writers combination party and book signing.

Find a gift. Treat yourself. Enjoy a book-themed party.

Where? Storybook Brewing 3121 A North El Paso Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 80907

When? 2:00 to 5:00 pm Saturday, December 20th

Who? Pikes Peak Writers local authors

In this article, the author describes an abandoned zoo you can tour if you’re in Florida: https://reasonandnature.com/2022/12/21/incredible-wildlife-amongst-ruins-of-an-abandoned-zoo/

The fictional zoo near Five Palms was populated with monkeys when it closed. In real life, rhesus macaques, squirrel monkeys, and vervets were introduced to the Florida jungles from abandoned zoos and from medical lab escapees.

The Tapestry Tales series asks: What if a zoo in the Florida jungle was abandoned ages ago? What if a secretive laboratory developed the natural powers of the wild monkeys?

Find the Tapestry Tales series at:

Frayed Dreams

Broken Strands

Jagrav Mahajan needs his mother’s approval for a cybernetic leg replacement, but she vanished with her cult of mathematical naturalists. The resources Jag needs to find his missing mother are wrapped up in his father’s lies.

Inspired by eco-superhero Breaker, African American high school student Nia Beckett is determined to save the last wild jungle. When Nia meets Jag at the crumbling Five Palms Resort, she realizes Breaker is there on a mission of her own. Nia must unmask the superhero’s secret identity if her tiny activist group, Teens For Earth, has any hope of finally succeeding in a mission.

The teens face life-threatening dangers in the wild jungle with a stuffy Senator’s son, a genius Viking girl, and a mysterious silkie chicken. Jag and Nia learn of the Talents they never dreamed they had. Meanwhile, in the depths of DARC, Ando the squirrel monkey awakens to his powerful Talent.

Frayed Dreams, available now in ebook and paperback. Read free on Kindle Unlimited!
https://a.co/d/56cEF1v
#yasciencefiction
#ecowarrior
#thetapestrytalesseries

Jagrav Mahajan needs his mother’s approval for a cybernetic leg replacement, but she vanished with her cult of mathematical naturalists. The resources Jag needs to find his missing mother are wrapped up in his father’s lies.

Inspired by eco-superhero Breaker, African American high school student Nia Beckett is determined to save the last wild jungle. When Nia meets Jag at the crumbling Five Palms Resort, she realizes Breaker is there on a mission of her own. Nia must unmask the superhero’s secret identity if her tiny activist group, Teens For Earth, has any hope of finally succeeding in a mission.

The teens face life-threatening dangers in the wild jungle with a stuffy Senator’s son, a genius Viking girl, and a mysterious silkie chicken. Jag and Nia learn of the Talents they never dreamed they had. Meanwhile, in the depths of DARC, Ando the squirrel monkey awakens to his powerful Talent.

Frayed Dreams, available now in ebook and paperback. Read free on Kindle Unlimited!
https://a.co/d/56cEF1v
#yasciencefiction
#ecowarrior
#thetapestrytalesseries

You can make Merida’s day extra-special by checking out Frayed Dreams. Read the e-book for free on Kindle Unlimited. The e-book and paperback are available for both Book One, and for Book Two, Broken Strands. Audio books are currently in production.

Frayed Dreams, available now in ebook and paperback. Read free on Kindle Unlimited!
https://a.co/d/56cEF1v
#yasciencefiction
#ecowarrior
#thetapestrytalesseries

Also on Kindle Unlimited, and in hardcover, is Merida’s fun children’s picture book kids of any age would enjoy: The Apple of My Eye.

Author friend Debby Brewer sent a fascinating article on the potential for mushroom-based computer memory.

“Future computers could grow their own memory - from mushrooms” is at earth.com.

Mushrooms are intelligent fungi. Who knows how they might be used by future scientists and engineers? And if they are that smart, will they fight against human control?

That’s the fun of science fiction. Imagining what will be. Sometimes, those dreams become reality. Or are they nightmares?

Catch up with The Tapestry Tales by reading book one, Frayed Dreams. Available in e-book and paperback. Free on Kindle Unlimited. Audio books are in production.

“Readers of YA dystopian science fiction will love the rich characters, strong action, tightly plotted mystery, and perfect pacing of this book. Frayed Dreams is one of those books that transcends YA. I highly recommend it to all readers.”
—Fleur Bradley, award-winning author of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel and Daybreak on Raven Island

“With a richly imagined world bursting with complex characters and with universal and relevant issues, the story enthralled me from the start and wouldn’t let go.”
—Darby Karchut, award-winning author of the Del Toro Moon series

Frayed Dreams, available now in ebook and paperback. Read free on Kindle Unlimited!
https://a.co/d/56cEF1v
#yasciencefiction
#ecowarrior
#thetapestrytalesseries

“Readers of YA dystopian science fiction will love the rich characters, strong action, tightly plotted mystery, and perfect pacing of this book. Frayed Dreams is one of those books that transcends YA. I highly recommend it to all readers.”
—Fleur Bradley, award-winning author of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel and Daybreak on Raven Island

“With a richly imagined world bursting with complex characters and with universal and relevant issues, the story enthralled me from the start and wouldn’t let go.”
—Darby Karchut, award-winning author of the Del Toro Moon series

Frayed Dreams, available now in ebook and paperback. Read free on Kindle Unlimited!
https://a.co/d/56cEF1v
#yasciencefiction
#ecowarrior
#thetapestrytalesseries

“Readers of YA dystopian science fiction will love the rich characters, strong action, tightly plotted mystery, and perfect pacing of this book. Frayed Dreams is one of those books that transcends YA. I highly recommend it to all readers.”
—Fleur Bradley, award-winning author of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel and Daybreak on Raven Island

“With a richly imagined world bursting with complex characters and with universal and relevant issues, the story enthralled me from the start and wouldn’t let go.”
—Darby Karchut, award-winning author of the Del Toro Moon series

Frayed Dreams, available now in ebook and paperback. Read free on Kindle Unlimited!
https://a.co/d/56cEF1v
#yasciencefiction
#ecowarrior
#thetapestrytalesseries

In the year 2291, humans live under the protection of the Tapestry, connected via Threads implanted in their brains to regulate their lives. While Earth seems like a paradise, chaos is spreading through holes torn into the Tapestry called the Fray.

Jagrav Mahajan needs his mother’s approval for a cybernetic leg replacement, but she vanished with her cult of mathematical naturalists. The resources Jag needs to find his missing mother are wrapped up in his father’s lies.

Inspired by eco-superhero Breaker, African American high school student Nia Beckett is determined to save the last wild jungle. When Nia meets Jag at the crumbling Five Palms Resort, she realizes Breaker is there on a mission of her own. Nia must unmask the superhero’s secret identity if her tiny activist group, Teens For Earth, has any hope of finally succeeding in a mission.

The teens face life-threatening dangers in the wild jungle with a stuffy Senator’s son, a genius Viking girl, and a mysterious silkie chicken. Jag and Nia learn of the Talents they never dreamed they had. Meanwhile, in the depths of DARC, Ando the squirrel monkey awakens to his powerful Talent.

The Tapestry Tales series audio books are in production! The paperback and e-book formats are already available:

Frayed Dreams: book one in the Tapestry Tales series

Broken Strands: book two in the Tapestry Tales series

When they find themselves tangled up in a series of strange and dangerous “accidents,” they know they need help. But is the famous eco-warrior Breaker really one of the guests?

Breaker is a superhero to some, but a dangerous villain to those who endanger wild animals. She is at Five Palms in disguise on a top secret mission. Nia, as the leader of the activist group Teens For Earth, needs her hero’s help to save the jungle. Can she figure out which resort guest is Breaker?

Jag’s plan to find his missing mother depends on helping a shady developer who will destroy the jungle. Jag and Nia form a friendship on a foundation of lies. While facing life-threatening dangers in the wild jungle with a stuffy Senator’s son, a genius Viking girl, and a mysterious silkie chicken, they learn of the Talents they never dreamed they had.

All the while, in the depths of DARC, Ando the squirrel monkey awakens his powerful Talent.

The Tapestry Tales series audio books are in production! The paperback and e-book formats are already available:

Frayed Dreams: book one in the Tapestry Tales series

Broken Strands: book two in the Tapestry Tales series

African American high school student Nia Beckett wears the woodland fairy flower skirts and tops that tell the world she fights for animal rights.

Teen athlete Jag Mahajan dresses like a surfer bum, which really hides his intense competitive spirit on the mountain slopes.

What “costume” do you wear? Does your look make you appear casual when you’re actually super focused? Do you use clothing choices to mask who you really are, or to show the world what type of person you are? “Here I am, deal with it!”

In a future where people are hidden in a disguise, or display their identity clearly, how do you tell who the heroes are, and who are your enemies?

The Tapestry Tales series audio books are in production! The paperback and e-book formats are already available:

Frayed Dreams: book one in the Tapestry Tales series

Broken Strands: book two in the Tapestry Tales series

In the year 2291, humans live under the protection of the Tapestry, connected via Threads implanted in their brains to regulate their lives. While Earth seems like a paradise, chaos is spreading through holes torn into the Tapestry called the Fray.

Jagrav Mahajan needs his mother’s approval for a cybernetic leg replacement, but she vanished with her cult of mathematical naturalists. The resources Jag needs to find his missing mother are wrapped up in his father’s lies.

Inspired by eco-superhero Breaker, African American high school student Nia Beckett is determined to save the last wild jungle. When Nia meets Jag at the crumbling Five Palms Resort, she realizes Breaker is there on a mission of her own. Nia must unmask the superhero’s secret identity if her activist group, Teens For Earth, has any hope of finally succeeding in a mission.

The teens face life-threatening dangers in the wild jungle with a stuffy Senator’s son, a genius Viking girl, and a mysterious silkie chicken. Jag and Nia learn of the Talents they never dreamed they had. Meanwhile, in the depths of DARC, Ando the squirrel monkey awakens to his powerful Talent.

The Tapestry Tales series audio books are in production! The paperback and e-book formats are already available:

Frayed Dreams: book one in the Tapestry Tales series

Broken Strands: book two in the Tapestry Tales series