Okay, it was a LONG weekend and so much went on. Most of which is now a blur.

The LA Times Book Festival was awesome and a huge shout out and thank you to every reader who came by to say hello to us at the Dreamspinner Booth. Next year will be even bigger! More rainbow! All the stuff! And books!

We also had a huge amount of doggos come by and say hey. We’ll have to do a Dogs of DSP next year.

I have a huge amount of paperbacks I’ll need to giveaway at some point. INCLUDING the Rebel mass market paperback so… watch this space.

In other news, don’t forget… the FINAL Sinners book, Sin and Tonic, drops on May 15th. Catch up on the band and the Morgans in the middle of May!

Rebel is now live on Audible! Mr Tristan James is at the helm!

https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Rebel-Audiobook/B07C4NP46B

Seriously. It’s busy over here.

I’ve got a Screaming Camel of Happiness to release. Working on a SOOPER SEEKRIT project and my part’s done. Signed, sealed and submitted.

The house is kind of quiet without my baby girl, Yoshi. I know she’ll be back. In one form or another. Writer’s Cats always find their way to a laptop.

I’m hacking at blog posts then starting Kai. So much going on.

Oh, and the LA Times Book Festival. Not this weekend but next. I’ll be bringing some special swag for anyone stopping by to get one of my books signed.

And the dog is eating his dinner. I think.

Heading up to SF this weekend for a very much needed, not-thinking, all the food and coffee few days. I’m hoping to grab some shots of places that inspired Sinners and 415 Ink.

On April 21 and 22, I will be at the Dreamspinner Booth #141 during the Los Angeles Times Book Festival at USC. If you are thinking of coming, I have a couple of signing hours during those days. They are Sat (4-5) and Sun (12-1).

If you are coming to see me, please let me know. I’m trying to get a headcount for some special swag if I can get it delivered by then. Comment here on the blog or drop me an email at: rhysford AT vitaenoir DOT com

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to tell all of you that we had to let Yoshi go today.

My darling Writer’s Cat developed bone cancer in her jaw and the prognosis was not going to be good. She’d gone in for a dental cleaning because she’d been having problems with a tooth when the vet discovered the cancer. I made the decision to let her go rather than drag her through a fight she was never going to win.

We were there when she passed. She left us getting scritches and belly rubs.

As we all should.

I will miss her oozing onto my laptop and honestly, I probably can’t have long discussions about losing her because it is a devasting loss for me. She’s been my companion for years and while taken way too young, entered my life with a grumpy purr and a deep affection for my company.

I am happy for the years I had with her and more importantly being able to share her with you. I loved her deeply and I know she loved in in return. I never had a moment’s doubt about that.

She was the best of cats and I’m sure I will see her again.

I have to. It is the very nature of cats to stand in the middle of a door you’re holding open while they decide if the want in or out.

I love playing hanafuda. Been playing it since I was a kid. You can play simple or hardcore.

But most of all, you can um… plump up your allowance, especially when playing with adults.

So I ended up having to run Yoshi (Writer’s Cat) down to the vet this afternoon. Signs point to a bad tooth which God knows how long she’s had that because she stoic AF. But because of her age, bloodwork is done and she was a bit dehydrated so they camel-backed her. Came home, she ate her dinner then promptly went to go see what the dog was served.

That’s just how she is.

We’ve had a cat with a thyroid problem. He was a lot older and well, feral down to the bone but he loved me. She reminds me a lot of him. Except she does have better manners.

Yoshi always comes to me when she doesn’t feel well. Which is heartening but also heart-breaking because oftentimes, the only thing I can do is bundle her up and take her to the vet.

She NEVER goes outside. Outside terrifies her and through the whole experience, I console and comfort her, scritching her head as I drive and talking to her. She’s a very good cat.

Okay, she’s very good at being a cat. But she’s a great companion. Hopefully there’s nothing seriously wrong and it’s something the dental procedure can take care of. But, that’s a part of being an animal’s … friend. Not going to say owner because no one owns a cat.

So wish Yoshiko luck for good bloodwork and a speedy recover from her procedure on Tuesday. And with any luck, she’ll stop hissing at Harley. I’d say maybe the tooth makes her grumpy but well, she’s always been grumpy.