If you're interested in cats and/or mysteries you might want to pick up a copy of the new Mystery Scene Magazine. In "The Mystery Writers' Mews,"Elaine Viets writes about felines and the mystery authors who are privileged to have them as house guests. The list of literary cat fanciers ranges from Edgar Allan Poe to Raymond Chandler and a host of contemporary writers including (you knew this was coming, didn't you?) those scribblers Reed and Mayer.

There is something about cats that makes us apologize, even when they are at fault. We wind up accommodating them. Eric Mayer and Mary Reed write the John the Eunuch series (Six for Gold, 2005), despite their cat. “Sabrina insists on sitting on Eric’s lap for long periods when he’s writing,” Mary said. “Eric finds himself crossing his legs to give her a secure seat, angling his chair slightly to one side so she doesn’t bump her head on the underside of the keyboard tray by accident, and generally contorting himself to type around a these maneuvers could well explain it.” Eric works with the ashes of Rachel, another beloved cat, on the bookshelf near his desk.

Poe would be proud of me.

For information on the magazine, check out the Mystery Scene Magazine website.

See Elaine Viets' website to learn about her mystery novels, including DYING IN STYLE, the first book in the Josie Marcus: Mystery Shopper series.