Advice Please
I've saved a cat as an animal companion for the last of the Luna series, currently titled Singer For A World. The cat, Ensou, begins telepathically speaking very quickly in the book, as soon as Jikata sets foot on Lladrana.
My critique group seems to think that this might not be a good idea, mixing the cat in the Luna books as well as using them so extensively in the Heart books.
So I said I'd ask folks (and I'll be sending to my nearly moribund chat group).
What do you think?
May you know the right thing to do today.
Robin
My critique group seems to think that this might not be a good idea, mixing the cat in the Luna books as well as using them so extensively in the Heart books.
So I said I'd ask folks (and I'll be sending to my nearly moribund chat group).
What do you think?
May you know the right thing to do today.
Robin
posted by FantasyAuthor RobinDOwens | 7:37 AM
12 Comments:
I like telepathic pets, so I'm all for adding a cat, but you might want to consider having cats not be domesticated on Llandra. They could be more feral and less trusting of humans. That way it would be more extrodinary that a cat has chosen an other world human companion. Good luck!
Anna
Since people are flying in their winged horses in Lladrana it seems to me a pet like a hawk (a parrot, myna bird, raven?) would be more like it and fitter to its medieval feel as well.
I love cats but sometimes one can have too much of a good thing and make your two series too similar. The more different they are the more interesting and effective.
Hmmm - I like cats and never say no to a telepathic cat. But I can see how it might be confusing to readers of both series, especially if the rules are not the same between the worlds.
Ferrets/weasels are another long-domesticated animal that are still often kept as companions. They have funny mannerisms you could use and a very ADD sort of attention span.
Just a thought - and not a pet/sentient creature I've seen much in stories.
Since Callie in Protector of the Flight realizes there is more to the volarans than formerly thought, and can communicate with them, I believe you have already established that speaking telepathically with another species is possible on Amee.
Thank you for your books. I have all that I know about, and have read them all several times.
I love your books and I love the cats in the Heart books, but I think that unless you're able to make the Singer's cat totally different from the Celta cats you should try another animal.
Cats are so much a part of the Heart series that I also think you should use a different animal. You could keep the Earth connection or use an animal from Llandra that no knows much about or rarely sees. You can use your own ideas then as part of your World building.
There's always room for another cat, but I wouldn't be opposed to another animal. The feral idea is interesting, as is the ferret, although IMO cats as a species have ADD. Mine certainly do. I think the type of animal depends on Jikata. Is she a cat person? Or maybe a dog person? A teacup poodle might be fun, or a chihuahua. You can use hyperactivity with them, too, and the poodle stereotype is snooty. I can't wait to see what you choose!
Personally, I don't believe readers would be confused if it were cats...we're able to differenciate between your two worlds.
Is the character going to have much interaction with the valarians? If so, cats have always had great relationships with horses and that would be a good tie in.
You already had the hamster...perhaps another Llandranian species to help ease their way would be a nice change, and your imagination could go wild :)
Robin,
I love telepathic cats, but I think that by introducing one into the Llandrian series you run the risk of becoming predictable to your reader. I would rather see a different animal to keep the series separate from the Celta.
In Llandrana, your animal empaths have been eclectic...Sinafin ( a shpeshifter), Tuck (hamster), volarans (winged horses), and assuming you go with a turtle for one of your characters...I would like to see something different from a modified Celtan cat.
Unless there is a very specific reason for choosing a feline for your singer heroine, I would choose differently. Perhaps a wolf? Wolves sing a very lonely song under the full moon.
;)
talia
Thanks all. I will definitely give this some thought.
I had originally had a turtle for the book that is not going to be written, for that person, Raine, I already have another companion, but not a turtle.
I like the idea of hawks/falcons, and really did like the cat (she went through the mirror first and Jikata followed), but I'm sure I can change to a canary if I want an Earth companion. Or another songbird if I want a Lladranan companion.
This will, of course, mean changing the proposal...so I'll let it simmer in my subconscious for a few days.
Robin
I have no problem with the cat, but, as others have suggested, maybe another type of animal to fully differentiate from your Celta books. How about a rat? Very intelligent, clean, inquisitive, friendly if they like you. (Although ferrets or mink would be good too.)
I have decided to use a made-up Lladranan songbird which will be on Earth.
Robin
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