Ivan the Great

Veronica Rossi 8 Thursday, July 05, 2012
Like Talia, the story of my pet, Ivan, is inextricably linked with my writing. Check out Talia's post if you haven't already. Huckleberry came into the picture, ostensibly, as "research" in part. I like that strategy. I can't help but imagine all the requests I could make to my husband in the name of writing:
  • "My character's cousin went to Hawaii once and it might come up in this scene I'm thinking about drafting, so we should probably get out to Maui soon. You know. For research."
  • "I'm considering writing a car chase so a sports car purchase might be in order so I can write about the experience authentically. Perhaps a black convertible Porsche? You know. For research."
  • "There are no grocery stores or dirty laundry piles in the post-apocalypse and I need to make sure I'm living like my characters, so.... I can't do it. You know. For research."
I'm definitely going to try that approach. Thanks for the tip, Talia ; )

No, Ivan the Great did not come in the name of research. There are no cats in UNDER THE NEVER SKY, sadly. Ivan happens to be my "I got published" gift to myself. I have a dog, Lola, but a cat seemed so quintessentially writerly.

He came along a few months after the book deal. As soon as the ink was dry, I went in search of a cat to sit on my desk while I wrote. Now I can't remember what it was like to work without my little (okay, not so little) companion snoozing nearby. For more on Ivan, head over here.

Here are a few shots of Ivan,  as he grows up on my desk.


He was only a few weeks old here, and already helping out with the writing.

Getting a little bigger here. You can see that space is running out.

I had to relocate him to the left of the computer because he became too big.

8 comments

Heeey! I need to go out to Hawaii for research!

Or maybe just watch Riding Giants and Blue Crush over and over and over.

Ivan's ADORABLE. This blog has it all - cute dogs, cute cats, cute TNBs....

Ivan is adorable! I never thought about it, but cats do seem kind of writerly. Think it's the solitude nature of a cat? Writer's are always alone. Dogs are more people inclined.
In MY experience.

Along your research techniques...
I think a trip to Scotland is in order

Virginia Highlands for an extended stay (that's actually doable)

And Bora Bora (not really research but it looks so pretty)!

Heather

Aw! Ivan's so cute!

And I was laughing so much about the whole "for research" thing... I use those lines on my husband all the time! I need to go to NYC...for research. And drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway...also for research. I have a list of "for research" places I have to travel to! :)

Aw! Ivan's so cute!

And I was laughing so much about the whole "for research" thing... I use those lines on my husband all the time! I need to go to NYC...for research. And drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway...also for research. I have a list of "for research" places I have to travel to! :)

Beth, we will have to go "research" in Hawaii together. And then we can all go to Bora Bora with Heather and then NYC with Alexandra. I smell a "research" tour... LOL. Thanks for coming by, ladies. *raises glass* To the sacrifices we're prepared to make in the name of art!

I LOVE Ivan! Cats are the greatest. Does't Ivan always seem to know when you sit down at your computer? It's in their genes! Yep...totally "writerly!"

Hopefully he doesn't distract you too much when you should be writing ;-)

I love the photos of Ivan! Keep em coming!

I also love the notes you have on your computer about Aria and Perry to "be aware," haha.

Also, I do believe I see the inside jacket flaps for book 2 on the screen in the second photo... such a tease!!

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