Homer is blind, strong, and smart and has an…epic tail? No, not that Homer…I’m talking
about Homer the Blind Wonder Cat! The story of Homer the cat is a very special
and true story. Written by Gwen Cooper, Homer is a story about an eyeless cat,
and how he changed Gwen’s life for the better.
Homer had “a virulent eye infection [that] required the
surgical removal of both his eyes,” the reader learns in the first chapter of Homer’s Odyssey. However, Homer’s story
is not a sad one – Homer lives with Gwen presently.
Each chapter of Homer
starts off with a quote from Homer from The
Odyssey, also followed by a picture of Homer the cat. The reader soon
becomes enamored with Homer’s happiness and lust for life. Perching on the edge
of the toilet seat and catching flies in his mouth, mid-air!
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| Homer in his glory. Image from www.gwencooper.com. |
At what moment did
Gwen decide to write Homer’s Odyssey, and how did she come up with the title?
“I first came
up with the idea when I read about the sale of Dewey to Grand
Central (Dewey's publisher). I thought I have a pretty
cool cat! I wonder if I could write a book about him! The title
came to me instantaneously and I never considered any alternatives. But
it still took about a year until I had a proposal I thought could realistically
be shown to anybody,” Gwen said.
Though Homer’s Odyssey
is the main title of the book, it is followed by the subtitle: A Fearless
Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat.
What made Gwen realize Homer's story could be a book? She
wasn’t sure for the longest time.
“I didn't know what
the narrative through-line would be that would make it an actual book instead
of just a collection of anecdotes. When [my husband] Laurence proposed to
me, I remembered that I had adopted Homer right after a major break-up, and
then I realized that that would be the story,” said Gwen.
Gwen wrote Homer’s
Odyssey so that it “is a book that would begin with a break-up and end with
a wedding, and in between would be the ten years of discovery and transition
for both Homer and [Gwen] between those two events.”
Writers all have
different processes they go through to complete their books.
“I don't write every day. I've found that sometimes,
when I'm stuck, the best thing to do is to get away from the computer and do
something completely different. On the show Mad Men, there's
a great scene where Don Draper, the creative director of an ad agency, gives
advice to a junior copywriter who's suffering from writer's block. He
tells her, ‘Think about it deeply, and then forget it. The answers will
come.’ I've always found that to be true,” Gwen said.
But like all people,
Gwen knows when to write, when to procrastinate, and when to be serious.
“Of course, the trick is knowing the difference between times
when you really do have to stop writing for a few days and times when you're
just procrastinating. I can't say I always stay on the right side of that
line, but I do always try!”
The most exciting
thing about authors with great books is when they decide to write a new book!
Gwen and Homer have been posting on Facebook about the new book Gwen has coming
out in January 2013. You can preorder LoveSaves the Day on Amazon.
“LOVE SAVES THE DAY is a work of fiction and is about a
made-up cat named Prudence. She narrates about two-thirds of the book,
and her two humans take turns narrating the other third. Basically it's a
story about a woman and her grown daughter who have an estranged relationship,
and Prudence is the bridge between them. Prudence is based a good deal on
Scarlett, and I'm just wildly in love with her. I hope readers will be
too!” It’s not hard to see that Gwen is very enthusiastic and excited about
her new book. So are we!
Many cat bloggers and
writers post every day about their cats’ activities. I wondered if it is hard
for Gwen to “share” Homer with the world.
“It's interesting how many readers have come to feel
that Homer is ‘their cat’ too. It means that when I write about Homer and
things that are going on in our lives, I get deluged with advice and
feedback. Mostly, though, this has been overwhelmingly positive. So
many of my readers have a lot more experience with cats then I do, and they
tend to have ideas that I wouldn't have.
Still, it's odd sometimes to look at Homer napping on the couch and
think that there are thousands of people all over the world who love him.
He's just my little cat! But, of course, since the book came out he's
become more than just my cat. It's amazing to think about.”
She said.
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| Homer is just Gwen's little cat, who made a big impact in her life. Image from www.gwencooper.com. |
Being a New York
Times Best Selling Author may not have the paparazzi following Gwen around
daily, but she has been recognized when she is out and about.
“Very rarely--maybe once or twice. Being "author famous"
isn't like being famous famous. I have friends who've
known me forever who occasionally say things like, "How weird is it that
you're famous now?" And I always say, "And yet, when I go to
the grocery store, they treat me just like I was a regular person!"
That's my little joke, the point being, of course, that I'm really not famous
at all.
The only time I come close to feeling like I am is when I do a reading
and a few hundred people show up--but, even then, I feel like they're there for
the book and not for me, personally,” Gwen said.
One of the wonderful
ideas that have come with Homer’s Odyssey
is taking the prejudice often found with adopting blind cats. Living with
Homer, has given Gwen strong motivation to help promote blind cat adoption.
What’s her advice for people unsure of adopting a blind cat?
“Blind cats do very, very well, and blindness by itself is
no reason to either not adopt a cat or "put down" a cat who has gone
blind. I always say that, at the end of the day, a blind cat is just like
any other cat, and just as capable of loving you and living a wonderful life.
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| Homer is like any other cat, when getting into mischief. Image from www.gwencooper.com. |
Being a successful author can be
measured in many ways. How many copies of books have been sold, number of fans
you have on Facebook or how many people show up to a book signing.
“I'm still not sure that I [feel successful]! It's a cliché,
but it's absolutely true, that success is a horizon line that keeps receding no
matter how close you think you're getting to it. I never take it for
granted that just because Homer's Odyssey had done well, my
future books will also do well. Success is something I get up every
morning prepared to work hard for.
And of course, the
best interview question is saved for last: is there a question that you've wanted to be asked in interviews, but have
never been asked before?
“People never seem to ask about my husband, Laurence.
So I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge him and the amazing "cat
dad" he's grown into since my cats and I first moved in with him seven
years ago. When Vashti and Scarlett became ill in their last years
(Vashti with chronic renal failure and Scarlett with cancer), I literally
couldn't have done everything I needed to do to take care of them on my
own. When we were dating, Laurence wasn't sure he could live with three
cats. But when things got bad and I was beside myself with worry and
grief, Laurence was incredibly gentle and compassionate and never once
complained--or was anything less than cheerful--about helping me out with some
of the difficult and unpleasant things that had to be done. He's a
remarkable and loving man.” Gwen said.
Make sure you find Homer on
Facebook! You can read Gwen’s blog
here.
