I have loved cats my entire life. Some of my earliest memories include carrying my stuffed cat around the house and stopping in my tracks when a cat would appear on the tv. When I learned to read, I would gravitate toward picture books starring cats and kittens. Despite my early feline fascination, I wouldn’t have a cat of my own until my late twenties.
One winter night in Boston, I drove across town to adopt my first kitten. I immediately spotted a cute, grey tabby wearing a green collar. Her bright yellow eyes focused on me as she wandered over in my direction. This was Lily. I knew that we would be friends immediately.
Lily and I were inseparable. She woke me up for her breakfast each morning as the sun came through the kitchen window. We regularly played catch with her favorite rattling toy which she always proudly returned. Making the bed and cleaning the kitchen turned into athletic competitions which turned daily chores into adventures!
Whenever I played my records, Lily would climb on top of the stereo and stare at the spinning record with wonder, before returning to my side. The music made the normally wild and playful kitten calm and mellow. This memory inspired my first children’s book, Lily’s Grooves.
Lily now lives like a queen with her mother. Although I haven’t seen her in a few years, I am happy to immortalize her in Lily’s Grooves and in many more stories to come. I hope young readers, parents and educators find a friend in Lily, just as I did. 
