Oh. My.

Firstly…I am SO super excited and SO completely overwhelmed that Kirkus Reviews actually really liked Cat Girl’s Day Off. I probably shouldn’t admit that, but I am (they are, after all, known for their snark and as much as I love snark, I don’t so much love it if it’s directed at something I wrote). But…LOOK (!):

“Natalie Ng, gifted with the Talent of being able to communicate with cats, embarks on an impetuous adventure as a movie riffing off film classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is filmed at her Chicago-area high school.

Natalie comes from a Talented family, but her two sisters and her parents all possess high-grade Talents such as blending like a chameleon, knowing when people are lying or having an ultrasensitive sense of smell. Still, Nat’s unique ability to understand cats means she’s the only one to hear celebrity blogger Easton’s cat screaming for help because his owner has been kidnapped and replaced with a look-alike. Since there’s no one else ready and able to rescue Easton, Nat and her pair of slightly off-beat friends take on the job. This leads to one perilous situation after another, many of them featuring the italicized thoughts—appropriately laconic and snarky—of the various cats that Nat seeks out for help. Her bumpy budding romance with classmate Ian adds an amusing love interest to the mix. The fantasy elements, solidly grounded in an otherwise real world, seem ever-so-believable. Lively conversation, strong characterizations and a fast pace make this a breezy read. The funny feline thoughts are catnip for the audience.

A worthwhile adventure and an easy sell for feline fanciers who already know what their pets are saying.”

I could hyperventilate. Seriously. So excited. Did I say that already? Um, yeah. Add that to the lovely blurbs I got from Alex Flinn and Saundra Mitchell and I’m just really, really happy. NOW…if people’ll just buy the book (so I can write more) I will be even MORE excited (not sure that’s possible, honestly).

In all seriousness, if you are planning to buy the book and can buy it the first week it’s released or pre-order it, I will be positively overjoyed. First week/month sales are absolutely KEY to a book’s long-term success these days. Please, pretty please, if you don’t see it in your local store…ask for it. I will kiss you when I meet you. Okay, maybe I’ll just give you a hug or, if you’re opposed to inappropriate physical contact with more-or-less total strangers, I’ll just jump up and down and squeal.

You know what? Anyone who pre-orders the book (online or off) OR buys it the first week and sends me proof (email receipt or photo or whatever to kim at kimberlypauley dot com plus your name/address), I will send you a signed, personalized bookplate and a personal letter (heck, if you have a question about the book or for a particular character, I’ll write you a response to it) plus some Sucks to Be Me book swag. I’m no John Green (but who is? Well, other than John Green himself.) and I can’t sign books ahead of time (especially when they’re somewhere in the US and I’m over here in the UK), but I can do this. Heck, I’ll even write you a poem if you want. Just for you.

Because you know I love you guys.

Maybe not as much as I love Kirkus right now…no, wait, I love you guys more (don’t tell Kirkus).

P.S. I know this is kind of an insane idea. What if thousands of you take me up on this and I’m writing letters until next year? Well, you know what? That’s okay with me. I can lay in a supply of stationery and Sharpies.

P.P.S. Yes, this is open internationally.