Alphonse pins Merida to a couch so he can keep an eye on her and dispense advice.
I’ve been trying to tell my human, Merida, that one does not need to leave the house to make a positive impact on the world. After all, I have made profound progress on my machinations to rule the planet from the comfort of home. Taking over this newsletter and supervising Merida’s writing and artwork are just small pieces of my big puzzle. If I could just get into her website . . . Darn two-factor authentication . . .
Alphonse should not be on the kitchen table, but since there is a box on it that requires his inspection, the humans made an exception to the rule.
Inspecting boxes is an important part of what I do. It is a way to explore a world within my world. Shift my perspective. Contemplate alternate realities. Manipulate the very fabric of space and time.
Another thorough box inspection by Alphonse taking place as Merida prepares for the first annual Book Bash put on by Basecamp Books in Colorado Springs.
If only I could store my humans in boxes. While I need Merida to act as my human avatar out in society, she has been away from home so often lately that I have to wonder if she has been running away from something. Avoiding her proper place on the surface of my tiny blue marble, rolling through the universe. I will be carefully monitoring the situation.
She seems to be staying put for now. She said something about her “social battery” being depleted. I will attempt to recharge it using my purr motor and send her back out into the world to do my bidding again soon.
Catherine at Book Bash at Basecamp Books. She and Merida have written so many books!
I don’t want to see anyone, talk to anyone, or think about anything but my family and my creative work for the rest of 2026. This isn’t possible, of course, but it’s a nice idea. Last weekend, Mom and I did back-to-back events, requiring me to be “on” for far too many hours.
On day two, my eyebrow started twitching involuntarily because my face was so tired from smiling. It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile, but no one ever talks about the face I want to be making: neutral apathy.
Merida could use one of these spreaders for social events when her face gets tired of smiling. Her teeth have green stuff on them for the newest round of attachments for her tooth re-straightening efforts.
The author event at the Douglas County Library gave us the opportunity to speak to a crowd about the origins of our ninja books. We go to connect with readers and make new friends. And the first annual Book Bash at Basecamp Books had lines wrapped around the building for sales. There. Were. So. Many. People. -shudder- I don’t know why I dread this kind of stuff so much. It’s like getting into a cold swimming pool. I don’t want to do it, but once I’m in there, I actually have a lot of fun.
I get the next two weeks off from interacting with humanity. Which means getting back to making progress on the too many projects I have going. It all makes me happy, but I’ve come to realize there’s an unfortunate cycle to it. Hide, work, produce, publish, present, repeat. The reward I get for completing a project is the torment of sharing it with others. For now, I am enjoying the hiding and working phase. Too bad I have another children’s book releasing soon.
Grandpa’s New Year’s Relocation won the Colorado Authors League Award for the best humorous book! The audiobook, read by the talented actor, Stephen Bowlby, is available now on Audible. Click here to download it today.
Frayed Dreams and Broken Strands audiobooks are complete! Listen to the action-packed YA sci-fi series narrated by Merida Bass on Audible.
Book Three of the Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries is in the works! Granda’s Celtic Captivity will be here in 2026.
Granda’s Celtic Captivity, coming in 2026!
Catherine Dilts is re-issuing her Rose Creek Mystery books. She is on the final phases of working on the manuscript for the fourth title in the series. Merida completed exciting new cover art. Reveals and more information, coming soon!
The first few scribbles of Catherine’s new book covers. You’ll never believe how they turned out! More reveals coming soon.
Merida Bass’s latest children’s book, is coming in October!
Art from Merida’s latest children’s book, releasing this fall.
Catherine and Merida are featured authors at the Mesa Verde Literary Festival!
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Author chat with Catherine and Merida: A Mother-Daughter Writing Team
11:00 AM at El Rio Cantina
140 N Mesa St, Mancos, CO 81328
Panel: Creating Villains and Monsters
2:45 PM outside the venue near the Mancos Library
211 W 1st St, Mancos, CO 81328
Basecamp Books and Adventure carries every current title by Catherine and/or Merida.
3918 Maizeland Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80909
Basecamp Books and Adventure's Facebook
Hidden Gems (University Village Colorado Springs Location) also carries all of our titles.
5020 North Nevada Ave Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80918
Escape Velocity Comics stocks children’s books illustrated by Merida Bass.
19 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903
Escape Velocity Comics' Facebook
Poor Richard’s Books and Gifts offers children’s books illustrated by Merida Bass.
320 - 324 1/2 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO, United States, 80903
Poor Richard's Books and Gifts
Catherine’s Website - https://catherinedilts.com/
Merida’s Website - https://merida-creates.com/
Catherine Dilts is the author of the Rose Creek Mystery series. Her short stories regularly appear in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Recently retired from a career in environmental compliance, Catherine now writes fiction full time.
Catherine's Substack @catherinedilts
Merida Bass almost wasn’t an artist. Fear of criticism resulted in her teaching remedial algebra to unwilling college students. After ten years of torture, she grew a backbone and threw herself into art, writing, and training for endurance events.
Merida's Substack @meridacreates
This post is public so feel free to meow it out to the rest of the world.
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.