Guest post by T.C. LoTempio

Behind the Scenes of KILLERS OF A FEATHER

The setting for Killers of a Feather, the Grand Opening Celebration, was actually taken from a real life event – A New York Street Fair!

I grew up in New York back in the 60’s, when street fairs were a way of life.  I remembered there was a pet shop on fourteenth street where I grew up that had changed ownership and it’s opening coincided with the San Gennaro Street Fair that took place not far from our apartment.  Not only were there musicians, food trucks, music and games, but there was a fortune telling parrot (just like Honey Belle in Killers).  Unlike Honey Belle, however, this parrot wasn’t witness to a murder!

I’ve always loved pet shops, animals in general really.  It didn’t take much for me to imagine what running a pet shop would be like. As a matter of fact, that’s where I got my first pet – a blue parakeet named Happy! Happy was a great pet.  He used to come sit on my shoulder when I got home from school, and he had a talent – he could dance!  I’d put on my Beatles records and Happy would dance around the bottom of his cage!

And even though I don’t own a Siamese or Persian cat, I do own a tubby tuxedo (shades of another literary cat) and a gold and white tabby, who constantly inspire me with my writing!  So when they tell you write about what you know, they aren’t kidding! That’s what I tried to do with my latest Pet Shop – write about street fairs, pet shops, birds and, of course, cats!

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