The cat book with the funny title written by the funnier Francesco Marciuliano, hit the New York Times best seller list in September. I Could Pee On This: And Other Poems By Cats is a book of quirky poems “written” by cats and nicely packaged with cat photos. The size, price and appeal makes it our choice for the stocking stuffer of 2012. The poems are cute and funny but tinged with the wisdom and insight that only a true cat lover has. A vigorous and amusing back and forth email exchange with the charming author resulted in an exclusive Q & A.
If cats can write poetry, then cats can write book reviews and both Merlin and Odin were game. Odin (pictured above) did not want to let go of his copy and felt inspired to rally the cat troops to feline creativity.
Q & A with Francesco Marciuliano
LMW: Who is the cat on the cover of your book?
FM:The photo was actually selected by my publisher, Chronicle Books. Oddly enough, the cat on the cover is an exact twin for the stray my parents look after, Fluffy. As a matter of fact, when I was growing up my family regularly cared for countless strays, many who went by such names as “Fluffy,” “Other Fluffy,” “Didn’t We Already Name a Cat Fluffy?” and “Hobbes” (because that had to happen eventually). As for “Fluffy 2012,” my dad not only feeds him but also got him his shots, had him spayed, and even built him a Snoopy-like dog(cat)house. This is a long way of saying that when I received my first copy of the book, I immediately took a picture of it with my dad’s cat, resulting in what appears to be the promotional photo for an autobiography.
LMW:Correct me if I’m wrong, but are you cat-free at the moment?
FM: I had two cats–a brother and sister named Boris and Natasha–from shortly after I graduated college to two years ago, thereby spanning my entire adult life so far. Boris passed away at age 14 in 2007 and Natasha passed away on Christmas Day, 2010. I still feel the loss and though I completely understand people who address their grief by adopting another cat, I just was not ready to do so. I hope to one day, and writing this book was initiated as both a form of both catharsis and celebration of two wonderful animals who remain very near and dear to my heart.
LMW: If you were looking to adopt, how would you select a cat?
FM:I’ve adopted all my pets from shelters and will continue to do so. Many of these animals have been abandoned or abused and greatly need a loving home and the daily assurance that they are special and safe. After that the process is one of bonding, as I’m sure it is with all pet owners. When I adopted Boris and Natasha I knew I wanted two cats so they would never be wanting for company when left alone in the house, an odd wish given that at the time I almost never left my apartment due to then routine unemployment. (Having graduated Duke with an eye on being a syndicated cartoonist–which is akin to stating as your career objective “hot air balloonist” or “falconer/pearl diver”–work did not come quickly at first.) I eventually found my two kittens at a vet hospital. When I picked up Natasha she immediately started constantly purring and resting her head on my pulse points. When I picked up Boris he calmly sat in the palm of hands and blinked, never uttering a sound. And I knew right then they were the perfect pair. It also helped that I could keep a brother and sister together.
LMW: Why do you think cats are culturally hot?
FM: I think part of it is that while dogs are constantly trying to tell us what they are thinking, with cats we’re always left wondering what they’re keeping from us, and I think a lot of people find that fascinating. That mystery results in people projecting their own thoughts on to cats, and that creates a very special, very unique bond. Plus, cats seem to put so much effort into appearing calm, cool, and collected that when they do something spectacularly odd or awkward it just looks hilarious on video.
LMW: What is the strangest place a cat ever peed?
FM: Haha. I take it you mean what is the strangest place one of my cats have ever peed, otherwise this will involve a lot of lengthy, perhaps unwelcome research that one does not want on their browser history. However, as far as my pets are concerned, several years back a friend who was between apartments crashed on my sofa for a few weeks. During that time my cat Boris carefully, purposefully, peed on every single item my friend owned, practically ruining all of his life’s possessions. But at night Boris would happily rest on my friend’s chest as they slept on the couch. Turns out Boris didn’t hate my friend. He just didn’t like his taste in things.
LMW: If you were stuck on a desert island and had to make a Sophie’s Choice, what pet would you bring?
FM:Perhaps the one upside to not having a pet right now is that I don’t have to worry about making such a choice. But if I did I’d probably say, “You know what? I think I won’t get shipwrecked today. Cancel that cruise through the Bermuda Triangle and my reservation on that plane missing three engines.” However, if I somehow did wind up on a desert island due to poor vacation planning, I wouldn’t want an animal to be suffering along with me. So I’d probably take a lesson from a little film called “Cast Away” and befriend some sort of sporting equipment. Maybe a football because when you rest it on its side the stitching makes it look like it’s always smiling. Then I could ask the football what’s so funny? But he wouldn’t answer. So then I would yell, “Fine!” and storm off to the other side of the island. But after several years of being driven mad by loneliness and unsuccessfully trying to make a radio out of coconuts like on “Gilligan’s Island” I would return, give the football a big hug, and then spend the rest of my insane life pretending we were on a sitcom about mismatched roommates.
LMW: What are you working on next?
FM: My next book is, of course, the dog edition and is called “I Lose My Mind When You Leave the House and Other Poems by Dogs.” It comes out Fall 2013 and the final manuscript has been approved and is good to go to design. There will also be a “I Could Pee on This and Other Poems by Cats” wall calendar that comes out next year for 2014, featuring new poems.
Marciuliano is the author of Sally Forth, an internationally syndicated comic strip. He was also the head writer for the highly praised PBS children’s series SeeMore’s Playhouse. He lives in New York City and is currently catless.
Merlin may be blind but enjoyed hearing me read the poems to him. They inspired him to take a big pee in the garden for real.
Can you tell Odin loves it, just a little?
I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats
Published 2012 by Chronicle Books
122 pages. Hardcover.
Rating: 4 paws
If you’d like to win a copy of this must have book, simply leave a comment at this post any time before 11:59 PM Oct.13, 2012. Good Luck! The winner will be announced next Sunday.
If you must have a copy right now…
The winners of last week’s giveaway for the coloring books from Tiniest Tiger is Kelly D. and the winner of the Bangle Bear book is Lisa Fleming. Congratulations! Look for an email from Layla.
Fantastic web site. Plenty of helpful info here. I sending it to some pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thank you on your sweat!
A formidable share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a bit of evaluation on this. And he in truth purchased me breakfast because I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to debate this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If doable, as you grow to be expertise, would you mind updating your weblog with extra particulars? It’s highly helpful for me. Huge thumb up for this blog submit!
Good website! I really love how it is simple on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I could be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your RSS feed which must do the trick! Have a great day!
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I laughed thru the interview after the part of him explaing when his cats died. I would like to have this book very much! I bet It’ll be the funniest book I’ve read in a long time. The author is handsome too. As for peeing, I’m glad Merlin had a good pee outside! Thatz healthy! Odin looks so sweet sleeping with it. Great interview Layla.
Great interview! Sounds like a perfect book for any cat lover and one I’d love to read to my four, although I should be scared about any ideas they might get. But then again, what more could they do to me that they haven’t already thought of?
When I moved in to a group house in DC right after college one of the resident cats greeted me by leaving a line of crap on my sleeping bag. I assume he was trying to write “Hello” but just ran out of shit. A month he developed severe amnesia as to the location of his basement litter box (guess which level of the house I slept on). Damned empty-headed little bastard! If I win the book it will undoubtedly trigger the latent PFSD (Post-Feline Stress Disorder) that has bubbled in my subconscious these many years, which should be good for some laughs.
Cats are cats are cats. They gotta pee. They want to pee. They do so where they will. The ways of the kitty are inscrutable. Pretend not to comprehend them, for you ain’t. Why sleep in my dried-up birdbath, for instance? You know it will tip over when you get out and scare the pee out of you. That is all.
I think Francesco would be way more popular if his last name were simpler to spell. I vote that he change his last name to “Marc.” I would also accept “Ano,” although I’m not sure how that would be pronounced.
Ces – congratulations on running out of your first printing and going in to the second! We’ve already got one copy, given away one, and would like another one, please, so we can keep passing the Pee.
Francesco is nothing short of brilliant. Every one of the poems is a gem, quirky and, oh, so true! The poems can be read over and over without losing appeal – like all great poetry. I was waiting til Christmas to buy mine, but would sure love a copy now. Even if I don’t win the book, this gives me a chance to sing Francesco’s praises!
not sure I’d want my cats to read this book as they don’t need any more ideas. the book would be useful to me, as I can use a knowing and commiserating laugh
I would love the opportunity to read this book and gain some poetic insight from their mark of territory! I’m studying poetry, so perhaps my feline friends could help me! I would love to be privy to their poetic grace, hunting insights and self-importance as well as to their cozy ways and healing presence.
We’ve been so curious about this book…have seen the great cover online and on Facebook….thanks for the cool look inside at the author! It sounds like it’s right up our alley! We’d love to win a copy. Thank you! ; ) Katie & Glogirly
I’m with Nellie! Me wants this book too! This has to be one of the pawsomest books a cat could have! Thank mew for the CATabulous interview and giveaway!
What a wonderful interview, Layla. This author has such a purrsonality..I love how you used your own cats and fun captions. His next book title sounds great too! I suppose, ‘Pee’ will be the new ‘it’ word for the feline world. I prefer the word ‘tinkle,’ or even ‘sprinkle!’ 🙂
I could use a copy of this book! And this author… he needs a kitty. Or two. I can just tell by the interview. He REALLY misses having feline energy in his life.
This sounds like the purr-fect book for the three of us to read during the upcoming winter evenings. I’ll do the reading and they’ll do the listening, if they’ll share the couch.
51 Comments
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Fantastic web site. Plenty of helpful info here. I sending it to some pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thank you on your sweat!
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A formidable share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a bit of evaluation on this. And he in truth purchased me breakfast because I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to debate this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If doable, as you grow to be expertise, would you mind updating your weblog with extra particulars? It’s highly helpful for me. Huge thumb up for this blog submit!
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Good website! I really love how it is simple on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I could be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your RSS feed which must do the trick! Have a great day!
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donna
I need this book to keep my cats amused, they love to hear about all cats.
Pinky 2
I want to win this so bad I could pee.
Mikey
This sounds like my kind of book. I’m a proud cat man.
mickeyf
I have no use for cats. (I’m a vegetarian.)
Connie Marie
I laughed thru the interview after the part of him explaing when his cats died.
I would like to have this book very much! I bet It’ll be the funniest book I’ve read in a long time. The author is handsome too.
As for peeing, I’m glad Merlin had a good pee outside! Thatz healthy!
Odin looks so sweet sleeping with it. Great interview Layla.
Catherine
Great interview! Sounds like a perfect book for any cat lover and one I’d love to read to my four, although I should be scared about any ideas they might get. But then again, what more could they do to me that they haven’t already thought of?
Tracy
Part of me thinks even entering this contest is tempting fate (or just risking my cats’ getting ideas, whichever is worse) but I still cannot resist.
Sheila K.
My kitty-boy would love to have a copy of this book to pee on—thanks for the opportunity to win one!
jama
Cats rule!
Danielle Priser
*snickers* This is adorable- yet another reason I need more cats!
Corinthia
Cats will take over the world on day! If they just had thumbs…
TomC
When I moved in to a group house in DC right after college one of the resident cats greeted me by leaving a line of crap on my sleeping bag. I assume he was trying to write “Hello” but just ran out of shit. A month he developed severe amnesia as to the location of his basement litter box (guess which level of the house I slept on). Damned empty-headed little bastard! If I win the book it will undoubtedly trigger the latent PFSD (Post-Feline Stress Disorder) that has bubbled in my subconscious these many years, which should be good for some laughs.
Morgan Eckstein
My cat would love to use this book as an itching tool–his chin gets very itchy and book covers are perfect for itching the itch.
C. Sandy Cyst
Cats exist.
chip
Cats are cats are cats. They gotta pee. They want to pee. They do so where they will. The ways of the kitty are inscrutable. Pretend not to comprehend them, for you ain’t. Why sleep in my dried-up birdbath, for instance? You know it will tip over when you get out and scare the pee out of you. That is all.
Good book, I bought a few.
Robert G.
I think Francesco would be way more popular if his last name were simpler to spell. I vote that he change his last name to “Marc.” I would also accept “Ano,” although I’m not sure how that would be pronounced.
Anne
Ces – congratulations on running out of your first printing and going in to the second! We’ve already got one copy, given away one, and would like another one, please, so we can keep passing the Pee.
Justin
I never win anything.
Jobiska
I’d be thrilled if I won a copy!
BarbR7
Francesco is nothing short of brilliant. Every one of the poems is a gem, quirky and, oh, so true!
The poems can be read over and over without losing appeal – like all great poetry. I was waiting til Christmas to buy mine, but would sure love a copy now. Even if I don’t win the book, this gives me a chance to sing Francesco’s praises!
Scotty
I need another copy of this book. I have three cats an they won’t share anything. Help bring peace to the Galaxy!
mariser
not sure I’d want my cats to read this book as they don’t need any more ideas. the book would be useful to me, as I can use a knowing and commiserating laugh
Nicole
I would like to read this book aloud to my three cats and hopefully they would then be inspired to write their own best-selling poetry.
Rachel
I would love the opportunity to read this book and gain some poetic insight from their mark of territory! I’m studying poetry, so perhaps my feline friends could help me! I would love to be privy to their poetic grace, hunting insights and self-importance as well as to their cozy ways and healing presence.
Glogirly and Katie
We’ve been so curious about this book…have seen the great cover online and on Facebook….thanks for the cool look inside at the author! It sounds like it’s right up our alley! We’d love to win a copy. Thank you!
; ) Katie & Glogirly
Patricia Jakula
I think my cats,all 12 of them,could have written this!Would love to spend the time I have,that is not spent cleaning up after them,to read THIS!!!… 🙂
Nancy N
Another book that has to do with cats would be a perfect addition to my household library!
Cat Herd
This is the best title ever! We really want this book!
Ms. Phoebe
I’m with Nellie! Me wants this book too! This has to be one of the pawsomest books a cat could have! Thank mew for the CATabulous interview and giveaway!
Debra Lee
I would love a copy of this!
catfromhell
Me wants the book. Me LOVED reading your interview, peoples like that should always has cats.
Kisses
nellie
Linda
I want this book because I need a good laugh. =^..^=
Chris Davis
Great interview, Layla – the author is a hoot! I’ll have to check this book out.
boomermuse
Chris, thanks, he’s so funny I had to leave the best bits out!
Zee and Zoey - Deb Barnes
Deliciously wicked interview!! I love his humor – please enter me in the giveaway and I am keeping my paws cross I win this one!!
Lisa Tibbetts
We would definitely enjoy this as a bedtime story book!
Roxanne
This book would make an excellent addition to my bookshelf. that and the title alone has me rolling.
Leslie S
Sounds like a great bathroom reader!
Lisa Fleming
What a wonderful interview, Layla. This author has such a purrsonality..I love how you used your own cats and fun captions. His next book title sounds great too! I suppose, ‘Pee’ will be the new ‘it’ word for the feline world.
I prefer the word ‘tinkle,’ or even ‘sprinkle!’ 🙂
Marilia
MOL! Nice tip!
Sparkle
I could use a copy of this book! And this author… he needs a kitty. Or two. I can just tell by the interview. He REALLY misses having feline energy in his life.
boomermuse
Sparkle, his last cat died two years ago and isn’t ready to adopt. He also loves dogs.
Deb
This sounds like the purr-fect book for the three of us to read during the upcoming winter evenings. I’ll do the reading and they’ll do the listening, if they’ll share the couch.
Brian
That is a cool book…hope the cover is wet proof!
Katnip Lounge
I am laughing so hard…I need this book!
Skeeter and Izzy
This sounds like a good read to me! Luvs and Purrs…Skeeter and Izzy >^..^<