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Family cat inspiration for book
By Heather Rivers
Arts and Entertainment
WOODSTOCK--In the dark, Avelea Nixon's three-year-old black cat Slobidan bears an uncanny resemblance to a forest creature.
"I swear he looks like an owl," said Woodstock resident Avelea Nixon, author of a new children's book.
The resemblance is clear enough that her stepson started referring to the cat as OwlCat and thus became an inspiration for the central character in her new book, "OwlCat: The Cat Hoo Though He Was An Owl."
With help from her brother, who publishes the online magazine Astraea, the book took over a year to complete and is perfectly illustrated by her 12-year-old niece, Jamie Nixon.
The story takes on several themes including adoption, the acceptance of different races and the death of parents.
Nixon said her relationship to cats during her childhood growing up on Oxford Road 17 was also an impetus for the book.
"When I was a child, we lived in the country and had lots of cats," she said. "Many would get hit by cars--it was devastating."
One such cat left behind kittens, that ended up being adopted and raised by a cat who lived across the road.
In Nixon's story, OwlCat has been adopted by a family of owls after her parent had disappeared "one dark, stormy night" near Route 17--a nod to the highway she grew up on.
After OwlCat learns about a long lost sister, he sets out on a journey to the "Catskills" to find her and reconnect with his past.
The book documents his jourey there and his reaction when he finally reaches the cat town and meets a "chic white cat" named Sharma, wearing a collar with the words, "Have you seen my little brother, Slobidan?"
Reunited at last, it's a happy ending to a point. "It's not perfect," Nixon said. "Life is not perfect."
On Oct. 24, 2007, Nixon will be reading her book at the Woodstock Kumon Learning Centre at 5:30 pm. Books cost $10.
"OwlCat" is also available at Merrifield Bookshop or by visiting www.amazon.ca
Other Projects
Ava is also writing short stories about crime. Ava has shared her reading with the local police, CSIS, FBI and other police services over the years.
Note: Ava will not be doing personal reading at this time--only Internet or mail readings will be available.
