The Book

*“THE AMAZING, INTERESTING, DANGEROUS, AND SOMEWHAT TRUE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE TADPOLE & PRINCESS CLARA” BY VP FELMLEE*

A pretty gray cat is abandoned on a rainy day, afraid, alone and getting wet. Day after day, night after night, she makes her way from house to house, dodging dangerous animals and unfriendly people until she sees an open doorway ...

The Amazing, Interesting, Dangerous, and Somewhat True Adventures of Prince Tadpole & Princess Clara by VP Felmlee is the story of how animals make such an important difference inour homes. Some may not have had the best of lives, but once in a while, there is a happy ending for both them — and us.

While the book is fiction, some of the story is based on fact: a cat was abandoned; she was pregnant; she had kittens; and one of them was indeed a dwarf.

“When Tadpole was born, there was a natural curiosity about him, followed very quickly by a realization that there would be many challenges,” Felmlee says. “It was tempting to share him with the world, but my husband and I resisted that urge. However, there was always a thought in the back of our minds that a fictionalized version of his story for young adults might benefit an organization like Roice-Hurst.”

Felmlee chose to donate proceeds from the book to Roice-Hurst Humane Society, a nonprofit animal shelter and adoption center in Grand Junction.

“We are grateful that the author of this book chose Roice-Hurst Humane Society as the beneficiary of its proceeds,” Jenna Kretschman, Roice-Hurst Humane Society communications coordinator, says. “This story teaches important lessons about responsible pet ownership and the life-changing impact that people and pets can have on each other.”

Felmlee is an award-winning writer and currently serves on the board of Women Writingthe West. The book is illustrated with the help of graphic artist Kitty Nicholason, and young adult author Sherry Ficklin aided the publication.

The book, available in paperback or e-book, is available on Amazon and can be found at vfelmleeauthor.com.

For the beverage pairing, VP Felmlee says her favorite way to enjoy Tom Cat gin is with a little sweet vermouth, ginger ale, lemon garnish or even a cinnamon stick. We reached out to our favorite cocktail recipe developer, Jayme Henderson, to hear how she likes to incorporatethe spirit in her drinks. “It’s the epitome of cozy,” she says on her blog holly & flora. Tom Cat gin is making a comeback, and as pictured, it is enjoyed with apple, ginger liqueur, lemon juice, honey-cinnamon simple syrup, orange bitters and a cinnamon stick for garnish. For the full recipe, visit hollyandflora.com.

Photo by Jayme Henderson.

Originally published in the Summer 2023 issue of Spoke+Blossom.

Book + Beverage — Summer 2023