Authors Interviewing Characters Series: Codi Schneider
About Cold Snap: A Viking Cat Mystery: When a murder shocks her peaceful mountain town, Bijou, a plucky house cat with a Viking spirit, must dive paws-first into solving the mystery before another life is taken—maybe even her own.
Codi Schneider (author): Hi, Bijou, thanks for agreeing to this interview. Here is your pint of ale, as requested (demanded).
Bijou: Thank you and skol! *Dips her whiskers to their roots in ale. Takes five and a half wildly successful swallows.*
Codi: *Watches with raised brows and ponders the point of creating such a character.* Okay, Bij, tell me a little bit about yourself. Are you really a Viking cat? And if so, how did you end up in the mountains of Colorado?
Bijou: Oh yes, I’m a Viking cat. My actual breed is a Norwegian Forest cat and my ancestors traveled on board longships, working both as mousers and morale boosters for their human counterparts. By sailing with cats, Vikings could ensure their food supply wouldn’t be infiltrated by vermin. *Dabs foam from face with a rapid-fire paw.* In this way, we seafaring Norsecats spread all over the globe—even to the mountains of Colorado.
Codi: Fascinating. If I were a sailor (conqueror), I’d want to bring a cat on board with me too. You know, I think I’m going to order a pint of ale for myself too.
Bijou: Who wouldn’t want to sail with a cat? We all need companions who can fearlessly face a squall. Shall you order another one for me too?
Codi: No, I think one is plenty for you, Bijou. Let’s continue. Tell me a bit about your day-to-day life in the mountains. You run the Fox Burrow Pet Inn with your human, Spencer, and your assistant, Skunk, who’s a Pomeranian. What’s that like?
Bijou: Well, if you’re thinking about getting an assistant, I’d advise against a Pomeranian.
Codi: Why is that? I know for a fact you adore Skunk.
Bijou: Yes, but not her breath, her caterwauling, or her affinity for dating websites. She’s always thinking about her future husbands. Will one be a Doberman Pinscher or a Shih Tzu? A Cattle Dog or a Poodle? It’s exhausting, really. But on the whole, Skunk has her uses. For instance, ordering me a second pint when asked.
Codi: Tell me more about running the pet inn.
Bijou: I suppose I take my job as manager very seriously. Daily, I regale my guests with tales of Viking battles won and won, test their meals for poison, and knead their pillows to perfection. I always keep a close eye on who comes and who goes. You never know when you might come across a shady character and as the muscle behind the whole pet inn operation, I must eat copious amounts of cod and vigorously practice my swordplay. If someone needs protecting, I’m the one to do it. Did you know I’ve earned exactly 103 tabby stripes for bravery?
Codi: Yes, I’m the one who gave them to you.
Bijou: Right. Unlike second pints of ale it seems.
Codi: . . .
Bijou: . . .
Codi: Okay then, let’s move on. Tell me about your relationship with Spencer. When did the two of you find each other?
Bijou: She found me abandoned in a cold box in a cold alleyway when I was just a kitten. I don’t remember much of my life before Spencer, but she says we rescued each other. We’re best friends, her and I (and Skunk). A clan.
Codi: I love that, and I’d love it even more if you’d stop guzzling my drink, which just arrived and of which I haven’t even had a sip.
Bijou: *Slurps frantically.*
Codi: Bijou.
Bijou: *Siphons several more ounces.*
Codi: I mean really, are all Viking cats this barbaric?
Bijou: Yes, I would think so. Though unfortunately I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting another Norsecat like me. Perhaps someday I will. I’ve always dreamed of visiting Norway and seeing the fjords. I imagine I’d see a lot of Norsecats fishing there, and that I could join them.
Codi: You never know, maybe Spencer will take you sometime. Meanwhile, tell me a little bit about your hometown of Gray Birch. I know it’s beautiful and encircled by huge, snow-capped mountains.
Bijou: Yes, and a bubbling river runs right through it that Spencer and her friends like to surf. Overall, I like Gray Birch a lot. It’s quiet and peaceful and nothing mysterious ever happens there.
Codi: Really? Never?
Bijou: Well, maybe once or twice.
Codi: And were you involved in these mysterious events that occurred once or twice?
Bijou: I absolutely was. I’m the one who puzzled out the mysteries, though Spencer and the police, especially Lieutenant Lou Tennant, like to take most of the credit. Honestly, so much happened during these mysterious events it would require an entire book to explain it all. But I digress, normally Gray Birch is an uneventful place filled mostly with nice people, some snobby, some nosy, and some a little bit wicked. But it has pretty flowers during the summer and friendly town deer. And since Gray Birch is a tourist town, we often have interesting guests at Fox Burrow. There’s plenty to keep me busy!
Codi: It certainly sounds like it. Well, I’m afraid our time is up, Bijou, so I want to thank you for speaking with me.
Bijou: You’re welcome! And if you really want to thank me, you can order me that second pint now. I’ll wait.
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COLD SNAP by Codi Schneider (SparkPress, September 14) is a witty, engaging tale of kindness, adventure, and courage. Perfect for fans of The Art of Racing in the Rain, Cold Snap is a reminder that no matter how small you are, little acts of kindness can make a big difference, all told through the whiskers of a cat. I would be happy to send you a review copy for consideration if interested!
Bijou, a plucky house cat with a Viking spirit, spends her time running the Fox Burrow Pet Inn with her human, Spencer, and her assistant, Skunk, a mentally negligible Pomeranian. Together, the happy trio has created a safe haven for four-legged guests in their remote Colorado mountain town. But when a handsome baker from California comes to the inn with his piglet and pit bull puppy, everything changes. And when a shocking murder/dognapping occurs, Bijou must dive paws-first into solving the mystery before another life is taken — maybe even her own.
“Engaging, absorbing, and you might even learn something. Schneider’s writing crosses from animal to human worlds so smoothly that you don’t realize it’s happening. You’re too busy finding out what happens next.” ―Ellen Clary, author of Pursuits Unknown
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Find out more about Codi on her Website https://www.codischneider.com/
Category: Interviews, On Writing
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