Clea Simon is a local author who has published four books: Mad House: Growing Up in the Shadow of Mentally Ill Siblings, Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads, The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats, and her latest Mew is for Murder, is her lightest book to date, despite dealing with murder. After graduating from Harvard in 1983, Simon has been a committed member of the Cambridge community ever since, living with her husband Jon S. Garelick and cat, Musetta.
Musetta may have been the muse for her latest publication, which is a feline centric mystery that is unraveled by Theda Krakow, a freelance writer knee deep in the local music scene. After missing an interview with "cat lady" Lilliam Helmhold due to her untimely death, Theda smells foul play and begins searching for clues to uncover a murder. As the suspects grow, this freelance writer gets in over her head with nosy neighbors, punk rockers, and Lilliam's own mentally-challenged son.
Simon will be reading from her newest book at the Harvard Coop on Tuesday, Sept. 27th at 7p.m. In the meantime, Bostonist was lucky enough to grill Simon on the Real-Life Cat Lady, potential for Mew 2, and the winner of a lizard/ape fisticuffs.
What role did Heidi "Cat Lady" Erickson play as an inspiration to your story?
Oh, I am obsessed with the phenomenon of animal hoarding! You must have noticed on my site the link to at least one of my articles on hoarding (I forget if I put more than one on). I think I linked to the big story I did for the Boston Phoenix on "cat ladies." I've long been interested in mental illness -- my first nonfiction book, "Mad House," dealt with the lasting effects on me and my family of my brother's and sister's schizophrenia. And I love cats. So the combination in animal hoarding -- i.e., "crazy cat ladies" -- just really interests me. Did you know that it's now viewed as a possible manifestation of obsessive compulsive disorder?
At any rate, back to your question: when I started writing, I thought a possible "cat hoarder" like Ms. Erickson seems to be, would be a good victim. Many suspects, many ways for her to accidentally die, too. But ultimately, "Mew is for Murder" is a "cozy," a feel-good traditional mystery, so I wanted all the cats be in good shape and to survive, and thus I toned down the craziness. So, yeah, cases like that one inspired me -- up to a point!
Was writing this book, seemingly lighter than your previous ones, more enjoyable?
Without a doubt, yes. I thought writing "The Feline Mystique" would be fun -- it is, after all, on the connection between women and cats. But then my cat Cyrus became terminally ill, and I ended up writing his decline and death into the book, too. (Made sense to -- cathartic for me, and it is what most pet lovers go through.) So, yeah, the other books were cathartic, but "Mew" was more fun.
You graduated from Harvard in 1983, and are currently living in Cambridge. How has the area changed? What aspects of Cantabridgian/Bostonian life have you assimilated and which ones still mystify you?
Oh, I really, really miss the old post-hippie indie spirit of the place!! The Tasty, the Wursthaus, The Sunflower Cafe, Wordsworth, Reading International, you name it. On the other hand, I saw last weekend that a used bookstore (Raven Books) has opened in Harvard Square, so I'm hoping that maybe the vacancy rate has grown, rents are sinking, and some non-chains can move back into town. Also, I remember -- and benefited from -- rent control. That's how I was able to live here at first as a freelance writer! I think it's got to be a lot harder now, and the city is probably poorer for losing so many artists and writers.
What else: Well, I still walk and talk faster than anyone here (I'm originally a New Yorker). Otherwise, I'm now a full-fledged Cantab, a citizen of the People's Republik.
One odd note: I worked in Providence, RI , for one year, and discovered coffee milk, the state's national drink. Now, when I was a little kid, the only way my mom could get me to drink milk was to put sugar and coffee in it, so I think at heart I may really be a Rhode Islander.
Speaking of odd notes, Who would win in a fight: Godzilla or King Kong?
Godzilla, I think. But I like lizards so I could be biased.
A lot of people have talked about Mew is for Murder becoming a series of stories featuring your protagonist Theda Krakow. Did you considered that or did you just remain focused on this one story when you were writing it?
At some point, the possibility occurred to me -- and now I already have "Mew 2" drafted. It's tentatively called "Cattery Row." And plans are underway for a third Theda Krakow mystery. It's just a lot of fun to keep on with characters you already have gotten to know, and publishers seem to like it, too.
How are you and Theda Krakow alike? How are you different?
Well, she's younger and in better shape than I am, and being younger, she's a bit more naive. Also, I suspect she's tougher than I am. She goes out and has adventures. I stay in and write about them.
There seem to be a niche for crime novels featuring cats, however, not many featuring dogs, despite the fact that dogs are commonly used in Crime Scene Investigations. Why do you think this is?
Well, it's easier to sit down and write or read with a cat in your lap. Dogs always need to be walked. But actually there are a lot of good dog mysteries -- Newton resident Susan Conant has a really good, fun series that features dogs.
What drew you to make your career in writing as opposed to music, or painting, or another art form?
I just have always written. I learned to read very early and have been making up stories for as long as I can remember. The hard thing was getting the courage to believe I could make a living as a writer. Well, I'm still freelancing journalism, so I'm not sure how I've succeeded. But I'm no longer copy editing or transcribing tapes so...
In life which is better to have: a job or a sense of humor?
Hey, I'm freelance! I obviously already voted with my feet for the latter!
Clea Simon will be reading at the Harvard Coop, 1400 Mass. Ave., Cambridge this Tuesday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m., free. Check out her personal website to read an excerpt from Mew is for Murder.
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