Frequently Asked Questions About the Joe Grey Novels
For questions about Shirley Murphy, her other books including The Catswold Portal, the Fontana duology, and her YA and chidren's books, plus advice for aspiring writers, go to the FAQ page at www.srmurphy.com, which you can reach by clicking AUTHOR is the navigation bar above.
How many books are there in the Joe Grey series? In what order should they be read?
There are 21. They're numbered on the home page and on the pages that describe them.
Will Cat on the Money, the serial novella that began in Cats Magazine, ever be published in paperback?
It is too short to be issued as a printed book, but it's available as an ebook. Also, the entire story has been here at this website since Cats Magazine ceased publication, and it will remain here as a printable PDF. In time sequence, this story comes after Cat Spitting Mad. (There are a few references to its events in later books that may puzzle people who haven't read it.)
Are Shirley's other books available as ebooks?
Yes, ebook editions of all the Joe Grey books, The Catswold Portal, and the two Lee Fontana books have been issued by Harper. The Young Adult novels and some of the children's books are also available in ebook editions.
Are audiobooks of the Joe Grey Series available?
All the Joe Grey books, charmingly read by Susan Boyce, have been released by AudioGo. They are available both to download at online retailers such as Audible.com and in some cases, on CDs.
I'd like to get hardcover editions of Cat on the Edge, Cat Under Fire, and Cat Raise the Dead. Do they exist?
No, the first three books of the Joe Grey series were originally published in paperback. Publishers often don't start issuing hardcovers until a series is well enough known to become popular.
Is Molena Point a real place?
Molena Point is based loosely on Carmel, California, where Shirley lived--but there are many differences. She didn't try to be too factual, she went for the atmosphere, for the feel of this small and charming village.
Was Joe Grey based on a real cat?
Yes. You can read about the original Joe Grey on the Real Cats page of this website and in the article linked from it, "The Cat as Muse."
In the Joe Grey books you sometimes say a cat is "flehming." That word isn't in the dictionary. What does it mean?
Here is an explanation of flehming from www.peteducation.com: "When a cat smells something and then opens his mouth slightly, wrinkles his nose, and curls back his upper lip, he is exhibiting what is called the 'flehmen reaction' or 'flehming.' He is drawing in air, capturing the scent, and transferring it to a small specialized sac called the 'vomeronasal organ' or 'Jacobson's organ.' This organ is located high up in the roof of the mouth, and has a large blood supply. It traps the odor molecules and sends signals to the brain regarding the scent."
Another word that's not in most dictionaries is "clowder." What do you mean by a clowder of cats?
"Clowder" is a collective term meaning a group of cats. There are specific collective terms for many other kinds of animals--for example, pack of wolves, pride of lions, and troop of monkeys. They're used for animal species that generic terms such as "herd" or "flock" wouldn't fit, but because domestic cats don't live in groups as feral ones do, "clowder" isn't seen often.
Why is Kit referred to as a "tattercoat" cat?
Tattercoat is the name of one of the many versions of Cinderella and Kit is, in a way, a Cinderella cat; but tattercoat is also self-descriptive. A long-haired tortoiseshell cat, because of the mottled variations in color, often looked to Shirley as if she were dressed in a tattered or patched fur coat.
Is the Gaelic folklore referred to in your books real folklore, or did you make it up?
Shirley said, "The wonders of Celtic tales helped to inspire The Catswold Portal, and later the Joe Grey books--particularly the folk stories of doors to an underground world. But, as with the fictionalizing of Molena Point, I digress and wander astray as the mood suits me."
Will Joe Grey or Dulcie ever change form like Kate Osborne and the cats in The Catswold Portal?
Shirley replied, "I wish I could say that Joe Grey wants to be able to change to human, but the truth is, he doesn't, and wouldn't do so even if he could. Joe is stubbornly happy with being just what and who he is. And while Dulcie has mixed feelings on the matter, lately she's come to realize even more fully that the complications of such changes might outweigh the rewards--she's beginning to see that Kate Osborne herself isn't too happy with the dual role."
Does the Cat Museum described in your novels really exist in San Francisco?
Shirley said, "I wish I could say that the Cat Museum is a real place, but it is not. The museum is one of my dreams, a place I would love to build myself and that I do enjoy writing about so that I can visit it in my imagination."
She had information about three cat museums, none of which are in the U.S.
- The Cat Museum in Kuching, Sarawak, Eastern Malaysia (see Cat Fancy, February 1994 and November 1996).
- A nice collection in an antique shop owned by Rosemarie Muller in Basil, Switzerland (see Cat Fancy, August 1985 and Cats magazine, July 1995).
- The Katten Kabinet in Amsterdam, Netherlands, which has all kinds of cat material, including sculptures.