Coast to Coast with a Cat and a Ghost
Reviewed by Lady Ghost Whispurr
Lady Ghost engaged in one of her favorite activities in the RV, worshiping the sun,
Lady Ghost Whispurr is the name of one of our cats who spent some time with us after we rescued her from the Humane Society. She was an older cat who, like Grizabella in the musical Cats, had had quite a hard life. In 2011, she and Wileykat, our other cat master, moved into an RV and went on an adventure with us.
We had promised her that how ever many years she had left to live, we would try to make her last years as comfortable as possible. In the summer of 2014, she decided it was time to give up her body and return to the spirit world. She died peacefully in my husband's arms, giving him a little lick before she passed.
Once we moved into the RV I discovered that, like me, Lady Ghost was a writer. Since she had difficulty tapping the computer keys with her claws, she asked me to be her "ghostwriter." We spent many enjoyable times together while she dictated her stories to me. One of them was this review of a book about an RV, a cat, and a ghost. I will let her tell it in her own words.
We had promised her that how ever many years she had left to live, we would try to make her last years as comfortable as possible. In the summer of 2014, she decided it was time to give up her body and return to the spirit world. She died peacefully in my husband's arms, giving him a little lick before she passed.
Once we moved into the RV I discovered that, like me, Lady Ghost was a writer. Since she had difficulty tapping the computer keys with her claws, she asked me to be her "ghostwriter." We spent many enjoyable times together while she dictated her stories to me. One of them was this review of a book about an RV, a cat, and a ghost. I will let her tell it in her own words.
Meet Sportster, Our Superhero
This is Sportster, our hero who has no fear of sleeping on the dashboard. Picture used with permission.
This is Lady Ghost Whispurr and I want to review a book I know you will enjoy. The ghostwriter was looking for good books to read on her Kindle when she spotted one called Coast to Coast with a Cat and a Ghost by Judy Howard. I told her to buy it because it had two really cool things going for it – a cat and a ghost. Since I am a cat named Ghost, it seemed to be a book written just for me.
Wiley was particularly excited because the cat, whose name is Sportster, looks a lot like him. Sportster is our hero because he is actually brave enough to sleep on the dashboard while she is driving! Wiley isn’t brave enough to ride on the dashboard though. He hides under the bed whenever we are on the road.
Wiley was particularly excited because the cat, whose name is Sportster, looks a lot like him. Sportster is our hero because he is actually brave enough to sleep on the dashboard while she is driving! Wiley isn’t brave enough to ride on the dashboard though. He hides under the bed whenever we are on the road.
Who Is Jack Incarnate?
Jack Incarnate, photo used with permission of author.
The book is a true story that is both a journey on the road and a journey of the spirit. After Judy’s husband dies of cancer, she decided to travel across country in her RV to visit a friend in Florida. She creates a life size doll she names Jack Incarnate who rides in the front passenger seat. Although a ghost, he still expresses strong opinions about her driving and her choices of places to stay.
Judy loved Jack but he was also abusive at times. So as she drives along, she processes her grief and her anger. This is a writer who writes from the heart, and you will find yourself both laughing and in tears. By the end of the trip she finds that rather than being terrified of living a life without him, she is looking forward to a new life and new adventures.
Judy loved Jack but he was also abusive at times. So as she drives along, she processes her grief and her anger. This is a writer who writes from the heart, and you will find yourself both laughing and in tears. By the end of the trip she finds that rather than being terrified of living a life without him, she is looking forward to a new life and new adventures.
Sportster nurturing his wild side in the great outdoors.
Sportster is Judy's loyal companion who loves to travel and explore the outdoors. He is one cool cat. After they return home and life revolves around publishing and marketing the book, Sportster says in his blog,THE CAT'S PERSPECTIVE OF READING, WRITING AND LIFE,
“Yes my life has changed. I have itchy paws. Judy calls it “itchy wheels,” the urge to travel. Before life became complicated with books and publishing and marketing, I eagerly filled Judy’s expectations of me as navigator on our trips across the country. Packed with adventure, my role challenged my cat tendencies to sleep all day. I became the big Tom, who roamed farther than any of my ancestors ever conceived. The part I played satisfied and nurtured my wild side”
“Yes my life has changed. I have itchy paws. Judy calls it “itchy wheels,” the urge to travel. Before life became complicated with books and publishing and marketing, I eagerly filled Judy’s expectations of me as navigator on our trips across the country. Packed with adventure, my role challenged my cat tendencies to sleep all day. I became the big Tom, who roamed farther than any of my ancestors ever conceived. The part I played satisfied and nurtured my wild side”
Coast to Coast with a Cat and a Ghost
This is a book for everyone to enjoy. Of course, we cats love it. It also will appeal to anyone who has traveled in an RV, travels in an RV with cats, or would just like to try it. It also strikes a deep chord with anyone who has suffered a loss in their life, as Judy’s description of life with and without Jack is genuine and gut-wrenching at times.
More Books By Judy Howard
Going Home with a Cat and a Ghost
Judy Howard followed up her first book with a fictionalized account of her trip back home for a high school reunion. It is both a romance story and a murder mystery. Great news! Sportster is still a main character.
Masada's Marine: The Story of a Service Dog and her Wounded Marine Warrior
Judy states that "When I decided to write Masada's Marine, I imagined it as a nice story about a puppy named Masada, who grows up to become a service dog and changes the lives of two men."
Well, as I often say, books and articles often take on a life of their own and Judy found herself deeply immersed in the lives of our military men who come home from war only to be bombarded by an invisible enemy, PTSD.
Learn about how Masada, a trained service dog, becomes the real hero of the story as she takes on the awesome tasks of providing both emotional and physical help to her wounded warrior.
I found reading the book to be a touching, profound, and educational experience. PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, can affect anyone who has experienced a trauma. This especially applies to the young men and women who have been in combat situations. How does one un-see the horrors of war? The symptoms of nightmares, depression, angry outbursts, relationship problems and difficulty coping with every day life. In prior wars it was called "shell-shock" or "battle-fatigue."
Service dogs trained to work with veterans is a crucial therapy option for those who suffer from this mental disorder. Masada's Marine provides an important service in raising the awareness of the need for more trained dogs so that more and more veterans can be helped.
Judy states that "When I decided to write Masada's Marine, I imagined it as a nice story about a puppy named Masada, who grows up to become a service dog and changes the lives of two men."
Well, as I often say, books and articles often take on a life of their own and Judy found herself deeply immersed in the lives of our military men who come home from war only to be bombarded by an invisible enemy, PTSD.
Learn about how Masada, a trained service dog, becomes the real hero of the story as she takes on the awesome tasks of providing both emotional and physical help to her wounded warrior.
I found reading the book to be a touching, profound, and educational experience. PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, can affect anyone who has experienced a trauma. This especially applies to the young men and women who have been in combat situations. How does one un-see the horrors of war? The symptoms of nightmares, depression, angry outbursts, relationship problems and difficulty coping with every day life. In prior wars it was called "shell-shock" or "battle-fatigue."
Service dogs trained to work with veterans is a crucial therapy option for those who suffer from this mental disorder. Masada's Marine provides an important service in raising the awareness of the need for more trained dogs so that more and more veterans can be helped.
Masada's Mission: Walking Point For a Hero is the second in the Masada Series. Masada tells her own story of her training. As part of her training, she must spend some time in a prison.
The book also re-introduces characters from Judy's previous book, Going Home With a Cat and a Ghost. There just might be a bit of romance involved.
The book also re-introduces characters from Judy's previous book, Going Home With a Cat and a Ghost. There just might be a bit of romance involved.
Wiley trying to be brave as he enjoys the view at West Point Lake in Georgia.
This is Wiley speaking here, as Lady Ghost has gone on to the spirit world. As she mentioned, Sportster is my hero because he is so brave and adventurous, I look a lot like him so when I look in the mirror, I can almost imagine that I am courageous too. But before I go to hide in the closet again (do you think I have PTSD?) I want to give you the link to Sportsters/ blog, "The Cat's Perspective."
Activate Lion Mode
Lady Ghost would be excited to learn that Sportster has written his own book. Sportster has always dreamed of living the dream life of running wild through the forest. In this fictional tale, an accident with the RV plunges him into a new reality that forces him to activate his lion mode to survive.
Lady Ghost would be excited to learn that Sportster has written his own book. Sportster has always dreamed of living the dream life of running wild through the forest. In this fictional tale, an accident with the RV plunges him into a new reality that forces him to activate his lion mode to survive.
To learn more about the author, Judy Howard, and keep updated on new books, visit Judy's Home Page.
Background image is a sunset at Millwood Lake in Arkansas, one of the first campgrounds we stopped at. Photo ©CE Wallace