Шейла Нортон: Oliver The Cat Who Saved Christmas

‘For me, too,’ I meow at them, in case they’d forgotten me – and they both turn and smile.

‘He always looks as if he’s trying to tell us something,’ Laura says. ‘I wish I knew what he was thinking.’

It just doesn’t seem to occur to them, you see, Charlie? If they’d only put themselves out a bit, and learn to speak some Cat! But however much they love us, and care for us and try to understand us, as far as I know not a single human has ever done it. Never mind, you’ll just have to do what we all do – listen to their conversations in Human and let them think there’s something unusual about you because you can understand them. One day, you might even have an important job yourself, like me – saving Christmas … or something else … for your humans. If not in this life – maybe in one of the other eight. Who knows? That may not be a myth, after all.

With thanks to Emily Yau and Gillian Green at Ebury Press for entrusting me with the writing of this story, and especially for Emily’s support and encouragement throughout the book’s development.

Sheila Norton lives near Chelmsford in Essex with her husband, and worked for most of her life as a medical secretary, before retiring early to concentrate on her writing. Sheila is the award-winning writer of numerous women’s fiction novels and over 100 short stories, published in women’s magazines.

She has three married daughters, six little grandchildren, and over the years has enjoyed the companionship of three cats and two dogs. She derived lots of inspiration for Oliver The Cat Who Saved Christmas from remembering the pleasure and fun of sharing life with her own cats. Sheila is convinced cats can understand Human and that we really ought to learn to speak Cat!

When not working on her writing Sheila enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as reading, walking, swimming, photography and travel. For more information visit www.sheilanorton.com.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS.

An imprint of St. Martin’s Press.

OLIVER THE CAT WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS. Copyright © 2015 by Sheila Norton. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.thomasdunnebooks.com

www.stmartins.com

Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.

First published in the United Kingdom by Ebury Press, an imprint of Ebury Publishing, a Penguin Random House company

First U.S. Edition: October 2016

eISBN 9781250108487

First eBook edition: October 2016