Cat's Q&A

Cat's Q&A

CAT'S Q&A

Do you have questions that you would love to ask Cat Royal? Allow Cat to put her 18th Century perspectives on your modern dilemmas.

My dear friends,

Good news - the Duchess of Avon has now answered your questions.  Her replies are now posted.

Dr Golding has told me that some of my messages to her which she used to record my sea-going adventures are now available on something called Twitter.  You have to look for Catherine Royal but then can follow my story there.  It gives a behind-the-scenes look at what went on - not everything made it in to my memoirs. 

I have also just received this shocking news from Mr Egmont, my bookseller:

Dear loyal readers,

We had hoped to publish Cat Royal’s latest adventure in August of this year, but instead we have had to delay publication after a terrible occurrence.

The precious manuscript was snatched from our offices late one evening, possibly by that unscrupulous publisher, Mr Tweadle, or one of Billy Shepherd’s henchmen, we do not know. Happily one of our editors was working late and spotted the thief .... Pursuing the villain, he saw him cast the script into the Thames, and with the help of a local fisherman was able to rescue it in time to save it ....

But sadly for all Cat’s readers, much of her tale had to be retyped through water damage and we will not be able to have it ready for publication for this August. We hope to have it ready for the press ten months later than expected.

Yours regretfully, Mr Egmont

I am very frustrated by the delay, which once again is out of my hands.  I have decided instead to release on these pages a small adventure - a novella in fact - for my faithful readers to read for free.  I will start the installments in August to reward you for your patience.  It will start at the point I left you in the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, please do carry on asking for my advice.

Cat Royal

Messages

Vix wrote on 29 May 2008:

Hi Cat! i absolutley love your books so much (how do expect me to wait until 2009 till the next book!?)!!! onto the more important matter, which one of the lads do you like the best?????? i think that you are most suited to Sid (he is such a sweetie!) but Frank seems nice to! if you end up with Sid, I dread to think of what might happen to the poor book explaining that!!!! please let me know! (i'm sure i'm not the only girl dying to know the answer! lots of love Vix xxxxx
Aaargh! Cat

Lola wrote on 28 May 2008:

Dearest Cat I only wanted to ask when we get to ask questions to Frank and co? also i have a another question to ask. I have two friends in another class from me and they keep on falling out with each other. One of them keeps on saying really mean stuff to her but the same girl never says anything to me or my other friends.So i was actually just wanting your opinion?????????? THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lola
Not sure I understand the ins and outs of this, but I'd stick with the friend who doesn't say mean things. Cat

Angry Milli wrote on 26 May 2008:

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's so unfair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant help being sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its completely outrageous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, let me explain. Poppy, Sam, Madee and I wanted to be in a group for a band project we are doing at school. We had it all worked out, me vocals, Sam guitar, Poppy sax and back up vocals and Madee on the keyboard. I am sick today, and the blimmin' teacher goes and puts me in some random group and a another girl in MY group!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE ALL EXTREMELY ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How would she lie it if she wanted to work with friends and she wasnt feeling too well on the day so the flippin boss puts her in a group with people she hardly practically knows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Knowing my luck I'll draw the short straw for playing something other than my voice. I'm hopless as guitar, the only thing I'm relitavely good at is the triangle. *seeths* And THAT can hardly be in a band. And Poppy, Sam, me and MAdee wanted to call the group The Black Hearts or The Diamonds of Drury Lane, but NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! The stupid teacher must have cany-floss for a brain. She KNOWS we wanted to be together. I really must stop it with this sick thing. Any ideas on how to get better???????????????? (And fast) Milli xox
Take a deep breath, Milli.... Cat

Arianna wrote on 24 May 2008:

Hi Cat! I just read Den of Theives and you spent a lot of time with J-F so I just wanted to ask, what do you think your relationship with J-F is? Is he like a brother? Or something else? Thanks! Arianna
No comment. Cat

Milli wrote on 24 May 2008:

Pheuf! I must say my English teacher has taken up the role of Health teacher. Reeeeeeeeeally weird. I wonder why she hasn't been at the very least admitted into an old person's home? *Sighs* Been ill. Not too nice, especially when you had a LitQuiz meeting. But Madee was sick too so we talked for hours and played the book game over the phone, in which someone chooses a book and reads a passage, beeping out any names or places that might give the book away. Then the other person has to guess it. Here I must mention that after reading The Diamond of Drury Lane, Dahne broke into a few torturous days of speaking like Billy. Terrible. We were all forced to put up with it. She said she couldnt help it, we believe her. I think. Mow I can really feel for you with the "Who do you fancy" thing. DONT TELL THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I told my friends whom I fancied and now I am bombarded with e-mails. "YOU SHOULD REALLY TELL HIM MILLI!!!!!!!!!!!" NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!! I WILL NOT!!!!!!!!! I SHALL DO IT IN MY OWN TIME. I will never again trust them with my heart. Perchance I should tell them I was joking so then they will leave me alone. What do you think? You are getting quite good at the !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thing. Perhaps we could start a club for those ???? and !!!!!!!!!! inclined and disabled. We could call it "The Royal Institute for the Wiping Out of Exclamations and Questions." Has a certain ring to it, dont you think? Madee is looking for adjectives starting with "d" do describe her daily e-mail she tourtures us with. She has used: "delightful, delicious, delovely, delirious, delectable, disturbing, deluxe, divine, dodgy and something else too. I can't find the dictionary." Madeleine's own quote. Anyhoooooo. I am trying to think of an interesting question. It seems I never ask sensible questions, and I never write to you with real problems or inteligent questions. Perhaps my letters are just dust collecters and space wasters. I suppose my friends dont love me enough. You really be sick of me now...Oh dear, I have gone on. Milli xox
To the inimitable Milli, Has your friend thought of devious, dastardedly, dangerous, demented, dappled, dimwitted... Cat

Lizzie(Bookworm) wrote on 23 May 2008:

Enhesse, stonko, Have you read Mr Equiano's autobiography, as you met him in 'Cat Among The Pigeons' ? I've started it, and it's very interesting! Capital.(!) Billy wasn't exactly his nicest towards us fans, was he? But again, what did we expect, he's Billy Shepherd. Liz.

Susie wrote on 23 May 2008:

do you enjoy all the advetures you've had. if so what has been your favourite one?
Enjoy is perhaps not quite the right word. I love exploring new places but they are so often dangerous. The best times are when I'm with my friends. Cat

Gaby wrote on 22 May 2008:

Have you got any new books coming out soon? Also I throughly enjoyed the visit from Julia Golding when she visited South Hampstead Junior School and me and my classmates really had lots of fun.
My dear Gaby I am working hard, quill on paper, on the story of my most recent adventures. Julia can tell you more. Cat

leahxxx wrote on 22 May 2008:

Hi cat, my best friend has just moved away to south america and since you have just said goodbye to pedro, i was wondering, how you managed to keep your mind off it. also, are you going to continue your career as an actress or what? luv leah
Dear Leah I can sympathize with your plight. I think you need to allow yourself to feel the loss of a friend so do not bury your emotions. I've cried on everyone's shoulder about it I can tell you! But you are right that you need to keep busy - you owe it to your friend to carry on enjoying yourself. I hope acting is in my future - without the rotten eggs. Cat

Amy wrote on 22 May 2008:

Hi, Me again, I was wondering, and i know you must get bored with all this talk about your love life; but if Billy wasnt a vicious Cut throat, wouldnt that make him your perfect match? I had an ex boyfriend and he was a nasty piece of work, like Billy he was into gangs, stealing ect (except i dont think he had ever killed anyone), but he had something about him, like Billy i suppose; But i saw the light and left him; well anyway, the question is if you could change Billy's past and parts of his personality, would you? for your own benifit, not everyone elses? Amy x
I think only a complete personality change would work - to make him more of a pussy cat and less of a vicious tiger. Cat

Amy wrote on 22 May 2008:

hi Cat i wanted to ask your advice if thats ok? There are these boys at school who sort of like me in a romantic way, 4 of them to be precise. They keep fighting for my attention and no matter how many times i tell them they wont accept the fact that i dont want a boyfriend at the moment Its becoming a chore not to upset one of them by talking to much to the other and im tired of having them competing over me all the time. I have acually heard them arguing over who likes me more, trying to show up the others in front of me, what should i do?? On a brighter note, im so envious of you; what i wouldn't give to travel like you have (even if its dressed as a boy and held captive!). Whats it like to feel totally free? Yours faithfully, Amy x
Dear Amy You are spoiled for choice - and I like it that you know you want to remain single despite this. Good for you. If you've done all you can to be kind, I suggest you just ignore them all! They will soon get the hint. Free - you think I am? I suppose you could say that but we are all constrained by life's realities - money, opportunities, those we love... Cat

Milli and Dahne wrote on 21 May 2008:

MILLI: Realised I hadn't written for a while. Dahne wants to say something. DAHNE: you are the best. did you like being a boy in cat among the pigeons? MILLI: Dahne just finished Cat Among the Pigeons. She is the latest member of the CR Club. Me and Poppy/Lady E are thinking Duchess of Avon???? Milli and Dahne xox
Dear Millie Lovely to hear from you!!!!!!!!!! See, I've been practising my !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ys, I enjoyed fooling people as a boy, Dahne. Wouldn't you? Cat P.S. Being roughed up wasn't fun, though.

Leanne wrote on 21 May 2008:

I have a huge problem going on with my friends at school you see my friend ellie's parents have split up and she spends more time with her mum than her dad and yesterday she was gong to be with her dad and my other friend Jess wanted ellie to buy her something for her at the city but ellie wanted to stay with her dad but jess said that she had to go and now ellie thinks that jess was doing it on perpose and now they have split up and i am doing my best to get them to get back together. but my arch enimy is saying to ellie that jess is saying horrible things about her behind her back and trying to make them even more angry with each other and at the moment i feel like i'm in two places and i'm finding it harder to get them back together please could you help me solve out this problem i need HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP
Dear Leanne I think that your main concern should be Ellie, who must be having a horrible time at the moment. the other matters about going in to town etc. are small beer in comparison. Be firm. Say you are friends to both but don't get sucked in to the dispute. Look after Ellie. Cat

Ariella wrote on 21 May 2008:

Dear Cat, How would you say How R U (how are you) Thank you Ariella
Are you in good health, sir? Cat

Sara wrote on 21 May 2008:

hi cat! i always wanted to know how do look like even though there was discription of you in the books
When I look in the mirror at the moment I see freckles and a sunburnt nose. Cat

Nancy wrote on 20 May 2008:

To the general cast of the Cat Royal books (Cat, Billy, Pedro, Syd, and especially Frank, because he doesn't get enough love from the fandom): 1) If you were all living around 216 years in the future, what would be your ideal career path? 2) If, again, you were living approximately 216 years in the future, and happened to attend a Karaoke night, what would you sing? Cheers ;) Nancy
Dear Nancy Only me here, I'm afraid. I think I'd like to be a very famous actress. I'm not sure what a Karaoke is, but I like singing sea shanties. Cat

jane wrote on 20 May 2008:

hi cat! which would you rather have? emeralds or rubies? i prefer emeralds, though i dont have any nooooo! Jane
Emeralds too. Rubies would clash with my hair. Cat

Amy wrote on 20 May 2008:

Dear Cat: I havent all your books but i always wanderd if there is someone you fancy(i really im wandring) also whe did billy become so ice to you?
I think you might mean nice - though he is icy at times. I don't know - you'll have to ask him. Cat

Laurence wrote on 19 May 2008:

Dear Cat, For book day at my school, we dress up as our favourite character, and I have chosen Pedro as I really like him. What type of clothes does your friend Pedro wear, what does he look like (short hair, dark complexion, ...?) Thank you very much. Laurence
Dear Laurence, A few years ago (1790) Pedro would wear livery - smart uniform for being in the orchestra. Or a costume for stage - Ariel or the Mogul Prince. Last time I saw him he was dressed in shirt and breeches - not too thick as it can be quite hot on San Domingo. Cat

Mighty Me wrote on 19 May 2008:

Cat, At school, I was thinking, if Billy had a devource with his wife, and asked YOU to go to Covent Garden with him for an inoccent walk, would you: A:Laugh at him. B:Take his arm and go with him. C:OR, go call for Syd to beat him up. I'd take B! From, the Mighty Me.
He is not married yet - but he would need an act of parliament to get a divorce. And A. Cat

Add your message

Please type the code shown below into the box. This helps us to reduce junk mail.
*