At the Shawville Fair last week, author Muriel Davies and illustrator Tina Michaud set up shop at the entrance to the Ag Hall, promoting and selling the third book in their Grandma’s Cat Fang series of books.

All three of Davies’s books centre around the Shawville Fair and the local community.

In an interview with The Equity, Davies said the children’s book was inspired by a true story about her husband’s mother. More than 30 years ago, Davies’s mother-in-law moved in with the couple after she began having trouble with her eyesight; she brought her old cat Fang to comfort her. Fang was a big white cat with no tail.

That year, they decided to bring the ornery cat to Shawville Fair’s pet show. Fang won the first prize because he was the biggest cat, but also because he was the most unusual with no tail.

Soon after, Fang disappeared. The family put ads in the paper and a large white cat, with no tail, exactly like Fang, was found. Davies’s mother-in-law, not being able to see very well, thought the cat was Fang. The next day there was another call; someone had found another big white cat with no tail. This cat wore Fang’s collar, so they were sure they’d found grandma’s beloved cat.

As Davies related the true story, she deftly weaved in the fictional tail: the two cats fall in love, and 30 years later, this idea became Fang, Grandma”s Prize Cat.

All three books are filled with rhyme and whimsy. Couplets take on the airy quality of a nursery rhyme. One particular passage in the newest book, Hockey Kittens, features Shawville’s very own Mayor Sandra Murray discovering three kittens ice-skating:

The mayor went into the arena quietly in the dark.

And to her amazement she saw a white mark.

In fact three white bodies were whizzing about.

She was so amazed she nearly passed out.

She ran out the door and began to shout.

Michaud’s colourful and sometimes minimalist illustrations adorn every page of the book. Scenes of the kittens learning to ice skate are particularly striking, with the simplest lines evoking motion effortlessly.

Michaud has worn many hats over the years, including political cartoonist. One of Michaud’s early jobs was using illustration to teach kids French immersion at Dr. S.E. McDowell Elementary, where she met Davies.

Michaud changed careers, but their friendship blossomed over the years as they worked together for various women’s groups. Michaud said that one common theme was a lack of things for women to do in those early days. This led to Michaud spearheading the Women’s Wellness Organization which Davies joined. Other projects would follow for the two, including Feel Fit and the Pontiac School of the Art, just to name two.

Davies was a school teacher for many years and even taught with local hockey legend Bryan Murray, to whom she has dedicated the third book.

This year’s Fair was much smaller, but Davies said those who managed to snag a book were very appreciative. “People bought the book yesterday and texted us saying it was fabulous,” she said.

“It’s been so good for us. Yeah, just good fun,” Davies said.

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