"This is my freakishly large cat Loretta helping me re-think the organization of some manuscript or another," emails Amy Stewart. "I think this one was The Earth Moved, with Algonquin editor Antonia Fusco's notes all over it. Loretta (a male, by the way, whose name comes from the Beatles song 'Get Back') found something really compelling in either the manuscript or Antonia's notes, I'm not sure which."

You might recall that, earlier this month, Stewart and her husband bought a used bookstore in their California hometown. She'll continue to promote her latest book, Flower Confidential, with speaking engagements at various horticultural events throughout 2008.