Today, I have something very special to share with you. Author and film producer Tony Lee Moral is sharing an excerpt from his latest children’s book, The Cat That Changed America, illustrated by Louise Groves. I think you’ll find this story as interesting as I do, especially if you have a love of wildlife in general and mountain lions, in particular. My thanks to Tony for sharing his book here today, and my very best wishes for a huge success. I know my grandson will be getting a copy of this one, for sure, and I’m guessing many of you will enjoy getting this book for the children in your own lives, too. Enjoy!
EXCERPT:
Then the biggest and ugliest looking mountain lion that P22 had ever seen emerged from behind a tree. He had a thick brown coat, enormous paws, and muscles bulged from his long limbs. His name was Prime.
“Good Evening,” said Prime, with a smile, baring his enormously long teeth. “Looks like you’re having a dinner party, and forgot to invite me. Now what kind of manners is that?”
“We were just passing through,” Mom said. “We’ve finished now and we’ll be on our way.”
The Old Male snarled another smile that made P22’s hairs stand on end.
“Just passing through?” he said. “This kill looks and smells a day or two old. You’ve obviously been here before.”
“We’ve stuck to our territory,” Mama said bravely, even though she was quivering a little inside. Prime was about twice her size and she knew that she’d stand no chance against him in a fight. “Even though we are close to yours. But the deer have gone further west. As I said, we’ll leave now.”
The old male, leered at the two lion cubs who despite themselves, tried not to quaver.
BLURB:
Based on a true story with an imaginative retelling for young readers;
P22 mountain lion is born in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains outside Los Angeles, California. But he is forced out of the mountains by Prime, a fierce older male lion who wants him dead. He heads east to stake out a new territory of his own in the bright lights of the big city. Along the way, he makes friends as well as enemies, and crosses two freeways, the 405 and 101. He passes through the City of Stars at night, and strolls down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, all the while trying to avoid those bothersome humans. After more adventures, he reaches the edges of Griffith Park. Can he make it his new home?
Pre-Order/Buy The Cat That Changed America HERE (US) and HERE (UK)
Author Tony Lee Moral
Tony Lee Moral is an author specialising in children’s, young adult, mystery and suspense. He has written three books on the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock: Alfred Hitchcock’s Movie Making Masterclass (2013) published by MWP books; The Making of Hitchcock’s The Birds (2013) published by Kamera Books and Hitchcock and the Making of Marnie (2005) published by Scarecrow Press. Tony was born in Hastings, England in 1971, before moving to California. He lived in Monterey and Big Sur for two years which forms the inspiration for his YA novel “The Haunting of Alice May”. His latest book “The Cat That Changed America” is based on his 2017 documentary film about P22 mountain lion and is aimed at young readers.
You can reach Tony here:
Twitter and Instagram
@tonyleemoral
Facebook
@tonyleemoralfans
Websites
www.tonyleemoralbooks.com
www.thecatthatchangedamerica.com
www.ghostmaven.com
The Write Stuff 
It sounds like P22 has quite an adventure. Best of luck to Mr. Moral on the upcoming release of this new book!
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I think so, too, Priscilla! And this study has garnered wide-spread attention, with P22 becoming quite famous in places. I’m looking forward to sharing the tale with my grandson.
Thanks for stopping by today! 🙂
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Thank you it’s based on an a true story and incredible journey of P22 mountain lion
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Sounds like a cool story.
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Doesn’t it? And such a great way to help children understand about wildlife and conservation. Do you have these big cats in your part of the country? I only know about our Florida panther, a subspecies slightly smaller than the mountain lion, and much more secretive. (I’ll be doing a #WildlifeWednesday post on panthers in the future.)
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Yes we do. They come into town in the winter. One year they had to remove one from BSU Stadium.
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Gleep! 😯 I thought you did, but wasn’t sure how far east their range expanded. I think I could do without seeing one in a stadium. 😀 But they are SO beautiful! Have you seen them in the wild, yourself? (Or in your local sports arenas, shopping malls, or restaurants???) 😀
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I have seen them in the desert outside Las Vegas. There’s an old saying in lion country, “They’ve seen me.” It means they are so secretive that very few people ever see one, even those who work outside.
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Nothing like a cat for mastering stealth! 😀 Congratulations on your sighting. I’ve seen the very rare Florida panther once, too. Driving down a service road in the Everglades, we saw something ahead of us strolling down the center of the little road. I stopped the car, and we grabbed our binoculars, and lo and behold! A Florida panther, which then strolled over to the grassy shoulder of the road, dug a hole, completed its business, and covered it up. “A cat’s a cat, for all o’ that.” 😀 And aren’t you and I lucky to have spotted them?? 😀
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We are very lucky. Mine was a female with two adult cubs on a ledge overlooking a valley.
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WOW!!! Would love to have seen that, too! (I’m greedy. I want to see it ALL! 😀 )
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Yes it’s really incredible that it’s a true story an amazing cat.
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This sounds absolutely adorable! What a delight for young readers. Wishing Tony many many sales!
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Thanks, Mae! I hope the book will do well, and definitely plan to get a copy for Kaelen. He’ll love it, I think. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by today, too. 🙂 ❤
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Thank you! Yes it’s an amazing true story that P22 managed to find a new home in a big city.
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Sounds adorable – congrats to Tony on the new release!
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I agree, Teri, and I hope the book sells like crazy!
Thanks for stopping by today, too. 😀
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Thank you. It’s a fascinating tale about a real life mountain lion.
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This sounds like a super kid’s story although I was very interested in how mama and the cubs faired. Good luck to Tony with this book.
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Me, too, John. I suspect I’ll be giving it a once over before I send it to Kaelen. 😀 Thanks for stopping by today! 🙂
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Smart idea, Marcia. 😁
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Thanks, it’s a really interesting story about a big cat who faced many challenges and survived the odds.
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Well, I’m looking forward to presenting it to my grandson, for sure, Tony! Thanks for sharing it with us, and here’s hoping it sells like gangbusters! Good luck! 🙂
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😁
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Fascinating! One of my favourite books as a child was Born Free about Elsa the lioness. P22 sounds just as interesting.
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I thought the same thing, Trish. I know my grandson will love it. 🙂 (And I was a fan of Born Free, too, book an film. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by to check this one out. 🙂
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