Review and tour: Buckley’s Story

Buckley’s Story by Ingrid King
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 4.5/5

Summary: Ingrid adopts a kitten named Buckley while she is still working in an animal hospital. Eventually, she leaves and starts her own business, as a Reiki healer, someone who transfers healing energy to a client. As cats are able to sense energy in a room or in a person, Buckley becomes her assistant healer, as she is able to sense where more energy is always needed, and Buckley becomes a healer-cat. Buckley’s story is the tail (pun intended) of Buckley and Ingrid’s sweet, joyful life together. 

Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book. This cat is such a character! She is lively and energetic, and does the funniest things sometimes.

There were also some very informative sections in the book. I learned the real truth about “healing animals,” cats, and the affect that animals have on people. We’ve all heard the stories about the animals that could sense cancer in people before the doctors find it—Ingrid throws in some interesting data into the book as well. However, it doesn’t feel like an out of place paragraph, and it isn’t dry like a text book.

When Ingrid described Buckley’s “time to wake up my owner” process, I laughed out loud (much to the dismay of the other people sitting in the library). Buckley reminded me a little bit of Simon’s Cat—“Meow, meow (bang on the head with a baseball bat) Meow.”

There was an interesting spiritual aspect of this book, too. The healing process of Reiki is supposed to be a spiritual and physical experience, and I found it an intriguing idea. I’ve experienced my cats and dog knowing when I’m stressed and being able to make me feel better… But I had no idea that it was a transfer of energy. Ingrid also talks about Animal Communicators, people who are able to understand animals by connecting to that energy, and able to almost communicate with them telepathically.

At the end of the story, Ingrid shares the secrets (which are no longer secrets) that Buckley taught her on how to relax and live a less stressful life.

All in all, this book was a lovely and interesting story, and one that wraps you in a blanket and makes you want to cuddle a purring cat on your lap.

Recommendation: Ages 14+ This book is perfect for anybody who loves cats, animals in general, or a good memoir.

About the author:

  
Ingrid King is the author or Buckley’s Story – Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher.  She is a former veterinary hospital manager turned writer.  She publishes the E-zine News for You and Your Pet, covering topics ranging from conscious living to holistic and alternative health.  She shares her experiences with consciously creating a joyful, happy and healthy life for pets and people on her popular blog, The Conscious Cat. Ingrid lives in Northern Virginia with her tortoiseshell cat Amber.  Visit www.ingridking.com for more information about Ingrid and Buckley’s Story.

An interview with Ingrid King and PUYB:

Thank you for this interview, Ingrid.  Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later?  Do you remember your first published piece?

Ingrid:  I always loved to write and kept journals from a very young age.  At one point during my teens, I also wrote a “novel” (I use that term very loosely!) about a soccer player I had a crush on.  Thankfully, it got lost when my parents cleaned out their basement after I left home!   Even though I’ve always enjoyed writing, I didn’t really discover my true passion for it until a few years ago, when I started publishing my online newsletter News for You and Your Pet. When I began working on Buckley’s Story, I knew that this is what I’m meant to be doing.

 

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

Ingrid:  I can’t really say that I’ve experienced a lot of frustrations throughout the publishing process.  Since Buckley’s Story is my first book, I decided to go with assisted self-publishing rather than going the traditional route of finding an agent and/or a publisher.  I didn’t want to deal with the time it would take to make that happen, and I also didn’t want to deal with the rejections that are an inevitable part of that process.  I just wanted to get my book out into the world.  I’m also a bit of a control freak, and I liked having final say so on everything from content to cover design to layout.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life?  Do you have support?

Ingrid:  I’m single, so I have a lot of freedom in terms of my schedule, when I write, how much I write, and so on.  I’m very fortunate that I can do what I love full time.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing?  Where do you like to vacation?  Can you tell us briefly about this?

Ingrid:  I’m an avid reader, which probably comes as no surprise.  I enjoy listening to music, getting together with friends (especially if there’s food involved – I love eating out), and spending time with my cat.  I’m not much of a traveler, but when I do travel, my destination usually includes a beach.

 

Buckley's Story by Ingrid King (click on cover to purchase)

If you could be anywhere in the world for one hour right now, where would that place be and why?

Ingrid:  Probably New York City.  I love the energy of the city, and I love that you can walk everywhere you want to go.  I love that there are countless restaurants on every block. I love Central Park.

Who is your biggest fan?

Ingrid:  My closest friends.  One of the most fun aspects of getting published has been that at times, I think my friends are even more excited about it than I am!

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

Ingrid:  In my office.  A few years ago, I bought my dream desk, and earlier this year, I added my dream desk chair – it doesn’t get any better than this as far as comfort, and I’m surrounded by things I love.

What’s your favorite library and why?

Ingrid:  I have to admit that I’m not much of a library person.  I love the pristine feel of a brand new book too much, so I tend to buy books rather than borrow them.  I do, however, have fond memories of my childhood library in Stuttgart, Germany.  Once a week, my mother and I would go there, and I got to pick out three or four books.  I couldn’t wait to go each week.

What’s your favorite bookstore and why?

Ingrid:  Barnes and Noble in Reston, VA.  It’s my “hometown” bookstore – everything about it just feels right to me.

Do you have any pets?

Ingrid:  I currently share my life with Amber, a beautiful tortoiseshell cat who is also the star of my blog The Conscious Cat.

What are you reading right now?

Ingrid:  I’m reading Julia Cameron’s memoir Floor Sample, Beware of False Profits by Emilie Richards, and Maggie:  The Dog Who Changed my Life by Dawn Kairns.  I also have a stack of magazines that I never see to quite get caught up with, including Catfancy, Writers Digest, and two German magazines.

Tell us a secret no one else knows.

Ingrid:  if I did, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore, would it!

What’s the first thing you notice when you meet someone?

Ingrid:  I tend to pick up on peoples’ energy before I notice anything else.

Have you ever won anything?

Ingrid:  Yes!  I just recently won a book blog giveaway, Anne River Siddons Off Season. Is it any wonder I love book blogs?

What’s on your to do list today?

Ingrid:  Finishing up my next edition of News for Your and Your Pet, finishing an article for Weekend Pets, and writing a book review for NOVADog Magazine.

I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in December via a virtual book tour.  Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?

Ingrid:  I think online marketing is the way to go for authors today – between blogs, social media and other online methods, the sky’s the limit!  I think virtual book tours are a fun and effective way to reach a large number of readers.

Thank you for this interview, Ingrid. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

Ingrid:  Thank you!

Follow the rest of the tour:

Monday, Dec. 7
Read her holiday story, “Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree – Memories of Holiday Past at As the Pages Turn
Book Reviewed at The Life of an Inanimate Flying Object

Tuesday, Dec. 8
Guest blogging at The Book Faery Reviews
Book reviewed at I’m Booking It

Wednesday, Dec. 9
Interviewed and book giveaway at Bookin’ with Bingo

Thursday, Dec. 10
Book reviewed and book giveaway at Bookin’ with Bingo

Friday, Dec. 11
Guest blogging at Cafe of Dreams
Book reviewed at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews

Monday, Dec. 14
Book reviewed at Pump Up Your Book!
Book reviewed and interviewed at My Book Views

Tuesday, Dec. 15
Interviewed at Beyond the Books

Wednesday, Dec. 16
Book reviewed at Reading at the Beach

**This book is part of a Pump Up Your Book tour. Thank you to Dorothy for providing my review copy!**

~Haleyknitz