On Orange Cats
I’m blogging every day in the run-up to the US publication day of Daughter of Genoa. Today: on Tiberio the cat and his real-life inspiration.
This is Rosa.
She looks very thoughtful, but she’s actually watching Jurassic Park.
People often ask me if I write my books all by myself, or whether I use any tools. What they mean (and sometimes they do ask this directly) is whether I use generative AI. The answer to that is a resounding no: I do not and will not use generative AI to research, plan, write or edit my novels at any stage. Apart from the very many ethical issues, and its dangerous tendency to hallucinate, I really enjoy the entire writing process, even when it’s hard. I never want to outsource any part of it.
I do have an in-house assistant, though, and that’s Rosa. She’s extremely helpful. Her grey tabby sister Frida is equally loved and lovable, and she carries out other important household duties. But it’s Rosa who likes to be really up-close and personal with the creative process. Her duties include:
Enforcing regular breaks by lying on me or my keyboard
Participating in important online meetings
Staying close while I write distressing scenes
Staying close in general
Purring loudly to lower blood pressure and block out distractions
Given Rosa’s involvement, it’s not really surprising that a friendly orange cat turned up in my very first draft of Daughter of Genoa. Tiberio isn’t exactly like Rosa – as a former feral, she’s much less trusting of strangers than he is. But I like to think of him as Rosa’s fictional great-great-great-whatever-ancestor.
Tiberio at the Tipografia Guichard
“After a few moments, the door softly opened and shut, and Tiberio jumped up on the bed with an inquiring chirp. I opened my arms, and he curled against me, starting up a deep rumbling purr that blotted out all else and lulled me into sleep. My last conscious thought was that signora Pittaluga would never exploit me again.”
When my editor at HarperCollins sent through the copyedited manuscript of Daughter of Genoa, I was amused to see that Tiberio had his own entry in the list of characters. But it makes sense, because he plays an important role in the story. As the household cat at the Tipografia Guichard, a Waldensian-run print shop that’s a secret forgery hub for the DELASEM rescue network, he provides emotional support – and the occasional bit of comic relief – in a tense and frequently claustrophobic situation.
Tiberio’s unconditional affection is a source of comfort to my heroine, Anna, as she settles into her new, hidden life in the spare bedroom of the flat upstairs and gradually learns to trust her protectors, Silvia and Bernardo. And his easy, self-assured presence can defuse a stressful moment, or soothe a crisis of fear.
In a way, Tiberio performs the same role for Anna that Fulvio, the chatty old stranger who frequents the benches of Piazza Corvetto, performs for the sick and isolated Father Vittorio. He’s a safe, undemanding friend, and he gives much more than he takes.
Rosa’s sister Frida is also very cuddly
Of course, not everyone is a fan of cats. But if you are, then I hope you enjoyed meeting Rosa and Frida – and I very much hope you like Tiberio, too.
Daughter of Genoa is out in the US on December 9, 2025, complete with orange cat.