Background Story & Research
The Pepper Masalah series was inspired by some of my previous cats. Q was a very intelligent tuxedo cat and he could collect things like hairpins, bread ties and paper clips. He put them in his food bowl. He could also open certain doors. He would look at me as if he were telling me something interesting.
Harry was a a huge black farm cat with green eyes and a beautiful disposition. He was very easy going and loving. He was too big for my lap but spread out over the couch with his head in my lap. However, after a freak storm one night he disappeared and so far hasn't returned. I read many stories about lost cats returning. One cat was returned after 16 years. He had run out of the house as a kitten but was microchipped and finally a vet found the chip.
I put posters around for Harry to no avail. I still have hope.
Pepper Masalah knew he was a prince. His purr was like a comforting generator. I'd wake up with him purring on my pillow. Purring is a beautiful and peaceful way to wake.
He also loved carpets and slept on one I'd bought in Pakistan, by the fire in the winter and under the fan in the summer. It wasn't long before I put cat and carpet together. I had written a historical fantasy set in Mughal India in 1661 and had done a lot of research on flying carpets.
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Then I wrote the first story: Pepper Masalah and the Flying carpet. A story about a cat and a carpet which I longed to do since I was six years old.
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Create
What do you think it would be like flying on a carpet? Where would you go? What could happen? Who could go with
you? Write or draw.