Kitsune Kisses by Patricia Kiyono

          Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature Kitsune Kisses, a trilogy of short stories based on Japanese folklore. Written by Patricia Kiyono for Dingbat Publishing.

We’ll begin with Kita Imai who goes by the nickname of Kitty.

Welcome to our blog, Kitty. We’re so pleased to have you with us. Let’s start with where you are from. I’m originally from the northern part of Japan. My daughter Kimi and I were part of a pack of foxes who were captured by hunters. My husband died trying to protect us, and we were brought to America where we were kept in a poorly run zoo.

Tell us a bit about Kitsune Kisses. The book is a collection of three stories based on Japanese folk lore. My story, “Protecting the Pack” is about how Bill Waterson, a wildlife photographer, met me when I was in human woman form, then learned to deal with me being a shape-shifting fox.

        “Tanuki Trouble” features a raccoon-like creature called a tanuki who spends most of his days as a teenage boy, and uses his shape-shifting ability to assist his friend Marty on a road trip.

        “Tea Time” features a tea set that can move about and talk, a phenomenon called tsukumogami, and they use their powers to help a young couple realize that they’re meant for each other.

What did you think the first time you saw Bill? I was annoyed. He’d been hired to photograph all the animals in the sanctuary for a promotional brochure. Since most of the animals are here because of abuse from humans, I hated the thought of bringing him around them with all his equipment.

                   What was your second thought?  I thought about how blue his eyes were—and how sensitive he was to the animals’ needs.

Was it love at first sight? I was definitely attracted, but falling in love was the last thing on my mind. He was just another visitor to the animal sanctuary that I had to deal with.

What do you like most about Bill? I liked that he respected the animals and listened to what I told him. When he wanted to photograph the baby foxes, I told him he’d better wait until they were old enough to come out of the den, and instead of arguing with me, he agreed to photograph some other animals.

How would you describe him? He’s strong and capable, but gentle. His eyes are the color of the Sea of Japan.

How would Bill describe you? I’m sure he’d say I’m different. He knows I communicate with the animals, and he’s not sure how I do that.

What made you choose to become an animal caretaker for a career? After my daughter and I were captured and mistreated in that awful zoo, we were saved by a kind woman who brought us to the sanctuary. Then when I learned how to shift into a woman, I knew I could protect Kimi and the others by becoming an animal caretaker.

What is your biggest fear? Seeing those I love being hurt by someone more powerful.

How do you relax? I love to watch my new grandchildren play.

Who is your favorite fictional character?  When I was a young kit in Japan, I enjoyed hearing stories about other kitsune, especially those with nine tails. The more tails a kitsune has, the wiser she is.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? The woman who rescued us from the zoo was so encouraging. She told me that if I put my mind to it, I could do anything.

Chatting with a shape-shifting fox has been a new and different experience. Thank you, Kitty for sharing your thoughts with us. Now we’d like to speak with your creator, Patricia Kiyono.

What movies or books have had an impact on you as a writer? I started writing romances because I read many books by Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods, and Robyn Carr. I love to read series in which each book is about a different member of a family or group.

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? When I was young, my aunts would send us books of Japanese children’s stories. I was especially drawn to the folk tales, which were full of magical creatures. Later on, I was fortunate enough to visit my Japanese relatives and learn more about their customs. The books introduced me to unique stories, and my visit instilled in me a sense of tradition and integrity that I hope is reflected in my characters.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? Dingbat Publishing is owned and operated by Gunnar Gray, who was a fellow author at Clean Reads. When Clean Reads closed their doors, I wrote for Eskape Publishing, while Gunnar began her own company. Later, when Eskape closed up shop in 2019, I discovered several fellow authors were happily writing for Dingbat, and I was fortunate to be accepted into the stable of authors there.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile?  I’ve been on a cozy mystery kick for a few years now. I’ve read through most of the Miss Fortune series by Jana DeLeon, but I have four left to go. I’m also working my way through the Miss Underhay series by Helena Dixon, who was also a fellow author at Clean Reads.

Last, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I’m working on a historical novella set in the 1880s in southwest Michigan. It’ll be part of an anthology to be published by one of my local writing groups, and it’s scheduled to be released in mid-April of this year.

A bit more about Protecting the Pack: Kitsune is the Japanese word for fox. Legend has it that certain magical foxes are able to transform into other living beings, especially human women. As the fox ages, it grows extra tails, up to nine. Extra tails are regarded as a sign of increased wisdom and power.

Kitty is a kitsune who's just gotten her second tail. In her human form by day, she's a caretaker at a wildlife sanctuary, returning to her daughter and the other animals at night as a red fox. She doesn’t expect to fall in love until she meets Bill, a photographer with sea-blue eyes that remind her of the island nation she left behind.

An Excerpt:
Stepping outside, she checked all around to make sure no one had followed or could see her. She unlocked the gate to the fox enclosure and stepped inside. Then she re-locked the gate and positioned herself under the low hanging branches of an oak tree. She pulled a white gem from her pocket and held it above her head. The gem held her soul and her powers. She closed her eyes and let the change take her over. Her clothing faded away, replaced by reddish fur. Her ears moved to the top of her head, and her nose and mouth lengthened. She dropped down on all fours, the gem landing on the top of the two tails that had grown behind her. 

        She raced to that special spot in the thickest part of the woods, to the burrow where Kimi lay nursing her kits.

        The new mother glanced up and gave her a welcoming nod. “All done working for the day, Mother?”

        “Yes, at last,” Kitty replied. “I thought it would never end.”

 

Patricia, many thanks for spending time with us and offering a look into bits of Japanese folklore.

Where can visitors to our blog reach you?

Readers can find me at my website and on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.

Kitsune Kisses is available for purchase on Amazon.