And we’re on it with our own quirky recommendations!
UPDATE: Shepherd changed its name to Book DNA as of May 2026! Same site, same amazing book recs!
(links updated throughout the story)
Marcy is pouting.
Cynthia: What’s up buttercup?
Marcy: Don’t try to butter me up. I’m mad.
Cynthia: You’ve been mad for the entire 19 1/2 years of your existence. What happened now?
Marcy: Your funny witty audacious book recs for Shepherd.com is published and nowhere … NOWHERE do you mention me.
Cynthia: Aww … Marcy … I can’t let on that a cat wrote our book. People will think I’m insane.
Marcy glares pointedly at Cynthia.
Cynthia: So … uh … how does it look?
Marcy (disgusted): Great.
penelope kitten (squeaking): mmmm shepherd. i luv a good meaty pie.
Cynthia: Oh no, Penelope, Shepherd isn’t a meat pie, it’s a really cool website to help book worms find books they’ll love.
penelope kitten: worms are good too.
Cynthia: Exactly! Shepherd’s recs are modeled after bookseller recommendations. Kind of like when you go into a bookstore and see an endcap full of books with enthusiastic suggestions from the shop’s staff. It’s like an online version of getting recommendations from your trusted booksellers, friends, and other ardent readers and authors.
Cynthia: For example, I wrote five book recommendations based off the theme “the best books of audacious advice and inspiring inappropriate lives”. It’s all in the same vein as our “Dear Marcy … Ask Her Anything And Hope She Doesn’t Answer!” advice book.
Marcy: Ahem. MY recommendations.
Cynthia: Each recommendation list is based off a mood or theme. It’s personal, it’s specific, it’s ingenious! It’s way better than trying to find books on the emotionless ad driven big book websites. Shepherd’s community of authors and readers is magical and inspiring.
Plus, it’s so good for picking out books for your holiday gifts!
I am so excited to be part of Shepherd!
Check it out HERE.
Later that evening Cynthia finds her bookshelves toppled over and Penelope tearing out pages of each book.
Cynthia: Acckkkkkk! Oh my gato, what are you doooinggggg?!
penelope kitten: it’s ok. just looking for worms. thought i’d make a fresh salad or warm worm casserole for dinner.
=^..^=
Our Books!
How does our anxious but amiable black kitten with a squeaky voice and a pudgy primordial pouch get through life?
Why … with a mix of pluckiness, persistence, pragmatism, and pizazz.
Join the adventures of Penelope Kitten, a Wiffle ball loving apartment cat as she navigates a world of crafty crows, killer coyotes, and vicious vacuums.
Whether she’s on her CB radio, or donning her superhero cape, or campaigning to be VP of the USA, Penelope Kitten is out to save the world (or maybe take it over).
One squeak at a time.
♥
“Dear Marcy … Ask Her Anything And Hope She Doesn’t Answer!”
Because we all need telling off advice from an opinionated cat.
Always humorous.
Sometimes malevolent
♠
4 Comments
Wow! I didn’t know this website existed. Loved it. Thanks, Cynthia. Your reviews made me grab my library card and start ordering.
Of course, I’ve already read Dear Marcy which is no doubt the best of the bunch but I can’t wait to dig into the rest!
Let us know what you think!
xo,
Cynthia
Will check it out! Happy to see Penelope & Marcye get some recognition:)
Yay and thank mew!!!
You should definitely do this for your books!!
xo,
Cynthia