Jill de Vos has always been a wordsmith and writer. After many years as editor of numerous community and interest group newsletters and founding editor of Glenlyon and District News, a stint as a journalist at The Highland Times in regional Victoria, a horsewoman, a farmer and a B and B host, she decided it was time for a change. She uprooted her and her partner's life, abandoned her son and daughter and granddaughters and bought a catamaran in France and sailed to Turkey, as you do when you turn 60.During the Covid 2019 lockdown in Spain, feeling rather bereft without any animals, she bought a Bengal cat after reading that the breed loves water.And so began the idea of Deva the Bengal Boat Cat. Four years later Deva has come to life in the pages of this book, the four granddaughters have been excellent sounding boards and have been consulted frequently and she has been forgiven for taking a leave of absence.Mel Corrigan is a Melbourne based illustrator with an architect-trained eye for detail.She finds inspiration in the little things: the everyday joys and interactions that colour our days. Deva the Bengal Boat Cat' is Mel's debut picture book, and her 'Sweet Summer Days artwork has recently been selected to be published in Our Australian Heart' anthology picture book.ISBI