Below are some of the many letters and emails I've received from readers of Cleo, if you loved reading Cleo tell the world about it and post your review on Amazon, I love to read these readers comments.

Click here to go to the Amazon page.

Hello, my name is Nuno, im 14 years old, and im reading you book "Cleo", and i love the story! I live on Portugal and i like so much to talk with you at live, i think you a awesome women! Keep strongh!

Kissies from,
DarkCatPT

Talk with you soon!

Dear Helen

My name is Susana and i'm from Portugal.

I am send you this email to tell you my girlfriend gave me a great gift: your book Cleo!

Well i am reading the book and i am really lovin' it.

I have 4 cats and they are a little bit like cleo :)
Warmest Regards
Susana J. Santos

OMg!

I am 11 years old and i have read Cleo and it is just so.... Awsome it's the best book ever!

It's so sad but funny and touching and when Cleo got put down i cried!

You have inspired me to write books and i think it worked because in my school I won the Write-A-Book-Competition!

I am going to the award ceromony on 9th June which is also my mum's b-day!

I loved your book so much!
My new dream is to meet you and cry on your shoulder and talk about Cleo and just....I loved your Book.

Cleo is by far the best book i ever read!

P.S i thought your book was so good i persuaded my friends to buy it which cost them a lot but they wished they'd bought tissues aswell!!!

Hello, sorry for my English i'm French, it's so bad and i can't say what i want ^^

I just bought your book, and it's a great book ! I hope you will find a great success in France

Somebody told me the cat take care of their "master", they share their troubles and heal and that right.

Dive into the glance of a cat and you will forget your problem one moment.
Dear Helen,

As a owner(or the slave !)of a black cat (found kitten in a ditch one year ago) I had to read your book! I loved it but what a pity the French cover doesn't show a black cat.I guess the editor didn't want to "frighten" French readers who think black cats are evil ! How stupid (tell them on my behalf !)in 2010 !

Have a nice day

A French reader

Today i have finished your book. Tears was rolling down on my face.I love your real story.I live alone with 3 cats ,that i love.
Thank you for your book .
Carlos, Portugal

Sorry for the email, this is the first time I have gone out of my way to email an author, but after finishing your book 'Cleo' today, I don't know how I could not. In all honesty it was one of the best books I have read in awhile, I was so engrossed in it at school today I burst into tears at the end in front of everyone :P. I had a cat like that, his name was Steve (after Steve Urwin ha), he passed away when he was 18 last year, and it sounds like he dominated (is that the right word?) the household like your Cleo. Your story has inspired me even more to do vet nursing next year.

I really don't know why I am writing this, but all I can say is thank you for such a great novel, even though you probably have had so many people say that haha.
Good luck with your future endeavours :]

Kayla.

Dear Helen.
I had two MandBurms owners on the same day share with me your book Cleo - so I had to read it. I laughed, I cried and nodded my head with your cat personality descriptions.

We breed Mandalay's (Ebony Burmese) and all our litters are named after books - hence I hop you & your girls do not mind that you all & Cleo have now have a litter of kittens named after you all.

Thank you for sharing your story & I hope your book continues to keep selling!

Love
Leanne Morris
MandaBurms Cattery
http://mandaburms.blogspot.com/

Dearest Helen,
In the middle of May this year I passed Wellington's airport after a short stay at the South Island while visiting my daughter (from Sweden) who is married in New Zealand and lives in Hamilton since five years.
My eyes fell upon your book in the bookstore while waiting for my flight. I do not read books in English very often but was convinced glancing through your book that it was something I just had to read. I have read it slowly and pondered each chapter and have been deeply touched. Thanks for sharing your sorrows as well as your joys in the book.
I wish it could be read by more people in my country. It´s a shame it isn´t not yet translated into Swedish!
Thank you once again for a lovely book with an outstanding authencity.

With all respect
Monica Ängeby

Dear Helen,

I'm 21 years old, and I live in New Zealand. I live with my parents, and younger brother who has mild autism. We have a "menagerie" as people put it when they visit our house. 3 dogs, 2 cats, a rabbit & a ferret. Most of them being rescued animals as I worked at the SPCA for five years (having only left in the past few months.) I also foster animals in my home, and then take them back to the SPCA/or sanctuary wherever I was fostering them from, for rehoming.
Your book moved me like I never expected it to. A few people from the SPCA went to see you at the Dowse I think?? I only have a vague memory, I had no idea what your book was about at that stage. I just wanted to say that your book is wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your life with everyone. And sharing your Cleo, because Cleo was one very special cat.

Chrissy.

Dear Helen
We're just writing to let you know how much we enjoyed your book Cleo. She was certainly an amazing little cat who brought so much love and wisdom to you and your family. Thank you for sharing your story.

Kind regards
Brian & Lorraine Lister,

Hi
i am Zoe and i am twelve
you are an extreamly lucky person to have learnt
so much from Cleo. I love her just from reading
your touching book. I feel like i know her. I am an animal lover and i never thought i would love cats but here i am practically smothering my two little babies in kisses and hugs. I love all animals now. Your book is my fav book and it goes deep down in my heart. I guess i loved all animals but my dad never liked animals so i had to convince my whole family to get a kitten.
It was black like Cleo.His name was Mojo. This is why i am so close you your book. He was my fist pet. He had the same personality as Cleo. The weird thing was he would be so interested in baths he would get too close and fall in. We would dry him and then the same thing would happen again and again and again. He died about 3 years ago. He lived for only one and a half years. But he did what he needed to do. He was sleek and beautiful. He brought my family into understanding animals and teaching us to love them. I know it wasn't as big as Cleo's job but it did the whole family good. Since then i have had about 6 cats, four of them in an island in Greece. I cried when Cleo got put down in the book. I hate it when animals get hurt yet it happens every second.
I had a kitten (black and white) named Cleo. She was meant to be a present for my friend. Her mum said it was fine. Then we learnt they had 3 rottweilers (don't know how to spell it) and 5 bull dogs. We decided to take her back. We then gave her to mums friend who fell in love with her the first time she saw her.
My two cats now are named Rosie and Toby. They are black and white as well. They are turning two soon.
This might sound weird but when i have gone through hard times (not as hard as yours) he has given me advice while i am sleeping. The advice always works even if i don't think i should do it. But i think that cats are smarter than humans in many ways. We should be given advice from them but unfortunately we can't speak cat language. But is till understand my cats. It is live there is a thread joining us and that thread will never break. It is the same with Mojo.
I love Cleo and i feel like i have known her my whole life. I am crying now because the image of her just popped up. Happy tears. Love tears.
In my life so far about 3 loved ones have gone and more will come.
I relate to your book. It makes me feel like me. The real me. The girl who just went to high school and loves animals so much she would die if she wasn't able to touch her pets for more than a week.
My cat Toby he seems to be telling me to go with life. Let it be what it needs to be. Rosie she tells me to be happy i need to have fun. I agree with both of them. As for Mojo he tells me to be me. That is the most important message anyone has told me.
We sometimes have conversation that last for hours. Me telling him what has been happening (he already seems to know) and he tells me wise sayings and important messages. Sometimes i feel i am the luckiest person alive to have someone so close to me that can talk to me any time i like.
Cleo and i have had one small chat. But she seems to distant.
I have been waiting for someone to talk to and be honest with.

Can we talk to each other often. I would really love and appreciate it.
Say hi to Rob, Chantelle, Katharine, Philip and Lydia for me.
I need someone to share my thoughts with and i know you are the one.
Please.
Thank you for your patience
Zoe

Dear Helen,

I just finished reading your book Cleo over the weekend. It touched me deeply and I recognised many moments. My son died in 1998 in California. He got killed by a falling Redwood tree in Big Sur, in the middle of the night, without a breath of wind. I felt you wrote the book about me, the reactions from friends and families and support from unexpected places. The stages through grieving and healing. And the sky and the grass ARE more brightly coloured!! I have found a new life and happiness in New Zealand and have lived here now for 8 years and love it. We have a beautiful little cat, Charlotte. We call her Queen Charlotte.

Thank you for writing this book!! I enjoyed it. Experiences in life, how awful they might seem at the time, they make you the person you are. I am 45 and am happy with who I am!!

Cheers,
Jackie Verheijde

Hi Helen
I have just finished reading Cleo & it will forever be in my memory.
I am definitely not a cat lover. In fact I hate them with a passion & I know that will never change but your wonderful story certainly hit a feeling inside me & I cried & cried as a week after your beautiful Sam was taken I delivered a beautiful son Tamati 28/1/1983 in Palmerston North New Zealand & I only have 1 child but should anything happen to him I couldnt imagine my grief.
Grief takes such a long time to heal although we never forget our loved ones the pain I know is immense as my wonderful brother Derek took his own life at 38 11 years ago & it took me many years to somewhat feel whole again
However thank you so much for such a beautiful story

Arohanui

Helen

Bonsoir,
Dès que j'ai vu votre livre j'ai eu envie de l'acheter. Au fil des pages, je réalise à quel point votre livre est touchant et merveilleux. Après un drame aussi touchant, tout n'est que amour, Rob et son ami, Genny, Lydia, Philip ... j'aime votre façon d'être maman et une maîtresse pour votre petite Cléo. L'amour que vous avez donné vousa été rendu par vos prôches.

Je souhaiterais lire un autre de vos livre mais sont-ils écrits en français ?
Toutes mes félicitations pour ce livre et merci pour le plaisir qu'il m'a procuré.
Pascale

Hi Helen,
I'm from Johannesburg, South Africa and finished reading "Cleo" a few months ago. It is officially my favourite book! As a full-time cat person, I fell in love with Cleo and her place in your family straight away, and laughed and cried all through the book. I'd just like to say thank you for sharing this story in such a beautiful way. I recommend it to everyone I meet!

Kind regards,
Penny
Every life should have nine cats!

Hi there,
I hope you don't mind me writing, I haven't done this before. I have just finished reading your book Cleo and felt I had to contact you to tell you how much I enjoyed it.

My daughter bought me the book for Mothers day as we have 5 cats and 1 is called Cleo. I must say on receiving it, I thought it wasn't my kind of book, as i normally read thrillers, but as my daughter bought it, i thought i would.

I must say its one of the best books i've read. I didn't realise until i finished that it was a true story and I'm not ashamed to admit that I was sobbing when Cleo had to be put down. It was beautifully written and I finished
it feeling like I actually knew her.

Your story is inspirational, you have been so brave over the years through your tragedies and your family sounds wonderful.

Again, I hope you don't mind me contacting you.

Kind Regards

Mandy Smith

Dear Helen, I got your lovely book: Cleo from the Your Cat Magazine. It is absolutely lovely. How I enjoyed reading it.

You are a great writer and I thouroughly enjoyed the book. So sorry I have finished it, but I will read it again very soon. Of course Cleo stole my heart. How wonderful that she could stay so long at your site. I am glad. She was and is an angel without wings. Yes is, because she is still with you just like Sam is. I feel my parents so often around me and my dear boy chummeke, my Britisch shorhair who died much too young at 7 years old. Has visited me three times already. A wonderful experience. No, it was no dream. it was real. I stil feel him now if I think about that time.

I am a writer myself and had my book Purring Angels translated in the English language. On my site www.rietkat.be you can read about the book. We live in Belgium, near Antwerp in a small village. We are Donsje, Mickje, Catje, Daimke Tommeke, my kitties and Femke my dog. it's a lovely place and we walk between the cows and sheep. I love it here. so quiet.

Thanks again dear Helen for all the hours pleasure you gave me by writing Cleo's story. I am sure you have helped many people and cats by writing it. Cats too because people understand their cats better and will apreciate them more. Just the raison why I wrote my cat books.
Prr many purring greetings from Marg femke and cats

Helen, having met you at your book launch of your first book in Timaru, been to your show here (all because I had withdrawal syptoms from losing the column in The Timaru Herald), I would like you to know that I have just completed my first week of radiation in Christchurch after a diagnosis of Lymphoma recently - and who/what did I take with me? Cleo, of course! What a comfort that was. Thank you for sharing your life with so many others. Hope you are keeping well.

Kind regards, Judith Fernie.

Hi Helen,

I have just finished reading 'CLEO'. Your story touched me. You and your family are such strong people. It really struck a chord when I read the part when Rob said that "Some families sail through years with nothing touching them. They have no tragedies." Your book has made me realize the little things aren't that important material things are replaceable, but things that are so precious they have no price tag are not. Your Sam, your Cleo, and your whole family, you write about them with such heart and beauty (of course, they are all in there and will never leave)

Thank you for sharing your story, I wish you and your family nothing but happiness and love

Warmest Regards
Danielle Sirianni

Dear Helen,
I am currently reading your book, "Cleo" and enjoying it very much. One of my closest friends lost both her children, aged 7 and 4, in 1990 so it is bringing back a few memories, but most of all I love Cleo.
I just logged onto your website looking for photos of Cleo and notice you are holding a lovely natural mink Tonkinese in your header photo? Do you have a Tonkinese now or was this photo just for PR? If you have a Tonk I have no doubt he is providing you with lots of material for a future besteller.
Cheers
Dorothy

Dear Helen
I've always enjoyed your writing and as an ex-pat Kiwi who arrived in Melbourne on December 15th 1998, your NEXT magazine columns about life in Australia really helped me to settle in Australia. My sister would send the mags over from Auckland.

I used to laugh and laugh at your newspaper columns - especially the one about the fejoas -and reading anything you wrote was like coming back to see an old friend.

You touched me with your article about Mothers, when your own Mum died. You've touched me so many many times.

Now I have just read "Cleo" after so many friends recommended it. What an amazing book. You had me in tears so often. You had me laughing too. And you had me holding our two cats close.

My father was a journalist and he always said you wrote so very well. His name was Robert Gilmore.

Thank you so very much for this wonderful book.
Anna-Christina Lees

Good evening Helen .... but it could be good morning for you ( I wonder where you are in the world ? )

I don't usually write as feedback from magazines ... but, made this exception .... I have read your articles in the Next magazine for some time now and have thoroughly enjoyed your sense of humour and how you could make something so ' everyday ' seem so special ( and of course many an everyday moment is special if we stop long enough to appreciate it ).

I am pleased for you that you have had sooooooooooo much success with your latest book BUT will miss you from the pages of Next.

We recently took our bus to tiki tour Taranaki and visited some wonderful sites.... I recall you cherish this place of your beginnings.

Have a great evening / day
Regards and best wishes
Loraine

Dear Helen
I just read your book Cleo last weekend. I went to the bookshop with an entirely different book and author in mind (no offence intended!) but then I saw the cover of your book and knew instantly I had to have it! I had a cat Cleo and she got me through some tough times.

Your book has touched me in a way few books have. I wanted to read it, devour it, in one go, but made myself take a couple of days to read and enjoy it. I cried til I sobbed, laughed, read in awe your ability to get through the loss of Sam so young, a divorce, a new marriage and children. Our family had a lab from the time I was 5 years old til 18 years later, when, like your mum, we had to make the awful decision to put her down and Rata sounded just like her.

I cried again when I visited your website and put faces to the names I have grown to know and admire and even miss - even though I have never meet any of you!

Thank you for sharing your story. Your book will be lent to many and be forever in my collection to be read time and time again...... I just need to stock up on the tissues.
Regards
Carrie Roach

Dear Helen
We're just writing to let you know how much we enjoyed your book Cleo. She was certainly an amazing little cat who brought so much love and wisdom to you and your family. Thank you for sharing your story.

Kind regards
Brian & Lorraine Lister,

Hello Helen, a heartfelt thank you for Cleo from a reader in Tasmania - a friend passed it on to me to read last week. I have been through a wretched bout of gastric flu and and am pretty knackered so it couldn't have been better timing. Perfect to curl up with (not to mention some useful tears). I look at my bossy black cat, Lily, with new eyes at present. This, of course, may only last until she bites me when I attempt to move her from my lap next time! She was an abandoned baby and has psychic scars I'm sure. Thank you so much for your writing and sharing the death of your son, Sam, and the subsequent unfolding of your life.
Margaret

Dear Helen,
I have have just finished reading your book. As I type the tears are streaming down my face! I found your story extremely sad but positively uplifting at the same time.

I hope Cleo and Sam and your mum are now together somewhere looking after each other.

I can only imagine the loss you felt when you lost Sam and the devastation it caused your family. Even now I bet there is not a day that goes by that you don't think of him in some way or another and have that horrible sadness deep down inside.

I too have a black cat who is now 13.5 years old, his name is Chime. He is so special to me words just can't describe it. He has been with me through thick and thin. I am now 40 years old and his birthdate is 23.12.96 and mine is 23.12.69

He has been there for me in my darkest of days. I got him in 1996 just after my son's father left us. (I had always been a dog person too, but due to work comittments and being on my own a dog would have been too much of a tie at that time) My son was only 5 at the time and he brought great comfort to us both. Then in 1999 my brother died suddenly in a horrific car accident and yet again Chime was there again to snuggle into and dissolve my tears. It was an awful time, my brother was only 34 and it broke my mum's heart. Who at the time was terminally ill with a disease she had got from the parrots that she had brought back from Australia when we lived there.

After my brother died my Mum's health declined at a terrible rate. The day he died something in my Mum just gave up. My father also left my Mum the year previous to go and live in America with some woman which also added much heartbreak. After that I disowned him. My Mum died in 2007 after suffering many years of terrible health she was only two weeks into her 63rd birthday and 4 stone in weight. I used to go over everyday to look after her and she used to tell me how much she wanted to die and how she could not stand not being able to breath and the fear of it all. I used to come home at night and bury my head into Chime's soft fur and cry my eyes out until they were red raw, only for it to start all over the next day. I miss my Mum so much and my brother and the grief overwhelms me on a daily basis.

I have brought my son up on my own since he was 5 and he is now 19 and is just about to finish his first year at University he is studying veterinary medicine which is a 5 year degree. He is moving into a flat in July with 4 of his uni friends and I will be lost without him but I am sure Chime will get me through it. I dread the day Chime goes as I have three other cats and a dog but the connection I have with Chime is hard to explain, he is like a person not a cat almost a soulmate.

I hope you are all well and wishing lots of good health, luck and happiness to Rob.
Best wishes
Kirsty

Hello Helen
I've just finished reading Cleo, wow; what a journey you have been on.
Thank you for sharing Cleo & your family with us, I laughed, I cried & I remembered.
King Regards
Kathy Hume

.All these years, after having left Australia, originally with my cats still happily ensconced in our family home with my mum - my mum died 2 days before I was to return from England for a few weeks to take care of her. But I cry because of my cats. Ninah, also known as Mr Min, I had to rehome quickly, I had 2 days left before flying back to my husband and my new life in England.

I spoke to our vet, but they suggested we put him to sleep as the trauma of having lost his family and now ostensibly his home would be too much for such a nervous cat. I made the appointment for a vet to come and do so at home, but at the last hour I rang and said no. I spoke to another vet practice and the receptionist put me in touch with a lady who rehomes cats. She could not take him, and Moushka (a feral who took to home life with us with such affection). I had took them to a cattery to stay the night, as I was flying first thing in the morning.

I remember my hurried good byes and did not look back. I know why now, but I am racked with guilt. How do you explain what is happening and why? Where have I been and now why was I going again?

My friends came and collected them for me and took them to the nice lady who found a home for lovely Mr Min, (Moushka stayed with her as he developed cancer not too long after). Since then my computer died and my e-mail contacts lost and so had my hopes to see Mr Min. Although last conversation 10 years ago, she had found him a lovely home and they called him Tiger.

I don't cry about my mum, I cry about Mr Min, it's been a decade and I am still ruined with guilt and love for him and knowing I could have done more.

But having read your book I just finished today, I had not given enough thought to not just what he thought, but also how he felt. Our life together was a decade ago - but still i am in floods of tears as I write this because I don't know what else to do for him but cry.

Hekena

(formerly of Melbourne Australia - now of Glossop, England0

Hi my name is Niki Albury and I just read your book Cleo, I can relate to what you have been thru so much, I have a black cat Oscar who is my bed buddy and 3am purr in the ear kinda guy, we have our 10kilo cat Roc who is the most gorgeous tabby ever and has even cat haters warming up to him quickly. I am also a solo mum now as my ex husband of 15yrs cheated a few mths after the sudden death of our son forcing me from our brand new home where he still resides with his new fling and even put her son into my Maxx's room extrememly painful things and I sadly have joined the club that no parent ever wants to join, the child loss club......My heart and soul baby, my 3rd child who bought pure joy and happiness in my life passed suddenly at 4.5mths July 12th 2008, my heart is so shattered without him and not a day has gone by that tears dont come for wanting, loving, needing and missing my lil man........I feel overwhelmed by life but I fight daily to survive Maxx's death to raise my other children aged 12 and 4 and of course our beloved cats, rabbit that actually growls and our beloved 16yr old dog Taylor whose now deaf as a post, arthitic but still cunning as a fox with loads of personality and oh so naughty but ever so endearing.......I know its been many years since your precious Sam left so suddenly and Cleo now too and I wonder does it ever get bearable to live with so much pain in your heart.......I feel like I have no hope, joy or future personally to come into my life to , who wants to take on a animal run home with a moody but sensitive grieving teenager boy and a head strong fiesty beautiful ballerina highlander dancing gymnastic pre-schooler... wonderful high spirited but full on children with a woman whose heart is so broken but will fight daily to survive such a loss for her other children, I know for a fact if I didn't have Joel and Cate than I would no longer be here but I owe them a childhood they deserve since they have endured more in their short lives than most children, I guess your son Rob can validate from a siblings point of view.

Just wanted to say your book Cleo was wonderful and thank you for sharing such painful and personal details of your life.
Niki

Hey there

I just finished your book Cleo. I love that you captured your story so sentimentally but not in a blatant, cheap, tear-jerking way. I enjoyed your descriptions so much, and I don't miss her (as you often do a great character in a book) as your treatment of her death in the book makes me feel like she is still here.

My brother died when I was 16 and he was 15 (15 years ago), and I often reach for books about death when looking for something to read on a plane. Perhaps it is just a way to see how others coped in a similar situation, and to try to understand a little bit how my parents have survived. I'm glad I kept coming back to yours and brought it.

I wanted to write because we have a cat (my partners 16 year old childhood cat) that we have been looking after for about 2 years now as his parents moved. I thought it was just a funny coincidence that her name is Lydia (such a strange name for a cat)! She is such a funny cat that people love to hate as she is old and cranky, but we really would miss her if she wasn't here and a lot of things in your book reminded me of what it is like to have a cat.

Thanks for the great read. :)
Hayley

Hi Helen
I have just finished reading your book 'Cleo'. I thought it was such an amazing story. It made me laugh & it made me cry but everything you said about how animals can have an impact on our lives to the point it can be life changing is soo very true, & hopefully other people may come to realise this after reading your book. I myself am an animal person. I love all animals & have 5 cats of my own. This is mainly due to where we live out by the east coast in the country. People seem to think that our area is a dumping ground for kittens. Over the past 2 years I have saved & rehomed 7 kittens, so 2 of those kittens made themselves apart of our lives, & that made 5. lol! Plus having 2 dogs it's a real animal house. Now my amazing story pertains to one of these dumped kittens. I started reading your book about a week ago. About half way through we found a dumped kitten on the farm. The poor wee thing was very scrawny & covered in ringworm but sooo friendly. So I bought him home, fed him, gave him an iodine bath & worming & settled him into our family. Our other cats are soo used to kittens just showing up now they don't seem to care about the tiny invader. Well it wasn't until my husband one evening picked up your book & was scanning the cover when he pointed out to me that the kitten on the front cover of your book was just like Simon - the new stray kitten. I understand that the picture on the book won't be Cleo, but I just thought it was such an amazing coincedence that while I was reading your book about Cleo that a wee black kitten should just turn up on our doorstep. He has been sitting here the whole time I have been typing this swipeing at the keyboard trying to put his 2 cents worth in. It just makes me sad that people can just dumped such a wee darling. Next step will be to find him a new home. So I hope my story hasn't bored you, but I thought it was such an amazing coincedence I just had to let you know.

Regards
Melinda Fear & Simon

Dear Helen

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed reading Cleo. My friend was visiting me two weeks ago and gave it to me as a present. The same weekend my friend was visiting my beautiful tabby cat, Lily was run over and killed. She was only eight years old so didn't manage to reach the ripe old age that Cleo did, nevertheless in the eight years she was with me she brought me much happiness. Last weekend I sat down and wrote all about Lily's life with me and I have attached her story in case you would like to read about her (I've also attached one of my favourite photos of her). She really was a very special little girl and even though I still have Toby and Molly, I am missing her a great deal, especially at night when I can no longer reach up to my pillow and 'hold her hand'.

I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a child. My son Josh is now 19 and in November last year he was driving down the motorway at 80mph when he had a tyre blow out. Thankfully he walked away unscathed but for a long time afterwards I had nightmares about what could have been and felt like I wanted to keep him locked in the house forever more. Unfortunately we can't do that with our kids can we; we have to let them live their lives.

There were so many bits in 'Cleo' where I either shed a tear, smiled, laughed or nodded because of the memories it brought back. Last year I had a hysterectomy and when I came home, every night Toby, Lily and Molly seemed to snuggle up to me that little bit closer than they normally did. I'm sure they were trying to pass on their healing energy to me just as Cleo did to Rob.

I don't expect to receive a reply from you as I'm sure you are a very busy lady and that since the release of 'Cleo' I imagine you have received hundreds of emails similar to mine but I wanted you to know just how much I enjoyed 'Cleo'. It will stay with me for a long time.

Kind regards
Allison Carey

Helen – I've just read "Cleo" and I think I have laughed and bawled my eyes out in equal measures. What a wonderful, warm, heartbreaking and inspiring read.
My mum Doff was one of the mums at Karori West and I still remember her telling us about Sam. I was about 11 so I did not really know him, but have some vague idea that he went to playcenter with my sister Sally. I remember a little card you made with a poem on it. I am now a mother of two boys myself. I can only imagine your pain. Your story is wonderful and told with such love and humour. Thank you for sharing it.
Good grief, I do not make a good gushing fan, but I wanted to let you know how much your book has touched me. All the very best
Claire
PS I now have to get a cat, too. x

Good afternoon Helen, I have just finished reading your book Cleo. Being a 'cat' person myself I easily related to and I thoroughly enjoyed your story. A kitten helped heal my two small sons and myself after the death of our husband & father many years ago.
Keep writing
Kind regards
Noeline

Helen
I have just finished reading "Cleo". What a fantastic book!! I'm a "cat" person and a mum. I've cried buckets as well as had a few good laughs. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us - the readers. Look forward to your next book.
Again thankyou
Lesley

Hi Helen,

I have just finished reading "Cleo" and would like to congratulate you for writing such a wonderful book.

My 31year old eldest son gave me the book for Mothers Day (I only received it recently as have been overseas).
When I read the title my heart melted because we had a Tabby point Siamese cat called Cleo, who like your Cleo, was a much loved member of our family for 19 years. She was a treasure just like yours and I couldn't wait to read the book.

I have told my two sons they should read it as it brought back treasured memories of our Cleo and your book was written so beautifully and openly that I couldn't put it down. I would wake in the middle of the night to continue reading chapter after chapter.

Thank you again and I'll look forward to reading more of your novels.

Sonja Tuohy

Hi Helen,

I have just finished reading 'Cleo' and loved it. I have hardly done any work for the last couple of days as I found it hard to put down! It is such a touching story with tears in my eyes at the finish, and although I do not, and have not had a cat, could so understand what was happening in your life by the way you wrote the book.

Thank you!
Ann Williams

It took me quite a long time to get up the courage to read your wonderful book, but when I did I was so pleased I had.It is amamzing how sometimes the years can just roll back, and suddenly you are somewhere again that had been pushed right into the back of your subconscious.Reading about Sam's death took me back to Wanganui in February 1969 and the death of my son Peter when he was run over outside my home. I felt your pain so vividly despite all the years that had passed.So much of what you described was so familiar to me.

Your relationship with Cleo was so well described as well and somehow it seems so right that she was with you for so many years.My second dear husband and I love cats, have six strays and know full well how important their presence in our lives can be.

Thankyou again Helen for having the courage to write of your experiences. You are a special person and I'm sure your book has helped many people. Take care, Christie.

Dear Helen,

I just wanted to let you know that I have just finished reading Cleo and thought it was a wonderful book and I really enjoyed reading it. I laughed and cried (quite often) as I read it and wanted to wish you and your family all the best for the future.
Best wishes
Claire Buckley (Assistant Librarian)The Leeds Library, 18, Commercial Street, Leeds

Dear Helen,

Oh my goodness! How can I ever top ‘Cleo’? I have loved every page with its ups and downs and have felt so in tune with your thoughts and feelings.
I too am a closet ageing hippy born in the 1950’s and therefore ‘Flower Power’ days. In those days it was hip to be a bit spiritual but thankfully as you get older you don’t need to wear a badge to be yourself.

I hope you are not too fed up with ‘my cat’ letters, this isn’t one of those, but as we have just lost our beautiful 16 year old boy ‘Jack’ it has helped me so much to know there are other like minded people out there.

I have a special place for black cats in particular and you can see why!

I really hope you will follow this book with something else (I always feel rather bereft when finishing a book like this) but then it would be unfair to expect you to rattle off another one just for me….

I look forward to following your career on the website and hopefully you will be over to UK sometime (one woman show maybe)

Very Best Wishes to you & your family,

Linda Huyton
(Southport, Merseyside)

Hello Helen from Los Angeles, California:

While on the trip of a lifetime-two weeks off ANZ's Matchmaking Flight in New Zealand, I picked up your book among others. An avid reader, I had 5 going all at once.

I completed Cleo this morning while on lunch at Starbucks, with tears pouring-never has a book touched me more.

My wife passed away suddenly in January 2009, and her legacy is two aby/tabby kittens-than less than a year old-rescued were feral and never go outside. Many of these circumstances in the book happened or are similar to mine.

Keep writing, you are gifted! I just added your link to my FB page!

Paul
Paul Svoboda

Dear Helen
I had to drop you a line to thank you for writing that wonderful book Cleo, I bought it on sunday and started reading it on Monday I could not put it down it is such a wonderful heart warming book. I could not begin to know how you must have felt at losing a son so tragically, the nearest i came to that was my ex wife miscarrying our son at six months and losing my sister in law to a cycling accident 20 years ago. But a cat can heal as i write this my own tom cat Felix is curled up round my neck purring in my ear and my Jet Black female cat Sooty is curled up in the sun.the only line i draw with them is not letting them sleep on my bed at night I do not fancy stereo purring in my ears at night

It in no way makes it any easier to lose someone but a cat can ease the pain I know i will read your book again and again as sometimes books are like that and I am sure readers all over the world will thank you for opening your heart to write this book.

The only thing i could warn readers of is to have a large box of tissues to hand when reading Cleo I am a bloke going up the hill for 61but Cleo made me laugh and cry in equal measures the sadness at losing a child and the way your little cat healed the family Cats can be funny creatures but they can bring absolute joy to a home solely dog loving persons cannot really understand, thanks again Helen for the book I am urging all my cat loving friends to buy the book and read it I know they will not be dissapointed.

Kind Regards Mr P. Beard ( A True Cat Lover )

Dear Helen

I know you have had so many plaudits already for your unique and inspiring Cleo book but I felt I must add my own.

I was given this book by my niece, whom I love as a daughter. She was well aware that I was approaching the end of my first year as a cat patron. My female tabby is called Socks – a name her previous owner had given her. But I could digress for a book of my own on her but I return to your own beautiful immortalisation of your beloved Cleo who is now shared with the rest of the world. I would like to thank you for sharing your pain and your joy and also offer thanks to your family who were willing to feature so poignantly in the book. Your book would make a stunning film.

When my niece gave me the book I thought what a beautiful cover it had and on seeing the title remembered coincidentally that I had read a book review of it only very recently. I related to everything you shared about Cleo and thought so many times, oh it’s not just our cat that does that then. Cleo was indeed a very special cat and I feel she was loaned to me for the duration of reading your book. I cried near the end when she first went to the vet’s and then also for every other trip to the vet’s wondering if she was going to meet her end. I loved that she survived for so long, confounding the cat mortality statistics.

I lost my brother when he was only 19 years of age – through cancer, so I know some of your heartache. I could have done with a Cleo in my life then. But what is so inspiring, Helen, is that grief opened up your heart to life and you have had an experientially rich and successful life juxtaposed to the sadness of losing Sam.

I am just a few months older than you and I love writing and am absorbed in the mystical, spiritual side of life. I have no special talent and nothing unique to write about but I am inspired by your success at putting words on the page like a Rembrandt daubs his paint and turns his brushstrokes into a masterpiece. That is what Cleo is – a masterpiece.

Eileen, London

Finished Cleo a few minutes ago. Thanks - just beautiful!
Best wishes,
John Lord [A Tonkinese cat person] PS. I hope you got another cat.

Hi Helen

Just finished reading your book “Cleo” last night and I really wanted to email you just to say thank you for writing such a wonderful book, I laughed and of course cried throughout. How you went through the heartache of losing a child and came out the other end smiling is an inspiration. I have 2 girls and 3 cats and I truly believe all that you say about how cats are truly spiritual creatures. Anyway I have passed your book on to my mother who in turn will be passing it on to many others so “Cleo’s” story will be the known throughout the town of New Ross in Ireland.
Thanks again Regards
Alison Osborn

Hi Helen,
I am a 17 year old student from Manchester, UK, and also am nearly finished reading your book Cleo. I wanted to pass my heart-felt compliments on to you on your superb book! I seriously cannot put it down and concentrate on studying for my exams because it is so addictive to read and just wonderful. I, too, am a cat lover, and many of your descriptions of Cleo I find I can relate to. They make me cry thinking about my cats which aren't with me anymore.
I love how inbetween the lines of your book everything which happened to you was, in some way, connected to Cleo and what she taught you - ingenious! I also appreciate how reflective of real life your book is; we always feel like we are trapped into one capsual of emotion, but we're not. Time changes everything, and I enjoyed reading about your life over the years.

Hoping that yourself and your family are well,
Bethany Trail

Hello

I just finished reading your book about Cleo last night and just wanted to say that I really enjoyed it. I was laughing alot at parts of it, but was crying at the end when she died.

Its wonderful how she lived to be so old and had a good life.

My cat Jasper (see attached photo) is 18 next month and I really hope he lives to be as old as Cleo (or older).

Julie Davies
Nottingham
England

Dear Helen Brown, This is just a short note to you to say how much I enjoyed reading your book about your cat Cleo. From what you wrote about Cleo, she was certainly a very lively cat. Doing things like playing ''socker'' with different members of your family amongst other things. Once again, thank you for writing such an enjoyable book. Yours sincerely, Anthony Edwards (Plymouth, Devon, England.)

Good afternoon Helen, I have just finished reading your book Cleo. Being a 'cat' person myself I easily related to and I thoroughly enjoyed your story. A kitten helped heal my two small sons and myself after the death of our husband & father many years ago.
Keep writing
Kind regards
Noeline

Helen – I’ve just read “Cleo” and I think I have laughed and bawled my eyes out in equal measures. What a wonderful, warm, heartbreaking and inspiring read.
My mum Doff was one of the mums at Karori West and I still remember her telling us about Sam. I was about 11 so I did not really know him, but have some vague idea that he went to playcenter with my sister Sally. I remember a little card you made with a poem on it. I am now a mother of two boys myself. I can only imagine your pain. Your story is wonderful and told with such love and humour. Thank you for sharing it.
Good grief, I do not make a good gushing fan, but I wanted to let you know how much your book has touched me. All the very best
Claire
PS I now have to get a cat, too. x

Dear Helen
I have just received the latest copy of Next magazine With the article about your book, which I have purchased And read and go back to again and again.
I particularly like the reference to the cat being a sentinel And the Egyptian influence.
Regards
Fay Roy
Palmerston North NZ

Helen
I’ve just finished reading Cleo and loved it. It’s definitely up there with Marley and Me. I have a close friend, who lost her 12 year old son to leukaemia 10 years ago, and some of your heartfelt expressions of sorrow at Sam’s death were like listening to her speak about losing Christian. We have a group of 4 friends who each buy a book for Christmas & exchange them over dinner throughout the year – Cleo was my contribution last Christmas. Cheryl

Hi
A friend Davina Gunn (I think your husband worked with) raved and raved about your book. I have just finished it and loved so much. Thank you for sharing blow by blow how you felt and coped losing Sam. I think of the people in my life that I love and cant imagine how it would be to lose them, and it happens every day to someone. I often wonder how on earth people could survive something like that and your book revealed your journey through it. I am sure it is still continuing.

I am a mad cat lover and I loved getting to know Cleo, I really missed her after I finished the book and of course I cried when she had to be put to sleep. A few days after I finished the book I was down at Wilsons Prom, lots of wildlife everywhere like kangaroors and wombats, my husband said he thought he heard a cat meowing, very unlikely in that area, that night I had a dream I found a black kitten and wanted to keep it and take it home, in the dream I named it Cleo.

I have two cats, Smoochee and Indee, they certainly light up my life and I love every minute I get to spend with them.

Thank you.
Warmly
Susie

Dear Helen,

Hello from Lake Geneva! I had the pleasure of reading your beautiful book "Cleo" on vacation recently and I wanted to contact you upon my return to say thank you for writing it and also to let you know about our beautiful black cat, Cléo, and some other coincidences.

My dear friend, Helen, who lives in Wellington NZ, sent your book to me for my Birthday in February as we have a beautiful black cat called Cléo (short for Cléopatra). She was named so as she resembled an egyptian cat with large pointy ears when she was smaller (she's nearly 2 years old now). I too married a younger man after a divorce and, like you and Philip, we were married on the shores of Lake Geneva, at Lutry near Lausanne. I wonder if this is where you were married? I work in Lausanne with people who worked for IMD and the funniest coincidence in your book, for me, is the "chicken man" because we have a mobile chicken rotisserie van that visits our home village every Thursday and I too call him "chicken man" !

I laughed and I cried reading your book and it was just what I needed to distract myself from stresses and strains at home, thank you.

I've attached a couple of photos of our Cléo and you'll see that she has golden eyes and not green eyes as your Cleo had. Having seen your lovely photos on your website, I think she's pretty similar, do you?

We hope to visit our friend Helen in Wellington within the next 18 months and then I'll be able to for myself the amazing scenes described in your book. I look forward to reading your next book (there is one I hope?!) and I send to you and your family my very best wishes.

Fiona

Fiona Paratte
Savigny, Switzerland

Dear Helen,
I saw this book on the shelf at WH Smith in Carmarthen (South Wales, UK) when I was browsing on Saturday. The picture of the kitten drew me to the book and being a cat lover read a bit about it and decided to buy it on a whim. I had no idea it was a true story and the more I read the more I wanted to read. I have no children nut have always had a cat (being what you would say a "cat" person) and had to have our cat lucky put to sleep six weeks ago.

Although the pain of losing a son must have been terrible, I have never been in that situation so can`t imagine what it must be like nor would i want to, but the pain of you putting Cleo to sleep really touched a very raw nerve and sent me into floods of kept tears and still welling up even now.

Sam must have had such a special gift which it seems to me he also passed to rob and probably came from you in the first place. It is quite right cats do chose their owners and Cleo was lucky to have chosen you in the same way as you chose her.
Perhaps one day I will get another cat but can`t just yet. From your blog am I right in thinking you have another cat? I hope he`ll be as happy with you as Cleo was.
This is a wonderful book with a tremendously moving story which has reduced me to tears. It deserves to be a best seller.
In memory of Sam and Cleo it is a lovely tribute.
Thank you for such a moving story.
Kindest regards,
Sandra Davies.

Dear Helen, I have just finished your book Cleo, and I just had to tell you what a wonderful story.
I fell in love with Cleo from the first page she appeared, and I cried my eyes out . I have three beautiful cats, Koshka, Elroy and Kit. When my husband of 16 years walked out on me on 2006, I thought my world had ended, but my cats just wrapped their paws around me and led me out of the darkness. I believe Cleo came to you as gift from your son, to watch over you and lead you out of the darkness as mine did. I have promised to loan my copy to so many that I'll have to draw up a waiting list, it would have to be the most beautiful book I have ever read. Thank you for introducing us to such a special cat as Cleo, and through your words, she will live forever.
Best wishes
Susan Laundy
Mylor
South Australia

Hello Helen,
Thank you for "Cleo"- I have devoured it over the weekend and will return it to the library tomorrow promptly because there is a waiting list! My daughter has also read it this weekend (she is the same age as your Katherine). We have both smiled and cried over it and finished it a little wiser about the grief of losing a child. The periphery of our lives have been touched by families in our small rural town who have lost children in tragic circumstances. I like to think that I can be a better friend in such circumstances because of your book.

Regards,
Karen Waters.

Dear Helen,
Most probably you get thousands of emails.

I we just had the privilege to read your Book Cleo, my step daughter Lynsay loaned it to my Partner Peggy and then I read it and wow, what a book, I appreciate what you went thru with Sams passing, and how Cleo saved you and your families sanity, and how a cat made you laugh and live life to the full with all the hardship of losing a loved one.
Yes I laughed and I cried, off all the things which happened in your life, as I am a sensitive fellow,
The humour written in Cleo was just great. Laughter is the best medicine.
Time I think does heal. I am unfortunately a divorcee, (9 years) with 6 kids and unfortunately, my 6 children have been turned against me, by perception of influence from again their mother. But I have been rewarded with LOVE from my Partner, Peggy, and her 2 daughters and the Unequivocal, LOVE of our 2 Cats Fatty and Henry ( both strays) and my little mate Hercules, a Lovable devoted Jack Russell, whom they all sleep anywhere they like especially in or on our beds. Animals seem to have an understanding of human misery, and are the most reliable friends to company one.
Funny how much mess they make, puke up, widdle and poop in home or wrong places, we love them for what they are and they return their Love to us.
Thankyou Helen for making us appreciate of what we do have. and bring such Joy to our hearts thru sadness and tragedy in your life. no matter what we have to move on, Things happen for a reason, and may years before we find out WHY this happened or did not happen or the way life turns to be. I am sure your book and column will help many people to heal from loss's and when things gone wrong.. thank you
From Craig Hickman
Tinonee NSW

Hi Helen,
I am at the end of an indulgent two days of sobbing and chuckling my way through Cleo's life.
We too have a remarkable cat presiding over our family. His name is Bob and he looks remarkably like Cleo. He came to us just two days after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A kitten was the last thing we wanted or needed at such a time. Or so we thought.
This tiny bumbling bundle made me focus on something other than myself and was witness to my private 'self pity sessions' when my hair fell out and the steroids made me puff up like a blimp.
That was eight years ago and Bob is now middle aged, as am I, but still ruling the roost including the 'grand dogs' who do not mess with him.
You have a way with words. Thank you for sharing.

Regards Sheryl

Hi Helen
Cleo is a wonderfully written book and an amazing story. Very easy to read and unputdownable.
Many thanks for sharing your story.
Kindest Regards
Sandy Brewin

Dear Helen,
I just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for writing such a brave, hopeful and uplifting book. Unlike many of your readers I have been fortunate to have never had to deal with the grief of losing a child. Your book came to me while going through a different kind of grief- my 4 yo son Jack has just been diagnosed with both Autism and Ulcerative Colitis within a few months of each other. My husband and I feel like we are at the start of a long road of uncertainty and are at times overwhelmed by the path our family is travelling as we support our son as best we can. We also have a 15 month old daughter Emmeline and a cat Bella who came to us as a giveaway many years ago and brings us and the kids a lot of affection and love. Our other cat Miro decided to move in with a lovely family (with grown up children) in the next street as our house is too noisy for him and he only comes back for fleeting visits for extra food!
As a long time cat lover your story about Cleo felt like home for me and walking with you on your long journey through both great darkness and days of sunshine again gave me immense hope that life is long with many ups and downs and you never know what is around the corner. I am filled with gratitude for having both my children alive, and try and stay hopeful that my son's ulcerative colitis will remain mild and remind myself that his autism was diagnosed young enough for us to all get much needed help and support. Thankyou for sharing 23 years of your life, for someone facing grey times early on with small children it is both reassuring and inspiring.

thankyou again,

Melissa Fowler

Dear Helen,
I wanted to write to you to first say thank you for 'Cleo'. This beautiful book has if true to say helped me cope with the death of my own cat, Lucas. I am 19 and my parents bought him for me when i was very young. He was and still is my best friend. I happen to think that cats a good for your soul, they are unexpectedly there when you need them (like when my mother passed on my 16th birthday). Like Cleo he was 'King' of my parents house hold and unfortunately (to my fathers annoyance) shared everything with me, including the end of a fork at meal times. I have since given him 'Cleo' to read in the hope that he will understand who Lucas was to me.
Hoping this finds you well, once again thank you,
sincerely
Jess Hunter

Dear Helen
Just had to write and say what a wonderful book *Cleo* is. Bought this on Thursday and its now Saturday and have jsut finished reading it. It had me laughing and crying it was so emotional.

We have a white cat who came into our lives, not unexpectedly. We were toying with the idea of getting another cat as our other cat was getting old, and couldnt imaging life without a cat. We went to a cat rescue place near to our home. Low and behold we hadnt been more than five mins parking our car (this is what the lady said to us) and Max (who is our cat) had been meowing and pacing up and down in his pen (she said he must have known we were coming) and it was immediate attraction. He wanted cuddling and wouldnt let us put him down. He is still with us today at the ripe old age of 11. I fully understand where you are coming from when they talk to you, he follows me around everywhere looks at me with talkative eyes. He even sits with me when i have a bath (not actually in the bath but in the basin). I am sure that day was meant to happen for us.

What a lovely book and cats do have a purpose in life.

Katie Drain

Hello,

I Live in Wagga Wagga NSW, I have just turned 26 (15th March!!!!!)

Just wanted to write and let you know how much I loved your book Cleo.

I was sad to hear of everything you have been through in your life, but I to believe that having a cat makes a house a home, and was glad that you decided to keep Cleo.

I have two cats myself and I feel "Moggys" are the best breed you could have and also that Cat's come in to your life when they are needed!

My boyfriend and I had just bought our first home and we decided to get a pet.

I found our beautiful boy Gizmo dumped out the back of my workplace after trying to find his owners we decided to claim him as no one came forward and he has been the best cat to us, and our cat Dixie was in the pet shop and every time we passed she was still sitting there all alone as her asking price got lower we felt we had to take her I mean she was a reduced cat!!

But the 2 of them bring so much joy into our lives we could not imagine life with out them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

And thank you for writing the book My mother and I have both read it and I have never cried more during different parts in the book .
Hope your family stays well.

Rhiannan Hoogeveen.

Just finished reading cleo,loved it,what a cracking moggy,we have not long lost our mad cat,and that hurt.can not imagine losing a child.bless you.peace and love geoff and babs.
Hi Helen, My daughter bought Cleo for me this christmas it was the most wonderful book I have read in a long time, infact my daughter kept asking if I had finished it yet so as to be the next owner (a gift horse) yes maybe. However the book has gone around the neighbours and friends and finally come back tattered and well read. Everyone speaks of it and tries to identify a little of Cleo in their own feline boss, believe me we all have one of them. I just want to thank you for the joy of your book and the fact that you have written one of those "hurry up and pass it on " life experiences. Thank you so much. p.s. we sooooo loved Rata as well. Keep healthy and happy and p.s.s. I used to watch you with Selwyn Toogood on Beauty and the Beast. Love to your family and we will always have Cleo in our heart and the joy your experience and her hoohum brought. Thank you. Caryl Hill Southland.

Dear Helen,
I bought two major things last week, a new camera and your book, Cleo.
My male colleagues can’t believe that I have not touched the camera. I’ve been absorbed in your book.I have living with me a delightful black cat (Licorice) that chooses to stay with me and makes me laugh.
I always like it when people compliment me on my articles so I figure you might like to hear that I love your style and always seek out your columns and books.
I especially like the way you can paint a picture with words.
It was heartening to read your story Cleo story as it struck a cord on lots of levels. Not the least on your honesty about grief. Last year my Brother died (brain tumour) and I have had a confusing time coming to grips with what I perceive to be the unfairness of it.
Thanks for sharing Bernice Hintz

OK, Helen, the thought of starving writers encouraged me to go out and buy a copy - after I'd 'bought' one from FlyBuys (I hope you get something for those) for my best mate's birthday - I had to read it! Lovely, lovely book - you are so brave writing about it all, baring yourself for the undeserving public. what an amazing cat she was, and I'm as impressed as ever by your kids.
Good luck. Ingrid

Dear Helen,

My reading of your novel ‘Cleo’ came to a close yesterday evening and all I can say is……when is the movie .
As a cat owner to two, Fonzy (to whom I bought over from the UK when I moved to Australia 5yrs old) and Chloe (a new little step-sister for Fonzy bought from the RSPCA at the age of 4months), there isn’t a single chapter in the book that I cannot relate to.
From losing both my dad in my late teens and my mum in my early twenties the purchase of a cat just seemed to fill a massive gap in my life. Like you I wasn’t a cat person either, as had a dog through my childhood, retriever actually . Then when Fonzy came along there was something quite different about him. Hence he was just my four legged mate that I just couldn’t leave behind when moving to Sydney.

I found every paragraph brought tears to my eyes with so many warming words and of course some very sad, but also some extremely funny moments. Strangely enough every time I picked up the book to read one of the cats would be nudging the pages for attention, little do they know I was actually reading about them 

Sounds funny but it was a ‘puuuurrrfect’ book for me.

Many thanks
Regards
Julie

Helen, I have just finished reading your book, Cleo. I really only had a couple of chapters left to read because I almost read the whole thing last Sunday afternoon and evening when I was minding my grandchildren. I just love cats myself and we have a very large ginger one who is adorable. I absolutely loved your book and appreciated the emotion and honesty contained in it.... I'm very sorry that you lost your son, Sam. Thank you so much for sharing all those feelings with the rest of us.

God bless you, Joan

Dear Helen
Thanks so much for writing such a lovely story about Cleo and sharing your life. About three years ago we acquired Jack a very tiny pup, yorkshire / sydney sylkie cross, as our lives were bleak. After my mother had a stroke, I had been in and out of hospital and my daughter was diagnosed as epileptic; we needed something to laugh at again. Being a single mother for 15 years life was just too hard. Jack, the dog, brought more than laughter. He introduced me to my new partner across the road, made us all laugh and helped us heal many wounds. Your story made me cry and laugh. No we did not lose a son but we lost a lot over many years. What we have all learnt is there is life, it is wonderful even in bad times. Thanks for the story
Ruth

Helen,

I have just finished reading "Cleo" and wanted to write and thank you - for introducing us all to Cleo and the rest of your family, and sharing the story. Not a story of grief and loss, but more so a story of life and hope.

I believe that even though you never once hint or claim to have the answers for surviving such loss, that many people will have found courage and hope in your story, and will see the wisdom in your attitude and decisions - that wisdom that Cleo helped you recognise, those decisions that Cleo helped you to make.

I had a look at your web-site and I confess it was a sucker-punch to see photos of Sam. As no doubt it still is for you at times. I wish you and your family continued joy in life, continued closeness and blessing as you live this life without your Sam.

Thanks again for sharing your story.

Regards, Melinda.

Thank you for such a wonderful book. I bought it this morning and finished reading not too long ago. I cried and laughed because I too recently lost a precious cat who brought so much to mine and my family's lives. Our girl died of liver cancer at twelve years old. She chose to come into our lives just after we immigrated to New Zealand and stole our hearts and helped us settle so it was very hard to say goodbye to her. Thank you again.

Kind regards
Jenny Engelbrecht

Hello Helen -

I love books, I love wonderful stories and I love cats!

I have just finished 'Cleo', and I have to admit it made me think, it made me sad, it made me smile, and it made me laugh out loud - it really did!

You painted masterpieces with your turns of phrases, and with my eyes closed I could see the scenes, incidents or people so clearly. I was so sad, of course, with your loss, but fully understand the healing process of a little cat. Cats can be sheer magic.

Very Sincerely -
Tony Russell (with two l's)
Green Bay
Auckland

Dear Helen
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed reading Cleo. My friend was visiting me two weeks ago and gave it to me as a present. The same weekend my friend was visiting my beautiful tabby cat, Lily was run over and killed. She was only eight years old so didn’t manage to reach the ripe old age that Cleo did, nevertheless in the eight years she was with me she brought me much happiness.
I can’t imagine what it must be like to lose a child. My son Josh is now 19 and in November last year he was driving down the motorway at 80mph when he had a tyre blow out. Thankfully he walked away unscathed but for a long time afterwards I had nightmares about what could have been and felt like I wanted to keep him locked in the house forever more. Unfortunately we can’t do that with our kids can we; we have to let them live their lives.

There were so many bits in ‘Cleo’ where I either shed a tear, smiled, laughed or nodded because of the memories it brought back. Last year I had a hysterectomy and when I came home, every night Toby, Lily and Molly seemed to snuggle up to me that little bit closer than they normally did. I’m sure they were trying to pass on their healing energy to me just as Cleo did to Rob.

I don’t expect to receive a reply from you as I’m sure you are a very busy lady and that since the release of ‘Cleo’ I imagine you have received hundreds of emails similar to mine but I wanted you to know just how much I enjoyed ‘Cleo’. It will stay with me for a long time.

Kind regards
Allison Carey

Hello Mrs Brown,
First of all, i apologize if i make any mistake in english.
I'm a Portuguese woman (maybe just girl) that just read you're book. I never wrote to an author before, and maybe this is a very stupid thing to do, but it's 3 in the morning in here, and i just couldn't sleep because i HAD to finish the book.
I think that you're writing was so good, that it feels like i was there, living those moments with you, and i cried and laugh all the way. I am proud of you're children, and the good people they became, just because of you're book (i am a very lame person i know, too sentimentalist) and most of all, i like it because i lost my precious cat this December. He was also black and with green eyes. I still can't believe Cleo lived 24 years! That's so lucky of you!

Well, i just want to congratulate you one more time, and thank you.

Sofia Rodrigues

Hello Helen!
My name is Elisabete, I'm Portuguese and I've 18 years old.
I finished reading your book about Cleo.
I just wanna to say thank you for sharing her story.
I have two cats... a boy and a girl :) I love them so much! I'm a cat person since I remember xD
I'm so sorry for Sam and I'm so glad that Rob is fine. I hope he is happy!
Have you adopted another cat or dog?
I finished reading your book yesterday but I think i'm going to start reading it again today :$ I really loved it!
By the way: great idea putting pictures in some pages! It made the book even more special.
I hope you're okay.
Greetings from Portugal ^^

Hi,
I have just finished reading your book about Cleo, and just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it - even though I cried like a baby at the end of it. I am a Police Officer in one of the roughest parts of London, and have been for 28 years - as well as a cat lover. I am currently 'Mum' to 9 cats, all of whom have been scooped up from drug dens', brothels,about to be thrown to Pitbull terriers as a sport or just abandoned at our station. I don't have it in me to turn them down, but fortunately have a very understanding husband who welcomes them all. They all have their own very different and individual characters, and surprisingly, all get along together very nicely (perhaps they realise they had a bad start in life, I don't know) so it was lovely reading about Cleo and how she has helped your family - I was very touched by reading your story and am pleased that life has finally turned out nicely for you all. I must confess, I finished your book in the local branch of Starbucks, but was crying my eyes out so much that the sales assistant offerred to call my husband to come and collect me, as something truly horrendous must have happened for me to be so upset! God, I can imagine what my husband would have said if he had got that call - especially as I am quite hardened by my work - I don't think he'd have let me forget it! Crying about a book, indeed!

Anyway, thank you for a truly fantastic read, and a very fitting tribute to a very special cat.

Kind regards
Patrisia Portway

I cried — and I laughed! — reading about your life in today’s You Magazine.
Thank you so much!
Kindly,
Anneli Wang, journalist, Sweden

Dear Helen,

My daughter Anna received your wonderful book Cleo for Christmas. I also enjoyed reading it very much. We moved to Wadestown from Christchurch two years ago so reading the book was made even more special as we new the places you talked about and presume your boys went to the Wadestown School as Anna did and Hamish does.

Anna Decided to visit Sam at the Makara Cemetery last Sunday. I really did not think it would be possible to find Sam's plaque but soon after we started to look, Hamish announced with great delight he had found it.

Today being the anniversary of Sam's death I decided to send you this email to let you know how much we all enjoyed your book.

Kind regards,
Kate Pete Anna and Hamish.
(Cat lovers with our own uppity cat)

Hello Helen -

I love books, I love wonderful stories and I love cats!

I have just finished 'Cleo', and I have to admit it made me think, it made me sad, it made me smile, and it made me laugh out loud - it really did!

You painted masterpieces with your turns of phrases, and with my eyes closed I could see the scenes, incidents or people so clearly. I was so sad, of course, with your loss, but fully understand the healing process of a little cat. Cats can be sheer magic.

The first cat I can remember (over sixty-five years ago) was a big tabby by the name of 'Algie', and my memories are of a very small boy dragging a reluctant cat around when it would rather have been sleeping under the macrocarpa hedge in the sun. The years have come, and gone, and so have the cats in my life. They have all been different (in colour and personality) and not one of them was bought - they all chose me, and not I them. But through grey, black or brindle, Queens or Toms, I still have a very big soft spot for the tabby. Perhaps this is because of that first cat I remember as a wee chap.

For the past number of years I have had two ginger Toms (neutered) who (not which, but who) do all of those catty things which you know so well. And right now a long-haired black and white Tom has adopted us, after working on our emotions for close to eighteen months. Don't know where he came from, but he was living rough, and we certainly didn't want him. He is almost in the house now, and I reckon by winter he will have got over this last hurdle. Is it any wonder he wears a smile? One of the gingers has accepted him as a friend, while the other treats him with disdain.

Anyway - I'm not here to bore you with our felines. I really want to say thank you for letting me share a small part of your life, and your book is truly beautiful!

Do you have anther cat in your life now?

Very Sincerely -
Tony Russell (with two l's)

Dear Helen,

Went to the library, looking for the Cleo book and found From the Heart - apparently Cleo is very hard to come by, might have to buy it. Thoroughly enjoyed your perspective on moving to another country, your ageing/dying mum and the rest. You manage to be heartbreakingly sad and funny and your prose is lovely. thank you so much, now I have another author to pursue!

Good luck in your endeavours.

regards
Ingrid

Dear Helen

I am Dawn McMillan, author of books for children www.dawnmcmillan.co.nz

Helen, I have just read your book CLEO and I need to tell you how much I enjoyed it. What a wonderful story. Thank you so much. I'm sorry that your loss of Sam is part of your life story but I'm sure he's very proud of his Mum in the work that you have done to bring this story to us all. The book is 'going the rounds ' of friends and family here. We all love it.

Very best wishes
Dawn

Dear Helen

I have never written to an author before but after reading "Cleo" I wanted to.

A friend gave me this book for my birthday and I thought this is a book I can read a bit and put down and then read a bit more another time. This was not the case. Once I had started I had to read it to the end.

I read a lot, all sorts of books, chick lit, mysteries, non fiction (mostly art books or biographies), some other people might call rubbish (but I have an open mind).

I am a cat person.

I lost my red tipped British Shorthair last year (run over) and three days later my moggy (Chopper) was hit and suffered a broken jaw and other injuries. The vet thought he was looking for his friend. Luckily Chopper survived and is fine today.

You were very lucky to have had your precious cat for so long.

Thank you for your story. I have told all my friends to read the book (they have to buy their own as I am not lending mine).

Regards
Susan Boucher

Hi Helen,

I received your book Cleo, from my husband for Christmas.

I just wanted to know how much I loved your book. I also have a pure black cat named Imelda and I also believe she is very special, she has helped me through hard times.

Your book made me laugh and made me cry, I found a lot of similarities between Cleo and Imelda.

Best Wishes for your future,
Sally

Hi Helen

I have just finished your book "Cleo" which was a Christmas gift from my daughter. Funnily enough, I began reading it the day before we arrived in Wellington, not knowing that you had lived there. My partner and I were on holiday in New Zealand following a family history trail in the North Island and enjoying what amazing treasures NZ has to offer. We live in a small place in Queensland called Wamuran.

I just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed the book immensely. I also had a cat like Cleo who came into our lives at a time when a new chapter was beginning and she became queen of the house and a much loved member of our family. Unfortunately she didn't live as long as Cleo, but her 13 years saw our 3 children grow into adults and teenagers just as Cleo did.

Thank you for the book Helen, and for allowing us, your readers, into the very sad and happy times of your life. Your book will now do the rounds of our family (as is usually the case) resting with my 24 year old son who has his own cat aged 14. Thanks also for the photos in your album. It was great to see you, the family and of course Cleo.

Bye for now
Liz Sullivan
Wamuran Qld Australia

Hi Helen,
I am David Oberholzer from South Africa (now living in Christchurch NZ) and an avid cat lover, at 49 I have been adopted by many cats, mostly Siamese, I love their intelligence and their aptitude to communicate. My longest living cat is a Berman female by the name of Mupps (Named after “The Muppets” TV show) she is now 25 years old and starting to feel the winters and the has slight arthritis and kidney problems.

My Wife Kim was given your book “Cleo” by a friend in Sefton, I then read it and am now sending it to my Mother in South Africa.

Being a man, this is the first book I have read about a Cat….I find that being a cat lover seems to bring out the more sensitive side of me. No I did not cry or laugh out loud like my wife did while reading the book, but I really enjoyed it and was sort of sad when it ended. I related well to Philip (with one L) when he had to bury Cleo as I have done this many times in my life. I have had 11 cats grace me with their presence and only two are still with us.

I also love reading books which tell stories and mention places that are known to one, so it was nice to read about the Kiwi culture and learn something about Wellington, New Plymouth, Taupo and Auckland.

This is the first time ever that I am writing to an author, and I was very pleased to see a contact address at the end of the book, I wish more authors would do this.

All the best and hope you publish another book soon.

Cheers
Dave

Hi Helen
I’m sure with all the mail you must receive that you may not personally read this necessarily, or at least anytime soon. Anyway, I felt having just finished reading Cleo, I must put my thoughts on paper.
Having been a huge fan of yours for many years and enjoyed reading all of your various columns over time, when I read the review of Cleo, not only was I deeply shocked and saddened to learn of your tragic loss, but was urged to go out and buy the book immediately. However, that was some months ago now and I have only just read it in nearly one sitting over the last couple of days (it was only the deep desire for sleep that interrupted the process). Now that I have finished reading Cleo, I feel I have lost my best friend - the book that is - and said to my husband it was one of those books that you never want to end.
Thank you so much to you and your family for sharing such a warm, sad, funny and spiritual journey – it has brought back many of my own treasured memories to me whilst reading of children, dear cats, loved ones that have passed on – thankfully not nearly as tragically as your own loss.
One of the things I loved about Cleo – the story, was the beautiful turn of phrase you use so easily which made me laugh out loud on many occasions. I also shed a number of cathartic tears. Cleo also strongly reminded me physically and with her behaviour of a wee kitten we had for just a few months that we named Bear – sadly she died of a brain tumour but brought us a lifetime of joy in the time we shared with her.
Thank you again for sharing such a beautiful story.
With kind regards and looking forward to continuing to read your columns and any future books you may write.
Alison McPhee-Beswick

Hi Helen,
I am reading your wonderful wonderful book Cleo at the moment and I just had to write to you to tell you how much I am savouring it. You have made me laugh out loud (scaring cats and children in the process) and weep uncontrollably, and for those extremes of mood I thank you!! Must. read. slower. to. prolong. book. :) Kind regards, Robyn

Dear helen brown
im a 12 year old girl who read your book cleo three days ago, i just wanted to email you about how sorry i am about both your loss's [Sams and Cleos] even though they have moved on ages ago and this is on very late notice.In your book it says every pet comes into a family for a reason. I once had a cat called Princess but due to my dads allergy problems we had to sell her to someone else. She was with me for 6 months and we had created a very strong bond and when we gave her away i cried for months and i still think of her know even though its been 4 years. I now have a white budgie called Angel and i am positive that will keep her until she dies. I am now setting a goal to get a cat and dog when i amd older and have a place of my own.

kinds regards
Selena

Hi Helen

A big thank you for writing your story about Cleo ... I absolutely loved
it!!! ... I too had a black cat called "Missy". And she was a wee

Missy, I got her when I was 5 and she passed away while I was in London on my OE 16 years later! She was a real character and some of Cleo's characteristics reminded me of the relationship I had with her. And your stories about Rata, we have had many dear dogs in our family who she reminded me of too. Thanks so much for sharing your story, I shed many tears over your dear wee Sam and I admire your strength in coping, truly admirable lady you are.

Just wanted to let you know that both my mother and I loved your book ..... thanks!!

Hugs from me.

Sally

Hi Helen.
I just finished reading Cleo and am now handing it onto my mother so she can finally see for herself what I have been talking about for the last week.

"Cats aren't something to be 'got'. They turn up in people's lives when they're needed."

I found this to be so true. Our family inherited a beautiful ginger male, Milo, in 2004. He belonged to my friend Lizzie, who taught me to ride and love horses, who died aged 49. The day she died Milo apparently dug his claws into her blanket and had to pulled away from her by 2 strong men. Her children moved on, and her husband asked us to take him. At the time we took him in, my sister was admitted to hospital for severe depression and xanax addiction. When she came home from the hospital, Milo was curled up on her bed, waiting for her. Over the next year Milo snuggled between the covers with her, sleeping with his head on her pillow. Some days when she was feeling particularly horrible, he would stick a paw under her door and mew incessantly until he was let in, where he would jump on top of her and lick at her tears until it tickled. Every now and then he'd catch Sarah reading a really morbid book (something like Women and Insanity) and would place himself between the pages and stare at her innocently.

I am another one of those people who firmly believe in the healing power of cats. Even though we had cats when I was a kid, we were always dog people. Our shih tzu still chooses to ignore the cat completely, but we changed our minds about cats forever when Milo was thrust onto us.

When my father became ill and died in 2008, Milo chose to sleep on his bed, purring softly. My dad had always hated the cat because he was so talkative and like to trip people over. But Milo seems to know when someone needs a gentle purr in their ear. When I also became sick last year, he chose to sleep in my bed next to the dog, and I'd wake up every morning with him sitting on my chest, his nose touching mine. I can't imagine our house without him. He struts around like he owns the place, brings us headless rabbits as presents and is so human-like in his manner it's hard to think of his as an animal. When you ask him how he is, he meows in two different tones. It's easy to decipher his various tunes of meow's and mew's and figure out what he wants.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for writing such a moving memior. It will stay with me for many, many years. And it has truly made me appreciate my cat so much more!

Kathleen.

Hi Helen,
I have just been given a copy of the book “Cleo” and after starting it yesterday, am halfway through it.

The sensitivity portrayed in the pages and human/animal character interaction is phenomenal. I have always maintained that my cats always knew when sympathy/love/cuddles were needed and they provided it and more.

I have laughed and cried in equal amounts when reading this book – thanks for writing about such a personal and epic journey of discovery and healing.

With thanks

Sue

Good morning Helen
I must admit that I have just "discovered you".

My adorable step son (28years old) bought me a copy of your book Cleo for my Dec birthday as it was recommended by the sales lady at one of our city book shops.

What a delightful read and it would have to be the quickest I have every read any book, just couldn't put it down. I will be looking out for your other books in future and be spreading the word.

Our "girls", Mumm and Ging, found us,

Enjoy the rest of your life, and thanks for sharing.

Cheers
Chris Farmer, Adelaide, South Australia

Hello Helen,
I'm about two thirds of the way through 'Cleo' and enjoying your book so much. I'm just up to the part where 'Dustin' has reappeared after running scared for 6 months. Well, now I've googled you so I know the happy ending, it won't stop me from reading the rest though. I've never done this before, written an email to a complete stranger, but I would like to say that as well as being intelligent, literary and funny (and so much better looking than the way you describe yourself in 'Cleo'!) you strike me as a very courageous woman, and I think you deserve every good thing and success that has come your way.

I was amazed to read that Cleo lived, did I read 23 years, I didn't know cats could live that long. That's fantastic.

Helen I'm curious to know what part of Wellington you lived in. I'm a New Zealander, living now in Balmain, Sydney. I was born in Wellington and lived all over (father in the Air Force), I boarded at New Plymouth girls' High actually, but we lived in Wadestown, I'm trying to work it out, I think it would have been the mid to late 60's. I know there are lots of hilly suburbs in Wellington, but the way you describe the zig zag and having to get down to your house from the street, we had to do just that, sounds like our house! no, no I'm not suggesting that but would love to know where you lived. I'm going to send your book to my 86 year old mother, she will love it. Thanks again Sue

Hello Helen

Your book is so refreshingly honest and it was so enjoyable and soothing to read.

Today is Friday, although I’ve had a copy of Cleo for a few weeks, I started reading it on Monday. Tuesday afternoon I found out that a close friend’s younger brother, Michael, had died suddenly. Michael was only 23 and was also a close friend of my younger brother. I was about a third of the way through ‘Cleo’, though Tuesday afternoon I devoured it. Reading your book helped me DO something in the midst of my shock and by 11pm when I’d finished it, I was able to think clearly enough to be able to sleep and have some kind of peace.

I’ve decided that, in a month or so, I’ll give a copy of ‘Cleo’ to his mum.

Thank you for being so open and honest in your writing; as I think of something to ‘do’ for his wife and family, what sticks in my mind is the comment made about the best way to treat a grieving being to act normal.

I’ll definitely be recommending ‘Cleo’ to others.

Wendy, Darwin NT, Australia

Hi Helen
I have just finished reading Cleo and was so moved by your story that I had to write you a note, I still have tears streaming down my face and an array of emotions buddling within.

I have a wee black cat called Cleo who I picked up from Cats Protection League in Wellington 3.5 years ago after I lost my belovered cat Chloe to old age.

My Cleo (already named by CPL) was found wandering around Willis Street in Wellington and a kind lady took her to CPL she never did grow any bigger and my friends alway think that she is still a kitten.

I to believe that cats have healing powers, I was beside myself when my first cat Chloe died 3.5 years ago (she saved my life once when I had fallen asleep with a lit cigarette and she jumped on me and woke my up), but then Cleo came into my life and healed my loss and brought a smile to my face.

My mum gave me your book for xmas and I started reading it on a plane ride from Melbourne to Wellington on New Years eve, having been away from home for a week, my Cleo welcomed me home with such happiness and loads of cuddles. I feel truly blessed to have her in my life.

I believe that your book is an inspiration to many and will be recommending it to all my friends.

Thanks very much, I haven't read such an emotional book ever.

Kinda regards
Fiona
Project Coordinator
The Department of Conservation
Wellington

Cleo - what a fabulous story! I remember when Sam died. We were living in Wellington at the time (now in Palmerston North) and I felt for you then. I have now laughed and cried my way through the story of Cleo and how you put your shattered lives back together with the help of that amazing feline. I loved your "turn of phrase" as they put it - Rosie's steam pudding breasts (my husband enjoyed that bit too....) and all the other expressions which were so funny. This is a book I felt like immediately starting again from the beginning. (I haven't done that since I read Mr Galliano's Circus as a 10 year old!) I have read (occasionally) your columns in Next and enjoyed them and followed your subsequent health problems. May your daphne bush flourish and all continue to go well for you and your family (especially Rob) and hopefully there is another book in you!

Best wishes and regards
Janet Smith

Hi Helen
I have just finished reading your story "Cleo" and despite the fact that I am not a Cat person - I am severely allergic - it was one of the best stories I have read in a long time. I did not want it to end and sobbed when you had Cleo put down. Thanks for a beautiful novel - keep up the great work.
Thanks, Phillippa Pacey

Dear Helen,
Hi, this is Grace from Singapore. I have just read the book Thumbs up for Cleo! Thank you for sharing your story with us. I could identify with what you have mentioned about cats. I have this love for black cats. I used to have three of them. And now I am left with one. Lastly, I would like to add that I enjoy reading your work. Keep up your good work!

A reader of 'Cleo',
Grace

Hi.
Just finished reading Cleo and being a cat lover I understand how cats can talk to people.
Really glad that I found and bought the book. Thank you for writing it.

Maslina Arshad
Malaysia

Thank you. In my childhood I had my beautiful white cat named Sue and completely understand about Cleo. I now have a black kitty named Miss Millie.

Growing up I had a brother die from a terminal illness. Your ability to write about such loss is nothing short of impressive and echo with experinces throughout my own life.

Best of luck to you and your family, I wish you all the happiness you deserve.

Mitchell Jones ox

Hi Helen,
I have just finished reading 'Cleo'. ...I absolutely loved it!

Thankyou, for sharing so much of your personal journey with us (readers). ..

I have a 10 year old cat, Tilly, and, she is a wonderful friend to me too.

All the very best and, hope you will soon publish another book!

Cheers!
Marg Burkhard

Hi Helen
I have just finished reading your book Cleo and just want to congratulate you on a great job. I laughed and cried my way through it. It was a wonderful read. We have a 17 year old cat who rules the family and has captured our hearts too. You made me realise how precious she is. Thank you.
Chris Kerr

Hello Helen,
What an awesome book,I lent it from an old neighbour of yours Linda Banfield now Linda Wyatt.
Others are already lining up to read the book,the cover is enchanting.
We both thoroughly enjoyed the book and like others comments I have seen on your website I have never written to an author either.
I laughed, I cried and i loved how much of a normal person you are reiterating to me that being more relaxed re house work etc is a good thing and does not make me a bad mother.
Like you say at the start of the book I am one of the people who thought I wasn't a cat person till I read this book.
I felt the way you described Cleo as if at times I could almost hear that amazing purr and to live to 23 and 1/2 years WOW !
I to felt sad to get to the last page.

Thank you for sharing your story in a book that warmed my heart.
Sasha Walsh

Hi Helen
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed and loved your book about Cleo, I must say it is the best book I have ever read, I really related to it as I am an animal lover, a big cat lover. I have two black cats, two females who are 2 years old, I absolutely adore them and couldn't imagine them not in my life. Our family always had animals, our first family cat was also black, he lived until he was 17, I was 30 when he died, I was so heart broken, I was 12 when my mum brought him home, he died a month before my mum in 2001, it was a terribly time as you can imagine, loosing our family cat and my mum was heart breaking, she loved him so much and it broke her heart to tell her he had died, she was sick in hospital at the time. I still miss them both very much, it helps having my two cats, they are so different to the old cat but I love them. We also had a dog who lived until 15, he was a beautiful dog and looked after our cat, it was heart breaking when he died. Rata sounded like a special dog and I cried when she passed on as I did for Cleo, she sounded like an amazing cat, so funny, cheeky and just adorable, and to live for 24 years is amazing. I have met a few people now and their cats have lived up to 25, I think that is so amazing. My friend is from Christchurch and his family cat lived to 25, she was around before he was born. My neighbour is from Wellington and her cat lived to 20 and many more people I know have told me their cat has lived to a ripe old age, I think it is wonderful, cats are amazing animals. Cleo brought you so much love and joy to your family, I loved every page of the book, I could not put it down, and when I got to the end I cried so much I didn't want the book to end. You sound like a wonderful family, I was happy to hear Rob and Chantelle got married and I hope he is now well, he went through a lot with his sickness. I hope you are all well. I would love to know if you ever got another cat? I am looking at your website now and love the family photo's especially of Cleo, she looks like my black cats! I am a crazy cat lover and adore black cats.

Thank you for sharing your life and Cleo in such a wonderful book.
Gena

Hi Helen
Thank you for bringing Cleo and your family into my life it was a wonderful story.

As a lover of cats and a person with the gift of "sixth sense" even speaking to animals made it even more special.

Please write some more.
Helena Sowden

Dear Helen, thank you so much for sharing Cleos' life with you. I have had cats all my life, and no matter how long or short their time was with me, each one was very precious. While I have never had the terrible experience you had losing your beloved Sam, I can imagine how bad it was. Losing my cats over the years has been dreadful. Each one steals a corner of your heart and no matter how many cats you have, there is always a spare corner or two. As I read your book, I found myself laughing and crying at the same time. The last passage was awful to read, as it made me think of every cat I have lost, some peacefully at the vets and others to the road. Every kitten is King or Queen in their house, and quickly trains their slaves to their own tastes. How lucky the cat who comes to live in a loving home, and how sad for the ones who never know the gentle tickle and stroke of a besotted human.

Once again, thank you, Jenny McCulloch

Sandy
Weeny Man
Paddington
Santos
Kate
Thistle
Squiddy
Cobweb
and my current beauty, Bimba.

Hello Helen
My name is Noeline Brown, and I have lived in New Plymouth with my husband Russ for more than 40 years. I have been reading your columns in various magazines for a number of years now, and have often felt I would like to contact you. I always enjoy your articles - to the point where I almost feel I know you, which of course, I don't. However, I did know your parents - more particularly your mother, and have therefore been able to relate to many of your stories. My husband, Russ Brown, was very much part of the Operatic Society and Little Theatre where he was President way back in the 60's and has acted in some of the same plays and musicals as your mother, Noeline. I also remember the days when your family lived in what we always knew as 'the Castle' in Bracken Street. We knew the McGregors, the Huttons, and our very good friends Jim and Margaret McFarlane who lived on the other side of Bracken Street.

I didn't know your mother very well, but we used to meet from time to time at various functions, so I guess we could be called 'friendly acquaintances'. Other close friends of ours know your sister, Mary, who used to baby-sit for them when their children were young. Also met your brother, Jim, in passing some years ago. I think I am also right in saying that a house in Tukapa Street (No. 187?) is where your parents lived at one time. It is currently being renovated, and is going to be very smart and up-market when it is finished. (I pass it frequently when going to visit my daughter, Nicola, and grandson James who live near there).

Well, I guess all that information will explain why I have always felt some sort of connection (however brief) with the Blackman family.

The reason I have finally made the effort to search for your address in order to send this email is that I have just finished reading your book - Cleo - How an uppity cat helped heal a family. I absolutely loved it! I found the first part very harrowing and heartbreaking - lots of tears - and am so sorry you and your family have had to go through such a terrible loss, and having to come to terms with it. Thank God for Cleo! What an amazing personality she was. I cried buckets when you finally had to let her go at the amazing age of 23!!! I am absolutely a cat-person, and have had cats as part of my family for more than 50 years. In fact, at last count, I have around 16 cats buried on our property! Sounds awful, but some belonged to my two daughters who also love animals. Anyway, I have had some great personalities amongst them, but none ever made it to 23. Fifteen or sixteen, yes, but never 23! At present, I have a feisty cream Burmese, Oliver, a gentle lavender Oriental, Zara, and an equally gentle and fabulous Abyssinian, Aysha, all of whom I love to bits.

I have also known about Rob's illness through reading your columns, and am so delighted that he has recovered so well. I have been told that he has recently married Chantelle, which is wonderful, and I am so pleased for you all.

The story I didn't know until I read your book was about your husband, Philip (with one l!), but am so pleased that it has all worked out so well for you.

Hope you won't mind my ramblings!

Very kind regards
Noeline Brown

Dear Helen,
Recently I told you about having had a cat for 22 years and about the enjoyment that we had from her. Now we have had a beautiful German Shepherd dog for only ten years and last Monday he died. My husband and I are grieving as though we have lost a child because Max gave us so much happiness- we really miss him so much. Animals certainly make your life much more enjoyable.

Hi - I just finished reading CLEO, which brought a tear to my eyes on several occassions. I'm going to lend it to my pregnant daughter: she's an animal lover and it will reduce her to tears too....

Dear Helen,
I have never in my life e-mailed or written to the author of a book that I have read and enjoyed...and I don't think I have ever laughed and cried so much whilst reading a book either! I have been grabbing every moment to read your story over the last two days. Consequently meals have run late, dishes have been abandoned and the husband has been grumpy due to the bedside light being left on last night.
I would just like to thank you for sharing your story. I am an avid reader and I could also "so" relate to Cleo your wonderful cat.
Thank you again.

Kind regards
Mary
Waipukurau, Hawkes Bay, NZ

Dear Helen

The day following the loss of my beautiful baby girl Paloma (a British Blue) I bought Cleo.  Everyone I knew thought it was crazy and I should give myself a few months (some suggested years) to tackle the book rather than do so in my current emotional state.  But less than 24 hours later Cleo has helped me understand that although Paloma's life was far to short (only 8) that she helped me through a number crisis, just as Cleo is doing for me now.  Thank you Helen for sharing your family's and Cleo's story with us.

Aimee

Dear Helen,

Thank you so much for writing Cleo, I have just now finished reading it.

I haven’t had an experience of grief of losing a child but there is something quite universal about grief and while Cleo and our other feline guardians do a fine job of healing our lives, I have found that there is so much in your book that was salve to old losses. 

I was particularly struck by the smallest of details that you noticed of pain, feelings, and responses.  In some ways it was rather like reading a book of “noticing” that thing that teachers of meditation urge us to be open to while we struggle to find a way to accept the feelings that interrupt the easy movement of life.

I am not sure where it was that I read the review of Cleo but it seems like it was a gift and now I am even happier that I pursued the book and read it.  Somehow during the process, I agreed to write a short review for the local Dymmocks store in Burwood.

It is a fine thing that you have done to share what is so deep and personal with strangers through your book – for all that the story of your Sam’s death was so sad, there is so much that is about resilience and courage that I find it a gentle but firm push to soldier on during some of life’s bleaker times.

My sincere appreciation to you and to your family who supported you during the writing of Cleo.

Jill & Peter

Dear Helen

Tonight I closed the final page on "Cleo" with regret. I picked up the book at Wellington Airport on my way to Hobart to spend time with friends.  I have thoroughly enjoyed every word, laughed along with you, shared in Cleo's journeys and exploits, and emphathised with your joys and sorrows along the way.  There are some real pearls of wisdom in there which are poignant and true. Thank you for writing Cleo's and your family's story.  It is rich with hope, love, adventure, and yes pain too, but isn't that what living is all about? Cleo lived life on her terms -that's what cats do as my own Maggie will attest to, ( I have the scars to prove it).
I like you now have less tolerance for things that annoy me and have been know to say "excuse me " with more than a touch of indignation if someone tries to push in front of me. I say it like it is (mostly), and when I can't, I content myself with thinking that what goes around comes around, either in the form of another human, or better still, a cranky cat.

I hope you continue to enjoy your life with Phillip and your lovely family. Hope Rob continues to improve -  we have a rather wonderful Gastroenterologist here in Hawkes Bay (Hastings) called Malcolm Arnold who is passionate about the care of UC and CD patients and as a nurse I often see the challenges that these patients face on a daily basis.

Thank you again,
Kind regards
Moira Gillespie

Dear Helen,

A newsagent friend mentioned to me that he was reading a book about a black cat who heals a family, since there were so many similarities he believed i should read it as well.

We also have a golden retriever called Zoe that is the most loyal beautiful dog anyone could wish for, and once again I thought I was just a Dog Lover.

My partner of 11 years collapsed in my arms one day of a complete emotional, mental and physical breakdown after years of being a Paramedic and everything finally catching up with him, hence this left our family shattered.

My eight year old daughter is so similar to your son, I have been told she has a gift and she seems to be so intuitive to everyone else’s needs. While she was still working out her way of dealing with her father’s illness I took her to the pet shop to buy a kitten and she chose a beautiful little thing she called Cleo.

Cleo is changing our world, she belongs here, this is her domain and has our dog completely wrapped around her little paw. My partner is healing because of Cleo, never before have i seen something so remarkable as the love she pours out to him, she seems to know his every need and the response from my partner is nothing more than overwhelming love. He is starting to talk again, interact with the family and most importantly laugh and see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Helen I thank you for the most beautiful book, I have felt your pain and have been there when my cousin an only child was taken from his family. The grief will never go away but there are ways of managing it as you are well aware. You are amazing for sharing this story with the world. I bow to you.

Thankyou

Kim
Mount Morgan

Dear Helen
 
I have just finished Cleo and loved it so much I wanted to let you know. I laughed out loud and cried during the book, it was absolutely wonderful.

Thank you so much.  As a self confessed cat lover I totally agree with your comments about how cats come into your lives when you need them the most.  

I am so pleased that after the terribly tragic loss of Sam that Cleo and friends helped you and Rob through.  I have to say I was so pleased at the end of the book when Rob and Chantelle got together.

I am a 29 year old professional woman living in Wellington and also loved your comments about the wind and earthquakes here.  I often wonder how it is that I ended up living in city with such a foul climate!

Thanks again for writing the book.  I will post it up to mum in Rotorua, as the proud owner of four cats (and the rescuer of countless strays throughout the years) she will no doubt love it as much as I did.

Warmest regards
Sarah McIntosh

Dear Helen,

I have just finished reading 'Cleo' and want you to know that I found your story so warm and inspiring. You, your family, and the wonderful Cleo, will live long in my memory.

Thank you so much for sharing your joys and sorrows. I have been reminded to make the very most of each and every day, and to be forever grateful for the love of family and friends, as well as a wonderful 17 year old Russian Blue cat.

Very best wishes,

Elizabeth Middleton

Hi Helen,

I finished reading Cleo yesterday - well, actually, late last night. I sobbed my little eyes out. Then I got out of bed and hugged my cats til they squeaked. Thank you for sharing your story.It was so moving in so many ways.

Last year, a close friend lost her baby girl, suddenly, at 8 days. As I read your harrowing tale of losing Sam, I wept, for you, for my friend Michelle, and for all the mothers out there who have lost a child.

And then as I read about Cleo's antics, I giggled, recognising the wily ways of my feline companions, Scout and Jem. And I help my head up high, as a cat lover. There is a new book out called "Why dogs are better than cats" and it has been irritating me no end that people would think that (I am, as you can tell, a cat person). So it was really nice to read eloquent, reasoned prose as to why cats, despite all their weird and wonderful ways, are such very special creatures.

Thank you, for sharing. And thank you also to your family, who are blessed to have a mother and wife like you.

I will be buying your book for lots of friends to enjoy.

Yay for you.
Deivina Peethamparam

Dear Helen, at long last - today, after waiting for ages as your first printing ran out - a copy of Cleo was waiting for me in my local book shop. I sat in the carpark, read to page 50 before returning home. I can't even describe how I feel. This has taken me back all those years. Home is Waiheke Island and I'm Pauline Capper when you knew me - then was Pauline Laugesen and now am my own self as Pauline Frances. How many years that has taken!

My son John (now 34) has asked that if I caught up with you to say hello to you and to let you know that he and his wife Caroline have a son, Sam. "I wanted to give Sam another chance," he said. Sam is 4, blonde and green eyed, a sensitive and very loving child, sports mad and loves books, drawing and modelling. And Sam has a 2-year-old sister - Luciana (Caroline's father was Italian.)

So now in one day I've read some of your your book and also contacted you - as I promised John. Over the years your Sam has featured in our conversations so often. John talked about Sam a lot. I used to follow your columns and then felt I'd lost touch, was not sure where you were writing. So today has been a thrill for me, catching up with you via Cleo.

My partner, Pita and I have a cat of similar temperament who actually lives across the road but has decided he belongs with us so has moved in. Very stealthily and over a period of months. But he will not budge. He's naughty, flighty and can be a biter too but he's loving and very funny.

I do hope you don't mind that I've emailed you. My very best wishes to you - and to Rob. He was 6 or 7 when I last saw him.
Pauline

Hi Helen,

My name is Jenny Gallagher-Grant.

I have just finished reading your remarkable story of Cleo and Sam’s eternal love for their family.

As a loss and bereavement counsellor with the Leukaemia Foundation here in Queensland, I am very aware of the power of grief and the need for inspiring stories such as this to renew faith in those who are grieving. To say I (previous widow) found gifts of inspiration, hope and pure love emanating out of every page would be understating the power of Cleo’s and Sam’s intentions. Thank you Cleo, Sam and Rob for showing us one of the many gift’s of grief.

Also, Helen, I was wondering if it would be okay if I wrote a little book review in our twice yearly newsletter called ‘Living well With Grief’? If it is okay, I could send you what I have written prior to publication.

Kind regards,
Jenny Gallagher –Grant
Grief Support Coordinator
Leukaemia Foundation Queensland.

Dear Miss Brown
I am writing to say both thank you and congratulations on your joyous memoir “Cleo”. How very blessed are you to have had the pleasure of knowing and loving and living with Cleo. I find it more than appropriate that you described your gorgeous feline friend as a healer, priestess, panther and goddess.
I am having the greatest pleasure sharing your book with my five year old daughter who is another cat and animal lover. She refers to Cleo as ‘The Monster” (a friendly neighbourhood black kitten who has the name Monster.
I am terribly sorry to hear of the tragic loss of your beautiful son Sam but through your story he lives on as a gorgeous sensuous, spirited, sweet and charming boy and I thank you for introducing him to both the world and myself.
Your fan
Sunny

Dear Helen,
Just finished your book "Cleo".I have had cats and dogs all my life as well as a few goldfish and birds. Being a cat person just snuck up on me ! I have two Bengals and recently lost another Bengal,Lily,who unfortunately didn't get to enjoy a long life as your Cleo did.I only hope my other glorious pets live until 100 !

Your story was beautiful and was so unpredictably enjoyable and so painful but i am not surprised that one gorgeous cat could have such an influence,as a fellow cat person i know too well what a cat is capable of !
Regards,
Sharyn Work
Australia

Dearest Helen,
I am writing to you today to thank you for sharing your amazing story about Cleo, your life and your family. I couldn't stop crying after I finished your book, I felt as though, I too had lost Cleo. You allowed me to journey each moment with you and I am grateful. I have resonated with so much of your story and I hold my children, husband and animals even closer. I too was chosen by a beautiful cat I named Napoleon which adopted me when I took my dog for immunisation one day. I kept getting the name Chester in my head but kept Napoleon to convince my French born husband that we should keep him. Funny thing is when I went back to the vet they told me they had named him Chester! Made the hairs go up on my head. Anyhow, Napoleon now runs our house and our two dogs (a bull mastiff and blue heeler).

Thank you again for allowing us to step into your life - it has been an honour.
Love and light
Helena Talon

Good Evening Helen,
I just wanted to let you know that I bought Cleo at the airport to read on my honeymoon whilst in Paris, from where we have just returned.

Like all the books I took away I had intended to throw it away once read to minimize weight when returning to Australia.

But I want you to know that I loved your book so much and being a cat person myself I couldn't and thus carried Cleo home with me where I promptly put it on my shelf with all my other autobiographies. A beautiful story.

It was wonderful and Cleo sounds like she was just gorgeous. My sister had Tiddles, a gorgeous tortoiseshell cat which had been abandoned at kindergarten as a kitten and who lived with us for 21 years until she was tragically poisoned as were all our cats at home at that time, some low life put down bait and wiped out pretty much the neighbourhood population of moggies, they were never caught.

My first husband and I owned Minx who was striped like a tiger and would fetch if you threw a peg to him, we owned him for 15 years, until he had to be put to sleep (lymphoma)

My son and I owned Miss Black another tortoiseshell who got torn attacked by a dog when she was five I know it sounds like our cat ownership has been one tragic mishap after another but we have loved them all and they do work their way into your lives and hearts don't they.

Currently we own Zia, a grey and white 2 year old moggie who chose my husband when we went to see about getting another cat from the RSPCA after the death of Miss Black. She lives in the house, is pampered beyond belief and upon being picked up from the boarding kennels where she had spent forty days in captivity whilst we swanned about Paris on our honeymoon, she now wont let us from her pussy cat sight and sits herself right where we are at all times, honestly though I wouldn't be without her!

Thank you again for the book, your story touched me and I will be looking out for your other work.

Regards,
Andrea Watson,

Dear Helen
I'm currently reading your fantastic book.

I bought it for a friend and one for mum, but borrowed mum's copy and am reading it before her, as i have time off work and have time to read. :)

I just got up to the part where you discovered your son has Ulcerative Colitis and he has just had surgery.

this is one more thing for me to relate to, apart from being a cat person.

I was diagnosed when I was 28 (1998), but it is mild to moderate, so am lucky to manage it with medication and have not had to have surgery.

I am recommending your book to other cat people to read, and there is an online community for people with IBD - a forum, where we all whinge about our issues with the disease.

we also have a section with non IBD postings and one where people love talking about their pets. I made a recommendation in this forum for your book at the link below:

http://www.ibdaustralia.org/forums/index.php?topic=9644.0

I'm sure many here would love to read your story.

I only just visited your website today to read about your breast cancer struggle that you write about in your blog. Best wishes to overcome a clearance on the disease.

I can't believe Cleo lived to be nearly 24. what a lucky cat!!

love to photo of her on your chest.

thank you very much for writing a great book.

regards
Myriam Jurga
Sydney

Gratefully reading your Cleo story; weeping, smiling, emotions a lot; around me snoring, breathing peacefully, quivering animal companions; big THANK to you Helen Brown,

Heidi

Dear Helen,
I just wanted to thank you for sharing Cleo with me. I "gobbled it up" in about 4 hours, but feel that it will stay with me for a very long time.

I have ulcerative colitis (in remission 7 years now) and I had a lilac siamese named Cleo and a seal point siamese named Harry who shared the ups and downs with me. Both are deceased now and I haven't been able to face another addition yet (maybe next year).

Thank you
Jacquie

Dear Helen,
I just want to say thank you for sharing your experiences with the world ..... I am from Australia ( Victoria) I ended up buying your book at my local bookshop.It was a curiosity for me to get this book ..... I must say there were a lot of emotions while reading the book ... for me you have shown inspiration to live life to the fullest. I have two cats myself and they do own me. The bonus with them is that when I’m upset they are there for me and they love to play. Again thank you so much for sharing this story. I am recommending it to my friends. Maybe they will realise that it’s not the end of the world when something happens (how Rob said when they lose their wallet ) I have had my ups and downs over time. I lost a relative and a great friend at 8 yrs old and will never forget that and all the other unfortunate events that have occurred.... I do hope your family are safe and healthy. I hope rob and chantelle got a great cat to watch over them and anyone else that has come along into the family .

all the best for you and the family

from a CAT LOVER

Michelle smith

Hi Helen,
Just had to write and tell you how much I enjoyed reading "Cleo", sat up to 2.30am finishing it.
My 15 year old son Michael gave it to me for my birthday and has been waiting for me to finish it so he can read it. Don't know how he'll react to the story of your friend running you a bath?
We're all cat lovers except for my husband Mark but we're converting him.
I think it is just amazing Cleo lived so long. Amazing and wonderful. May read the book to our cats Josie and Khadgar as inspiration.
We've had 3 cat deaths in the last 2 years (Felix, Chocolate Cat and Ambrose). My husband was thinking of starting a charity called "Cats with Cancer" when the vet bills started rolling in. By the way, Chocolate Cat was named by my son Liam when he was 3 years old, my husband had named him Kit Kat so I guess it is how a 3 year old's mind works when he renames HIS cat.
Sorry to waffle on.
I loved "Cleo", will pass on my recommendation to our daughter Kate who is Assistant Manager at an Angus & Robertson shop here in Sydney. She said it is selling well.
It was great to see photos on your website of you and your family.
Have a great day

Hi Helen

I have just read your book about Cleo.

I too was a dog person until our son announced he wanted a cat and before we knew it Trigger had chosen Duncan and His Majesty came to reside in our castle! I thought your book was incredible and the main reason I am writing to you is to find out how your son Rob is doing. Did the operation help and has his ulcerative colitis got any better? Your family crept into my heart and I would love to hear how they are all doing.

Kind regards
Debby Tweed

Hi Helen
My name is Bruce Daws and I live in Wilberforce, NSW.

This morning I finished reading your book 'Cleo'. I wanted to tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It took me through the gambit of emotions as I read the pages. Thank you for sharing your story, and reminding me of the wonders of having a cat.

May I briefly tell you that back in 1974 two years after I was married and my wife was expecting our first child (Nigel) we bought a Himalayan cat which we named Sussi, or as our son renamed her to Susspuss. Your story touched my emotions on so many levels and we were lucky enough for Sussi to live to the wonderful age of 23.

I briefly checked out your website when I arrived at work and found out that you have written numerous other books, some of which I will now seek out to read.

Again, thank you for telling the story of your wonderful cat and sharing your life with me. As a matter of interest have Rod and Chantelle now/

When I have time at home I am going to read some of your blog. I somehow feel I know you well already.

Kind regards,

Dear Helen,
I have just finished your book ‘Cleo’ and was excited to see you had a website address. I rushed straight to the computer, then website, then photos, to take a look at the people, places and of course the subject herself. You really didn’t do yourself justice in the book when you described yourself! I was expecting to see a grey haired, overweight, frumpy woman with a jolly disposition but in fact you are beautiful and SO not frumpy!! The children and Phillip are as I expected, particularly Rob who is as you described tall and gorgeous. And Cleo ……..

Actually I bought the book for my husband as part of his Father’s Day present. I was in a hurry as usual, in fact it was Father’s Day morning I’m ashamed to say and I grabbed it because, well, he loves cats. When he read the sleeve he turned up his nose a bit because he thought it would be depressing or that I was somehow implying that our family needs ‘fixing’ but of course he loved it and we were actually fighting over it and trying to read it at the same time. I have on several occasions mentioned some of the quotes in your book to the mothers I know and they have all said how much they hit home such as ‘A mother is only as happy as her saddest child’. Never a truer word has been spoken. I was also very pleasantly surprised to find it was an Antipodean that wrote it as I assumed it would be a European or American author. The story far exceeded our expectations; beautifully told and full of heartfelt and raw emotion. It was very comforting for us as the reader that this little fur ball was so instrumental in getting you through your terrible ordeal, and we felt your pain immensely!

We have 2 cats at the moment, Billy and Sarah and a couple of years ago lost our seventeen year old cat Sadie. Her death and the burial etc was just exactly the same as Cleo’s. She used to always sleep on our driveway in her advancing years (I guess because of the warmth). Many passers by used to stop and pat her which she loved. The neighbours would wait when they saw us approaching the driveway in our car after being out because Sadie wouldn’t budge. One of the kids would have to get out and pick her up or we would just drive around her much to the neighbour’s amusement! We thought she must be deaf but she didn’t have any trouble hearing us call her for dinner! Our most recent acquisition, Sarah, is an absolute delight. She can fetch and has a habit of rolling onto her back like a dog whenever you walk past so she can get a rub on the tummy. She loves water too and will stand on the edge of the bath or shower and marvel at the movement of the water for the entire time we are in it! Her most incredible ‘trick’ though is to come in every morning about 5.30 before the clock radio alarm goes off and proceeds to tap on the radio dials etc until she can get the radio to come on. She knows this is the signal for us to wake up but she has decided she will make it happen on her terms! Graham dutifully gets up and takes her downstairs to let her out and for a feed. He never loses patience with these two moggies and the kids complain he loves them more than them!! No what sort of a mood any of us are in (and we have a 17 year old boy and a 15 year old girl so it is hormone city at my place) those 2 little guys have a knack for doing something funny or cute or sweet. One of us will make the call ‘come and have a look at Sarah’ and we all get up from whatever we are doing and go to have a look at Sarah asleep on her back in front of the heater with limbs stretched full out looking like a cat skin rug – so funny.

Anyway it is such a beautiful and poignant story and is as much a tribute to Sam as it is to Cleo. I didn’t expect to get so much out of it in terms of life messages though so I just wanted to write and say thank you for writing such a lovely and inspirational book and look forward to any future productions.

Thanks and regards
Michele Ingleton
(Sydney Australia)

Helen,

Please excuse the familiarity. I have just spent the past 24hrs engrossed in 'Cleo, How an uppity cat helped heal the family'.

Thank you for sharing your story and the outcome/s all round I hope will continue to evolve with Cleo from above as your family's Guardian.

Best wishes for your continued success and happiness.

Regards
Janice Blair

I have just fiinished reading Cleo (and the box of tissues) and found it to be one of the best reads yet.
I empathise entirely with Cleo and thank you for writing about such a wonderful cat. We who are blessed with remarkable cats are some of the most fortunate people ever.
Joan

I heard about your book while on Holiday in Melbourne from little old Alexandra in Central Otago. You had been in a cafe in South Yarra and Ben who owns it is a son of a friend and they were reading your book and had met you so I bought it too. AND I loved it and I am definitely not a cat lover,......... Was wonderful to get to know you and your family through this book and I will pass it on to my friends who ARE cat lovers. Thank you and all the best. Maree Smyth Alexandra

Subject: Thank you
I treated myself to your book as a birthday present and feel as if I have received a wonderful gift. Not since reading Bryce Courtenay's "April Fool's Day" have I been so touched. I just loved your book.
Regards Diane Calvert, Sefton, North Canterbury NZ

Dear Helen,
I have just finished reading your delightful book Cleo and simply wanted to say “thank you”!
I was lucky enough to attend your recent SPCA fundraiser in Takapu where I bought a copy. You kindly signed it “to Angus Cole” as I requested, from Cleo ‘s Mum.
Sadly, just a couple of weeks ago Angus succumbed to kidney failure and we too had to make the painful decision to put him to sleep. He is buried in our garden in what was one of his favourite spots. We didn’t shave our eyebrows either, but we do talk to him each time we pass him by.
Good wishes to you for happy days ahead.
All my best,
Jane Cole,

Dear Helen, Never before have I read a story and felt compelled to write to the Author. I cried when I read the part when the needle went into Cleo.
I relived our own cats, Murphy who lived to be 21and a half years old, and Tissie, a 17 year old cat.
Also my Samoyed dog, Nicholas who I needed to say goodbye to when he was only 8and a half years old.
Do you still live in Melbourne?
I think you are about my age, and I just seemed to relate to you so much.
Thank you for sharing your story. I only bought the book 2 days ago, and could not put it down.
Thank you again,
Beryl Greenwood,

I have just finished reading “Cleo”. I had a small dark chubby British Shorthair female feline who entered my life – I was willing she was not too sure – who also took over the whole household. She ruled dogs, birds, children, husband and myself. She hated the dogs and birds – such vulgar creatures. She hated the children because they were always trying to cuddle and play with her – vulgar creatures. She hated my husband – that was just plain good taste as he is now a long ago ex. She and my mother both competed for superior female; the cat won. I called her Coco and fell in love with her the moment my eyes laid on her. And she loved me back.
She was there through the good times and bad and I had her with me for 20 years. She went to pussy cat heaven purely because old age had defeated her. Her kidneys were failing and she had dementia; strangley so did my mother. I feel blessed to have ahd mer in my life and miss her very much.
We adopted 2 traumatised tom cats from a shelter recently. They are starting a new chapter in our lives. But they dont know how to rule and I know she would think them very vulgar, because frankly they are.
Regards
Laurie

Dear Helen,
I have just, this afternoon, finished reading "Cleo". It took me less than a week to read your story which in itself is an amazing thing considering.

Some call me a crazy cat woman, I've felt the bond to cats since I was 5yrs of age. And apart from one, that I purchased, all the other feline friends I've had the pleasure of sharing my life with, found me. They really do have amazing healing powers and it has been a powerful thing to read.

The reason I am emailing you, is to say thank you.
A huge thank you.

I lost my partner of 9 years to suicide just six weeks ago.
At least he wasn't alone, our dear cat Poppy, stayed with him while he completed his act, while the paramedics tried to bring him back and even while the police took evidence from the scene. Normally, Poppy would be terrified of all strangers but she wouldn't budge. She is one amazing little girl, she loved her 'dad' so very much.

For weeks I have been unable to concentrate at work, read a sentence or focus on much at all.
Until I picked up your book from Berkelouw Books on High Street, Armadale.

Reading your story, although very different, I could feel the loss.
I also could find hope, that there is life after tragedy.

For the first time since his death, this week, I allowed myself to cry those hot and heavy tears of absolute desperation.
I've cried every day since. While I don't necessarily find it to be a release, I know it is a necessary part of grieving.

Thank you (and Cleo) again,
Name witheld

Hi Helen and I trust this email finds you well.
I have just, in the last 30 mins, finished reading Cleo... immediately I had to google you to see if this was in fact a true story. Imagine my delight when I saw a photo of Cleo on your web site.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading bits of Cleo's life with you and your family and just wanted to drop you a quick note of thanks... your story warmed my heart and Cleo has left her princess pawprints across my heart.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! and thank you Cleo!

Shelly

Hi Helen,
I felt compelled to contact you and thankyou for your story of Cleo. It is so refreshing to find a human story about the joy and power of these beautiful and underrated animals. Your story was incredible. I have just finished reading it and was in floods of tears. It really spoke to me and definitely unleashed a torrent of emotion. I myself have to beautiful cats, one very black with green eyes, his name is Soot. They also came to me in a time of great need.

THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU for sharing your family's story and introducing us to Cleo.
I am curious to read other books you have written.

Kind Regards
Katherine McCallum
Perth WA

Dear Helen,

I am writing this email to say thank you.

I am nearly finished "Cleo" and even though I am at work at the moment, am looking forward to getting on the train to go home so I can continue reading it! What a truly amazing memoir and experience reading Cleo has been for me. The book caught my eye on the shelf of a local book shop because I have an 9 month old kitten whose name is Cleopatra (Cleo for short) and I just knew it would be a special book to read.

I wanted to say thank you for making me laugh, making me cry, making me angry, making me dream and making me love my cats even more immensely than what I did already and more than I thought possible. What a wonderful journey of emotions!

It has also inspired me to share my own story and follow my dreams, through writing, which has always been a passion of mine.

I am honoured to have shared your wonderful story.

Regards,
Melynda Macpherson

Dear Helen, I am reading your wonderful book at the moment, up to chapter 20 and just wanted to write to you to tell you how much your book has and is touching me. I love your book, it is so delightful, a light touch on such wonderfully human and feline stories. I haven't read your columns before and didn't know much about you as a writer, but being a cat lover I was drawn to a review of your book, then bought it for the homeward trip when I was in Melbourne recently. Your writing is so light, evocative, saying so much so simply and lightly (I know this is repetitive) without needing to bash anyone over the head - thank you for your gift of sharing your experiences, your insights, your humour and more with us through this book. I also really appreciate how you hold the joy and grief, the light and dark of human and feline life, together in your writing and in the book - this is just lovely and again helps us as human beings to be a bit easier with ourselves and each other. Thank you.
Well I don't know if you actually get to read these sorts of things or not - I hope so because I would like to have been able to shake your hand and thank you personally for this wonderful gift which I am highly recommending to people as a book for not only cat lovers, but also for all humans engaging in our life and all that it offers us.
Best wishes, Leah Whiu
From Raglan, NZ

Helen,
what a delightful book! ok, after the heartbreaking shock of Sam's death. I cried for 3 days...page 20; for days I had been moping around, a snake in female form with 2 legs...
3 days of tears cleared my heart; I opened your book and began following your healing journey again. We read it in the hospital during this last round of chemo. Methotrexate can only be given in hospital so we spend 5 to 7 days each chemo round there, I shared Cleo with all our nurses. I've progressed to page117...Bob thinks I must wash clothes, clean house, feed him (FOR heavens sake, can't he see I have a BOOK!!)

A black cat entered our lives when the neighbors ignored him long enough to turn up at our door...milk at first sneaked out early morning...Bob grew attached to him so we took him to the vet before this last round of chemo; has feline leukemia. Saddened but undaunted Bob said "well, I have lymphoma so we'll just have cancer together" - rabies shot, ears washed of mites, Killer joined our allergic family. Kara LOVED having a pet since her pet 'Sam' the long tailed fish died last month...Claritin early morning - max dose - followed by several benedryls toward evening, Kara TOO had a playmate. Finally A PET!

Killer disappeared while we were in the hospital. He had been staying with our neighbor so your book remains closed for a bit while we mourn his absence. Bob is so sad. Kara does not know. Her little soul is going through a divorce with mom right now, I've not the heart to tell her yet. Enough to deal with losing 'dad'.

Thank you for this jewel called Cleo. I've invited many to read it through our caring bridge and facebook sites. Your writing is witty; ah to be so bright! I dearly love typing www.HelenBrown.com then seeing YOUR face. Magic still exists! In you.

Thank you dear Helen
As a Sydneysider brought up in Wellington from 1958 until 1969, I have only just discovered your writing having just finished reading Cleo. Thank you for such a delightful journey into the life you and your family shared with her. As the person allowed to feed and care for a black part Burmese cat for the past twelve years I appreciate the human tendencies we bestow on these creatures. Tom is a strong part of our lives and a cat who understands by staying close and giving comfort to anyone when all is not well. He is not a cat, he considers himself a "human been". Thank you again and I look forward to reading more of your books. 
Marye Jane Nicholson

Dear Helen,

I have just finished reading your book titled Cleo. I am an avid book reader and was drawn to your book because it is about a cat. 
You see, I also have a cat named Cleo. Unfortunately my cat is not a moggy cross. She is a pedigree Snow Leopard Bengal. Like your cat was shortened to Cleo from Cleopatra because of her Egyptian heritage, my Cleo was also shortened from Cleopatra because of the perfect face markings of "make-up" lines she has under her eyes on each side of her face. She has the same make-up that Cleopatra had!
Like our family, our family would be sadder without Cleo and her cross half brother Saul who is my oldest sons, and our moggy long haired grey fluff ball with a white chest and white toes on all 4 feet called aptly Sox.
We are so paranoid that they will be stolen, lost or killed while we are out of the house, that they all live in an outside lock up cage, and sleep all over us every night (all 20kgs of combined weight)
I cried with you, reading your book, and I hope that in time you will find another faithful cat who can be in your family, not as a replacement, but an addition.
All the best,
an Adelaide reader
Sally

Hello Helen,
Thank you so much for bringing your book launch and your lovely self to Auckland. I have read an enjoyed the book and already have a list of people I will pass it on to.

It is a bit of a juxtaposition being an author. On the one hand, you sit alone for hours at a time, typing, finding the right adjective, reshaping a particular sentence etc. Then one day the last full stop is in place and the book is finished. Yay! Breathe a sigh of relief. Off to publishers.

Book launches must be an entirely different affair. All those humans in the audience hanging on your every word. The question time must be a bit difficult as you are never quite sure what you are going to get. It must be difficult to cover topics that are so personal.

You looked very beautiful at the launch with your lovely fuchsia jacket and your black patent shoes. (We sell those shoes too) I felt like I wanted to walk with you in front of the audience and stand beside you so you knew that someone was beside you and you weren’t standing up there on your own.
What a marvelous author you are. You have delighted many ordinary folk going about the business of daily life – somehow making the journey a little easier as you lighten the load with humour, perception and insight to struggles and joys.

Hi Helen

There are lots of things I wanted to say about your book but thought I would keep it brief -

I just had to write and tell you how much I enjoyed your book.

You have a really special way of writing - I felt like I was living your story. It was a very emotional journey and I cried buckets at the sad parts and laughed loudly at the funny parts.

Nothing Cleo did surprised me but if you are not used to cats some of her behaviour would have been a challenge. Cleo sounded like she had such a beautiful spirit and you are so lucky to have had two ‘angel cats’ in your life I have never heard of anyone being blessed in such a way. My favourite thing about the book was the way you wrote about Cleo like she was one of the family. Sadly animal shelters around Australia are full of beautiful cats whose owners don’t feel the same love, connection and loyalty.

I was so sad at the loss of your young son and also the pain your son Rob must have felt. I know the book was about Cleo but your story also honoured Sam’s young life in such a loving way I felt privileged to read about him.

Vivienne
PS hello to the toy boy

Good Morning Helen,

I was at your evening at the Dowse Art Gallery.

Thank you - your were refreshingly what I had imagined you to be in person to what I have read over the years.- and by the way I'm sure I speak for everyone who was in that room WE still regard you as one of us!

I was touched, moved and inspired listening to your stories last night. Touched by the physical journey some of the crowd had done to re connect with you (New Plymouth and Whanganui) and reminded of the ease to access emotions that some (women) have by sharing with others. (There were several women moving away from your table with tears in their eyes and the comforting arm of a friend around their shoulder.) 

Sitting in the room, I was very very aware of the untold stories there were in that very room.

Of the ease you showed them to share these stories.

And the miraculousness of life itself.

When I awoke this morning I thought that your next book could be about Jonah and your journey with him through the Cancer. It occurred to me that he has provided you with the very perfect follow on!

Please can you remind me again, what was the site you made reference to for the Friday " thing" that you can do with scripts?

Thank you - for your very very precious Sam, Rob and Family - but most of all, for the very sacredness of you and your connection to life itself.

Kia Kaha.

Kindest regards,
Virginia Wilson

Hi Helen,
I sat here for a while thinking of what to tell you. Your book 'Cleo' is fantastic.
xo

Hello Helen
I cried and I laughed and I cried. Thank you for Cleo. We have a 15 year old Moja – blue Abyssinian and can relate so closely to the antics and behaviour and absolute love from one cat. She is always there when she knows that she is needed, is intolerant of those that she doesn’t want to know, chases dogs – especially little white ones and most of all knows her slaves!
Regards,
Marian Fletcher

Dear Helen,
just a short note to clog up the in-box. I have just completed reading Cleo. What a beautiful, heartbreaking, inspirational piece of writing. You have truly managed to capture the mystique of your cat - how your lives were enriched by hers, & undoubtedly hers by yours. Despite claiming not to have started out as a 'cat person' it is clear how quickly your hearts and spirits became inter-twined - your understanding so personal.

I must confess - I am not knowingly familiar with any of your books or columns; I merely stumbled upon Cleo in Dymocks. What a find - thank you for your wonderful writing. I managed to read most of Cleo accompanied by Leo. Unlike you I have been a lifelong cat person - only having spent short periods of my life without their company. I inherited Leo from a friend's Mother. She passed away last year from metastatic cancer, prior to this I truly believe Leo had been her guardian angel. He came to us in July last year ending a difficult spell, incidentally a catless spell. I had moved to Darwin from the UK a year previously - without cats & with a surprising degree of difficulty adjusting. It goes without saying that Leo & my dog Bruno have since helped us immensely.

I have laughed and cried thoughout this book - brilliant
Kind Regards
Persia

Hi Helen,

I hope you're well! I just wanted to send a quick email to say how much I enjoyed Cleo. I'm typing this with one Devon Rex (Vi) sitting on my legs and another Devon Rex (Evie) on the very top level of my wardrobe, so I'm sure you can guess why it appealed more than Marley did, lol!

There was a passage at the end of the book that I thought was so very true, just a few lines about 'cats aren't something to be "got"' and about them turning up when needed. Evie came into our lives just a few months ago when someone else could no longer look after her. Oddly, the timing has meant that while we had to put one cat down last week (Flo), Vi has her new friend Evie to be going on with.

Anyway, thanks so much for the lovely read. I was so glad to see it selling into the US on Publisher's Marketplace the other week as well! I hope it goes fantastically well for you over there!

Thanks again,
Allison

Hi Helen,
I recently finished your book about Cleo. I absolutely loved the book and really appreciated your honesty in relating your life’s experiences.

I would love to see some more pictures of the star herself! Do you have any additional Cleo photos that you would consider putting up on your website? As the owner of an uppity cat myself, I really enjoyed reading about Cleo’s antics and often nodded along while I was reading about her quirky behaviours.

Thank you for sharing your story, and that of Cleo and your family.

Warm regards
Shandel Burns
NSW, Australia

I’ve read this book (‘Cleo’) non-stop since I picked it up from a Brisbane airport stationer’s and I have both tears in my eyes and joy in my heart. I now have to clamber back into the real world and look at our lovely 12 year old black and white cat ‘Magic’ with new eyes – and my life too, come to that. We live outside Christchurch and your story has somehow been very therapeutic for our year has been both happy and sad and somehow it’s good to know we never travel alone.

Thanks loads
Pam Marxe

Hello Helen,

I am Faith Kaiser, sister to Helen Brown of Fairhope, Alabama.

She loaned me her copy of “Cleo”….the MOST magnificent story I have ever read. I will order many copies as I am the type to give books (and keep extra’s on hand…you never know when the right person, who simply must have a copy, will cross your threshold) and this is a book I will share with many. Thank you so much for writing it.

My grandson, Spencer, 5.5 years fought cancer for a year and is in remission. Through his childhood cancer journey, we have met, sadly, many families whose children have cancer….and even worse, those who have lost children to this dreadful disease.

Your book sheds hope that some type of healing can and may occur. Again, I simply thank you.

Sincerely,
Faith Kaiser

Greetings Helen
My wife was telling me about your latest book on your cat and the support during your grief. That led to me getting out two of your columns from the old Auckland Star that I have kept for so long. The first was “The other woman in his life” which as a father of two daughters was so insightful and profound for me and I have kept it to give all fathers that I know, even though it is probably 30 years old now. The other was your column “On Second Thoughts” about the All Blacks and your comments are just as relevant today.
I am afraid that our country is still besotted by the All Blacks and all of the boofhead values that they stand for. Felix Donnelly in his book, “Big Boys Don’t Cry” said it all for our society and things haven’t changed much in all of those years. I just wish that we had somehow lost the consuming love of Rugby and of the All Blacks but even though they are not doing so well now, it doesn’t seem to be happening.
Until we move on from that Macho love of physical aggression and bludgeoning others in a so called “sport, I don’t think that we will really achieve much as a nation. Where is the celebration of our young Mathematicians, Musicians, Artists, business achievers, Writers etc? I recently interviewed at 5 universities for some scholarships that an organization with which I am involved is offering. I was simply bowled over by the talents, academic skills and community involvement of all of the young people we interviewed. Yet they are unsung and probably will end up in pursuing their dreams in other countries, simply because we are so myopic as a nation.
Anyhow, great to hear that you are still so successful

Best wishes
Norman Godden

Hi Helen,
I recently finished your book about Cleo. I absolutely loved the book and really appreciated your honesty in relating your life’s experiences.

I would love to see some more pictures of the star herself! Do you have any additional Cleo photos that you would consider putting up on your website? As the owner of an uppity cat myself, I really enjoyed reading about Cleo’s antics and often nodded along while I was reading about her quirky behaviours.

Thank you for sharing your story, and that of Cleo and your family.

Warm regards
Shandel Burns
NSW, Australia

Hello Helen, I have just finished reading your lovely book , Cleo. I fell madly in love with your cat. Being a cat lover it wasn't hard at all.

Your story is so inspirational and beautifully crafted, thankyou for writing it.

I was so interested in the background history of cats.

I have 2 cats . One belongs to our daughter and follows her around. We also have 2 dogs . One of the dogs is addicted to socks, just like Cleo.

I live in Melbourne .

Once again, thanks for such a lovely read.
many regards Sue Evans - Murphy

Subject: One gorgeous cat...
I have just finished reading "Cleo" and am so glad I stumbled across it in the local bookshop. I loved your book so much! I have had cats all my life and therefore laughed, smiled, cried and delighted over every one of Cleo's antics. I could so relate to being owned by a cat! Well done - you have an amazing life and I hope one day you'll share it with another spectacular feline.

Hi Helen
Thank you for your wonderful, honest story of Cleo - I bought your book yesterday and was not able to put it down. Sam is incredibly lucky to have a family as devoted to his memory as you all are. Thank you for sharing your feelings regarding his loss, as a parent I cannot imagine or would ever assume how that would feel - you are so very brave to share.
Your book made me laugh, cry and ponder about life so very much. We have just been through 24 weeks in hospital and many surgeries and trauma with our 15 year old daughter who's suffering from severe Crohn's disease. Your story helped me realize we are not alone in dealing with obstacles in our lives.

Thank you and kind regards
Bernadette

Dear Helen,
I've just finished reading 'Cleo', and I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it and how it touched my heart. I am a dedicated cat lover; I currently have four, having sadly sent one to kitty heaven just three weeks ago.

I also had a Cleo - her name was Tasha, and she was a pure black half-Siamese with green eyes. She was my absolute love, and while I adore my current furry friends, none of them will ever replace Tasha in my heart.

I picked up 'Cleo' on a whim while out shopping. I'd just had an argument with my partner (about parenting, of course) and was stomping through Big W feeling very agrieved when it caught my eye. I've hardly put it down since, enjoying laying on my stomach with my oldest kitty friend George sleeping on my back. She's 15 - not a patch on 23, of course - but our vet also said "are you sure she's that old?". I was pregnant with my oldest daughter when we rescued her from the RSPCA - I assured him that I was very sure!

Having visited your website, I'm very pleased to see that you have other books. I'll be looking out for copies!
Regards, Glenda
Canberra

Thanks Helen,
I have just now finished your book. Funny because I put it down and went back to it 3 times in the book store! I 
was afraid it would be too Sad!  I guess I was compelled to read it because  of the cat on the cover... (cleo of 
course).  I have a black cat... divine, clever, intuitive and more. 
Needless to say, we aren;t cat people either! ...Anyway, your story was sad as expected, but it was also 
uplifting, funny and REAL! well  done you... thank you for sharing... and I can’t help but think "it is better to have 
loved and lost, than to have not loved at all" but you of all people know that. 
thank s again :) Inga (Qld)