A Cat in the Act

Who wouldn't want sage yet sassy advice from the ghost of their dead cat? It's 1987 and New York actor/singer/waiter Matthew is struggling to restart his career, regain a sense of optimism, and open himself up to dating in the aftermath of his lover's death from AIDS-all with the spiritual guidance of his recently deceased cat, Hobo. Life is uncertain in this turbulent era of the '80s, as the gay community is reeling from the onslaught of AIDS and struggling with the government's lack of support. After some missteps seeking love in all the wrong places, will Hobo's lessons for Matt on how to believe in himself, and in his ability to find love, lead to romance once again? Can he get his career back on track if he auditions for a new and timely show? Will he find his voice on the grand stage and realize his dream of making it to Broadway? Find out in this journey of discovery- a sweet and entertaining valentine of a yarn. Praise for A Cat in the Act "For actor/cater waiter Matthew McKinney, New York in 1987 is more "Big Crapple" than "Big Apple." He lost his lover to AIDS eighteen months ago, and has just had to put Hobo, their rescue cat, down. Hobo has her own plans; she won't cross the Rainbow Bridge until Matt gets his professional and personal acts together. This feline shrink has Matt's back at auditions for a new Broadway musical and vegetarian meals with Christopher, a skittish modern dancer "like a field of fresh clover"-and everywhere else from The Townhouse and The Saint to The Pines and the Paper Mill Playhouse. Arsenault traces Matt's journey back to the land of the living with wit, charm, and a hard-won knowledge of how creating art is its own lifeline. A Cat in the Act is a wonderful book." —James Magruder, author of Vamp Until Ready "A Cat in the Act is a fascinating and beautifully written mixture of whimsy and reality, immortality and death, and the charms of karma. All of it set in New York's theatrical community during the AIDS crisis; it is a mirror-like remembrance for those who lived through it and an eye-opening and open-hearted introduction for those who did not. Highly recommended." —Dan T. Shaheen, Tony® award-winning theatre producer "Brian Arsenault's first novel is an uplifting read, a work peopled with unforgettable queer characters who find in each other the love and support of a family. They tell a story that will have you laughing, crying, and wanting to get up and dance all at once!" —Elías Miguel Muñoz, author of The Greatest Performance and Encore! Encore! "Brian takes us through a beautiful, sweet journey of love, self-discovery, and redemption in a time when the gay community was in the midst of a plague. His protagonist, Matthew, battles his way through the AIDS crisis, a career crisis, and his own crisis of self to get to a place where his heart can again love freely and where his artistry can breathe once more." —Jack Kenny, TV series Creator & Showrunner