Because Cats Do Not Love the Sea: A Journey

A sassy tale of two elderly French ladies in their nineties, who take their first-ever vacation. They are off to Trouville on the Normandy coast and are followed, stealthily, by Mr Beaujangles, their beautiful black cat. Mr Beaujangles runs into a series of sticky situations from which he has to save himself. Set against the background of the gorgeous Rouen Cathedral, as well as the fashionable seaside resorts of northern France during “la canicule” (a heatwave), the story explores the themes of love, devotion and attachment as well as spirited behaviour.

Elizabeth Ruinard has been an author and academic since the 1980s. Her areas of analysis include visual art theory and history, cultural studies and work-integrated learning. She has showcased her polished academic style in various academic journals, books and even in publications from the National Gallery of Australia. Recently she has focused more on her fictional writing which juxtaposes itself boldly against her clear, concise academic writing. Her lyrical and fluid fictional writing is entwined with whimsical modes, themes and characters. Her inspiration comes from her life events, including being a student in Paris, her daughter and husband, the people she has encountered and even her cats. She preserves the integrity of her love of the French language by cleverly interweaving French words and expressions into her work.