Premier of The Nine Lives of Donovan Kluckk!
Released on International Cat Day, August 8th, 2026
Slinkk and Stinkk: The Kitties of Sky Village Present “The Nine Lives of Donovan Kluckk!” On Amazon!
A Story 59 Years in the Making
Rooted in Real Life
The Chinaberry Treehouse Café grew from the chinaberry trees my brother, Gary, and I climbed from about ages six to ten around our parents’ property in Phoenix. At the height of their seasonal foliage, the leaves formed a complete capsule of soft green, shutting away the outside world.
At our size, the rubbery branches bent and bounced beneath us, letting us vault through the canopy like chimps swinging through drapes. Our father lovingly called us his “yard apes.”
We also built a three-story tree house in the V of two cottonwood trees beside the irrigation ditch behind our home. It had a trap door and rose high enough for us to peek above the roofline of the house.
And if you had looked closely at what we carried up there, you might have spotted the familiar outline of a Snickers or Payday bar tucked in one of our hands.
The activities in the Chinaberry Treehouse Café trace back to the local Phoenix summer recreation program at Westwood Elementary. Writing this book has returned me to the wonder of those summers pouring over the comics, playing Carrom, and enjoying a snow cone, or watching a 16mm movie stretched out on the cool darkness of the bare cafeteria cement floor. I didn’t read a comic book; I devoured them.
As an RV’er of decades, the Kid’s Camp of America captured the best memories of camping. The camp wouldn’t have been complete had not my wife Carol suggested the unforgettable Daisy! My favorite Daisy scene is when Daisy makes Slinkk her baby … again!
Donovan Kluckk, Please Stand Up!
As a spin-off character in The Kitties of Sky Village, Donovan Kluckk was forged from memories in the 1960’s and ’70’s, including my blue-sparkle-flake Sting-Ray bike with ape handlebars, 5-speed, a banana seat, and a slick rear tire. His character blended that of a quirky youth counselor at the Boys Club, where we wore our club cards punched onto shoelaces around our necks. The feel of that membership card gave us a sense of belonging and discovery.
Kluckk also has his roots in a developmentally disabled person I knew who personified a spirit to try something though you might fail in the attempt. He had the peculiar habit of appearing all over the city on his bicycle, collecting magical treasures in his silver basket in the back. You couldn’t miss thinking, “There he is! That’s ‘Donovan!'” He was unmistakable! The grand confidence, the inevitable chaos. Quintessential Kluckk.
I remember “Donovan” attempting to play softball on our church team. When emotions became too much for him, he would collapse. On the way to first base, with the cheers of his actually hitting the ball, he collapsed to the ground, like a fainting goat. What inspired me was his willing to try despite what we might consider “odd behavior.” In many ways, we can learn from Donovan, engage the game, and “Get Kluckky!”
The Rise of the Bogwhump
The story of the Pollugans and the Bogwhump arose out our national epidemic of politicians lying for their leader coupled with a profound lack of kindness and compassion for others. In an attempt to bring redemption to those caught in this black tide, the Bogwhump lifts his great hand to the task. The concept of the Bogwhump sprouted from the memories of our father who loved his naps and you learned not to stir sleeping “Bogwhump!” You knew when you roused it from slumber.
Enjoy the Read
Now available here on Amazon in Kindle, paperback and hardback. If you enjoy the read, please give an honest review.
Remember, what ever you can be in this life … Be Kind,
Jim
