What do you think?
A Charity Anthology
A Future For Ferals
Life is Tough on the Streets…
Whether born there, abandoned, or on the run, cats—feral or otherwise—living on the fringes don’t have it easy. Predators, territorial battles, and lack of basic necessities like food, shelter, and medical care take their toll and shorten lives. But there are those out there that envision a better future for ferals, and we aim to help them the best we can.
This charity anthology of speculative fiction stories and real-life accounts has been organized and contributed to by those with a heart for these hard-luck cases. All profits from sales will 100% be donated to cat rescue organizations dedicated to finding homes for these kitties, where possible, or giving them the care that they can—medical or Trap, Neuter, and Release—before returning them back into the wild.
Can you help us help them?
Whether born there, abandoned, or on the run, cats—feral or otherwise—living on the fringes don’t have it easy. Predators, territorial battles, and lack of basic necessities like food, shelter, and medical care take their toll and shorten lives. But there are those out there that envision a better future for ferals, and we aim to help them the best we can.
This charity anthology of speculative fiction stories and real-life accounts has been organized and contributed to by those with a heart for these hard-luck cases. All profits from sales will 100% be donated to cat rescue organizations dedicated to finding homes for these kitties, where possible, or giving them the care that they can—medical or Trap, Neuter, and Release—before returning them back into the wild.
Can you help us help them?
186 pages, Paperback
Published October 16, 2025
About the author
Danielle Ackley-McPhail
120 books211 followersAward-winning author, editor, and publisher Danielle Ackley-McPhail has worked both sides of the publishing industry for longer than she cares to admit. In 2014 she joined forces with husband Mike McPhail and friend Greg Schauer to form her own publishing house, eSpec Books (www.especbooks.com).
Her published works include eight novels, Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories, Today’s Promise, The Halfling’s Court, The Redcaps’ Queen, Daire’s Devils, The Play of Light, and Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, written with Day Al-Mohamed. She is also the author of the solo collections Eternal Wanderings, A Legacy of Stars, Consigned to the Sea, Flash in the Can, Transcendence, Between Darkness and Light, The Fox’s Fire, The Kindly One, and the non-fiction writers’ guides The Literary Handyman, More Tips from the Handyman, and LH: Build-A-Book Workshop. She is the senior editor of the Bad-Ass Faeries anthology series, Gaslight & Grimm, Side of Good/Side of Evil, After Punk, and Footprints in the Stars. Her short stories are included in numerous other anthologies and collections.
In addition to her literary acclaim, she crafts and sells original costume horns under the moniker The Hornie Lady Custom Costume Horns, and homemade flavor-infused candied ginger under the brand of Ginger KICK! at literary conventions, on commission, and wholesale.
Danielle lives in New Jersey with her husband and fellow writer, Mike McPhail and four extremely spoiled cats.
Her published works include eight novels, Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories, Today’s Promise, The Halfling’s Court, The Redcaps’ Queen, Daire’s Devils, The Play of Light, and Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, written with Day Al-Mohamed. She is also the author of the solo collections Eternal Wanderings, A Legacy of Stars, Consigned to the Sea, Flash in the Can, Transcendence, Between Darkness and Light, The Fox’s Fire, The Kindly One, and the non-fiction writers’ guides The Literary Handyman, More Tips from the Handyman, and LH: Build-A-Book Workshop. She is the senior editor of the Bad-Ass Faeries anthology series, Gaslight & Grimm, Side of Good/Side of Evil, After Punk, and Footprints in the Stars. Her short stories are included in numerous other anthologies and collections.
In addition to her literary acclaim, she crafts and sells original costume horns under the moniker The Hornie Lady Custom Costume Horns, and homemade flavor-infused candied ginger under the brand of Ginger KICK! at literary conventions, on commission, and wholesale.
Danielle lives in New Jersey with her husband and fellow writer, Mike McPhail and four extremely spoiled cats.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 10, 2026
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy courtesy of the publisher, eSpec, in exchange for an honest review.
This anthology was a fun mix of cat-themed stories. I was quite surprised at the variety, as some were definitely darker than I anticipated. Top marks go to Jeff Young’s “Mervat in the Maiden’s Tower” and Lawrence M. Schoen’s “Cat Futures.”
A good set of reads for a quiet evening, especially considering it was dedicated to the excellent cause of helping stray and feral cats.
This anthology was a fun mix of cat-themed stories. I was quite surprised at the variety, as some were definitely darker than I anticipated. Top marks go to Jeff Young’s “Mervat in the Maiden’s Tower” and Lawrence M. Schoen’s “Cat Futures.”
A good set of reads for a quiet evening, especially considering it was dedicated to the excellent cause of helping stray and feral cats.
February 9, 2026
A very good read for a very g0od cause!
April 20, 2026
4/20/2026 kindle version great short stories and segments about author's cats and about caring for community cats
January 1, 2026
Thank you to Library Thing and especbooks for the opportunity to read this charity anthology to benefit cat rescue. As a long-time humane society volunteer and author of a cat rescue mystery series, I knew I had to request a copy.
The anthology opens with an introduction from editor Danielle Ackley-McPhail explaining the project's purpose and some of the challenges facing rescue organizations, particularly those that care for feral cats. Following are 21 short stories and essays of varying lengths and genres, contributed by a diverse group of authors.
Many of the stories are science fiction or paranormal; there is also some crime fiction and mythology. But what they all have in common is that cats are featured somewhere in the story. Interspersed between the fictional stories are educational essays about various aspects of rescue: the mechanics of TNR, fostering kittens, socialization, and hoarding.
All of the proceeds from sales of this collection are being donated to a 501c3 registered charity that does cat rescue. Recommended for anyone who cares about cats and rescue.
The anthology opens with an introduction from editor Danielle Ackley-McPhail explaining the project's purpose and some of the challenges facing rescue organizations, particularly those that care for feral cats. Following are 21 short stories and essays of varying lengths and genres, contributed by a diverse group of authors.
Many of the stories are science fiction or paranormal; there is also some crime fiction and mythology. But what they all have in common is that cats are featured somewhere in the story. Interspersed between the fictional stories are educational essays about various aspects of rescue: the mechanics of TNR, fostering kittens, socialization, and hoarding.
All of the proceeds from sales of this collection are being donated to a 501c3 registered charity that does cat rescue. Recommended for anyone who cares about cats and rescue.
November 25, 2025
Rescue is not an easy calling, whether it is cats or some other species.
It is hard work with usually no pay, often not enough volunteers, and
very little thanks beyond (hopefully) the satisfaction of making life
better for another living creature. When donations are low, rescuers
draw on their own funds to take care of their temporary charges, and
not even just the basics of food, shelter, and necessities, but medical
costs or even end-of-life care.
This collection seeks to share some of that burden. The profits from
the campaign that funded these books have already been sent to A
*Future for Ferals, a 501c3 registered charity*, to mitigate the costs of
rescuing over fifty cats in one day from a hoarder house. Of the fifty
cats, only two had been neutered. The vet bill was over $4000 to neuter
the rest and take care of the necessary medical care some of the cats
needed resulting from neglect.
It is hard work with usually no pay, often not enough volunteers, and
very little thanks beyond (hopefully) the satisfaction of making life
better for another living creature. When donations are low, rescuers
draw on their own funds to take care of their temporary charges, and
not even just the basics of food, shelter, and necessities, but medical
costs or even end-of-life care.
This collection seeks to share some of that burden. The profits from
the campaign that funded these books have already been sent to A
*Future for Ferals, a 501c3 registered charity*, to mitigate the costs of
rescuing over fifty cats in one day from a hoarder house. Of the fifty
cats, only two had been neutered. The vet bill was over $4000 to neuter
the rest and take care of the necessary medical care some of the cats
needed resulting from neglect.
November 4, 2025
Lovely short story collection supporting cats both feral, fostered and adopted. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews