Tad Williams -- author of numerous first-rate fantasy novels -- with his "bat-eared thing" otherwise known as The Inscrutible Frankie Wah.

In the second photo, from from Frankie Wah's TwitPic photostream, Frankie insisted upon his origins thus: "Like a God I spring from a Man's head." But if so, his tail appears to have originated out of Man's snot.

You should definitely also visit Tad Williams' website to see his "reality show" video episodes Tragically Domestic:

The Tad Williams' and Deborah Beale Show