Cat Writers’ Association

The Cat Writers’ Association, Inc. (CWA) is an organization of professionals writing, publishing, and broadcasting about cats. Members include writers, editors, publishers, artists, public relations specialists, and broadcasters.

I am thrilled to report that CWA approved my membership application this week. I look forward to being a part of a group whose goals include:

·         Be a major influence for the good of cats by providing accurate news, information, and education on all aspects of cats

·         Encourage cat writing in general newspapers and magazines

·         Improve the quality of writing about cats

·         Recognize outstanding communication about cats

·         Offer members networking opportunities with their peers

·         Provide education on being published

To be considered for professional membership, samples of your work for which you are paid such as books, magazine articles, or ezine articles are required along with a CWA sponsor. My application package included Tatianna—Tales and teaching of My Feline Friend. I thank Drew Strouble, Tatianna’s cover artist for sponsoring me.

What is a topic you would like to see me write about?

Bountiful Blessings!

The Cat’s Prayer

My summer reading has started, and I found this beautiful poem from an anonymous writer in the book, The Older Cat by Dan Poynter. I hope you enjoy it.

The Cat’s Prayer

Although I am too proud to beg, and may appear to be a very independent creature, I ask for your loving care and attention. I rely on you for my well being much more than you may realize.

This I promise you, my benefactor, that I will not be a burden on you nor will I demand more of you than you care to give.

I will be a quiet peaceful island of serenity for you to gaze upon; a soft soothing body to caress, and I shall purr with pleasure to rest your weary ears.

Since I am a gourmet who appreciates different taste sensations I pray you will give me a variety of nutritious foods and fresh water daily.

You know dear friend, how I love to go. Allow me, I pray, a warm sheltered place where I can rest peacefully and feel secure.

If I am wounded in battle or suffering from disease, please tend me gently, and see that loving and competent hands treat me.

Please protect me from the inhuman humans who would hurt and torture me for their own amusement. I am accustomed to your gentle touch and am neither always suspicious nor swift enough to avoid such malicious acts.

In my later years when my senses fail me and my infirmities become too great to bear, allow me the comfort and dignity that I desire for my closing days and help me gently in my pain or passing.

Hear this prayer, my dear friend, my fate depends on you.

Bountiful Blessings!

Tatianna Award–National Indie Excellence

My Tatianna book has been blessed with another honor last week– National Indie Excellence 2008 Book Awards.

Category: Animals/Pets

Award:  Finalist

Award winners will be announced at the Book Expo America held in Los Angeles in June where Tatianna will receive national media and industry exposure.  Indie Excellence will distribute press releases to approximately 700 editors and producers.  The Indie awards are presented in more than 60 categories of books and specifically recognize independent publishers, print on demand, and self-published books. Beautiful black and gold stickers for my book have already arrived on my doorstep!

A listing of all award winners can be found at http://www.indieexcellence.com/indie-results.htm

I am deeply grateful for the variety of category recognitions that Tatianna has received this winter and spring—including spiritual, memoir/autobiography, most recently animals/pets.

Bountiful Blessings!

Tatianna Honor–2008 Beach Book Festival

I received great news this week that my Tatianna book received an award in the 2008 Beach Book Festival, honoring the hottest reads of the summer season.

Category:  Spiritual

Award:  Honorable Mention

When I think of summer, I look forward to vacation, lots of free time, and a flexible schedule. Final exam week at the Northwood University starts soon. Once I finish grading a few hundred projects and tests, my summer begins! How do I plan to spend that precious time?  Topping my list is to delve into my summer reading list—which I add to all year long! I average reading 52 books a year and much of that reading is done in the summer.  Here are three books I plan to read in May.

·         Jan Karon– Home to Holly Springs.  I have long been a fan of her famous Mitford series and collect her hardback copies. I just love Father Tim and Cynthia, and I must not forget Violet the cat. In fact, the cat book, Violet Comes to Stay is on my office desk, offering me inspiration. A few people have suggested I write a children’s Tatianna book. Interesting thought!!  So I am looking forward to the start of Karon’s new series.

·         Kim Edwards–The Memory’s Keeper’s Daughter. This book was the Palm Beach County Library System’s spring book selection that our citizens were reading and discussing. I missed reading it, but did thoroughly enjoy the television movie.

·         Eckhart Tolle– Stillness Speaks. I recently read A New Earth and participated in Oprah’s revolutionary 10-week online course— fabulous and life-changing for me.

So grab those beach bags filled with your favorite reading material (which I hope includes Tatianna!!) and head off to your summer cottage, lake house, or sacred back yard.

What is on your summer reading list?

Bountiful Blessings!

2008–The Year of the Cat

Chronic kidney disease is a leading cause of death in older cats. I was encouraged by a recent article entitled “2008—Year of the Cat” in Healthy Pet, a publication mailed by my veterinarian. Three major organizations including Morris Animal Foundation, the Winn Feline Foundation, and the American Association of Feline Practitioners have partnered “to promote the need for more feline research and to educate cat owners on how they can maximize health in their feline companions.” They have designated 2008 as the Year of the Cat. Presently, cats in American households outnumber dogs, 82 million to 72 million.

The challenge with kidney disease is symptoms may not become apparent until more than two-thirds of kidney function has been lost. Tatianna battled kidney failure for almost three years and Katarina lived with it for over a year before passing on.  A kidney disease study sponsored by these organizations is exploring how to develop an inexpensive test that would indicate first signs of the disease and that can be performed during a routine urinalysis. Kay Rutherfurd-Markwick, DVM, PhD, from Massey University in New Zealand is the lead researcher.

Early detection is critical. Experts advise that even cats without outward symptoms should be checked with a blood test for signs of chronic renal failure during their regular yearly exams once they have reached the age of seven. This is how I discovered Katarina had developed the disease at age sixteen. She did not have any outward symptoms.

If your cat exhibits any of these outward symptoms, expedient veterinary care is paramount:  increased water consumption, frequent urination, loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and declining vision. Tatianna was twelve when she had loss of appetite, lethargy, and increased water consumption. A blood test confirmed kidney failure.

If you have had a cat with kidney failure, I encourage you to write me about the experience.

Bountiful Blessings!