WHAT'S NEW?
….several exciting things, at the moment! A number of updates have been added to this page, so scroll on down. A quick recap follows-you can read further for nitty-gritty details.
Authors write alone, of necessity, but not in a vacuum. Writers cannot hope to succeed without readers-one cannot exist without the other! This page offers YOU the opportunity to participate in the writing process by telling what kind of information you want to read, and why.
Send in your comments and suggestions-or if you'd rather not be that bold, simply forward along a "howdy" to amy @ shojai.com (just remember to remove the spaces). If you're interested in having me speak at your event, check out the Speaking page for further information.
As one of the founders, and the returning President of the organization, I've never missed the event. This year it includes stellar seminars, two receptions, a Friday speaker event, Saturday breakfast, lunch speaker and awards banquet-even an autograph party during the cat show. What fun, I even get to wear my sequins!
I have the privilege of presenting the annual Shojai Mentor Award, a $500 honorarium and plaque. The image on the plaque is a pair of hands holding a kitten up so he can reach the star that's hung from the moon. As writers, we all reach for our own stars. The Shojai Mentor Award honors that CWA member who has given another writer the boost they need to reach their particular star-goal. To me, that's a basic goal of the CWA, to mentor each other to reach our best.
Each year the CWA conference grows bigger and better. As in the past, the conference remains open to the public. Hope to see you there!
International Thriller Writers
This past winter, I was honored to judge an early round of books for the annual contest held by the International Thriller Writers, Inc. I'll be attending the annual New York conference July 9-11 (ThrillerFest) and perhaps I'll see you there! Watch for pictures and news about this great event.
International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
Purina Cat Chow "Emotional Health" column
In the summer of 1999 I was delighted to be a part of the "Lifetime of Love" Kitten Adoption Tour, sponsored by Kitten Chow. Many furry babies found new homes during our travels, as we partnered with animal shelters in Houston, San Diego, Columbus, Asheville, and Atlanta. It was gratifying to meet and speak with cat lovers across the country, and share tips on how to help cats and their owners enjoy each other even more.
In 2000, Purina Cat Chow asked me to serve as their National Spokesperson for the next incarnation of this event, and for three years I traveled with the "Way of Life" Tour, which visited 20 cities in 2000, and another 30 cities in 2001 and 2002. Although the tour has since been suspended I continue to write the award-winning weekly online "Emotional Health" column at www.catchow.com
Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. Conference
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More than any other, this page offers an insider's look at the author's life and work. A book begins as an idea, then evolves with research, questions asked and answered, pictures added or subtracted, and edits made, until every intricate piece fits together like the myriad jigsaw pattern of fine stained glass. When successful, the published work shines-the individual parts no longer stand alone, but instead work as one to make a single glorious work of art.
Of course, I'm never alone when I write--and always have a past, current or (perhaps?) future furry-muse hanging around to inspire my work. That's "Magic von Fernheim" with his nemesis. This special German shepherd has already been featured in several of my newspaper columns and television segments, as well as a "case study" in the IAABC professional journal, and has quickly become a big part of our lives. The cat, Seren(dipity) has not yet succumbed to his charms, though, which keeps things interesting.
NEWS FLASH!
I'm pleased to announce details about the upcoming 
held its conference April 24-26 in Houston--what a terrific event! IAABC is a professional association for the field of animal behavior consulting, and represents the professional interests of behavior consultants throughout the world. IAABC acts as a resource for people who love pets and need behavior assistance. I am a Certified member and am pleased that my book PETiQuette is listed as recommended reading for organization members. You can read more about the organization in one of my online articles on that page.
My goal has always been to provide pet lovers with the information they need to make sure adoptions are permanent, for the lifetime of the cat. The C.A.T. techniques developed for the tour, which include the P.E.T. Test for diagnosing behavior problems, the P.U.R.R. Program for solving them, how to S.H.A.P.E. the best home environment, plus all the must-knows of feline behavior and care, are featured in 
OWFI holds an outstanding writers conference the first weekend of May each year. It is one of the best and most economical conferences I've attended, and includes a good mix of both established and beginning writers. I've served as president of the organization, and the OWFI conference has been good to me. I have in the past sold numerous articles, garnered a pet column from Woman's World, met countless editors, and hooked up with a great agent as a result of attending this event. Whether you are an aspiring or an established writer, I highly recommend participation in a conference in your neck of the woods. The networking alone is priceless. For more information about upcoming events with OWFI, check out 
