Amy Shojai's Blog, page 105
February 7, 2014
Nominations Open for BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards!
Nominations Open for BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards!
I’m late posting this–have been busy with the new book, new appearances and SQUEEE! new cat. As a member of the BlogPaws Pet Influencer Group, I’m pleased to announce the 3rd Annual BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Social Media Pet Blogging Awards.
Last year, I was honored to be one of the judges of this contest, and helped select the best-of-the-best in pet-astic blogging! This year the BLING, BITCHES & BLOOD BLOG is eligible to be nominated, since the torch has been passed on to other great judges.
WHAT ARE “NOSE-TO-NOSE” AWARDS?
BlogPaws is all about educating bloggers to improve their craft. The Nose-to-Nose awards recognizes the best examples of outstanding blogs in the field of pet-blogging (cats, dogs, horses, ferrets, hamsters, birds, bunnies…iguanas…I know I’m missing some!), and this year there are 12 categories that will receive one-of-a-kind trophy awards (and bragging rights *s*).
These awards are particularly meaningful because YOU–the readers of the blogs, colleagues, other bloggers and pet lovers–YOU get to nominate your favorites! No comments necessary, no votes or campaigning required, even the silent “lurkers” have the ability to get a paw in and nominate your pick of the blogging literati.
The judging is conducted by a panel of experts who evaluate candidates based on creativity, expertise and performance. Last year, the competition was ferocious and very difficult to judge because there were so many terrific nominees…so I’m glad that I don’t have that decision this year!
WHAT YOU CAN DO?
Nominate! Then nominate again…and again and again. Woot! You can nominate as many of your favorite blogs as you want, in any of these 12 categories. DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 12th!
Of course, I’d love it if some of y’all chose to nominate BLING, BITCHES AND BLOOD for one or more of the categories, but don’t stop there, nominate whole clowders and gaggles, and packs of blogs in these categories:
Best Cat Blog
Best Dog Blog
Best Blog Post
Best Humor Blog
Best Pet Blog Photo
Best Pet Blog Video
Best New Pet Blog
Best Design
Best Other Pet Blog
Best Pet MicroBlogger
Best Cause Blog
Best Use of Social Media by a 501(c)3
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE MAIN NOMINATION PAGE, WITH MORE DETAILS
HOW TO NOMINATE BLING, BITCHES & BLOOD
If you decide to honor THIS blog with a nomination (blush) thank you very much! They’ll ask for these details in the short-and-sweet nomination form:
Contact Name for Blog Owner: Amy Shojai
Contact Email for Blog Owner: amy@shojai.com
Blog’s Homepage Link: http://amyshojai.com
My Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/amyshojai.cabc
Amy’s Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amyshojai
This blog can be nominated for many of the categories, you pick–but some probably won’t be a good fit (I don’t write about iguanas too often…). All you need for BEST CAT BLOG and BEST DOG BLOG are the details listed above.
DETAILS: A couple categories request you to provide links to a specific favorite blog post or photo or video. If you recall one just use the “search” function on the sidebar to see if you can find it. I was curious (this is the first time my blog is eligible) so I took a furry walk through past posts to see what some of the most popular ones have been, and they may be your favs, too.
BEST BLOG POST (click here for form!)
KARMA COMES HOME: http://amyshojai.com/2014/02/07/karma...
WHY TABBY WEARS AN “M”–A CHRISTMAS CAT STORY: http://amyshojai.com/2013/12/25/why-t...
MAGIC MARKERS & SEREN SPOTS: TREASURE SENIOR PETS: http://amyshojai.com/2013/11/13/magic...
HELP! MY PET HATES MY DATE: http://amyshojai.com/2012/12/07/help-...
BEST HUMOR BLOG (click here for form!)
PETS NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS: http://amyshojai.com/2014/01/01/pets-...
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PET WRITER: http://amyshojai.com/2013/12/04/a-day...
BEST BLOG PHOTO (click here for form)
TITLE: KARMA STRIKES A POSE
http://amyshojai.com/2014/02/07/karma...
TITLE: MAGIC AND THE CHICKEN
http://amyshojai.com/2013/11/13/magic...
TITLE: SEREN SUNBATHING
http://amyshojai.com/2013/11/29/thank...
TITLE: SEREN & STAINED GLASS
http://amyshojai.com/2013/04/24/pet-g...
TITLE: PUPPY KILLS SANTA
http://amyshojai.com/2013/10/07/monda...
TITLE: SEREN GROOMING:
http://amyshojai.com/2014/01/10/why-c...
BEST PET BLOG VIDEO (click here for form)
ASK AMY: WHY DOGS ROLL IN NASTY STUFF: http://amyshojai.com/2014/01/29/why-d...
ASK AMY: HOW TO TEACH CLAW ETIQUETTE: http://amyshojai.com/2013/12/06/ask-a...
ASK AMY: WHY DOES MY DOG HUG AND LEAN? http://amyshojai.com/2013/12/11/ask-a...
HELP! MY PET HATES MY DATE! http://amyshojai.com/2012/12/07/help-...
RAINBOW PETS: http://amyshojai.com/plays/strays/
Thank you to ALL my special Sweet Peeps, Sweet Tweets and colleagues who do so much for the pets we love, whether through writing about them, reading and sharing good info, rescuing and simply loving cats and dogs (and other critters). Youse guyz are the best!
Now…go nominate some great blogs!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
Karma Comes Home
One afternoon over a week ago, Magical-Dawg bolted upright from his doze to stare out the patio door windows. I’d seen a flash of motion, too, but figured it was a field rat (they’re huge!), and never would have bothered to investigate without his interest.
Not a rat. A cat. Specifically, a lynx-point Siamese type kitten.
The temps that day were mild, but forecast to turn bitter cold. This youngster wanted inside in the worst way, even when nose-to-nose (through the glass) with Magical-Dawg.
Cue Music: “I’m Just A Stray, Running On My Own…”
The blue eyed stray had a blue collar, so I figured the youngster came from a neighboring home. The shivering kitty wasn’t full grown–a bit bigger than Seren (but she’s only 5 pounds)–and looked like coyote bait to me. Anyway, I planned to bring the stray inside at least for the night, and find the owners who surely must be frantic missing the little thing.
Magic barked when I opened the door, and sent the cat racing away. Well dang, that solved the issue! But just in case, I called for the pretty thing.
“Here kitty kitty kitty….”
No response, until I meowed. The kitten not only answered my meow, but came running and let me pick him up. The handsome boy-kitten had no ID on the collar and still had his jingle-bells (ahem). He immediately began face-rubbing my chin.
Do you think he could read the “sucker” label on my forehead?
“Looking For A Home, A Place to Stay…”
I had several concerns. First, I couldn’t allow Seren-kitty to come in contact with this unknown feline, without risk of her getting sick. My first responsibility has to be to my own pets. Second, Magical-Dawg respected Seren-The-Boss but might not feel the same about this kitty interloper, so I had to protect the stray. Third, I had nothing to feed the kitten because Seren eats a therapeutic kidney diet not at all appropriate to a young guy.
Thanks to the BlogPaws trip last spring, though, I still had lots of food samples from some terrific sponsors including several packets of “prowl” dehydrated whole chicken kitty food from The Honest Kitchen. The “newbie” couldn’t get enough of the food, and snarfed it all down almost before I could get the bowl on the patio floor. When I shared this story later with Kate Fenner from the company–I’d just met her at the San Diego book signing–she offered to send some trial boxes of food. (Ain’t cat and dog people the BEST?!)
While “newbie” ate, I ran back inside to move Magic out of nose-sniffing range, and then transferred the visitor into the laundry room along with the bowl of food. Then I ran upstairs to find the extra (too small) clean litter box that I used to store a variety of extra pet paraphernalia, raced back downstairs with the pan, litter, a bowl for water, and a scratch object, and got the little guy ensconced. Once offered the water, he drank the bowl dry–and then drank another half a bowl as well when it was refilled. That told me he’d been outside for more than a day, since cats typically drink sparingly.
“Along the way, Someone took a glance…”
I posted some of photos to Facebook, but nobody recognized him. I called my husband to warn him about the temporary house guest and not to open the laundry room door. Once he got a look at the newbie, he felt someone surely would want such a gorgeous cat back–but wondered could we maybe find a similar looking cat for ourselves?
Sucker, once again?
Meanwhile, Magical-Dawg camped out beside the door while the newbie kitten played paw patty-cake driving him nuts. Seren slept.
“…Offered me a chance, a place to stay…”
The next morning I took “newbie” to my vet’s office and had him scanned for a microchip. Nothing. On the way home, I stopped at the neighbors to ask if they were missing a super-friendly boy kitten. Huh uh. I called the city shelter and ask if a cat fitting his description had been reported missing. Nope. Every day I checked the newspaper. Zip.
The third day with us, Magical-Dawg got to meet “newbie” through his doggy gate, and struck up a nearly instantaneous friendship. I think the dog would like any critter that let him sniff butt–but the kitten seems to have been around dogs and likes Magic equally well. Who in holy heck wouldn’t be looking for this missing gem?
“Now can’t you see? You belong to me.“
We moved “newbie” to the master bedroom bathroom because the doggy doors in the kitchen next to the laundry wouldn’t hold him and put him too close to Seren’s dining room domain. As the days progressed I struggled not speak his name aloud, the one he’d whispered to my heart the first night we slept together.Yes, he sleeps with us (and Magic). We’re a dang fine kitty B&B!
“It was meant to be! Anything I’ll do.”
Finally this past Wednesday I told myself that Friday would be THE day. And if he’d not been claimed by Friday, I’d make the vet appointment because he must have been dumped, and I can’t risk having an intact boy kitty become “too” mature, all over our walls.
And as much as I’d like to slap the dump-ee up-side the head–this cat came SOOO CLOSE to dying, guys! But, I think I’d also like to thank ‘em. Yes, I’m smitten.
Seren probably wouldn’t, though. She’s “met” him from a distance and offered her typical crotchety old-lady snub. It took her months and months to learn to tolerate Magic but she’s mellowed since then. And you see, seventeen years ago, Seren was the dumped kitten, “…running on her own, looking for a way home, a place to stay…”
When Seren was dumped and found sleeping on a friend’s back porch it was lucky that we found each other–and so she was named Serendipity. Therefore it feels very appropriate to welcome the lucky boy cat version into our lives. By the time y’all read this, “newbie” will be at the vets getting examined, neutered, vaccinated…and microchipped.
Today, Karma comes home.
And if he could sing, I think both Karma and Serendipity (and all of the “strays” out there) would sing the final lines of the song lyric together:
“All I can give, I’ll live the life you live.
Anything forgive. Just to be with you.”
(Lyrics from the title song of STRAYS, THE MUSICAL! copr. Amy Shojai/Frank Steele)
I hope some of y’all will come out to see me tomorrow from 1-3:30 at the Sherman Town Center Petco for my Valentines & Pets free talk–I’ve even more “pet love” to celebrate! I’ll explain how I’ve been intro-ing the furry wonders, and of course will be happy to paw-tograph a book for you or your special pet. You might find the “stray” love of your life to adopt there, too. Maybe the next book will have a new feline character…named Karma!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
February 5, 2014
Valentines Goes To The Pets & Book Signing!
Valentines Goes To The Pets & Book Signing!
Have you chosen a Valentine’s gift yet for your significant other? Will the gift make ‘em PURR with pleasure, or HOWL with hate? Recent surveys show that if you want to please the two-legged love of your life, you should pick a present with pets in mind. (say THAT fast three times, LOL!).
For those of you in the North Texas area, please stop by my VALENTINES & PETS talk this Saturday from 1-3:30 at the Sherman Town Center’s Petco. I’ll have EIGHT different titles available including both of my dog viewpoint thrillers. I’d love to paw-tograph a book to the special pets (and pet loving humans) in your life. Bring your questions, too, and learn about all the fun, sweet, crazy and aggravating ways cats and dogs show love.
Surveys have shown that 21 percent of adults would rather spend February 14 with their pet than their spouse. After all, the cat cuddles on your lap while watching your fav TV show and never demands the remote control, and the dog actually LIKES you to leave dirty socks on the floor! One poll from the American Kennel Club (AKC) revealed that 90 percent of women wish their boyfriend or husband was more like their dog, and men wished the ladies would be in a good mood more often like the dog.
Dating experts agree that a puppy is a powerful “babe magnet.” And guys, if you REALLY want to turn on the romance, admit that you love cats–it takes a real macho secure guy to appreciate (and admit) to feline fascination.
Even better, if your human love shares his/her pillow or lap with a pet friend, Get A GIFT FOR THE PET! I’m no relationship expert for two-leggers, but can tell you gifting your girlfriend’s cat may stem any green-eyed-fur-monsters that have got between you and your Valentine’s plans.
What about the pets? Of course we know they love us–but the ways they show love probably surprise you. They demonstrate love with purrs and play, and even pee and poop. Understanding what they say and knowing how to fix problems goes a long way toward creating a house ‘o love.
Even my thrillers LOST AND FOUND and HIDE AND SEEK explore the deep, abiding bond we share with our pets. You can of course get any of these books by ordering directly from Amazon or asking local bookstores to get them for you. Sadly, the realities of publishing mean these books won’t be on bookstore shelves, another reason I’m delighted to make them available to y’all this weekend February 8.
Oh, and maybe you and the love of your life are ready for a new furry friend–Stop by Petco in Sherman on Saturday to see me and check out the adoptable pets! My friend Lynette George will have kitties available and there may be puppy-licious options as well. Oh…and I’ll give you a discount on the book of your choice at the signing for anyone who adopts a pet that day.
I’d say everyone could be a winner on Saturday, especially the pets needing new homes. Please tell all your pet-loving friends about the event–and share this blog so if folks can’t come they might still get furry ideas for Valentines. Hope to see you Saturay!
PS: NOSE-TO-NOSE AWARDS!
By the way, if you want to show some Valentine Love to this blog *s* you can nominate BLING, BITCHES & BLOOD for a BLOGPAWS NOSE TO NOSE AWARD. I’ll get details posted in another post soon (the deadline to nominate is Feb 12…so dang, I better get my furry tail in gear!).
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
February 3, 2014
Monday Mentions: Book DNA, Plagiarism Fix & Badware Blog Hijack
Monday Mentions: Book DNA, Plagiarism Fix & Badware Blog Hijack
by NowSourcing.
Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.
The past two weeks or so, this blog has had a bug. Who knew someone would want to HIJACK the Bling, Bitches & Blood Blog off to phish-land. Never fear, those who arrived via one of the direct links or subscription never saw this and I wouldn’t have known except a friend “googled” my name and the blog came up listed as “#1 Financial Answers!…” It seems that some two-legged jerk with too much time on his virtual hands figured a way to re-direct some of my blog posts to a phish-scheme site, to the point the blog got black-listed by Google. YIKES!
What to do? well, after much tooth-gnashing, I did a number of things:
Updated the WordPress software
Deleted unused WordPress themes
Un-installed and then re-installed current theme
Contacted my service provider, and they referred me to http://google.com/webmasters to get the site white-listed again. Further info here: http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2008/08/hey-google-i-no-longer-have-badware.html
Searched HTML code on server for code, especially plugins, headers and footers (found nuthin!)
Deleted several plugins and then re-installed. Still nuthin. By now my eyeballs are bleeding…
In my google search for help, ran across Sucuri.com, paid them $89 (good for a year and re-do’s) and within three hours, the blog was CLEAN! Hallelujia!
Followup: installed the free Sucuri Security wordpress plugin that came with the fee
Installed auto-backup
Changed ALL passwords. Within two days, Sucuri caught half a dozen failed attempts at logins from all over the world.
Whew! But wait, there’s more!
Remember that case of plagiarism? It’s been resolved. I sent three notices (comments on the site) with no result, and finally went to my colleagues and ask for help contacting the person. Within ten minutes I had the Facebook account of the offending author, messaged her THANKING for the mention and link back but explaining the situation. She immediately responded, thanked me for the note, and removed the article. And we just “friended” each other.
See? It pays to play nice and be cordial. She noted having received an email from someone with the links/info and I suspect it may be a case of a PR rep not being clear in a message. Hoo boy.
There’s a lot going on here in Shojai-Land, so stay tuned for the rest of the week’s furry-licious content. For those in the Sherman-Denison area, I’ve a book signing scheduled next Saturday at the Sherman Town Center Petco from 1-3:30 (watch for more details on Wednesday). And on Friday, I hope to have some WAY KEWL kitty news to share.
Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo writer links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Check out the skate-boarding cat, kitty-love and fav Super Bowl videos at the bottom, just for fun. For new followers to the blog, welcome! and you can expect more cat and dog specific schtuff later in the week on Wednesday and Friday. For now…enjoy the YouTube cute-icity at the end!
WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF
Writers League of Texas Manuscript Contest
Sizing Facebook Images from the terrific Lisa-Hall Wilson
Marketability & Readers from The Business Rusch if you’re a writer, you need to subscribe to this blog!
Facebook Usage Data from Pew Research
The Reality of Hybrid Publishing
Indies Reaching NetGalley Reviewers
Publish American Changes Names to America Star Books good info from Author Beware
Getting That Twitter “Blue Check” from the always enlightening Susie Lindau
International Markets for Your Books
PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF
Hero Cat Summons Help for Stroke Victim
Cat Allergies? Study Recruiting Participants
Contagious Cancer in Dogs Leaves Prehistoric Paw Prints
Dental Implants in Pets? UC-Davis Vets Say “No!”
The Body Against Itself: Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia a Webinar Feb. 11 from Morris Animal Foundation
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
January 31, 2014
San Diego Cat Show Fun!
Isn’t this a lovely girl! (Can you guess how I know she’s a girl?) Image copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
Last weekend I spent in San Diego at the “Food & Water Bowl XXII” Cat Show, where the most glorious pedigree cats attend . . . and also bunches of adoptable lovely “mutt” cats, cute kittens, and gorgeous cat jewelry and various vendors. I shared a book signing booth with my colleagues and awesome writers/artists Arden Moore and Janiss Garza. All of us had books to paw-tograph. Janiss has a cat she edits, but Sparkle the Designer Cat is the author! And Arden (a Master Pet First Aid Instructor) brought her right-hand (paw?) cat, Zeki, the Safety Cat, a kitty that helps her demonstrate pet first aid techniques during Arden’s classes.
That’s me with my newest thriller HIDE AND SEEK (with a Maine Coon and GSD on the cover!), and Janiss in the center with her cards and books, and Arden in the red. Zeki’s on the poster, above. Image copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
Arden also presented (with Zeki) in the Education Ring to teach folks about some basics of pet first aid. It’s the kind of information you hope never to need but may save your pet’s life. And yes, all three of us also have dogs (shhhhh, the cats wouldn’t like that!).
Check out some of the other pictures and don’t miss out on the two videos at the bottom. You’ll hear me in the Education Ring talking about cat pee-and-poop (hoo boy…) and then some SQUEEEE! cute kittens playing. Don’t miss Lisa-Maria Padilla’s trick trained Abyssinian kitten “rolling over” on command and more. Enjoy!
Joan Miller, an expert in all-things-cats and lecturer on cat breeds and more, with Arden preparing Zeki for their pet first aid talk. Image copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
Yep, there were even some lovely dogs at the show! (Don’t tell Magic!). Image copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
Lots of vendors at the show offered all kinds of temptations. I settled for several pairs of Laurel Birch cat socks…and this glorious ceramic wall panel. Looks like Macy from my thriller book HIDE AND SEEK! Image copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
There are some perks to being a famous author…Janiss gets to schmooze a young Maine Coon kitten. Image copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
Zeki (a certified therapy cat) was the most popular attendee at our booth and managed to woo and charm everyone who stopped by. I’m not sure who is happier with this encounter. Image copr Amy Shojai, CABC
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
January 29, 2014
Why Do Dogs Roll in Nasty Schtuff
Why Do Dogs Roll in Nasty Schtuff
I’m just back from a wonderful trip to San Diego (details to come on Friday’s blog), and so am a wee bit behind trying to get caught up. I’ve updated this blog, and also made some changes to my website. Let me know what you think! Trying to simplify so that later updates won’t be so massive. I guess you could say that I’m “scooping up the poop-icity” so there’s less schtuff to wade through. 
I’ve written about this topic before in this article about why puppies roll, but here’s also a fun Ask Amy video. So, do your dogs roll in (ahem) crappiocca? That’s one advantage to the cold snap much of the country suffers–the poop-du-jour freezes and isn’t as easily carried indoors on the pet’s fur. Yuck!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
January 27, 2014
Dog Viewpoint HIDE AND SEEK Releases!
Dog Viewpoint HIDE AND SEEK Releases!
It’s here! My dog viewpoint thriller HIDE AND SEEK “officially” releases–and those who subscribe to my PET PEEVES newsletter got this info last week (yes, there’s perks to subscribing *s*) but I couldn’t hold in the SNOOPY-DANCE-’O-JOY! any longer. This is the SEQUEL to my first thriller, and brings back the characters you love plus some new ones.
There’s still dog-viewpoint (yay, Shadow!) and now more cat-centric stuff too (go, Macy!). I hope you’ll enjoy the book, post reviews, and recommend to your pet-loving, thrill-seeking friends.
My deepest gratitude to those who reviewed ARCs for advance looks and reviews. Y’all make my virtual tail wag and purrs a-rumble. And without further delay, behold the latest thriller.
******
A mysterious contagion will shatter countless lives unless a service dog and his trainer find a missing cat . . . in 24 hours.
HIDE AND SEEK on Amazon (Kindle & Trade Paperback)
A STALKER hides in plain sight.
A VICTIM faces her worst fear.
AND A DOG seeks the missing—and finds hope.
Eight years ago, animal behaviorist September Day escaped a sadistic captor who left her ashamed, terrified, and struggling with PTSD. She trusts no one—except her cat Macy and service dog Shadow.
Shadow also struggles with trust. A German Shepherd autism service dog who rescued his child partner only to lose his-boy forever, Shadow’s crippling fear of abandonment shakes his faith in humans.
They are each others’ only chance to survive the stalker’s vicious payback, but have only 24 hours to uncover the truth about Macy’s mysterious illness or pay the deadly consequences. When September learns to trust again, and a good-dog takes a chance on love, together they find hope in the midst of despair–and discover what family really means.
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT HIDE AND SEEK!
“HIDE AND SEEK proves Shojai’s masterful skill at blending ripped-from-the-headlines urgency with an emotional story of real characters in escalating dangers. Add in revelatory dose of animal psychology and behavior, and you have a thriller that had me turning pages deep into the night. Here is a novel written with authority and with a deft brilliance that any lover of animals or nerve-jangling thrillers will cherish.” –James Rollins, New York Times bestseller of “The Eye of God”
“Recommended for anyone who likes a ‘bite-your-nails hold-your-breath’ kind of thriller.” –Dr. Lorie Huston, Cat Writers’ Association President
“Featuring a young animal behaviorist struggling to regain her bearings after a shocking betrayal, a reality TV show gone horribly wrong, and a series of murders and disappearances seemingly related to an unthinkable cause, HIDE AND SEEK is a mystery/thriller you won’t be able to put down!”
–Alan Leverone, best-selling thriller author of “Mr. Midnight” and “The Lonely Mile”
THE STORY BEGAN WITH THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED
An autism cure will kill millions unless a service dog and his trainer
find a missing child . . . in 24 hours.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
January 23, 2014
San Diego Cat Show Fun!
Two Tonk (I think!) kittens performing kitty agility! Image Copr. Pattie Beau/San Diego Cat Club
SAN DIEGO–FOOD & WATER BOWL XXII CAT SHOW
JOIN ME January 25-26 at the Del Mar Fair Grounds in San Diego. That’s THIS WEEKEND!
I’ll be signing books with the amazing ARDEN MOORE and her Pet Safety Cat Zeki the Cool Cat, and JANISS GARZA of Sparkle Cat Blog on Saturday and Sunday. (Zeki will be signing up caring pet parents to take a very important Pet First Aid course.)
Where else can you view gorgeous felines of dozens of breeds, watch jaw-dropping displays of feline agility, listen to experts offer info on all-things-cat, fall in love with needy rescue kitties needing homes, and shop-till-you-drop at the furry-tastic vendor booths? HINT: Cat shows not only offer great kitty paraphernalia, they also have some of the best BLING-ICITY around!
I’m bringing a bunch of my nonfiction AND the thriller fiction books (yep, all those in the poster, above). Just got word the newest book arrived in time! (No worries, Sherman-ites, I have a local signing scheduled next month, so stay tuned…).
Arden and Janiss also will have books and other fun stuff available to paw-tograph, including:
Stop by for your PAW-tographed copy of your pick of the book-litter, in time for next month’s Valentine’s gifts for your special pet-loving purr-son. (And you’ll get to see some mee-ow-velous cats, too!). And I’ll be speaking about your PET PEEVES and the latest books.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
January 22, 2014
What Does Offering a Paw Mean?
What Does Offering a Paw Mean?
“Don’t you give me the paw, unless you wanna back it up with more than woofs!” Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
Does your puppy “shake hands” when you ask? How about pawing you when you don’t ask? What’s it all mean?
Today’s ASK AMY video offers some clues. And I’ve got an article on puppy body language that provides even more tips on deciphering what your puppy’s trying to tell you.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
January 20, 2014
Monday Mentions: Plagiarism, Collie Stalking & Facebook Woes
Monday Mentions: Plagiarism, Collie Stalking & Facebook Woes
“I use Grammarly’s plagiarism checker because otherwise Magical-Dawg *spit!* takes credit for kitty creativity!” Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
LEGAL STUFF: This post is sponsored by Grammarly. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Grammarly Proof Reading and Plagiarism Checker, but I only share information I feel is relevant to my readers. Grammarly is not responsible for the content of this blog post (and neither is the *spit* Dawg). You can read my previously posted review of Grammarly here.
It’s interesting that I was asked to do a sponsored post to promote a plagiarism checker and today (as I prepare this post) I’ve had to send a DMCA notice to someone who copied more than half of one of my puppies.about.com articles to another online site. They gave me credit and a link back to the full article, which I appreciate. But About.com owns exclusive online rights to anything on that site. This person is a writer, and should know better. The writer offers no way to contact privately so I left a cordial comment and suggestion for remedying the situation on the post. I have no problem with someone writing their own intro to the subject, and posting 2-3 sentences from the article–and then linking directly to that article. That’s what I suggested.
I also told the person to feel free to delete my comment once that had been done, because I have no wish to embarrass anyone. Perhaps this writer was pressed for time, and planned to update later, or had a bad day. So when I checked back as I continued preparing this post, I saw that within five minutes my comment requesting the material be removed/changed had been deleted. The comment, not my material. I waited another 15 minutes, figuring that surely if a “comment” can that quickly be deleted, so can the content in the post. *sigh* Nope, still up. So I used the “objectionable material” form and sent that with a formal DMCA notice.
Has this ever happened to you? I’ve had books pirated and had to send such notices before. Honestly, that’s like trying to empty Lake Texoma with a sieve, though, so I’ve about given up on book pirate sites. Those folks won’t buy my books anyway, and I risk having a computer virus every time I visit those fly-by-night outfits. But in this case, About.com is my client, and if the person does this with one article, they’ll likely continue to plunder the material, and that damages my income and relationship with the publisher. I subscribe to a couple of services that track my name and certain key phrases, and that’s how I was alerted to this particular infraction. The writer didn’t have to include my credit or link back at all, which tells me they TRIED to do the right thing but are not clear on fair use.
How do you handle such things? Have you ever found yourself plagiarized? Have you ever inadvertently “lifted” too much of someone else’s content (aka “research”). I plagiarize myself all the time and have to guard against this and so routinely check new copy against what’s floating around the internet.
Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo writer links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Check out bulldog “best day of my life” video, the “collie walk” and “what’s wrong with FB” videos at the bottom, just for fun. For new followers to the blog, welcome! and you can expect more cat and dog specific schtuff later in the week on Wednesday and Friday. For now…enjoy the YouTube cute-icity at the end!
WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF
Best First Sentence Contest open to any associate or active member of International Thriller Writers, OR those registered for the 2014 Thrillerfest in July. Five winners get their first 10 pages critiqued by Steve Berry, Steven James, John Lescroart, and David Morrell—along with CraftFest Director, D.P. Lyle, MD.
WANA-CON 2014 Feb 21-22 an online conference you can attend in your PJs! Register here.
Facebook Insights for Authors (And Others) a great group lead by Lisa Hall-Wilson
SLEUTHFEST 2014, February 27-March 2
Politics & Prose Books On Demand yep, they’ll PRINT your POD book for you in about 5-10 minutes. The wave of the future? Will these machines be in your neighborhood soon?
IRIS, IndieReader’s New Instore Service
PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF
Dignity for Animals neat essay
Altruism & Pets does it happen? what do you think?
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
