Amy Shojai's Blog, page 144

Woof Wednesday: That Bites! Keep Halloween Fangs At Bay

Beware werewolves in doggy clothing!

Next Monday is Halloween–are you and your dogs ready? What about your kids? Sure, you and your kids are comfy around your own pets, but what about the strange dogs they'll meet while trick-or-treating?

Dog bites injure nearly 5 million people every year. Half of all kids in the United States get bitten by age 12, and five-to-nine-year-old boys are at highest risk. You can prevent dog bites, it doesn't have to happen. Most dog bites result from inappropriate interaction with the family pet, with a neighbor's or a friend's dog—or even your puppy.

Many dogs enjoy the holidays. Nonstop doorbell rings and visitors showering attention may be doggy bliss for your pet. But even friendly, laid-back pooches get their tails in a twist over the disruption to routine. That can be dangerous for pets and for people.

Dogs recognize people by smell but also by sight. A dog may not recognize a favorite human behind that Halloween mask. Miniature goblins, witches and other ghoulish visitors often are strange children he won't know. A flowing cape or sparkly fairy wings can be scary. A frightened dog easily mistakes a waving "light saber" or pitch fork as a weapon aimed to hurt. Halloween can increase your child's risk for a dog bite–so refer to my latest Paw Nation article for Tips to Prevent Halloween Dog Bites.

PULLING THEIR FANGS–NOT LITERALLY

Don't forget to train the dog! All dogs bite and chew, but it's important to teach bite inhibition and stop puppy biting before it gets out of hand. What's baby-cute or aggravating in your new pup becomes dangerous once he grows up. One accidental bite could label your pet as a "dangerous dog" and result in an expensive lawsuit, increased insurance rates, and costly medical bills. Teaching bite inhibition not only protects people and prevents heartbreak, it could save your dog's life. You can learn more about how to teach your puppy (or adult dog–it works on the big guys, too!) how to pull their toothy punches and inhibit bites.

Please share! This info can save kids and pets any time of the year, not just at Halloween. But for more Halloween safety tips for your dog in this Halloween Ideas for Puppies roundup, including costume tips and first aid for too much candy.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Woof Wednesdays Tagged: Amy Shojai, dog behavior, dog biters, Halloween safety, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, PawNation.com, pet books, puppies.About.com [image error] [image error] [image error]

Tuesday Tips: Media Training & Finding Targets

Join the rat race--you want to, you KNOW you do!

This is the third in my latest Tuesday Tips series, this time on media training for authors. You can read the first installment about why media is important, and the second installment describes traditional vs "modern" media.  Today the blog is all about targeting your media.

GO LOCAL

Folks relatively new to media appearances should start with local radio and TV targets. First, they're generally more open to the home-grown author/cause so you have a better chance of actually booking an appearance. But more than that, you know them (or should!) from watching and listening to your local news anchors and radio hosts.

Think about it the same way you'd send a query to a publisher or magazine editor. If you already have a relationship with them, you're paw-steps ahead of the pack. But when you've never pub'd with them before, writers research that market. You wouldn't pitch a romance novel to a venue that only publishes text books. Writers are told to "read three issues of the magazine" before pitching so you should also study the media targets in the same way. Makes sense, right?

So make your wish list. Google TV/Radio + "your town" and/or browse the channels. Take notes on which stations AND REPORTERS do hard news vs "fluffy" content; if they do live interviews or not; do they feature "home town heroes;' what events do they cover extensively, etc. You'll likely see some difference in topics between your local ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX (or other networks). Remember to check local cable access. While the network shows usually limit interviews/stories to between 2-4 minutes, a cable feature show might give an author 20+ minutes air time. Prime time radio also has shorter segments available, often 5-10 minutes, but smaller stations during non-peak hours might offer a much longer interview.

Most TV and radio stations now have a web presence (how convenient!) and list the folks who get air time often with a bio and phone/email contact. Get to know them!

My local affiliate happens to love pet stories–lucky me–and even brings their own pets sometimes on air. Maybe one of the news anchors is engaged and might be interested in your sassy romance protagonist, or the hard news guy love the fact you interviewed the FBI or did a cop ride-along to research your thriller. Pick the right match for what you're selling.

For TV, the guest interviews tend to happen during the morning (sometimes EARLY morning slot) and the noon hour. Radio varies depending on the audience. Drive time (early morning) shows tend to feature shorter interviews with hosts eager to entertain–sometimes at the guest's expense–so be prepared to roll with the punches IF that's your audience.

You don't need glamour to go national.

GO NATIONAL

Much of the same information applies–but your research is a bit more difficult since you don't have that local access. A national venue also wants a topic/author/cause with national reach and frankly, it's hard to got these slots on your own. Most of my national appearances happened as a result of the publisher's publicity team pitching me/my book–or they came to me for my expertise.

National venues expect a level of expertise. Practice at the local level if you've not done lots of media before. Get as much exposure as you can and don't discount your "home grown" experiences because great local stories get picked up by the national media, too. And as I said, once you're considered the expert, media opportunities seek you out.

Seren knows from platforms--do you?

PLATFORM BUILDING

Improve your chances of garnering national media interest by building your platform as an expert in your subject. Don't be afraid to tout your expertise–somebody has to call you a "nationally known expert in XYZ" the first time, and if it's on your blog…*innocent eye blink* that could get some mileage. Just be sure you ARE an expert.

What builds your platform? Blogging of course, guest blogging, being an author on the subject, and others referencing you and your work in their own publications. That actually can have the media knock on your door.

Don't discount writing for free. Yeah-yeah-yeah, I know the old-school journalists (I'm one!) will tell you not to give away the milk for free but in today's world there are some advantages in specific circumstances. That is, when you're building or expanding your platform to sell yourself/book/cause it can be helpful to share your "expert information" to the widest possible audience–because then they *may* come to you. I've had this happen more times than I can count with media ops reaching out because they've read something of mine–for free–on the Internet. In the case of authors, post excerpts of books or "guest blogging" for free on others' widely read blogs.

My colleague Gina Spadafori–an outstanding journalist and awesome pet writer–had been blogging for a while when the pet food recall blew up. She literally broke the story and then followed/dogged/rode that puppy providing in depth reportage few others could match. Already a well known expert, that event set her blog PetConnection heads and wagging tails ahead of the pack and got her quoted in the New York Times (among many others).

Start blogging BEFORE your book comes out. Use your name on the blog to generate name-recognition. Blog regularly. Go take Kristen Lamb's blog class (she's the expert) and/or buy her book because it's designed specifically for authors.

Prepare in advance.

You can also offer yourself as an expert to reporters (print and/or radio and tv). There are online services that publish lists of experts that media often fishes for their perfect guest. Some of these can be costly so buyer beware. A free service that I use and like very much is HARO– http://www.helpareporter.com/   HARO sends out an email blast to subscribers three times a day with lists of reporters' needs for interviews, quotes, TV appearances and more. As a result of using HARO I've been interviewed and quoted in Family Circle, New York Times, many dog/cat venues, Ladies Home Journal and others.

GO INTERNET

The Internet media is HUNGRY for great guests! You can find a "radio podcast" or a "Vlog" (video blog) and video web-series on virtually any subject. Simply do a search. Try typing "podcast + guests" or "webcast + your topic" and then vet the choices. As with the other venues, research before pitching. Listen/watch some of the past postings, find out (if you can) the audience/reach. But even if it's a relatively small following, the advantage of Internet media is the link that you can use on your blog, website, and other "pitches" as an example for other media.

Check out Facebook, too, because there are groups of pod-casters there you can network and find venues. Don't forget you can also DIY with YouTube. All you need is a video camera and internet connection. Editing your video is beyond the scope of this blog but often simple is best, without all the bells and whistles.

While podcasts can be short or long, the most successful video is short. You'll have more success with half a dozen 2-minute appearances than with a single 15-minute YouTube posting. Seriously, how long will YOU watch a YouTube video before clicking it off? Has to be pretty interesting to keep today's Internet audience.

And on that note–before I lose my audience–I'm clicking off. Dial me up next Tuesday Tips for the next installment.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Tuesday Tips, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, authors, cat books, dog books, Gina Spadafori, http://www.shojai.com, Kristen Lamb, media training, radio, tv, writers conference, writing, www.amyshojai.com [image error] [image error]

Monday Mentions: Lightening Strikes, Transplanting Pork & Puppet-icity

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Playing catch-up today because Saturday night a lightening storm blasted electronics around the house. Fun time. The alarms on the security system beeped, wailed, and gnashed electronic teeth for over two hours (off and on) before we got it shut off permanently. Seren-Kitty was not amused–actually she was terrified. It took most of the next day to find her, and she's still skittish. I think she must have been in her potty when all hell broke loose because now just runs in, squats and zooms away without covering. At least she's still got good aim.

The phone company says they'll get here Friday. The doggy outdoor water fountain–to be reviewed–got fried. Neither my laptop or my desktop were hurt thank heavens–but neither one recognizes the printer any more so I suspect something in the HP was zapped. Oh joy–it has nearly a full ink cartridge (pricey!) and I've just reached the point I need to print multiple drafts of the fiction WIP. Hey, maybe I need to add some lightening to the plot, hmnnn. Everything's material.

MONDAY MENTIONS

Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo links and blogs and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Today we're celebrating mostly pet stuff, and (ahem) some Amy-schtuff as this is a busy time with lots of appearances.

Please don't be shy about sending me your own links or suggestions for others to highlight. I love doing a SNOOPY-DANCE-'O-JOY! in celebration of all the savvy writers and animal advocates doing the work of the angels–and to a few angels as well.

INTRODUCING A NEW FAMILY MEMBER

This evening at 6:30 pm Pacific Time you can dial up a live Webinar at Danish-Swedish Farm Dogs USA for a fun hour discussing pet introductions–cats to cats, dogs to dogs, cats-dogs to each other, pets to babies/kids–the whole shebang. The event is pretty dang reasonable, and is sponsored by a wonderful savvy dog group that donates part of the proceeds to a doggy foundation (you get to choose) such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the Rabies Challenge Fund, or the Canine Companions for Independence. Behaviorists and trainers can earn continuing education units. Dang, guess that means I'll have to say something halfway intellectual again. Hmnn. Hope to *see* you there.

MISS PIGGY TRANSPLANTS may be in our future–cells, organs and more from genetically engineered hogs is now being tested (plot for my NEXT book?)

CLOSE CAT ENCOUNTERS when a house kitty meets a puma, wow!

HOLD ME BACK–NOT! some inspirational words from a fellow blogger to give us the needed butt-kick.

THE ART OF PITCHING THE MEDIA goes along with my Tuesday Tips series

TO "E" OR NOT TO "E" from Libby Fischer Hellman's excellent blog

"E" STANDS FOR "ERRORS" and here's why, from terrific thriller author Karen Dionne

LITERARY AGENTS' ADVICE from terrif blogger August McLauglin

CONTENT WRITER FREELANCER RIGHTS offers some terrific tips to know before you sign on the dotted line

ALEXA.COM can give you free analytics when looking for the best places to promote your book, business or cause

CARINA PRESS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS and not just romance, either!

NEED A "MAN" FIX? check out jillian Dodd's Glitter, Bliss & Perfect Chaos blog filled with pix of hot, shirtless men!

I stole this video from my friend Piper Bayard's awesome blog roundup.  Sometimes you gotta be real–and sometimes not. Enjoy!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Amy Shojai, cat behavior, cat books, Danish-Swedish Farm Dogs, dog behavior, dog books, hot men, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, pig organ transplant, puppy dog, webinar, writing [image error]

Feline Friday: Help for Door Dashing Kitties

There is a saying, that a cat is "always on the wrong side of a door." My cat Seren(dipity) faithfully adheres to this principle, although with age, her dash-for-the-door  has become more like a stroll.

Dealing with door-dashing felines is particularly frustrating for owners. With Halloween just around the corner and lots of door opening-and-closing to come from trick or treaters, think about safety now. Even when Kitty understands that a particular location (the doorway) is forbidden, she may avoid the place when you're looking but making a zooming escape as soon as visitors arrive and the door cracks a whisker-width open.

What can you do? Recognize you will NOT stop a cat's urge to see on the other side of the door. You cannot change instinct, but you can modify some of these irksome behaviors.



Encourage her to stay away from danger zones with training techniques. Any time you see the cat lounging near the doorway, use an interruption such as a loud "SSST!" or clapped hands to shoo her away. The idea is to make the doorway area unappealing, so that kitty keeps away—and offer her a more rewarding pastime. Some cats are dissuaded with the help of a long-distance squirt gun aimed at their backside. However, some cats like Seren enjoy being sprayed. You have to always be there for this to work and frankly, the spray isn't all that effective and can do damage to your relationship. There are better ways.

Make the entry way unfriendly. Many cats dislike the feeling of walking on aluminum foil, so place a couple of sheets over the walkway. Another option is to apply Sticky Paws (double-sided tape) to make the surface uncomfortable. Put the Sticky Paws on placemats positioned on the forbidden area, so it's easily removed. You can also use clear plastic floor mats placed spike-side up so the cat will avoid the area.

The SSSCAT (www.ssscat.com) is a cat-repellent device that sprays a hiss of air to startle the pet that triggers the built-in motion detector—you don't have to be present for it to work. You may also use smell deterrents to keep the cat away from forbidden doorway zones. Cats dislike citrus smells, so orange or lemon scents sprayed at the bottom of the door may help.

It's not fair to simply forbid the cat access to a much loved activity. Offer her legal outlets that are more attractive than the forbidden zones, and she'll naturally choose to lounge there and abandon the doorway dash.

Position a cat tree or kitty bed on a table top right in front of a window some distance away from the forbidden door. Make this the most wonderful cat lounge spot ever—hide catnip or food treats in the bed, for example. Before you go out the door, make a point of giving your cat the best-treat-in-the-world, but only if she's on this cat tree/bed (a safe distance from the door). While she munches, you can make a safe exist. Enlist help from friends to knock at the door or ring the doorbell to practice, so arrivals also make kitty think, "Hey, it's TREAT time!"



Choose your battles and perhaps allow her to lounge on the television as long as she leaves the doorway alone. Seren enjoys her multilevel cat tree situated next to the front door, where she can watch all comings and goings from the window—and gets paid with a treat for planting her furry tail and staying put.

Do your cats beg to go outside? Perhaps you have a terrific safe outside kitty playground–how did you create it? What are safety tips or training advice that has worked with your cat? The Ask Amy video below has some suggestions, too.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Feline Fridays, Video Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, books, cat behavior, cat wants out, door dashing cats, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, keeping cats inside [image error]

Woof Wednesday: Howl-oween Spook-tacular

What does he see? Do you REALLY want to know?

Early people honored animals with cave paintings, worshipped them as gods, and felt awed by their mysterious ways. Even though dogs have become our partners and beloved companions, a mournful howl or puzzling behavior still can shiver your spine, especially around Halloween.

These 10 blood-chilling legends of demon dogs and ghostly saviors, creation fables and ancient gods have both reviled and celebrated man's best friend. But is there any truth to these tales? Don't ask the dog, he's keeping his secrets safe!

Speaking of trick or treats, PLEASE be aware that chocolate can POISON your pet! It's scary how something that tastes so good can be so dangerous, but puppies and chocolate are a deadly combination. With Halloween just two weeks away, many families will have lots of trick-or-treat candy in the house. Be sure to keep all of it out of reach, and refer to this article on warning signs and first aid tips for chocolate poisoning.

On the fun side of Halloween, maybe your dog wants to play dress up for the howl-iday? Does he want to channel his inner were-wolf? Does she enjoy "glamming" up for Halloween? Teach him to accept wearing that wild-and-crazy outfit (and overcome the embarrassment!) with these 7 pet costume training tips. But if he's reluctant and you still want the dog to be festive, check out these 7 easy Halloween costumes for pups.

Does your dog howwwwwwllllll like the Hound of the Baskervilles? Magical-Dawg howls…when I sing. Check out the Ask Amy on the prowl about howls.

Have you ever seen a ghost dog? I have! My first dog–the reason I became a pet writer–died on Halloween night and a strange black cat came and stood over his body and yowled–and over that weekend I saw him and felt him jump on the bed. And no, it didn't shiver my soul, it gave me a strange comfort he'd said goodbye. My colleague Dusty Rainbolt interviewed me about this on her very first Paranormal Pets radio podcast.  Since that time Dusty has posted 50 ghostly, ghoulish, uplifting, awesome shows about paranormal pets–be sure to check them out!

What are your Halloween favorites? How do your pets react? Will they be involved in the festivities this year? Please share!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Woof Wednesdays Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, dog behavior, dog howls, dogs and halloween, ghost dogs, PawNation.com, pet books, www.amyshojai.com [image error]

Tuesday Tips: Traditional Media & Brave New (Internet) World

"I'm ready for my close up!"

This is the second in my latest Tuesday Tips series, this time on media training for authors. You can read the introduction here  all about the advantages and why you'd even want to think about media.

So now you've been convinced by my stellar purr-suasive powers (meerowinginging!) and have decided to throw your writerly hat into the media circus ring. So what are your options? Fasten your seatbelts, it may be a bumpy ride.

Who's your audience?

Traditional Television

The brass ring-a-ding-ding of media has always been TV. And the scale of importance depends on audience numbers in much the same way book sales float your work above the rest of the fish. National network venues are considered to be the pinnacle but network affiliates in A-markets (New York, Chicago, LA) may have equal or even better visibility depending on what you're selling.

And by "selling" I mean your book, you as expert, your cause, your fill-in-the-blank. More about that in a future blog.

B-markets and even the smallest local network affiliates have great value, though. You never know when your tiny-local-angle-news-story might get picked up by one of the news feeds and broadcast by stations in other markets. That actually happened to me once, when the local TV network affiliate came out for a story on cat training and I demo'd some of my Seren-Kitty's ability to walk on a leash, come when called, sit up and so forth. (Hey, it must have been a slow news night.)

In the olden days (by crikey, sapphire!) there also was the local cable access stations. These are still around. But cable TV ain't necessarily your Grandma's shows anymore, and has gone uptown. There are more stations out there than ever before, often airing topic-themed programming that might be perfect for your book on DIY bubble gum. Is there a bubble gum network? Well, wait a month and there will be.

TV is great fun but you must think "visual" for it to work to best advantage. Pet writers are lucky because we can take a cute kitten or puppy on live TV and say nearly anything while the host and viewers SQUEEE! over the cute-icity. Not sure you'd get the same response for books about home made beer. Well, if you brought samples, maybe.

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They have a face for radio...

Traditional Radio

The one-two media punch has always been TV followed by radio. Sadly, in the past several years radio has become a shadow of its former shiny self. It's still around but the audience has shrunk with advertisers who have taken their $$$ to some of those cable-TV options. For me the state of radio mirrors the shrinking newspapers. We are a visual society and radio just doesn't have the audience appeal of the past.

Oh, there is still outstanding radio programming, shows, and hosts. And you should definitely not cross radio off your media play book. But as with TV, the numbers game matters and how man people listen and who they are defines if a given radio show/network is right for you.

I like radio, though, because you don't have to look good–just the sound matters. Still, since you don't have that SQUEEE! kitten effect, you dang well better have pithy stuff to say.

Brave New World: Internet Media

Radio and video have gone Internet crazy and today you can find a plethora of media opportunities–or even create your own "channels" and establish a following. As with the traditional TV and radio, these venues are only as good as their production values and audience numbers. But a huge advantage to Internet Media is that even if you record "live" it can stay out there in the World Wide Web promoting you virtually forever.

That can be good or bad of course, as anyone will agree who has seen some of the crappiocca posted on YouTube.

Webcasts are gaining popularity and usually are niche driven so you can find the perfect complement to your product–that is, what you're promoting. YouTube.com is the giant in this arena but there are other video social networks like VideoJug.com. These are venues in which you can be a "guest" on another creator's YouTube show–or you can create your own the way I've done with my Ask Amy series.

Skype.com is another avenue in which you can interact with others around the country who have a similar Skype connection, either just via audio feed (it's an Internet telephone line, essentially) or with your computer's camera. Even network and cable broadcast stations today use Skype or similar connections for in-person reportage of a remote as-it-happens event. You can do this, too.

Podcasts are the Internet version of radio. These are audio feeds either live or recorded (or both) made available for listeners to download or tune in as it happens. Once again, a Podcast can be extremely effective depending on the audience. One of my first Pet Peeves podcast (hosted by PetLifeRadio.com) was an iTunes pick and I'm told was downloaded more than 60,000 in that one month. Those shows remain online, and as the guest on the show, the author can share links to their interview on other social media platforms and engage listeners and potential readers. And yes, you can create and host your own show, too.

Have you ever been on TV or radio? How did it happen? Did your publicist or publisher get you the gig, or did you book it yourself? Next week's blog will cover how to find your media targets and contact them–or even entice them to contact you!

Until then, enjoy this innovative author's Webcast–and yes, that is a real book!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Tuesday Tips, Video, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, author promotion, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, media training, pet books, publishing, writers, writing [image error]

Monday Mentions: Read Till Your Eyes Bleed & Blogging Superstars

I won the VERSATILE BLOG AWARD, how kewl is that, from the delightfully wicked Shellie Sakai (note–watch out for the spider!). I've never won a blog award before, and am particularly taken with the Snidely Whiplash-ian character badge. Thank you Shellie! Like me, she's near the end of a major writing project and just a wee bit off her–AAAAACK!–(ahem) S'cuse me, I thought Shellie's spider came along with Snidely for the ride.

Anyway, there be rules to accepting the award, as follows:

Thank and link the person who nominated me
Tell you seven random facts about myself
Pass this award on to 15 blogging friends
Contact and congratulate the awarded bloggers

That works out nicely since this is my weekly Monday Mentions blog. So here goes.

I have a twin brother. We are not identical
I am 12 years old. Forever. So there.
I never intended to be a writer
I spent 3 months in Haiti–yes, on purpose
I can play piano and cello. If forced.
I can sing in 6 languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Latin. I understand two of 'em.
I can curse in Farsi.

The Maurice Stamp of Dragon-icity Approval

15 OUTSTANDING BLOGS YOU WANNA READ

Now for the list of winners, in no particular order–and consider this "double duty" for the mash up.

Jenny Hansen's Blog–Stop & Sniff the Earlobes hey, you can't make this schtuff up!

Sally Bahner's Exclusively Cats–The Problem Cat-Child you know, the one you can't help lovin' even though (fill in the blank with crappiocca)

Piper Bayard–On Life, Belly Dancing, and Apocalyptic Annihilation and the funniest lady with an AK47 I've ever virtually met

Angela Peart–Writer, Painter, Dreamer and one of my fav Sweet Tweets always willing to help out newbies

P.H.C. Marchesi's The Rift–Moving Past Bad Reviews when you'd rather scream, throw spam, and act like a rabid squirrel (or is that just me?)

Joy Held's Writers' Wellness–Creative Ways to Stay Positive when you'd rather scream, throw spam, and…wait, is there an echo?

Victoria Strauss Writer Beware–KILL PLAGIARISM! with your positive pen-up-manship.

Kristen Lamb Sells the Salesman let's make a deal has never had it so good.

Lorie Huston, DVM–Using StumbleUpon to increase your blogging presence

Janiss Garza's SparkleCat–National Feral Cat Day all things kitty and sparkly, yes!

FIP Symposium Transcript from WINN Feline Foundation, blogged by pet guy extraordinaire Steve Dale for all the latest on feline infectious peritonitis

Patricia Sand's Blog–Canadian Thanksgiving and I just learned she's got a fiction WIP with a DOG character!

Gene Lemmp's Designing From the Bones–Life's A Stage,  using archeology, mythology and the artifacts of human history to find and design stories.

Ingrid King's The Conscious Cat for all-things-feline

Natalie Hartford's Life Out Loud be yourself, because everyone else is taken

READ till your eyes bleed...Trust me (bwaa-hahaha)

MORE MASH-UP MADNESS CUZ I JESS CAIN'T STOP!

Most Popular Blog In Class–and how they did it.

Self Publishing Options–Workshop by E-mavens Jen Talty & Bob Mayer

Space Invaders & Periods no, not THAT kind–even guy writers have this period problem.

Momma Says it's Wrong–Giving It Away some strategies that can help writers

Listeria Outbreak 2nd Largest In History that is, so far . . .

Kid Bullies Often Become Violent Adults well duh.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Uncategorized [image error] [image error]

Feline Friday: Why Does My Cat Eat Grass?

Does your kitty--or dog--graze on grass? (Image Copr Elise Feinstein)

Not long ago a fun and interesting discussion on my Facebook page generated an Ask Amy video about why dogs eat dirt so it's not that much of a stretch to ask why does my cat eat grass? Yep, Seren does it too. I suspect many kitties relish the taste of fresh greens. You've already seen this Ask Amy about why cats love catnip. The veggie munchies is something different, but what? And why?

I mean, dogs are considered omnivores like humans–able and even eager to eat a variety of foods and derive nourishment. Heck, the Magical-Dawg would munch used Kleenex and socks if we let him (no, those are NOT in the doggy foods list!). So it makes a weird kind of sense that dogs sometimes crave grass since they eat green stuff as a matter of course.

But kitties are obligate carnivores. They MUST eat meat to derive the correct nutrients to live and thrive. So what's the deal with grazing? Most times after munching, the kitty hurls–oh goody, more stains on the white carpet. That's because since they are carnivores, kitty digestion isn't suited to breaking down grass so it gets purged. The tickle-going-down probably adds to that effect.

Does the cat know eating grass will make him hurl? Actually there have been some studies that indicate cats DO very quickly associate eating (X-FOOD) with feeling (good-bad-sick-whatever). In other words, a cat that eats a favorite meal and then gets diarrhea or painful constipation (even though it's from parasites) may blame the food and thereafter snub a previous favorite treat. Huh. So maybe cats DO know grass will make them hurl–and they use it to purge?

Grass also contains some nutrients the cat's body CAN use–like folic acid. Oh, and grass or other veggies can help push nondigestibles on through the body, sort of a kitty colonic. Hey, better the cat goes with a DIY, don't you think? As a former vet tech I've been on that (ahem) other end of cleaning out a plugged up kitty and it ain't fun for anyone!

Do your cats eat grass? Do you provide gazing ops? Here's a bit more in this latest Ask Amy.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Feline Fridays, Video Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, cat behavior, cat books, dog behavior, pet advice, video, why cats eat grass, why dogs eat grass, www.amyshojai.com [image error]

Woof Wednesday: Canine Senility Cure?

Old dog sight fades over time--and the brain can get rusty, too.

Dogs cared for throughout their early years live longer than ever before. It's not unusual for Toy-breed dogs to live into their mid-to-late teens and even big dogs today enjoy a decade or more of happy life with a loving owner. A longer life, though, can leave your dog befuddled when canine brains turn to mush.

Dogs aged 11 to 16 are most likely to develop Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), sort of the doggy version of Alzheimer's Disease. CCD is a medical condition in which a starch-like waxy protein called beta amyloid collects in the brain and causes behavior changes.

There actually are some ways to treat CCD in dogs–and reverse the signs, at least temporarily. Special dog foods such as Hill's Prescription Diet bd and Purina ProlPlan Senior 7+ Original include a mix of antioxidants that help "feed" the brain. There's also a natural supplement called Cholodin, and a drug called Anipryl that work well for some dogs. I discuss many of these options in my Pet Care-Cutting Edge Medicine book as well as Complete Care for Your Aging Dog.

But the biggie–the easiest thing you can do for your dog–is to make them think! That old adage "use it or lose it" works for pets, too. Here's my latest Paw Nation article with 7 tips to keep doggy brains youthful.

How do you keep your "old dog" connected to life? Do you take him with you to the park or to visit Grandma? How about practicing obedience commands or tricks and games? What if you've adopted a shy pooch who hates the leash–like the folks in this Ask Amy video–what other suggestions would you have for Bob?

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Video, Woof Wednesdays Tagged: alzheimers, Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, dog behavior, dog books, dog senility, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, PawNation.com, RedRoom.com

Lights! Camera! Action! Promote or Die (sorta-kinda-in-a-way)

Increase your audience! It'll be a feather in your writerly cap...

Today's Tuesday Tips blog launches the next series and I'm talking about (GASP!) media training for authors. Heck, ANY writer (any NONPROFIT!)  benefits from learning the basics because let's face it, your publisher ain't gonna do this for you.

Okay, I'll take that back. If you're the sparkle-tacular Sandra Brown (she's a Texan, ya know! just "met" her on Twitter, FAN GIRL MOMENT!) or the furry-fantastic James Rollins you'll get folks rolling out the red carpet-diem for quotes and promo ops. The rest of us schlubs need quite a bit of hand-waving creativity to get a notice about current projects, books and causes.

I gave this talk last year at the Oklahoma Writers Federation annual conference, and thought I'd share the high points with readers. Just so's ya know, I've used all of these tips and appeared on hundreds of TV and radio shows, been quoted as an expert in (mumble-mumble) LOTS of print and online media, and made numerous public appearances. So I know a wee bit about the process, what works and what might be better relegated to the "who cares, don't waste your time" circular file.

Maurice, do-ing his doody Dragon.

By the way, you CAN hire this done if you've got deep pockets and plan to win the lottery to fund such things. But if you're able to fund hiring it done–I hate you and will send Maurice to do dragon do-do on your inbox. Or something.

Most writers ain't got the funds and need to do media on the cheap. Ahem.

DEFINING MEDIA

Most folks think of "media" as television and radio. Today there are hybrids and new, better, more creative ways to use technology to communicate. Ten years ago, who ever thought I'd be shooting my own ASK AMY online series? Or have a PET PEEVES radio show via the Internet that never-ever-goes-away (can you say perPETual promo?).

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

When you're a writer, author, volunteer for a cause, or other fill-in-the-blank, there are three major benefits of using media. You are, after all, looking for an audience. Well, some of us want more than Mom and Weird Cousin Al to appreciate our creative efforts. There's nothing wrong with writing for yourself and keeping a personal diary (when you die who cares if the whole family is embarrassed when it's discovered and pub'd, right?). My own work seeks to empower readers to help their cats and dogs–and since cats and dogs have trouble reading (there's that whole glasses thing gets in the way), part of my job as an author is to entice pet parents aka "readers" to pick up the dang book and read. I suspect most of y'all out there share that desire.  So the top reason you should care is media savvy allows you to reach a wider audience.

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Be creative--get the word out! Can you say "photo op?"

How many of y'all have made a TV or radio appearance after which your family and friends look at you in a different way? (Dang, shouldn't have worn polka dots…) Wait, no, I mean your appearance on media–and making a GOOD impression (more about that later) increases your credibility and raises your status. Don't argue with me, it does. Just having been published gives you an air of coolness but getting MEDIA ATTENTION means that the high-and-mighty MEDIA GAWDS recognize you and that (drum roll….) establishes you as an EXPERT.

YELL about it--sorta-kinda-in-a-way...

Why do you want to be considered an expert? Because it gets you MORE media attention, which gets your name out there, which sells your book/cause/personal brand (more about BRAND later). See how the circle-of-life makes wondrous things happen? That's the third major benefit. Media helps build buzz for book sales/appearances.

So have you leaped from behind the safe anonymity of your writerly desk into the shark-icty of the media circus? How'd that work for you? Are you a new or aspiring author? A writer interested in expanding your blogging readership? A volunteer looking for ways to help your pet cause? What are some ways you've used media to work for you? Or (rubbing hands together with glee…) any HORROR STORIES you'd care to share? Don't worry, I'll share some of mine, too. We are coming up onto Halloween, of course!

Stay tuned and next Tuesday I'll post the next part of this series, including what's available today and how you might use it.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Tuesday Tips, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, book promotion, cat books, dog books, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, James Rollins, media for writers, Pet Peeves radio, Sandra Brown, Stephen King, writers conference, writing