Amy Shojai's Blog, page 83

Amy Shojai Featured in Wall Street Journal! Listen to AUTHORS ON THE AIR Tonight!

Kelly’s dog Kermit is reading SHOW AND TELL (and stole the pillow). After all, a dog’s gotta be comfy while reading, right?

Tonight at 9 pm (Eastern Time) I’ll be the kick-off guest for March’s WOMEN WRITERS’ MONTH at the awesome AUTHORS ON THE AIR program. I get to chat with Pam Stack along with guest host Rebecca Warner about SHOW AND TELL…and other writerly endeavors and books.

EDITED: It was a GREAT show, what fun! You can listen to the recording, too.

CLICK HERE to listen 

DOT reads SHOW & TELL

Mike displays his paw-tographed poster.

There’s DOT with the paperback copy of SHOW AND TELL, and the “bonus” poster behind her. She’s in the paw-tographed poster, too, because Dot is one of the characters in the book. Her person, Kristi, entered and won one of the NAME THAT DOG spots.

Incidentally, there are still posters left. If you’ve read the book and reviewed it, send me the link and your snail mail address, and I’ll send one to you, along with the “bonus” chapter (in Shadow’s viewpoint).

Mike also got in on the act, and sent a picture of his paw-tographed poster, too. He lives with both cats and a dog, so probably didn’t want to play favorites. *s*

No way we can leave CATS out of the conversation. I happen to know that Pam, (the host of AUTHORS ON THE AIR) has some kitties of her own, so there’s likely to be some feline fun discussed, too. In fact…

My cat fiction expertise has now been FEATURED IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL! Woot! This was a front-page story, no less, in a discussion of the pros and cons of having CAT characters in mysteries talk to the humans. Hey, my thrillers include cats and dogs, and Shadow (the service dog) has his own chapters, but none of my critters “talk” …other than with tail wags and ear twitches, of course. But that’s my preference as an animal behavior person. I have not problem with others imbuing their fictional felines with the ability to communicate. Don’t we all imagine what Kitty thinks and says, anyway?

The feature also included some information about several of my Cat Writers’ Association colleagues and the organization. Yes, there is a professional writer organization dedicated to a focus on the feline. You can read the WSJ article here.

My Karma-Kat and Seren-Kitty have been campaigning for cats to have their own viewpoint chapters in a novel, too, so…what do you think? After all, I’m an equal opportunity pet person and wouldn’t want to hiss off the cats.

Cats read by SITTING on top of books and absorbing the story through their (ahem) nether regions. Karma demonstrates the technique.

 

 

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new puppy and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Kitty Hide and Seek is Good for Cat Health: Neko Pawds Cat Tunnel Review

Do your cats play hide and seek? Does a shrinking violet cat dive under the bed whenever the doorbell rings? Or maybe you have a “pariah cat” that slinks around hoping the other cats won’t pay attention to the virtual KICK ME sign around her neck.

I’ve written about fearful cats in several behavior books, as well in this blog that explans why cats get scared, and offers 7 Tips to Stop Feline Fear including using tunnels and play. February is Responsible Pet Owners Month, so I’m always looking for great tips and products to share with my Sweet Peeps who adore their cats.

So when one of my favorite product manufacturers offered me the opportunity to review their new modular cat tunnels,  I pounced at the chance. The UJI Tunnel System from NEKO PAWDZ is a modular system of fabric tunnels that can be mixed and matched into 20 different combination shapes.

I live with Karma-Kat…so checking out the product was a no brainer!

You see, Karma is a bit of a bully and Seren has learned to use tunnels to (literally) run under the radar to reach important spots, like the litter box. One of my top recommendations for boosting shy cat courage is offering safe hidey-holds. Encouraging interactive play also can give the bully cat something more productive to do, and wear out over-enthusiastic pounce-monsters.

Each modular tunnel opening has interlocking zipper fasteners to connect them into interesting configurations. The tunnels arrive collapsed neatly inside of mesh storage bags. There are three tunnel shapes:

A straight “I” shape, with multi-openings and a “crinkle” sound cats love (retail $55.00)
A bent “U” shape, with a 3rd opening in the middle (retail $75.00)
A hooked “J” shape, with its 3rd opening on top (retail $65.00)

Now, for those who say your cats are quite satisfied with a paper bag and empty cardboard boxes–that’s fine. It’s true cats don’t care how much you spend, and there likely are less expensive cat tunnels available. But as with other products from Nekochan, the quality of the fabric and safety (and desires) of the cats is built into each design. These cat tunnels are an investment in emotional health, and are so sturdy and well made, they should last for the lifetime of your current kitties and possibly beyond.

A simple loop-and-button holds the collapsed/stored tunnels together, and when released, the tunnel unfurls. There’s a safety pocket to tuck away the look and button when not in use. Each opening with it’s zipper lining is held in place with Velcro when not connected to another unit. That’s a GOOD thing, because my Karma likes to chew Velcro, for some reason. He didn’t seem to notice its presence in the tunnels.

You can mix and match how you want to connect the tunnels. I was sent three–but you can use a single unit, connect all three, or turn your home into a kitty tunnel paradise. Openings at both ends, and in the middle, offer lots of hide-and-seek (and ambush!) opportunities. The fabric is polyester, easily cleaned and brushed to remove cat hair, and designed to fit in any decor. Of course, the true test is . . . what does the CAT think?

I confined Karma while zippering the tunnels together. It took me just a bit to figure out how to do this (sort of have to hold your mouth right, LOL!) and was afraid the zippers would jam. Actually, the connection worked very smoothly, much better than expected. The stitching and construction has been carefully designed so it doesn’t catch, and now that I’ve connected them once, it’ll be a breeze in future when I re-do the configuration.

Actually, this is a great idea, too, to keep cats interested in something new. While the shy cats may be more than satisfied with set-in-place-and-leave-it-alone, my Karma-Kat relishes new challenges. So rather than having to buy a whole new set up, I can mix it up and change the design for him whenever I want.

In case he was reluctant to explore, I also brought out one of his favorite toys, the Kittenator lure toy, also from NEKOCHAN. But never fear, Karma is a Christopher Columbus of the cat world. As soon as I released him, Karma ran to investigate.

He immediately dove in head first, to explore this new playground. But first, he grabbed the toy and tried to take it inside with him.

The fabric on the hardwood entry slides a bit with exuberant play. I’ll move the tunnels into another carpeted room for a more permanent location. My dog Magic also was very interested in the tunnels. For households with both cats and dogs, this tunnel system would work great to give the cats a safe retreat.

I didn’t really expect Seren to explore the tunnels so quickly. But within minutes of Karma leaving, she scurried inside, too. Of course, then Karma decided to pester her and she left. In fact, here’s a short video of Karma and Seren first look at the tunnels.

The cats’ review was an enthusiastic ALL PAWS UP. As for me, I’m a huge fan of anything that will enrich the lives of our cats. There will be a bit of a learning curve to figure out the best way to put the tunnels together (or maybe not, I’m not great with puzzles myself!).

Environmental enrichment reduces cat stress, and cat stress has a negative impact on kitty health. So the more we can enrich our cat’s lives, enhance their emotional well-being, we’ll reduce health problems (and the cost of vet visits!). Hey, don’t believe me? Even the The American Association of Feline Practitioners promotes the Cat Friendly Practice (CFP) Program to help veterinary professionals reduce the level of stress associated with the clinic visit. They’re celebrating they have 1000 vet clinics now in the program, with a AAFP fun cat photo contest.

I really liked the notion of the tunnels being modular. Single tunnels can be used in different rooms, or a string of tunnels hooked together throughout the house. They’ll accommodate any size room, or any number (or size) cats.

The construction and attention to detail is wonderful, with the button-hiding and Velcro fasteners designed specifically with cat safety in mind. The material feels great, too. And while I anticipated Karma would like the tunnels, it surprised me how eagerly he raced to investigate. My only nit with the product would be the higher price might make pet parents reluctant to invest. Once they do, though, they’ll discover a quality product that will turn on the purrs.

Be sure to watch the video demo below as it will give you an even better idea of how the tunnels fit together and how the cats enjoy them. So, do you have cat tunnels for your cats? How do you enrich the environment for your kitties? Do tell!

This post is sponsored by Nekochan Enterprises, and I am being compensated for helping spread the word about UJI Tunnel system. Bling, Bitches & Blood only shares information relevant to our readers. Nekochan is not responsible for the content of this article.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new puppy and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

6 Easy Fresh Breath Tips & How to Brush Doggy Teeth (Without Getting Bit!)

Does the thought of brushing dog teeth make you cringe, roll your eyes, whimper, slink away–and feel guilty? You’re not alone. But once that puppy-sweet breath morphs into curl-your-eyebrows stench, it’s long past time to address that stink-icity.

By the time dogs (and cats!) reach the age of three, 80 percent of them have some amount of dental disease. The issue is so serious that veterinary dentists created February National Pet Dental Health Month to raise awareness. After all, pets don’t brush their teeth, and they tend to gulp—not chew—their food. Just think what your teeth would look like in three years if you never brushed!

Dogs (and cats) share a lot of the same dental issues with humans. A veterinary dental visit involves anesthesia, ultrasonic scaling, polishing, and sometimes fluoride treatment or antibiotics, especially if teeth are pulled.

You can reduce the number of veterinary dental treatments (and your guilt-factor) with easy home care tips. Here’s 6 no-guilt tips to freshen up your dog’s breath.

6 Easy Fresh Breath Tips


Dry food won’t “cure” dental disease, but it doesn’t stick to teeth as readily as wet foods. Crunching dry food can reduce dental problems by about 10 percent, though, so offering your dog “crunchies” after moist dinners can help.
Many dogs relish healthy people foods like raw veggies or fruit, and chewing on these “detergent” foods can help scrub teeth clean. Offer dogs carrots or apple slices for healthy natural dental snacks. Make ’em big pieces, too, so he must gnaw off a piece rather than gulp it whole.

PAW-Click Here! for Dog Safe People Foods PAW-Click Here! for DANGEROUS People Foods for Pets

Eating “detergent” foods like apples is good for dog teeth.

Special “dental diets” and treats available in grocery stores or dispensed from the veterinarian can help especially with dog breeds that seem more prone to dental issues like Yorkshire Terriers. Look for sodium hexametaphosphate (sodium HMP) listed in the food, which helps prevent plaque from attaching to teeth.
Most veterinary dentists dislike cow bones, pig hooves, and other hard chew objects that may break your puppy’s teeth. Sterilized bones designed for doggy dental care, though, may be just the ticket.
Puppies love to chew. Offer your dog a legal object that also has dental benefits, like the “dental toys” that contain a nubby surface designed to scrub the teeth.
A wide range of commercial dental chews (rawhide, ropes, treats) available for dogs may also prevent doggy breath. Some are infused with special enzymes that kill bacteria and help prevent plaque. Also look for dental rinse products from your veterinarian.

Using a human toothbrush like this is too big for dog mouths, BUT…it works great to prop open the mouth for a pup-size brush to work!

How To Brush Doggy Teeth (Without Getting Bit!)

Adult dogs often object to tooth brushing. It’s best to start puppies with a dental hygiene program while they’re too little to argue. Just turn it into a tasty game and your pooch will BEG for the attention. Here’s how.

Mess With His Mouth. Over several weeks, get your dog used to having his mouth handled. You can get pups used to having something inserted into their mouth by flavoring your finger with low-salt chicken broth, or peanut butter (yum!).
Treat With Toothpaste. Offer doggy toothpaste as a treat. Special meat-flavored toothpaste is available from pet product stores or your veterinarian that gives pups the incentive to open wide. Never use human toothpaste. Puppies can’t spit so they end up swallowing the foam, and swallowed fluoride can be dangerous and damage your puppy’s internal organs.
Use Toy Props. Once they accept mouth handling and like the toothpaste, try propping the puppy’s mouth open with a favorite toy. Simply encourage him to bite on a chew object, and wrap your hand around his muzzle to hold it in place. That gives you access to his open mouth and also gives him something to do with his teeth. Use the same toy each time, so he identifies it with tooth attention–and getting a GREAT reward afterwards. Practice doing this several times and praising him while giving toothpaste treats before you introduce a toothbrush.
Choose Pet Brushes. Special pet toothbrushes are smaller and may be designed to better fit the dog’s mouth. A soft child’s toothbrush works well.
“Finger” The Teeth. Some puppies better accept your finger. Finger toothbrushes are available for brushing pet teet, or simply wrap a damp cloth over your fingers and use that to scrub the outside of his teeth. Puppy tongues clean the inside surface of teeth so you won’t have to worry about poking too far inside the mouth.
Praise The Performance. Brushing after every meal is recommended, but a two to three times a week is good. Always be sure to praise and throw a happy puppy party afterwards so your puppy is left with a good taste over the experience—literally!

Keeping breath fresh goes beyond good dental hygiene, too. Pungent breath makes you avoid dog kisses and lap snuggles (awww, you hurt his feelings!). It also points to potentially painful, dangerous dental problems that can damage your dog’s organs. Yes, it’s THAT important.

So…do you brush your dog’s teeth? What about offering “dental-friendly” foods and treats? How do you keep your pooch kiss-able fresh? Do tell!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new puppy and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Thriller Thursday: Bryan Robinson & Limestone Gumption a Southern Mystery Delight

Chills, thrills and spills with Thrillers Thursday by Amy Shojai

THRILLER THURSDAY is a new occasional feature of Bling, Bitches & Blood. As a member of International Thriller Writers and alumni of the ITW Debut Author Program, it is my honor to showcase select ITW authors and books participating in the ITW Bloggers Program. If you love reading great books as much as I do, check out my guest Bryan Robinson! 

Bryan Robinson is a novelist and licensed psychotherapist. His award-winning thriller, Limestone Gumption: A Brad Pope and Sisterfriends Mystery, is a nail-biting Southern murder mystery and winner of the 2014 Beverly Hills  Book Award for BEST MYSTERY. He is a veteran author of 35 nonfiction books, has appeared on 20/20, Good Morning America, World News Tonight, The Early Show, and NBC Nightly News. He maintains a psychotherapy practice in Asheville, NC, where he is working on Book 2 in the series, She’ll Be KILLING Round the Mountain When She Comes. Visit his website atwww.bryanrobinsonnovels.com, follow him on twitter @BRTherapist, and like him on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bryanrobinsonnovels

Hey, Sweet Peeps, ya gotta check out this book if only because his author picture includes….A DOG!

Winner of the 2014 Beverly Hills Book Award for Best Mystery
Finalist for Best Regional Fiction
Chosen by the NC Arts Council as one of the top ten best books for summer reading in July, 2014
Named number 8 in Malaprops Bookstore and Café’s Top Ten Best Hardback sellers for 2014
Finalist in the International Book Awards for Best Mystery/Suspense.

When Brad Pope returns to his boyhood hometown to settle a debt with his estranged father and re-establish a bond with his cantankerous Grandma Gigi, the 35-year-old psychologist becomes a prime suspect in the murder of football legend turned cave diver, Big Jake Nunn. As if being accused of murder isn’t shock enough, the psychologist is horrified by his father’s whereabouts. And Grandma Gigi and her club sisters start to look more like cold-bloodied killers than church ladies. This offbeat, fast-paced mystery witnesses beauty and brutality in a small Southern town, twisting and turning, teasing to the surface one suspicion, one misunderstanding, and one murder at a time.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

“A mystery that keeps us guessing as well as a humorous look at small-town Southern life. Bryan Robinson has written a highly enjoyable novel!”—RON RASH, New York Times bestselling author of Serena, a major motion picture

“Delightful story and memorable characters.”—CHRIS ROERDEN, Agatha-Award-winning author of Don’t Murder Your Mystery

“A stunning comedic debut, a laugh-out-loud page-turner of a mystery populated by the most eccentric and hilarious characters I’ve encountered in a long, long time.“–CASSANDRA KING, author of The Sunday Wife and Moonrise

“Thrilling, chilling, funny, touching with rich Southern characters and spot-on dialogue. I laughed, gasped, and even shed a few tears. I haven’t read a book I have enjoyed so much since THE HELP.“—DEL SHORES, Director/Screenwriter of the motion pictures Sordid Lives and Southern Baptist Sissies

“Colorful dialogue and larger-than-life Southern characters, earning it favorable comparison to the work of Fannie Flagg and Pat Conroy.”—RICH RENNICKS, Asheville Mountain Express

“Twists and turns and surprises kept me turning the pages…a little of everything: mystery, suspense, love, hate—an entertaining story.”—READERS’ FAVORITE

“Robinson’s debut amateur sleuth gets a thumbs up…light humor, genial banter, and colorful characters…mouthwatering recipes included.”—LIBRARY JOURNAL

BUY THE BOOK AT THESE FINE VENUES:

Amazon   and   Barnes & Noble

 

Subscribe to Amy’s YouTube Channel

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me onFacebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

 

Kitten Season! Must-Knows About Newborn Kitten Development

Mother cats take good care of kittens.

It’s kitten season–well, almost–and time for a refresher course on newborn kitten development. The timing is perfect (or purr-fect?) because this past week, I had a lovely kitty-girl visitor on my back patio.

The tortie youngster looked about five or six months old, and respectfully backed off and padded away when she saw Karma-Kat give her the hairy eyeball through the window. She looked well fed with a healthy coat and clean eyes, but at her age–and this time of year–it’s only a matter of time before she becomes pregnant. I hope that she’s already spayed and was safely shooed back inside once she returned home.

Newborn Kittens are blind and deaf, and use cries to call for mom and help.

ROMANTICAL CATS & KITTEN LITTERING

In the Northern hemisphere, intact girl kitties begin to go into heat in February, and can become pregnant as early as four or five months of age. Within about 63 days, new furry babies make their appearance so brace yourselves for a bumper crop of cute-icity.

Kittens gain two to four ounces a week from birth to five to six months of age. The kitten immune system is also fully developed by six to eight weeks of age, while the immune protection he gained from Mom begins to fade.

Kitten play can be relentless.

Nonstop Kitten Play

Play and interaction with others takes over during weeks five to seven. Social play with Mom and siblings begins now, and includes running, rolling, biting, wrestling, climbing, and jumping. Mom-cat and siblings let the baby know if he bites or claws too hard and they’ll hiss at him or put an end to the game.

Handraised newborn kittes need to be fed every 4 hours or so with an appropriate kitten milk replacement.

When kittens are adopted too early, or are orphaned and hand raised, you’ll have extra challenges to bringing up baby. What’s cute in a tiny kitten becomes aggravating or even dangerous when he gets older and can tip playtime into play aggression. Adopting a pair of kittens can be a good option, so the babies wrestle and play with each other rather than targeting your ankles. If you are the “mother figure” it’s up to you to teach Baby about the litter box, playing “nice” and eating grown-up food.

All your kitten must-knows!

Kitten Socialization For A Lifetime of Love

Puppies get more attention when it comes to socialization, but this is equally important in kittens. The problem is–prime kitten socialization takes place between two-to-seven weeks of age! Oh, the baby will learn after that, but his is the best time to pre-program a cat for success. When you adopt a kitten at this age, it’s up to you to expose him to a wide range of situations so he’ll be willing to accept them as he ages. That’s called “socialization” and can mean the difference between a loving pet and a scaredy cat. You can find important details in the COMPLETE KITTEN CARE book.

Good experiences with people and other pets during this time ensure they’ll be well-adjusted adult cats. It’s ideal for kittens to stay with their littermates and mother until twelve weeks of age so they learn best how to get along with other cats, and learn all the important “cat rules” of the world. But very often, shelters need the space and adopt out babies earlier–or the kitten is alone in the world anyway, and benefits from being adopted earlier.

He should learn to accept being handled and groomed by you and strangers, so the veterinarian won’t have to fight him for an examination. This is the best age to train him to accept the cat carrier and leash. That allows him to travel with you when necessary, either to the vet or groomers, or across town to visit Grandma. And if you think another pet (dog or cat), or a child might be in your future, introduce him to positive experiences at this age. That way, he’ll accept them as a normal part of his world and you’ll prevent behavior problems down the road.

How old was your cat when you adopted him? Have you ever needed to hand-raise a kitten? What do you think is the best age to adopt–and why? Please share!

Subscribe to Amy’s YouTube Channel

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE

SEREN TURNS 20! and Celebrating Valentine’s Day

Exactly a year ago I wrote a post about how Karma-Kat arrived just in time to celebrate Seren’s birthday. So now the pair of them share a birthday and gotcha-day, and yesterday (well, it’s the date we chose anyway for her birthday…)

SEREN’S 20 YEARS OLD!

Can I hear a MEE-WOW!

In fact, ever since the boy-kitty arrived, Seren’s turned back the clock and today is more active and engaged than when she was 16. She’s still my dainty princess…I can’t imagine life without her.

It seems appropriate to celebrate our special brand of love for Valentine’s Day, in honor of Seren and Karma, and all the kitties that make our lives complete. Want a free book? keep reading!

CAT FACTS CONTEST & GIVE AWAY!

In honor of Seren’s inspiration over 2 decades, I’ve launched a contest give-away of FIFTY (50) E-COPIES my newest book CAT FACTS. I’ll be giving away some coupon discount codes, too.

This is a new kind of contest–and winning is completely in YOUR paws. The entrants who shares the contest the most times and garner the most referrals wins. That simple, just share the paw-some opportunity for a free cat book with your cat loving peeps. You’ll get your own individual URL to share when you click here to enter your email for the contest here.

Go ahead and check out the link–you’ll see a digital preview of the book, too, so you can see what it will look like on your Kindle or iPad, with all the color pictures and suchlike.

And if you’d prefer the print copy of the book, your entry also qualifies you for a chance to win a $5 discount code for the print version. Click HERE to enter & get your unique URL code to share.

Seren and Karma inspired the CAT FACTS book, and I guess you could say that I spent my last 20 years with Seren by my side researching this book. Now it’s time to share the Valentine’s Day kitty love with this CAT FACTS contest.

WHAT REVIEWERS SAY ABOUT CAT FACTS

“It covers every medical and behavioral issue you can possibly think of in alphabetical order with symptoms, first aid, home care, holistic help (LOVE THIS FEATURE!!!), vet care and prevention…”

“This book is, by far, one of the most comprehensive books about cat health topics I have read…”

“The graphics are gorgeous. Very all-inclusive information. Owners, shelters and rescues need to have this book at the ready on their shelves.”

“…you will find over 200 entries culled from Shojai’s 25+ years of experience and her interviews with more than 400 veterinarians on all matters related to feline health and well being.”

THE CLOCK IS TICKING…

Be sure to enter before the contest closes at midnight February 14, 2016. The 50 winners will be selected by the nifty software that measures shares and referrals, and sent the download link for EPub, mobi and PDF files, which will be available through the end of the month to the winners. And then the remaining top share entrants will receive their $5-off discount code for the PRINT version.

For all the peeps interested, I’ll share the results of the contest in a future blog, too–even perhaps a how-to so you can use the same strategy for a cause close to your heart.

How do YOU celebrate your cats’ birthdays and gotcha days? Karma’s playing “surfing cat” while I drag him around the carpet on a towel. Seren’s getting extra scritches and treats (Karma, too, of course).

But for me, that’s a birthday and Valentine’s that I get to celebrate all year long.

Subscribe to Amy’s YouTube Channel

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me onFacebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE

#Thrillers Thursday: Brendan Rielly AN UNBEATEN MAN

Chills, thrills and spills with Thriller Thursday by Amy Shojai

THRILLER THURSDAY is a new occasional feature of Bling, Bitches & Blood. As a member of International Thriller Writers and alumni of the ITW Debut Author Program, it is my honor to showcase select ITW authors and books participating in the ITW Bloggers Program. If you love reading great books as much as I do, check out my guest BRENDON RIELLY! 

An Unbeaten Man is Brendan Rielly’s first thriller. Brendan is a member of ITW and Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance and studied advanced fiction writing while attending law school. Brendan is chair of Jensen Baird’s litigation department and lives with his wife and three children in Westbrook, Maine, where he is the City Council President. Brendan is the middle of three generations of Maine authors with his father and son (as a high school senior) also published. Check out Brendan Rielly’s author page here and be sure to LIKE him on Facebook.

 

I met Brendan (in the *virtual* sense) through the International Thriller Writers. We are both members of the “blog-icity” team for the organization, and one of the perks is we get to read each other’s books. And hey, I just found out he was born in South Bend, Indiana, not too far from Elkhart/Bristol where I grew up. Small world, eh? (Of course, now he’s in Maine and I’m in Texas so not sure what that means).

Now, my TBR pile teeters dangerously toward the ceiling and my taste in thrillers runs more toward the medical and action/adventure rather than espionage. I’m also a bit leery of Middle East/terrorist type plots (some of y’all know why) so I put off starting the book.

But no worries there…HOLY CATS within the first few paragraphs, the story grabbed me by the throat (in a good way!) and never let go, AN UNBEATEN MAN sucked me into this race-against-time of global proportions. I’m surprised the main character Michael McKeon survives either physically or emotionally, after what he goes through, and the reader continues to root for him all the while knowing he simply can’t overcome the odds…and yet someone “keeps on ticking.” And guess what? the satisfying ending makes it clear that this is just the beginning of what promises to be a fantastic series. BRAVO!

I can see why Douglas Preston offered such a glowing quote for this debut novelist. Be sure to check out other reviews from the likes of Steve Berry, Gayle Lynds and more on this page. 

“An Unbeaten Man is a first-class thriller that starts with a fascinating premise—that a microbe can destroy petroleum stocks—and spins into a story of international intrigue, suspense, and maximum mayhem. This well-crafted novel offers compelling characters, believable science, exotic settings, and plenty of surprises. Highly recommended!” –Douglas Preston, #1 bestselling author of The Kraken Project and Blue Labyrinth

Abandoned by his father, orphaned by his drug-addled mother, and devastated by the murder of his sister, Michael McKeon was once a hardened “street dog who learned to play in traffic.” Years later, Michael is now a Bowdoin College professor with a wife and adopted daughter. When he creates a microbe that instantly cleans up any oil spill, no matter how large, by devouring the oil, that discovery should be the breakthrough that defines a career. But the microbiologist’s life is ruined when The Global Group kidnaps his wife and daughter, forcing him to use his microbe to destroy all Saudi and Russian oil. As Michael races against the clock to save his family, he becomes a threat to the secret efforts of the American, Russian and Saudi governments to douse the flames in the Middle East by implementing a new Marshall Plan.

Haunted by the loss of one family and determined not to lose another, Michael will do anything to save his wife and daughter, even if it means throwing the world into chaos. And heaven help anyone, even his own government, who tries to stop him. From the moment Michael’s family is kidnapped, the action never stops, propelling him relentlessly from Bowdoin College’s deceptively tranquil campus in Brunswick, Maine, to a hidden laboratory in the United Arab Emirates; to Abqaiq in the desolate and unforgiving Empty Quarter; to the bitter isolation of the Sakhalin Island oil fields off Russia’s far eastern coast; and to the final showdown in an isolated dacha outside Moscow, where Michael may not survive the ultimate betrayal of discovering who is really behind The Global Group.

Down East Books is the go-to source for books about Maine, and an imprint of Globe Pequot, the trade division of Rowman & Littlefield. AN UNBEATEN MAN published November 2015 | Hardback $24.95 | 6×9 | 260pp.  (NOOK Ebook $11.99)

BUY THE BOOK on all fine book venues including Amazon and Barnes & Nobel

Subscribe to Amy’s YouTube Channel

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me onFacebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Amy Shojai Joins Cat Friendly Practice Advisory Council

Cat Friendly Practices make exam times fear free for cats.

I am so honored to have been asked to serve on the Cat Friendly Practice Advisory Council, along with over 60 other cat care professionals. You can see the full CFP Advisory Council list here, and it reads like a who’s who among the cat community! This is a volunteer position, and I’m not being compensated for this post…other than in terms of feeling good about promoting a PAW-some program.

As a member of this group, from time to time I’ll share information that will benefit you, your veterinarian–and most of all, that furry wonder dozing right now in your lap.

What is a Cat Friendly Practice? Take a look at the video, below, for more details and click here to take you directly to the American Association of Feline Practitioners to find out how to find your Cat Friendly Practice. 

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me onFacebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Share this:

!

SHOW AND TELL: Making Of A Video Book Trailer

I’ve had a lot of fun cobbling together trailers for my most recent thrillers. And today, I want to share how I put the trailer together, and also added “click-able” links to the video. In other words, pull the curtain aside just a bit for readers, and also for other book writers.

A book trailer is no different than one created for a movie: short, full of impact-icity, and designed to entice or even compel viewers to BUY the book. There’s debate on how much benefit (if any) book trailers have on sales, but heck–more eyeballs and ears just learning about SHOW AND TELL could potentially help.

It’s a given that the book must be good. And it’s a given that it should be available as widely as possible. Those two aspects must happen for the book to garner positive reviews–which also serve to convince readers your book is worth the purchase.

The real unicorn-rainbow-dust is obtaining DISCOVER-ABILITY. I suspect a well-done and compelling book trailer can help.

RULES FOR BOOK TRAILERS

There’s no real “rules” about trailers. Just put yourself in the viewer’s seat and take notes. 1. What makes YOU “click” on the video on YouTube or wherever, 2. What makes you STOP watching before it’s done? 3. What makes you watch to the end? 4. After viewing, what makes you A. like/share/recommend B. take the next step (click/buy/subscribe/whatever).

Based on that, I now strive for 1. Click-able cover image 2. Succinct (under 90 seconds…60 is better!) 3. Tension (what happens next? use the CLIMAX scenes of plot, not the whole story) 4. Value added…in my case, free sample chapter

I don’t pretend to be a whiz or professional at movie-making the way many of my actor and producer colleagues are, but for a DIY super-low-budget project, I’m pretty pleased. Using the criteria in the previous paragraph, I’d love your feedback. Does it make you want to click/watch? Did you watch to the end? Would you “click” the link at the end for the free read? (We’ll get to how it was made, including the click-able link, so please keep reading!).

Did you see the clip with Magical-Dawg? Hey, he had to be in there somewhere, since he’s the inspiration for Shadow, my hero-dog character. You can read more about that in this fun blog post.

One of the so-called “rules” is to keep the video short. Apparently, today we’re all ADD-voyeurs with such short attention spans that—–> OOOOH SQUIRREL!

Although now it’s a single video complete with sound, it didn’t start out that way. If you want, watch again and see if you can count how many separate videos, pictures, and sound cues were used to create this final product. Post your guesses in the comments, and I’ll reveal the answer later. *s*

My first attempt at a trailer was nearly 2-1/2 minutes long, yikes! but it’s had over 500 views so I guess folks liked it well enough. For LOST AND FOUND trailer, I shot nearly all the video myself, (some of it OF myself!) and recorded the voice over but purchased the gunshot sound effects. So other than the cost of the software, which I already had, the first video was nearly free. *s* I’ve included that video further down the page, for those interested.

The trailers for the two latest books HIDE AND SEEK and SHOW AND TELL cost more because I purchased more stock video and audio. There are free-share sites for this but be careful of licensing and copyright issues. Authors don’t want books pirated, so we must respect the rights of the photographer/videographer/model/actor. I purchased several clips from DepositPhotos.com (yes, they have video, too). I think that I paid $30 for “web rights” version for each clip I purchased from them. So each of these videos cost me about $100.

My book trailer for HIDE AND SEEK (also included toward the end of the post) not only used sound effects but also mood-enhancing music, and I tried to time the musical emphasis with appearance of the subtitles. For thrillers, I think that works well. Other genres probably it wouldn’t matter quite so much.

In fact, most book trailers I’ve seen consist of still pictures representing characters or setting with captions that sketch the high points of the plot. There are folks able to make these types of trailers compelling, but I’m not that talented. I prefer video to still pictures, and I prefer voice overs to captions. Probably using a combination works best because reading vs listening is more (or less) compelling and memorable depending on the individual. Today with the advent of SmartPhones and easy-to-record video, you can often shoot the video and images you need yourself–and do the whole thing for free.

But once you have all the different 10-second clips of images, settings, characters and actions, how do you put them together? Video software, of course.

VIDEOPAD EDITING SOFTWARE

There are many kinds of software packages that are easy to use, often free, and provide the effects you’ll want. A simple slide show with captions works well, and can be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo or other host services (even directly to FaceBook) to leverage share-power.

I discovered VideoPad editing software several years ago, and first downloaded the trial version and fell in love. Using the VideoPad freeware, I produced dozens of my short Ask Amy cat and dog behavior videos and several hundred others all available on my YouTube channel here. When you take a look at some of these, you’ll notice the same intro for each (with puppies or kitties added, depending on the subject), so often you can create your own “stock” footage to use time and again.

Here’s how it works. You open the software, click the “add” button to upload images or video clips or audio files, and then drag/drop into various “tracks.” You can layer these as you wish, move them around, create fade in/fade out or other (zoom!) transitions between these components. The audio track runs below the image files so you can time them, and see where (57 second mark) something happens to create your caption to appear/disappear where you wish. I love this software! You can then “export” the file into any of several formats. The MP4 format works for YouTube very well, but you could expert as a .MOV or any of several other options, including low or high definition, save the file to DVD or whatever you’d like. Brilliant!

Stay tuned for future how-to webinars with screen shots and more for DIY trailers, and other writer-icity topics. Yeah, I don’t have enough to do with the books…I gotta add webinars, too.

#Thrillers Thursday: H.A. Raynes NATION OF ENEMIES

THRILLER THURSDAY is a new occasional feature of Bling, Bitches & Blood. As a member of International Thriller Writers and alumni of the ITW Debut Author Program, it is my honor to showcase select ITW authors and books participating in the ITW Bloggers Program. If you love reading great books as much as I do, check out my first spotlight guest HOLLY RAYNES!

H.A. RAYNES was inspired to write NATION OF ENEMIES by a family member who was a Titanic survivor and another who escaped Poland in World War II. Combining lessons from the past with a healthy fear of the modern landscape, this novel was born. A longtime member of Boston’s writing community, she was a finalist in the Massachusetts Screenwriting Competition and has published a short story in the online magazine REDIVIDER. H.A. Raynes has a history of trying anything once (acting, diving out of a plane, white water rafting, and parenting). Writing and raising children seem to have stuck. 

It’s all about the genetics. DNA. Black & white.

A decade ago the US government mandated that all citizens be issued biochips containing all of their medical information and an ID number indicating a person’s health. Then they made the information public—the implications of which were wide-spread and devastating.

Now on the eve of the 2032 presidential election, the country is deeply divided and on the brink of civil war. But as the two major political parties face off, innocent Americans are dying at the hands of masked terrorists. When the Liberty Party’s presidential nominee is assassinated in a highly-coordinated, masterful attack, it sets off a chain of events that will change the course of history and leave America’s inalienable rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—dangling on the precipice of extinction.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT H.A. RAYNES!

Listen to Holly Raynes in this radio show (along with some other fine ITW authors).

Connect with Holly at these links:

www.nationofenemies.com

http://facebook.com/HARaynes

http://twitter.com/hollyiswriting

BUY THE BOOK!

NATION OF ENEMIES, Paperback & Ebook, 528 pages

HarperCollins/Witness Impulse Imprint

 An Amazon reader: “Nation of Enemies is a tightly wound look into a plausible view of the future of America. Topics being debated today (NSA overreach in surveillance, electronic health records, technology in general, domestic terrorism, refugee screening and more) are woven together to paint a picture of a not too distant future where the concept of what freedom in America really means is tested and defined. The story is told in a the form of an action thriller that keeps you interested and invested from the first page.”

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iTunes

Disclosure: I am not being compensated for this post, and the featured author is not responsible for the content. THRILLER THURSDAY posts may include amazon.com affiliate links for which I’m nominally compensated.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!