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Posts Tagged ‘http://www.amyshojai.com’

  1. Monday Mentions: Maggots, Plague & Good Times!

    October 15, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    I’ve been deep into discussions about the making of LOST AND FOUND for the past couple of weeks on the DogRead list (today is the last day–but you can read the archives if you wish *s*). It seems that I’m gaining some furry fans as a result and I’m delighted that the critters have given the book their paws-up of approval. I’m also discussing fun ways characters get named over at The Big Thrill, please join us!

    This week I’m finishing up preparations for the Cat Writers Association conference. It’s our 20th anniversary celebration! So I’m putting together a fun power point presentation of pictures and history of the organization. I’ve also been honored with several Certificate of Excellence awards in the annual contest and will find out if any of these nominations result in a Muse Medallion win, too! If you’re in the neighborhood, I’ll also be presenting my Kindle-ization talk once again.

    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. There are LOTS of fun links today–and even a rather important (sort of scary, too) video on the blog for self protection. Hope you’ll never need it.

    WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF

    Creativity Writers Conference. Sat., Oct. 20. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. KU Edwards campus, 12600 Quivira. Featuring Linda Rodriguez, fiction; Suzanne Lieurance, writing for children; Lisa Waterman Gray, travel writing, Olive Sullivan, poetry, Amy Viets and Bernadette Stankard, co-authorship; Mike Lance, electronic publishing.  Fee: $75. Sponsored by Kansas City Voices magazine. Public welcome.

    Cover Art Tips for Authors

    Fair Use what is it? Goodguidelines for writers

    Writers, Create A Biz Plan and here’s how

    Pub’ing Jobs at Harper Collins, Penguin

    Dorchester Transfers Rights Back to Authors…if they can find you.

    Do You NaNoWriteMo? 90+ published books began in this annual jump-start project that prompts writers to commit to 50,000 words in November! Do it!

    Amazon Studios Options It’s First Novel to Become A Movie

    Paying for Facebook Posts learn all about it and also this great explanation about EdgeRank

    Open Letter to Virus Creators I really enjoyed reading this vent!

    Sock Puppets & Fake Reviews

    Self Pub’ing No Longer “Second Class” Route?

    Google & Publishers Settle…well some of ‘em do. I got a notice that I may be due a refund. Someday. Maybe. Kinda-sorta-in-a-way. Mffft. Here’s what Author Beware had to say about it.

    Bouchercon–Why I Stopped Going  this author has some interesting observations

    Tumblr Adds Analytics Tool

    Plot Fixer Series, looks awesome!

    How To Write A Press Release

    Tags & Keywords for Authors

    Gender Specific Characteristics for Characters...or not!

    Quick Backlist Building With Shorter Books….really? What do you think?

    Can My Killer Hack A Heart? that is, interfere with the pacemaker? Doug Lyle’s nefarious info is dead-on (bwaaa-hahaha!)

    PET-ASTIC SCHTUFF

    Pet Books Get No Respect...except here, of course. Two very well known dog writers expound on the furry truth

    Pet Prescriptions & Veterinarians a good discussion from my friend over at Fidose of Reality

    MAGGOT DNA I.D.s CORPSE and yes, I had to put that in all caps because it is so freakin’ cool! Yay, Doug Lyle…again!

    Photos Help Shelter Animals Find Homes what a great project! You can do this, too.

    Do Cats Hiccup?

    TV Reality Veterinarian Fined for Negligence/Incompetence …but gee, he looks good on TV. What is WRONG with this picture?

    California Squirrel Plague sounds like the plot to a thriller

    SPONSORSHIP for Small Animal Studies Available at Morris Animal Foundation. Help your pet and others’, too.

    Pet Loss & Bereavement–How Dogs Grieve. It’s awful, everyone’s different but getting through the pain can be done. Here are 7 Ways for Pet Lovers to Cope from psychology experts, and what to do for grieving cats from the awesome Marilyn Krieger

    Dog Trainer Seminar–Suzanne Clothier Relationship Based Training Seminar, known as a “trainer of trainers”  Suzanne will be at the Grapevine (TX) Convention Center on Feb. 23-24, 2013. The cost of the 2 day seminar is $250 for early sign up, and $275 after Jan. 1, 2013. Contact Kathi O’Malley for registration

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VcSwejU2D0

    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, listen to the weekly radio show, 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!

    Category Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care, Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,,,,, | 4 Comments

  2. Woof Wednesday: Forced Vacation

    August 22, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    I think there’s a furry conspiracy afoot. Monday I lost my Internet connection which meant I spent most of the next day out of the house finding a “hot spot” to get work done. But once I returned home–with a week-in-advance caught up online–the pets ambushed me for EXTRA attention! They celebrated the fact the plastic-box-thingy I stare at nearly 24/7 had been shut down and put away. Even my Blackberry refused to download emails.

    Radio silence meant I could concentrate on more important things. Like tossing the Frisbee. And petting the kitty.

    How often do we bemoan having so little “free time” to spend doing what we truly want to do? And then when technology failure actually “gifts” us with a forced vacation, we gnash our teeth with frustration and can’t even enjoy the change of pace.

    Well enough already. Yesterday at Panera Bread I published a puppy article about rabies risk and blogged about it. And then uploaded and scheduled two more puppies articles and blogs, plus THIS blog and two more future ones. I am sooooo done. Therefore, if the blogs over the next several days seem a weee bit short–well, that’s because~~~
    magic water 5
    I’m tossing a Frisbee for the Magical-Dawg, or running the hose for him, or rambling the 13 acres while he sniffs out adventures, or playing chase-the-feather with Seren-Kitty, or playing my piano/cello/singing or even READING for recreation for a change.

    How do you deal with forced vacation? If you didn’t have deadlines, what would you do RIGHT THIS MINUTE? Please share…and you’ll be ready the next time the Internet or some other karma deals you an unexpected gift of free time.

    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, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay tuned for more news about my forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND!

    Category Dog Training & Care | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,, | 14 Comments

  3. Woof Wednesday: Pet DISASTER Plan

    July 25, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    Seren is NOT a fan of the carrier--but it's the safest spot for her.

    If you must evacuate, take your pets along. It may be days before authorities allow you to return home. If you’ve got to evacuate, find a hotel, friend, or other accommodations in advance that will let you bring your dogs and cats.

    PROVIDE PROPER IDENTIFICATION

    Make sure all dogs and cats are wearing collars and up-to-date pet identification. If you have nothing else handy, use a felt-tip marker and write your phone number and name on the pet’s tummy.

    Attach the phone number and address of your temporary shelter, if you know it, to the pet’s collar tags. You can buy temporary tags or put adhesive tape on the back of your pet’s ID tag, adding information with an indelible pen. Write directly on a flat nylon collar or halter to make it easy for a stranger to read the information.

    PACK FOR YOUR PETS

    In addition to providing for human family members, have a “pet kit” ready to take along that contains a three-day supply of all the pet essentials. If easily packed, take an extra towel or blanket for each pet. Don’t forget sturdy leashes, harnesses, carriers or X-pens for safe confinement.

    P1010012

    A halter and leash gives you something to grab.

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides information and relief for human victims of disaster, and Petfinder.com also offers great disaster preparation information for pet owners.

    Have you ever had to ride out a storm with your pets? How did you manage the situation? What about fire? One year we had horrendous floods here and folks had to flee, awakening with water coming under the door.

    How have you managed during disasters? Did you evacuate and take the fur-kids with you, or were you forced to leave them behind? That would just about kill me…I’d likely risk my life and stay with them, if it came down to it. Please share how you prepare for the worst.

    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, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Don’t forget to vote for your NAME THAT DOG/CAT character choice in the forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND!

    Category Dog Training & Care | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 12 Comments

  4. Feline Friday: Suicide Reporting & Crazy Cat-astrophies

    July 13, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    It’s Friday the 13th. Somehow that seems appropriate to address creepy, without-a-clue reportage that does more damage than good. I’m at Thrillerfest this weekend where we’re discussing all sorts of mayhem but that’s make-believe. When bad info crosses over into “real life” that can cause lots of problems.

    Every once in a while cats get demonized once again for causing everything from sucking the breath from babies to causing male pattern baldness. Now they’ve been linked to increase suicide risk. On purpose. Because they’re evil.

    Huh? Even if they WERE evil, cats are too smart to kill the two-legged servants who hold the keys to the pantry and can openers. Just give me a break!

    It’s that toxoplasmosis bug, not cats, that MIGHT increase risk of suicide and honestly, you’ll be more likely to contract that creepy parasite by munching unwashed lettuce.

    WHAT IS TOXOPLASMOSIS?

    The single cell organism Toxoplasma gondii, a parasitic protozoan, can be found in nearly all mammals (including cats and dogs), and has evolved to infect people and animals without making them sick. It’s been estimated that half the people in the United States have been exposed–60 million men, women and children–already carry this parasite, but never developed symptoms. When they do, the most common sign in both people and pets is transient swelling of the lymph glands. Sort of like flu.

    However, the disease can cause life-threatening illness in immune suppressed people, as well as unborn babies of pregnant mothers who become infected during the pregnancy–and the mom rarely show any symptoms.

    THE KITTY CONNECTION & FELINE BLAME GAME

    Cats become infected either by swallowing the infective stage of the protozoan from the environment, by eating infected animals, or by eating raw meat. The protozoan multiplies in the wall of the small intestine and produce egg-like oocysts. Infected cats are the only animals that pass on these immature forms of the organism; they are shed in the cat’s stool. And THAT’S how kitty got the bad rap. However, the oocysts are passed in great numbers in the cat’s feces for only two to three weeks. Once this stage is passed it’s rare for the cat to ever again shed the eggs.

    THE DOWN & DIRTY ON THE DANGERS

    It takes two to five days for the oocysts to mature into infective forms of the organism. These organisms can survive in moist or shady soil or sand for many months.  The disease is spread when an animal or a person swallows these infective organisms.

    Once inside the bird, rodent, cat or person, the protozoan continues to mature, causing pockets of disease throughout the body. If the victim survives this stage of the illness, usually symptoms go away and the disease becomes dormant; the protozoan remains in certain muscle tissues and even the brain.

    Cats are diagnosed when a microscopic examination of their stool reveals oocysts, which means the cat is at that time capable of spreading disease. A blood test shows if the cat has ever been exposed. A positive test in an otherwise healthy cat means Kitty is actively immune, and is an unlikely source of disease. In fact, cats rarely show signs of the disease. The immune system of most cats interferes with the life cycle of the organism, so that toxoplasmosis in cats enters a dormant phase often for the remaining lifetime of the cat.

    EASY TO PREVENT

    Don’t let anyone (your mom, sister, friend, or even doctor!) scare you into giving up your cat by whispering about the dangers of toxoplasmosis. Yes, the disease can be dangerous especially to unborn babies, but a pregnant woman would have to be pretty unsanitary to catch anything from her cat.

    It’s easy to prevent the spread of the disease. Since several days are needed for the oocysts to become infective, simply cleaning the cat’s litter box each day eliminates that route of infection. People in high-risk groups, such as pregnant women or those with compromised immune systems should have someone else perform litter box duty.

    The chance of contracting toxoplasmosis from a well cared for pet cat is extremely low. The most common infection source in people in the United States is undercooked or raw meat, especially pork, or unwashed raw veggies.

    To reduce risk even further, wash your hands after handling raw meat, and cook it thoroughly before eating. Don’t feed your cat undercooked or raw foods, and prevent the cat from hunting. Wear gloves while working in the garden to prevent contracting the disease from the soil.

    If you plan to become pregnant, ease your worries by asking the doctor to perform a blood test to see if you’ve ever been exposed to the disease. If a woman has been infected before becoming pregnant, she’ll be immune and her future baby will be protected against infection.

    MORE EXPERT INFO RESOURCES

    There is much more information available at the CAPC site about toxoplasmosis. For those of you who would like to listen to an audio podcast instead of reading, here’s a great AVMA podcast interview about toxoplasmosis with Dr. Jane Brunt, executive director of the CATalyst Council, and owner and director of the Cat Hospital at Towson in Baltimore. You can also find out more information at the Centers for Disease Control.

    This video is one of my most popular and most watched–when a well known pediatrician also got his facts wrong. There’s lots of mis-information out there. But those of us who love cats…and what people protected, too…are doing our part. Please share this post!

    Or else the ZOMBIE CAT APOCALYPSE WILL EAT YOUR BRAINS–REALLY–I’M NOT JOKING!

    So what kinds of hurtful, clueless MYTH-TAKES have you helped debunk about your cat (or your dog?). How do you change the tied against ignorance? Please offer tips here–it’s important.

    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, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter .

    Don’t forget to check out the NAME THAT DOG/CAT character in the forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND! Poll with SEMIFINAL NAMES for you to vote to be posted next week so get your suggestions in ASAP.

    Category Cat Behavior & Care | Tags: ,,,,,,,,, | 14 Comments

  5. Monday Mentions: Fabulous Flowers, Furry Pet Care & Fantastic Writing Tips

    April 30, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    Magic in flowers

    Last week I mentioned the 500 antique roses around our house? It used to be 700+ but the drought, armadillos and grasshopper attrition left a dent. You cannot believe the aroma! With all the recent rain, we’re fighting with the weeds but it appears the roses are holding their own or even winning. And so are the wildflowers. As promised, some of my favs are shared here today.

    This next weekend I’ll be at the Oklahoma Writers Federation Conference. This is an organization very close to my heart, as I have met some of the most extraordinary writers and friends there, as well as connected with editors and agents. As a result of attending, I ended up writing a Woman’s World pet column for a couple of years, found my agent (we sold 15+ award winning books together!), and also served as contest chair and president. I’m now a life member, wow! This weekend I’ll be moderating a panel on social media. You don’t have to be there, either, to benefit–if you have questions please post in the comments section and I’ll pose them to the panelist and share in a future blog.

    Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the TASTY neato-torpedo links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Some of this “schtuff” can be hard to categorize and may fit more than one topic so I urge you to at least scan them all. But first…some N. Texas spectacular-arity because when you’re feeling angst, there’s nothing like a dose of Mom-Nature to set you right.

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    Paintbrush
    antique rose
    antique rose
    Anitique roses

    WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF

    Amazon Rewards Content Creators a great post from LJ Sellers

    2012 Agents Conference, Writers League of Texas the registration price GOES UP tomorrow (May 1st)

    Winners of the 2-12 Edgars Announced

    The London Book Fair from an author’s perspective

    Writer Beware! avoid this German literary agent and VERY IMPORTANT info on Reversion Clauses in contracts (trust me, authors, you must read this!)

    William Bernhardt Writing Programs Best selling legal thriller author’s seminars, workshops and more come HIGHLY recommended (yes, they’re that good). Bill’s also a thoroughly nice guy.

    PET SCHTUFF

    Big Head Saves Staffie an awesome come-back story about a dog named Diesel hit by car TWICE–from the awesome Dr. Rayya’s Online Vet Journal

    Cats Are Con Artists, Dogs Are Sycophants says a new scientific study. Huh? Say it ain’t so, Fluffy…what’s that? Let me fill up your bowl…

    39 Pound Cat?! OMG let me NOT fill up your bowl! And here’s more about MEOW the heavyweight kitty and how he came to be where he is today (thanks JaneA Kelley!)

    Singer Chris Brown Sells Pit Bull Puppies Online – there are so many things WRONG with this, I don’t know where to start

    Protect Cats from Heartworms! According to the website www.knowheartworms.org, in a North Carolina study 28 percent of the cats diagnosed with heartworm disease were indoor-only cats. It’s been a mild winter–mosquitoes are already out and about. And yes, Seren-kitty takes her preventive like a treat. (So does the Magical-Dawg).

    Parasite Prevention from expert Dr. Blagburn from Good News For Pets

    American Humane Association’s Second Chance Fund helps animals in disaster situations

    Cat owners are urged to speak with their veterinarians about preventive medications for their cats so that they can protect their feline friends from potentially deadly heartworm infestations. For more information on CAPC, visit their website at www.petsandparasites.org.

    2012 Petties DogTime’s Pet Bloggers Awards with awards going to help fund animal shelters of the winner’s choice. Nominations open June 4 and broadcast in November.

    34th Annual Winn Feline Foundation Feline Health Symposium.  Learn all about feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy June 28, 2012 at the Boston Marriott Quincy, in Quincy, MA from researchers Leslie Lyons, PhD, University of California, Davis (speaking on genetics), and John Rush, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC, Tufts University (causes, diagnosis, treatment). 

    Hemingway Cats Case Awaits Federal Appeal The approximately 40 felines descended from the famous author’s “breeding” program continue to live on the grounds of the Hemingway Museum–should they be caged?

    Fact Or Fiction: 10 Diet Myths Debunked, a fantastic post from the excellent blogger August McLaughlin

    This terrific video “This Too Will Pass” was pointed out to me from terrific blogger Piper Bayard.

    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, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with excerpts from the forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND, and pet book give-aways!

    Category Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care, Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 8 Comments

  6. Feline Friday: National Hairball Awareness Day

    April 27, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    Do you know what today is?  It’s National Hairball Awareness Day! RomeoTheCat and FURminator are once again co-sponsoring an event to bring attention to this big-hairy-deal.

    Have you ever discovered the latest squishy “kitty creation” by stepping on it, barefoot, at 3 a.m.? Ewww!

    Cats, and some dogs (Pomeranian owners, am I right?!) swallow fur during self-grooming. Hopefully it ends up in the litter box or yard. But when it comes out the other end, the cat vomits hotdog or cigar-shaped hairballs.

    [caption id="attachment_1011" align="aligncenter" width="339" caption="Cats spend 30% of their lives grooming."

    That blue bed is as hairy as Seren-Kitty!

     Shedding season increases the odds kitty will “urk” more often, especially in longhair cats. The techie term for hairball is a “bezoar.”   I warn you, don’t click that link until after breakfast. I’m not posting a picture cuz I don’t want readers to “urk.” (Turns out, humans get bezoars, too, Ewww!)

    I’m fortunate that Seren has short fur, but even that can accumulate and be swallowed. We kid that fur in a pet home should be considered a condiment, but if kitty swallows too much, it stops up the system. Baseball-size hairballs have been removed from cats. Most cases won’t need surgery, though, and most hairballs can be easily eliminated.

    That's a wad won't go into the cat, or stain my carpet on the way out.

    The no-brainer solution is to groom kitty and pull off the fuzz before it gets swallowed. I have grooming tools–the dog Furminator (above) is awesome and works especially well on the Magical-Dawg. (I don’t even wanna think what size bezoars he’d produce!)

    I received a kitty-size Furminator to test on Seren-kitty for this month. She is IN LOVE…I have the handy grooming tool next to my chair. Each evening Seren arrives for a session of lap-snuggling and purr-icity while the kitty Furminator massages her whiskers to tail. She has not “urked” up a hairball this whole month, ever since we began getting rid of the extra fuzzies.

    Here are more ways to manage hairballs. Do your cats get hairballs? What do you do to prevent ‘em? What about your DOGS and hairballs? Cats that groom dog friends increase their hairball risk, too. Do your fur-kids like or loathe grooming. What are some tricks you use to keep a handle on fuzzy-icity? Please share!

    Groom the cat. The cheapest, easiest hairball cure is to regularly comb and brush your cat. Any hair you remove won’t be swallowed to end up staining your upholstery. The Furminator eliminates up to 90 percent of shed fur.

    Feed a hairball diet. A variety of commercial products are designed to prevent hairballs. They include extra nondigestible fiber. That helps push swallowed hair through the digestive tract, so it is eliminated naturally with each bowel movement.

    Add some fiber. If you’d rather not switch foods, just add fiber to kitty’s regular diet. Mix in a teaspoon of plain bran or Metamucil to canned meals. Flaxseeds or psyllium husks, available in health food stores, also act as natural laxatives and work well. Add ¼ teaspoon of flaxseeds or psyllium for every meal.

    Offer pumpkin. Canned pumpkin—the plain type, not for pies—is very rich in fiber and cats often love the taste. Get a jumbo-size can, and divide into teaspoon-size servings and freeze in an ice cube tray. Thaw one serving at a time, mixing into the regular food or offer as a treat once or twice a week.

    Give a bit of honey. If your cat doesn’t appreciate canned pumpkin, you can offer a natural laxative, two or three times a week. Combine raw oatmeal, honey, and olive oil into a paste. Offer one to two tablespoons as a treat when hairballs are a problem.

    Lubricate the gut. Butter will make your cat purr, but it won’t help hairballs. Digestible fats like butter can cause diarrhea and usually get absorbed before they can move the problem out. Instead, offer non-medicated petroleum jelly. It looks nasty but many pets like the taste. It will coat the hairball to make it slide more easily out of the system. If kitty refuses to accept a finger-full scraped into his mouth, just spread the jelly on his paw so he has to lick it off as he grooms. Commercial hairball remedies often add salmon or malt flavoring to similar petrolatum products. Take care to follow label instructions or your veterinarian’s advice, though. Overuse of these products can interfere with the pet’s use of fat-soluble vitamins.

    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, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with excerpts from the forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND, and pet book give-aways!

    Category Cat Behavior & Care | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 18 Comments

  7. Woof Wednesday: Doggy Assistant, Excuse, or Both?

    February 29, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    Today I sniff out new territory and welcome my first-ever GUEST BLOGGER! Please help me welcome my colleague Natalie Markey, who balances a writing career, marriage, motherhood, and special-needs dog–in other words, she’s like many of us who call ourselves freelancers. There can be pitfalls when working for yourself, though. I often tell folks that my “boss” is a b*tch who always knows when I’m goofing off–but truly it can be hard to toe the line and juggle all those balls (and Frisbees). How do YOU do it? Even if you don’t have the two-legged children, the fur-kids and significant others demand attention, too. Natalie shares her answers to these questions. Take it away, Natalie!

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    I traded in my fancy suits and briefcase from the “corporate world” for college t-shirts and Victoria Secret sweats (they are comfy) to write full time from home. Some people turned to working from home when the economy went south. The truth is, more and more professionals are working from home as freelancers, consultants and writers. Some companies even allow employs to work from home as incentives to save on gas and long commutes.  And then there are the brave stay-at-home-moms AKA CEO’s of the home. Whether you work professionally from home or deal with the normal daily chores that faces us all, dog owners all have one thing in common— Our dogs and if you’re like me your dog wants to help with everything!

    My dog, Oscar sees himself as the man of the house whenever my husband isn’t home. Gosh, sometimes he still probably feels that way when my husband is home! As a working from home mom and author I’ve learned from my experiences how to manage my schedule so that I can be a great mom, dog owner and professional. I’m currently prepping my next Writing Moms workshop and I’m reminded that so much parenting advice can be applied to anyone with a dog.

    If you have children and dogs then you will probably agree with me that children are in many ways easier. I can take my daughter to the grocery store, church, etc. Most places don’t want to see eighty-pound Oscar, even though I know he is such a gentlemen and anyone who knows him is blessed. Oscar is my other baby.  So how can you use that to help you with your work?

    Your dog can help you around the house, whatever you are working on. Treat him like an assistant. Don’t let him be an excuse for not getting things done.  Arrange your routine to incorporate him. I work in my office so I made him a comfy bed set up under my desk. When I write, he lays on my feet keeping them warm and providing company.

    Before I set up his addition in the office he would constantly be trying to get me away from work to spend time with him. He doesn’t get as much mommy/Oscar time as he use to because of our daughter. Whenever she naps, he wants to spend time with me. Of course I do give him my full attention throughout the day but when I’m working I’ve made it possible to combine time with Oscar with productivity.

    There are many things you can do to incorporate your dog into your daily routine. Start with your relationship with him. Know your dog and you will know how to best incorporate him into your work, chores and goals.

    How has your dog become part of your routine at home?

    I’m giving away a “seat” in my March Writing Moms class, which begins Monday March 5. To participate visit my blog and leave a comment. I will put your name in my virtual hat and draw!

    Natalie C. Markey is a seasoned freelance writer including popular columns like the Special Needs Dog Care Examiner. She is the author of “Caring for Your Special Needs Dogs,” and also writes fiction from her Arkansas home, where her dog Oscar assists her. Follow her on Twitter, Pen to Publish blog, and her website.

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    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!

    Category Dog Training & Care, Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,,, | 2 Comments

  8. Monday Mentions: Writing, Acting & Pets oh my!

    February 20, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    "Maxine" the owner of the gym in Kurves, Texas.

    Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Some of this “schtuff” can be hard to categorize and may fit more than one topic so I urge you to at least scan them all.

    This past weekend I finished the orchestration for the overture and exit music for KURVES, THE MUSICAL. Tonight we have a photographer coming for cast pictures during the show. That photo above is during a rehearsal–and that’s my co-author–to give you an idea of the flavor of the show. *s* If you’re in the N. Texas region I hope you’ll join us for this fun time. Rehearsals are a blast, we have a wonderful cast and the venue is outstanding. A reviewer will see the show this week, and we’ll have our premier March 1, 2, 3.

    WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF

    Just Breathe! stress relief tips from awesome author and blogger Joy Held

    Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2011  so do you agree?

    The Writing for Children Competition seeks submissions for all ages of young people, from picture books to young adult (YA) stories. The Writers’ Union of Canada is pleased to launch its 16th annual Writing for Children Competition, which invites writers to submit a piece for children up to 1,500 words in the English language that has not previously been published in any format. A $1,500 prize will be awarded to an unpublished Canadian writer, and the entries of the winner and finalists will be submitted for consideration to three publishers of children’s books. The deadline for entries is April 24, 2012.

    Pinterest for Authors, good tips from Carla Stewart

    Writers–You’ve Been Replaced by a Bot this gives me chills and it’s not sci-fi any longer.

    R.L. Stine Posts Horror Story on Twitter  Talk about “short short stories…” is this the wave of the future?

    AUTHOR BEWARE discusses the pros and cons (lots of cons!) of  BookTango, an ebook aggregator for self-published authors has been released by  Author Solutions (owner of the iUniverse, Xlibris, AuthorHouse, and Trafford brands, and the power behind the outsourced self-publishing divisions of Harlequin and Thomas Nelson, among others).

    Kirkus Launches Editing Service for Self-Pub’d Authors

    SAG + AFTRA = ???  Information on the merger of Screen Actors Guild & American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

    PET SCHTUFF

    Dog Flags for helping signal your dog’s attitude in advance–”I’m Shy” or “I’m Friendly” for the humans who can’t read doggy communication. Neat idea!

    Help for Feral Cats from Examiner writer Stacy Ritz

    Westminster Steps In It  Those who watched the dog show will be interested in this discussion by savvy dog-centric folks (be sure to read the comments, too, this is a keeper!).

    Super-k9.com Presents Cara Shannon – Dallas/Addison 2012. This two day workshop shows professional dog trainers how to set up ongoing admission classes for reactive, aggressive, and shy dogs. Cara’s methods are all science-based and positive and are focused on not only changing behavior in the dogs but also on changing the emotional response of the dog.

    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!

    Category Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care, Theater & Performance, Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,,,,, | 6 Comments

  9. Feline Friday: Cat-to-Cat Introductions

    January 20, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    You have GOT to check out the new Simon’s Cat video, below. He nails the behavior, and could be “channeling” most feline’s opinion of that (HISS! SPIT!) interloper. Cat lovers often decide to adopt a new pet without consulting the old-fogey feline. Seren would NOT be amused!

    Here’s the deal–would you want to have a funny-smelling stranger come into your home, sleep in your bed, eat from your place, poop in your toilet (without flushing!) and go cheek-to-cheek with your beloved? Proper intros work wonders to smooth the hissy fits. With the holidays fast approaching and new kittens possibly on Santa’s list, here are some tips for proper kitty intros.
    cats greeting sniff

    YOU SMELL FUNNY!

    Getting hissy with strange cats is a NORMAL cat behavior. In the wild, the feline that’s too friendly with a weird interloper risks getting eaten. Cats identify safe people (or other pets) by their familiar smell. A fresh-from-the-shelter a new pet that hasn’t been kitty-groomed by the group with licks and cheek rubs might as well be Frankenstein-Cat.

    The sight, sound, and smell of a strange cat pushes kitty buttons to extreme. But blocking one sense (sight of each other for example) reduces arousal. That helps enormously during cat-to-cat intros, which is one reason my must-do list includes initially separating the cats. That also allows your older cat to maintain run of the house and ownership of all the prime kitty real estate.

    A ROOM OF HER OWN

    Confine the new kitten in a single “safe room” so the resident cat understands only part of his territory has been invaded. Young kittens that haven’t a clue anyway won’t care. But if they’re the least shy, being sequestered offers a safe, soothing retreat with a litter box, food and water bowls, toys, scratch post and other kitty paraphernalia. Being the “new kid” can be stressful for shrinking violet kittens so build the baby’s confidence with a room of his or her own before the whisker-to-whisker meeting.

    Keep the solid door closed for at least a week before risking a face-to-face. Watch for your resident cat’s reaction. Hisses are normal. Trust me on this! It may take more than three weeks before those growly-sounds fade.

    See, if you try to intro them too soon and the fur flies, the cats will remember that AWFUL-NASTY-TURRIBLE-DEVIL and bring a bad c’attitude to future meetings. It’s better to take it slow and avoid having the kitties practice bad behavior. They’ll have a lifetime together so what’s a delay of a few days or weeks?

    Sniffing and paw pats underneath the door are positive signs. The cats should “know” each other by scent before they ever set eyes on each other. Expect normal posturing, fluffed fur and hissing and when that begins to fade, you’re ready for the next step.

    THE NEXT STEP

    Swap out the cats after a few days. That gives the old cat a chance to get up close and personal sniffing where the devil new cat has been. And it allows the newly adopted baby to scope out the environment. Kitties have no interest in meeting new people or pets unless they feel comfortable with their environment.

    Reduce any potential kitty controversy by creating a house of plenty. Your home should have so much good-kitty-stuff like lots of toys, litter boxes and scratch trees that there’s no need for the kitten and old cat to argue over it.

    [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="With time, the cats can become BFF!" Onyx & Tango cuddling

    New kitten? Awww...but what will the cats at home think?

    LOW-KEY IS BEST

    Once the BIG DAY arrives, just open the “safe room” door, stand back, and let the cat’s meet. Supervise, of course, but don’t force interaction. You can feed them on opposite sides of the room or play interactive games at a distance to smooth this first meeting. The cats may ignore each other for hours or days and that’s fine, too.

    A bit of posturing with hisses, cautionary swats and other snark-icity is to be expected. Do stop the interactions if growls start rumbling. You may want to replace the closed door with a baby gate so the cats can sniff and meet through the safety of a barrier but still be segregated. Until you’re sure the old cat won’t mangle the baby, or the baby won’t terrorize the oldster, supervise or keep the new kitten segregated when you can’t. It can be love at first sight, or may take weeks or months to accept somebody new into the family.

    Do your cats get along? What do they think of the new kittens? What has been your experience? Please share! And I hope you’ll share this blog with other cat lovers debating about adopting another kitty. You can find many more cat introduction tips and tricks in the book Complete Kitten Care.

    #AskAmy

    Folks who “follow” me on Twitter @amyshojai and @About_Puppies are the most awesome Sweet Tweets around–they love #cats and #dogs and #pets, many #amwriting.  Just follow and include the #AskAmy in your tweets if’n you’re interested in pithy links to articles, books, blogs, experts, fictioning and sparkle-icity!

    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!

    Category Cat Behavior & Care | Tags: ,,,,,,,,, | 4 Comments

  10. Woof Wednesday: Stop Dog & Puppy Jumping Up!

    January 18, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    Pup Jumps Up for Ball

    Hey, it’s cute, right? When you bring that new bundle-’o-puppy joy home, when that little guy dances on his hind legs and scrabbles at your knees, you reward him with kisses and snuggles. Weekend jumping up can be fun, too, when you play outside with the new pup. What about Monday morning when those puppy claws snag good clothes before you leave for work? If you’re like me, you wear dog hair for a living and a few snags won’t matter. Some bosses, however, frown on the dog-eared look.

    What’s the deal with puppy jumping up, anyway? Do your dogs leap high, especially when you return home? See, a face lick is a canine howdy. It’s also a sign of deference. So it’s a normal puppy behavior to lick and try to aim kisses at your face. Here’s an article about why puppies jump up and 7 steps how to manage the little guys.

    Sit

    GROUNDING JUMPING-JACK DELINQUENTS

    Even if you don’t mind the doggy pirouette and hops-along pooch, visitors to the house might object. And once the pooch grows out of the cute-icity stage and becomes an adolescent maniac, all the smiles go away. Big dogs can hurt you–or your guests–and bowl you over with their exuberance.

    Hey, voice of experience here. The Magical-Dawg was AWFUL! He leaped, he grabbed, he clawed, he tore my clothes and made me question why I loved him so much. Honestly, I might have given him back if we hadn’t already bonded. I think that’s why they make puppies so cute–so you won’t kill them when they turn into juvenile delinquent dogs!

    This isn’t uncommon. Pups that know their manners often begin to test boundaries as they mature. It’s almost a kind of “I DARE YOU TO MAKE ME!” attitude. And when the adolescent has big teeth and outweighs your toddler or Grandma–or shreds your clothes–it’s enough to pull out your hair.

    So what do you do? All that advice in the article link (above) probably won’t work at this age. Oh, he knows what you mean but you’ll need to show the dog that you can enforce what you mean. *s* Tough love. And no, you do not need a bull-whip and chair to do this. I called on several of my savvy and incredibly knowledgeable colleagues for tips how they managed hard-headed jump-bean dogs. I added what worked for me with Magic (actually we agreed on several suggestions!) and the results is 10 tips for dealing with adolescent jumping and mouthing.

    Have you ever had a jumping maniac? How did you manage the situation? Fortunately, many of these dogs grow out of the insistence on nose boinking and leaping about.

    #AskAmy Sweet Tweets

    Folks who “follow” me on Twitter @amyshojai and @About_Puppies are the most awesome Sweet Tweets around–they love #cats and #dogs and #pets, many #amwriting.  Just follow and include the #AskAmy in your tweets if’n you’re interested in pithy links to articles, books, blogs, experts, fictioning and sparkle-icity!

    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!

    Category Dog Training & Care | Tags: ,,,,, | 3 Comments

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