I have had 23 pet care and behavior books published since 1992. Some of these books have sold extremely well--and the "used" versions on Amazon are priced higher than I can afford to pay!--but the publishers have kept only a few in print.

The First Aid Companion for Dogs And Cats remains in print and still earns decent royalties, for example. I just got a check yesterday, yee-haw!  And my PETiQuette book still sells steady. The two Chicken Soup books also continue to sell, but I'll never see another dime from them so I don't really care (hint: another vent may come on THAT issue!).

Anyway, I have begun the process of preparing the following books for E-book release:

Complete Kitten Care

Complete Care for Your Aging Cat

Complete Care for Your Aging Dog

Pet Care in the New Century: Cutting-Edge Medicine for Dogs & Cats

The Purina Encyclopedia of Cat Care

The Purina Encyclopedia of Dog Care

ComPETability

Part of that includes updating veterinary medical information, but that's actually the easiest part. The tricky issue has to do with formatting. I don't know about other nonfiction authors, but it's always been easiest for me to write each chapter as a separate WORD file. But for an E-book, the entire text must be in a single file.

TEDIUS BEYOND BELIEF!

Next, the file must be converted to html coding, which means all the lovely formatting (text boxes, tables, bold headlines and more) goes out the window. And unlike fiction manuscripts, a nonfiction book often includes line drawings and/or photos with captions. That also poses a challenge. In addition, the beauty and added-value of an E-book includes providing "hot links" not only within the book (to jump from the table of contents to a particular book section) but to product mentions and recommendations.

Currently I have pretty much completed the re-formatting of the "aging cat" book. It took several weeks, with multiple do-overs as I learned what worked and what sucked. Watch this blog for an ongoing "how-I-did-it" in the days and weeks ahead.  

amy-the-hopeful

After last month's several days in Las Vegas at the Western Veterinary Conference (terrific event, btw), I'm near deadline on the four article assigments that resulted. All will be published by Catnip (a Tufts University newsletter), two on behavior, one covering nutrition and the fourth a fascinating look at kitty neurologic disorders.

The first of three radio shows taped while in Vegas has been posted to the Pet Peeves show--hear from Betty White (yes, THE Betty White!). Future shows feature a veterinary behaviorist offering tips on cat stress reduction, and a holistic veterinarian on the controversy surrounding cat declaw surgery.

Two other big bits of news--check out the updated look at CatChow.com mentors and send me a question. I'm also the new cat behavior contributing writer at cats.About.com, providing a dozen articles, columns and more each month. I hope you'll visit me at one or both of these sites, as I simply can't seem to keep this blog updated in a timely manner.

Oh, the other stuff that's in the works--you've asked, and I've listened--several of my out-of-print books will be released once again (updated!) via Amazon Kindle. Stay tuned, and I'll give a shout out when the Aging Dog, Aging Cat, and Kitten Care books once again are available.

woofs & purrs,

amy
http:www.shojai.com
 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with confining indoor pets by themselves while you’re entertaining guests. That keeps pets safe, out from underfoot, and allows you to enjoy visitors without worry. Offer the fur-kids some safe fun toys. Lots of holiday-theme options abound. Magic is a fan of the Orbee-Tuff toys—I understand they even have glow-in-the-dark Halloween products for dogs.

Guests sometimes offer pets snacks that aren’t appropriate. Why not stock up on some special holiday goodies just for the pets? My cat Seren adores salmon treats, including Kitty Kaviar, Wildside Salmon and Grizzly Nutreats , and Crunch & Clean dental treats. Magic eats anything, including cat treats, but lately is enjoying playing with and munching on Fetch’erz™ Ballz (made from hemp). These make great pet stocking stuffers, too.

Keep holiday candy out of reach, in latched cupboards, to keep your canine glutton from over-indulging. Tinfoil and cellophane candy wrappers can be dangerous to pets if swallowed—dogs and cats rarely unwrap treats before eating. Gobbling any sort of candy may cause vomiting and/or diarrhea, but chocolate poses special dangers. Too much chocolate, which contains a stimulant called theobromine, can kill your pet. Eating raw yeast bread dough also causes problems when the dough rises in the tummy.

FIRST AID TIPS

First-aid can save a life, sustain a life, control damage, and/or relieve discomfort. Before anything else, put your veterinarian’s emergency number on speed dial. After using first aid, always follow up with the vet for proper care. Further details about these and 150 other emergency situations can be found in The First-Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats.

SWALLOWED STUFF: For non-sharp items (chocolate, candy wrappers, holiday plants), induce vomiting. The tummy empties in about two hours so it won’t be effective after that time period.

· Feed a small meal

· Administer 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1-2 teaspoons for every 10 pounds of pet

· Use a needleless syringe, eyedropper or turkey baster and squirt into the pet’s mouth.

STOPPED BREATHING:

• Close pet’s muzzle with hand
• Cover pet’s nose with your mouth
• Give mouth-to-NOSE rescue breathing, 15-20 breaths per minute.
• “Puff’ air for small pets, blow harder for large dogs--watch for rise & fall of chest.

STOPPED HEART:

• 1st person gives rescue breathing (see above)
• 2nd person administer chest compressions, 80 to 100 per minute
• Note: extremely difficult even for veterinarian with proper equipment, so try…

ACUPUNCTURE RESUSCITATION

· Find slit in pet’s upper lip, below the nose

· JAB a needle or safety pin into the center of slit

· Insert to the bone, wiggle back and forth

· This acupuncture technique stimulates the release of natural adrenaline (epinephrine), a drug used in cardiac arrests by veterinarians to stimulate the heart and breathing.

HELPFUL EMERGENCY HOME SUPPLIES

• Karo syrup or honey smeared on pet’s gums help counteract shock
• Leg of pantyhose or a necktie serves as makeshift muzzle
• Pillowcase works great to transport small pets
• Stabilize broken legs by encasing in bubble wrap
• Plastic wrap sticks to itself (but not fur) and holds bandages or wounds together
• Keep cuts and wounds moist with temporary use of saline solution or K-Y jelly
• Move injured pets on rigid objects such as cookie sheet or ironing board
• Sanitary napkins and diapers work well as pressure bandages to stop bleeding
• To contain bleeding from torn nails, pull a condom over the paw

Ensure your holiday season this year is enjoyable for the entire family, including your furry wonders. Prevent major pet peeves with common sense, and your cats and dogs will “fang” you very much.

For more great pet safety information, click on the Pet ‘Net Safety Event logo, above.

Amy D. Shojai, an IAABC Certified animal Behavior Consultant, is a nationally known pet care specialist and author of 22 pet books including The First-Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats. Subscribe to her free monthly e-newsletter Pet Peeves at her website www.shojai.com

            I began writing about pets more than two decades ago, on a Royal electric typewriter. At the time, we lived in Eastern Kentucky in a very small town that boasted a tiny library that carried a short shelf on how-to writing books. There was no such thing as Email or the Internet—at least, not for aspiring wannabe writers.

            My information came from an outdated version of the writer’s “bible” of the time, Writers Market. It listed the markets (magazines and book publishers), what they published, and how to approach them. I was working blind, sending out stories and articles to the named editor (who likely no longer worked there) and hoping I’d get lucky.

            Because I’d worked at a veterinary hospital, most of my work featured dogs and cats. Therefore, I targeted dog and cat magazines. After reams of paper, rolls of postage stamps, and enough rejection letters to paper the walls of my apartment, the Dog Fancy magazine editor took pity on me and explained what I was doing wrong.

            I corrected the errors, and sold the very next article. Ain’t it amazing how much difference a bit of guidance makes?

            After learning about other writer organizations that offered that helping hand, the Cat Writers’ Association, Inc. was born. I served as the founding president for the first nine years, and this year returned as the president for our 16^th annual writer conference.

            The CWA aids aspiring writers become published and supports professionals who have a special place in their hearts for cats. While the organization has a focus on cat topics, the annual writer conference offers seminars that address all writer needs and interests. If you have any aspirations for writing—and especially if you have an interest in pet topics—this conference is the place for you.

            This year we’ll be in White Plains, New York which is about a twenty-minute train ride from Manhattan. Several New York editors and agents will attend the conference and meet with our members and guests. Editors from the same magazines that first published my work will be there. And because writing has changed so very much since I first began, sessions include topics such as “social networking” and website writing and more.

            There also will be sessions by veterinarians and other professionals on topics near and dear to pet owners. What’s the latest in feline care? How can we budget the best treatments during economic downturns? I’ll share columns on some of these issues in the future.

            Two featured speakers will bring us laughter as well as wow-information. Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald from Animal Planet “Emergency Vets” speaks at the Friday night banquet—who knew, he’s a stand-up comedian specializing in pet humor? The Saturday lunch features Dr. Leslie Lyons, a researcher into genetic diseases of companion animals. I’ve interviewed Dr. Lyons on one of my previous Pet Peeves radio shows and she has amazing information to share. Saturday afternoon the entire conference moves from our hotel sessions to a cat show at the Westchester Conference Center, and holds a mass pet-book signing event featuring more than 25 authors who write about cats and dogs.

            Writers are a different breed. And those of us who write about cats and dogs are special. We do it because it’s part of what and who we are. Since those first very wobbly steps as a writer, I’ve been blessed to see my work published many times. More than that, readers have assured me that my work has made a positive difference in pet lives.

            As I begin work this week on my next (23^rd) pet book, I hope those of you who have a dream waiting to happen take your own steps to make it happen. If it’s writing, maybe the helping hand can be found at the CWA conference--here's the schedule.

I’ve learned over the years, though, that it’s not only the end result, but the experiences along the way that brings the greatest satisfaction. May your journey, whatever it may be, bring you great joy.

Amy D. Shojai, CABC is a nationally known pet care specialist, author of 22 pet books and the founder/president of the CWA. She can be reached through her website where you can sign up for her free monthly E—newsletter Pet Peeves.

How the hell does she swing from the drapes? Why in doGs name did he roll in dead fish? Does shedding itch? Is that cute innocent look real, or just an act?

 I'm passionate about pets. I never stop thinking about them. For more than twenty years, I've puzzled over their actions, behaviors, motivations and care, nearly 24/7.

Yep, I have no life. Well, I actually read email and do radio, but only with a pet on my lap so I'm multi-pe'tasking. 

Some folks write to change the world. They do so with passion, dedication, and great skill, and I admire them greatly. I also write to save lives--the furry kind. But I rarely know what impact the work has, because those who most benefit from my writing never read it. In fact, some of 'em probably baptize it.

Please don't leave newspaper on the floor. It's disheartening.

I spend my days, and many sleepless nights, wishing my audience had pocketbooks. But if they did, pets would spend hard-earned kibble on Kitty Kaviar, Puppy Crunchies or fuzzy squeaker toys to disembowel (or hump) at the most inappropriate time. At least, that's what Magic and Seren would do.

After decades puzzling about P'ETiQuette and studying furry foibles, I'm closer than ever to answering must-know questions about what pets think. I wonder what pets see in ME or any other human, though, that allows them to put up with clueless folks who seem scent-blind and hearing-stupid toward all the clear-as-crystal animal talk being sent our way.

My illiterate furry audience "reads" in very different ways, and demands that I meet specific needs. And as long as they need me, my passion will serve them--and myself, as well. I suppose you could say we enable each other. Pets are my obsession, my fixation, my passion in life. And I do my dog-gone best to translate pet desires, language, and needs into language the other pocket-book-bearing creatures understand.

So I accept that I'm different. My true readership will never ask for a pawtograph, or care if I have letters after my name. They’ll do back-flips for the right treat, and wag and purr when somebody FINALLY understands tail talk. But until my audience comes out from under the bed, or tires from dog-earing one of my books and actually SPEAKS in language their owner also understands--and puts me gloriously, wonderfully out of business--I'll keep typing, blogging, and radio-ing away.

Wait, I'm channeling a message. That ear-twitch, the whisker-flick, body posture, hair elevation, it’s all so very clear! I know absolutely, without a doubt, the meaning behind all the howls, hisses, yowls, and wags. The fur-kids of the world beg for two-leggers everywhere to:

BUY AMY'S BOOKS!

 Trust me. Pets never lie.

woofs and wags,

amy

http://www.shojai.com