Our new logo was unveiled at the conference. Design by Debbie Glovatsky.

Now that I am back from the Cat Writers’ Conference I have had some time to reflect on what the experience meant to me. This year’s theme was “Reinventing Yourself for the Digital Age” and I found the premise relevant to me on so many levels because I was someone who used to fight the dizzying array of social and technological changes that came my way tooth and nail. I now realize reinvention is akin to a cat who manages to make the difficult task of balancing on a ledge look so graceful and effortless – easier said than done, but the marriage of new and old can be a wonderful balance of reinvention if you embrace and allow it.

This is my third conference and the main difference for me this year as both a writer and member is that rather than be a bystander whose primary function was to network and attend seminars, this year I was an active participant in every sense of the word. I really wanted to immerse myself into the mechanics of the organization and I volunteered for as much as I could – I was on the Contest Committee Board, I was a judge for the Certificates of Excellence, I was the Book Signing Coordinator and I was a guest speaker on two panels (“Social Network Navigation for the Over-40 Set—You Know Who You Are” and “Doing It All Without Pulling Your Hair Out!”). Hey, if you’re going to jump in, why not jump in with all paws!

I was honored to be on the “Doing it All Without Pulling Your Hair Out” panel with Lorie Huston, DVM, and our new CWA President!

As a result of this, not only do I have a new perspective on the organization and its members, but I have an enormous respect for who they are and what they do. The amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to coordinate a conference is massive – planning meals, deciding on seminar topics and finding guest speakers, entertainment, sponsorships and donations, hotel accommodations, websites, print work and program design, book signings, contests, judging, membership, and on and on. This is a group of volunteers and everyone who steps up to the plate to help out while juggling the rest of their busy lives handles it with true professionalism and enthusiasm.

The best part of this for me was getting to know people on a much more personal level – Vice President, Dusty Rainbolt, became my support system as we spoke numerous times on the phone so she could assist me on the ins and outs of coordinating a book signing – her guidance made my task all the easier (relatively speaking) and she is a multitasking wizard. How she handles everything she is involved in without landing in the loony bin is beyond me, but she does it!

Seen here with Angie Bailey, Dusty Rainbolt, and Christine Michaels

By taking such a hands on approach with the conference this year I quickly learned that reinvention was the name of the game not just for the theme of the conference, but for coordinating a conference in general and that is where our members absolutely shine. Circumstances and plans seem to change by the minute and having a plan B, C, and D is often necessary. Cat herding 101 at its best!

Point in case, literally at the 11th hour the day before I was supposed to board a plane to Texas, I got the phone call from the book store where the author signing was scheduled to take place that due to unforeseen circumstances the event was canceled. I was at work when I got the call and my heart fell onto the floor and I could barely breathe I was so paralyzed with shock. A dozen authors were relying on me to make the event happen and now I had to inform them (while at a hectic day at work under the eagle eye of my boss) that the event was canceled.

I called Dusty in a panic because I knew that she would need to know this right away. Normally she picks the phone up on the first ring, but not this time. I emailed her. I texted her and I called her again, all while trying to act like everything was okay at work. Finally she called me back and when I choked the news out to her, she interrupted me to let me know that she had 3 other emergencies in her queue and to calm down, relax, and basically said “Oh well, *hit happens, we’ll just have the signing at the hotel instead.”

Thanks to some quick thinking we were able to make a sign for the Autograph Party at the hotel. Artwork courtesy of the talented Marci Kladnik!

And just like that, I was able to breathe again and I contacted all the authors who were wonderfully gracious about the whole thing. And truthfully, in the long run I think it was better. If the signing were at the bookstore, it would have been 3 authors at a time in one hour shifts. By having it at the hotel, we lined up a row of tables and all of us got to sit together. It was an absolute blast interacting with everyone on such a personal level and we all had a great time getting to know one another better.

As a wonderful bonus after the signing I grabbed a much needed, quick drink with renowned authors Amy Shojai and  Carole Nelson Douglas (Amy is also co-founder of the CWA and has attended every conference since its inception in 1992). Wow, talk about two incredible ladies! Getting to know them outside of the surface level of cat writing was a moment I will forever cherish and one of my favorite memories of the conference.

Carole Nelson Douglas and myself. She was wearing a spider lady theme and I was in my trademark leopard!

The ever talented Amy Shojai (center) – not only did she co-author STRAYS, THE MUSICAL, she starred in it! We were all treated to the production as the entertainment for Friday night!

The other part of the conference that was different for me is that I am now starting to accept the fact I am an author. I still have my moments of self-doubt and I still marvel at the scope of it all – a small town girl who’s dream to be a writer finally comes true. I rode the shuttle bus from the hotel to the airport with the editor of Cat Fancy, Susan Logan, and that still blows my mind that I know her let alone that I write for Cat Fancy. She mentioned my name in a panel discussion she was speaking at as her “go to” person for the topic of spay/neuter. She asked me after the seminar if I minded her using my name. Seriously? Did I mind? I was floating on cloud nine, that’s all I can say!

The event ended Saturday night with the awards ceremony where a year’s worth of collective talent in various cat loving venues is celebrated. I was sitting at a table with many of my favorite cat ladies – Angie Bailey, JaneA Kelley, Debbie Glovatsky, Janiss Garza, Lisa Richman, Paris Permenter, Dan Koehler from Purina, and my best friend and roomie, Christine Michaels (missing was good buddy, Layla Morgan Wilde who had to cancel at the last minute). Since I was involved in judging some of the categories of works up for awards this year I honestly took my own entries with a grain of salt not over thinking any of it. I was at the conference to enjoy myself and I was fully prepared to be cheering on my friends.

Before the awards ceremony – me with the pawsome JaneA Kelley of Paws & Effect!

Sharing a hug with one of my favorite cat ladies before the festivities – Janiss Garza the human behind Sparkle the Designer Cat!

Some stylish posing before the awards – me, Peter Keys of the Cat Fanciers Association, Christine Michaels, and Janiss Garza.

I really wasn’t paying close attention – I was chatting with my friends and having a great time. Blah, blah cat talk. Blah, blah cat talk… I heard my name above the din of noise in the room, but I wasn’t quite sure if I really did. Then everyone at my table turned to me, I heard hoots and applause and Christine turned to hug me. It was my name. I had been presented with the 2013 Writer of the Year Award by Friskies/Purina for the compilation of works I had done throughout the year to promote the health, happiness, and well-being of cats. I stood up, walked up to the podium like a deer in headlights to accept my award and to be perfectly honest, the rest of the night was a blur for me and completely surreal. I woke up the next morning and saw the award sitting on the dresser, so I knew it wasn’t a dream after all…

Me stumbling up to the podium and accepting the “Friskies Writer of the Year Award” as presented to me by Dan Koehler of Friskies/Purina.

Wow… see… I did win the award – my name’s on it and everything!

All I can say is that it is an honor and privilege to be part of such a group of incredibly talented people. The lesson I learned from it all is that no matter how difficult that life might seem, is that dreams do come true and the key to success is to be willing to extend beyond what you think you are capable of and to believe in yourself. Truly reinvention at its best. I am feeling reinvigorated and I have a new book idea in the works.

So, my message for those you aspiring writers who are still on the fence about who you are and what you want to be in the world of cat, I encourage you to strive to be a member of the Cat Writers’ Association. Please stop by the site get to know a bit more about the organization and what we’re all about.

Hope you enjoyed my take on the conference and here are a few more of my favorite moments:

As with any Cat Writers’ Conference, it all starts with the swag! Thank you to all the incredible sponsors for donating such amazing loot for our kitties!

Another look at the cat loot with the adorable Angie Bailey!

I dressed up as a leopard/witch/cat lady and won a bottle of wine for my costume! Whoo Hoo! Sharing my good fortune is my roommate and pal, Christine Michaels!

One of the best perks of the conference is all the great food! Clearly Christine agrees with me!

BJ Bangs, Paws for Reflection, and Board of Directors for the CWA is always our resident photographer. I thought it would be nice to share a picture with her in it instead of behind the camera!

Christine and I before Friday nights festivities!

Since it was the Cat Writers’ Conference, naturally there were cats present! Seen here is Zeki who has an amazing story of survival – she was found as a young cat with her fur knifed away on her lower half. Luckily a good Samaritan found her and got her help. Today she travels around the country and serves as a model for first aid therapy with her beloved guardian Arden Moore.

Two cat ladies at their finest – all dressed up for the awards ceremony!

After the awards ceremony – here I am with fellow Catster writers, JaneA Kelley and Angie Bailey who both won Muse Awards!!

Home from the conference and bribing the kitties with massive doses of swag so that they will still love me after abandoning them for a few days!