DogTwist.com

I recently started writing for a UK-based web site called "Dogtwist.com."  They've done a nice job putting the site together and the employer is one of the friendliest I've worked for, so I thought I'd give them (and me) a plug. I've written two articles for them so far: one on pets and divorce and one on dogs in other cultures.

The dogs in other cultures article is one I just finished and was harder to write then I expected. While researching, I came across a lot of horrible things done to dogs in other cultures that I won't go into here. (Not that horrible things don't happen to dogs in our culture. I live in an area where people seem to think it's acceptable to chain a dog in a backyard and leave him there for the next seven years.) But I ended the article with what has been a favorite quote of mine for some time:

 "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."  - Gandhi

I think the greatness of a person and their moral progress may also be judged by the way the individual treats their animals.

Let's all go out and be great today.

"Kiss My Kitty Butt" Home Game Sweeps The Nation

My friend Ed has two daughters, ages I think 9 and 11. He called me last night about six and I heard the screams and laughter of about 5 pre-teen girls. "Dena's on the phone," said Ed, and all the girls shouted a chorus of "HI!"

"What's this about?" I asked.

"The girls are playing Denaball," Ed replied.

I have no memory of inventing a game called Denaball, so I took the bait. "And what, exactly, might that be?"

"That," said Ed, "means they've taken one of their stuffed cat dolls and lined up on either side of the dining room table. The object is to push the cat doll past the players on the other side, and have it fall all or partially off the table."

"Uh-huh," I said.

"Well then, if you succeed, you yell, 'Kiss My Kitty Butt! " As he said this, screams of laughter came from behind him.

How cool is that? There is no greater compliment in life than to have a group of pre-teen girls--the harshest critics on the planet--embrace your vision of a world filled with "Kiss My Kitty Butt!"  I begged Ed to send me a picture of the girls playing the game, to post on the blog. I also asked for the complete set of rules, so I can post those as well. Then all of you can enjoy the home version of "Kiss My Kitty Butt."

I didn't stop smiling all night.

The Great To Do List

I haven't posted one of my famous annoying standard to-do lists in some time, and I worry your lives are lacking for it. Therefore, today's post is a look inside the cluttered "to do" mind of your world-famous (kinda sorta) cat author friend:

• RSVP to an April 26th Foster Friends of NC luncheon.
• Call the running store and see if I can switch my half-marathon race to the 5k on the 26th in order to attend above luncheon.
• Figure out who's home I can shower at in GSO on the 26th after the race so I can go to the luncheon.
• Write first draft of an article for www.Dogtwist.com.
• Call the event coordinator for the 2008 National Women's Music Festival. The event features women in the arts and there is an "animal lovers" series for which I might present. But I need to know if there is a travel stipend, can books be sold, what I'd speak on, etc.
• If I do sign up for above event, pull together speech/workshop--pronto!
• Write outline for a May 14th presentation on writing. Send to my co-host for comments/reviews.
• Remember the ding letter I got on a book proposal? I e-mailed the query and the agent has expressed an interest! She wants details on chapter structure and outline and what I plan to do with the book. Sigh. If only I knew...  Must get to library and do research and start writing sample chapters!!!!
• Organize my research for article I'm writing on canine glaucoma.
• Call my next door neighbor and see if he wants to attend "Free Friday Yoga" with me.
• Work on book proposal for "Kiss My Kitty Butt."
• I'm considering a "Kiss My Kitty Butt" calendar -- look into details on how to accomplish this.
• Trademark "Kiss My Kitty Butt?"
• Set out tape recorder hooked into phone so I can be ready if my canine glaucoma interviews call unexpectedly.
• Buy a graduation card for a friend's daughter.
• Call everyone I know because I've shamefully ignored them for weeks and am lucky to still have those who will call me "friend."
• E-mail friend about a book I hope she has on publishing that I want to borrow.
• Quit making lists and go do some actual work.

Cheers!

Making Book Progress... Slowly

For those unaware, I'm planning on releasing a follow-up book to Lessons In Stalking: Life With Cats released in late 2005. My new collection of short humor stories is called Kiss My Kitty Butt: More Life With Cats. The title is already a hit. One friend recommended bumper stickers, "KissMyKittyButt.com." I've reserved the domain name, and am considering it. I think it'd be a riot.

But I've reached a point in the work where I can't tell if I'm moving forward or back. The stories are written and are currently with my critique group. There will of course be edits and rewrites. But the stories themselves are well on the way to being complete.

What I'm doing now is debating how to proceed. My original thought was that I'd self-publish and print a small run of 500. I wasn't interested in spending a lot of time on promotion and marketing. The more I delve in however, the more I want to do. I think this title could catch on. So much so, that I'm now considering dusting off my book proposal skills and attempting to sell the book to a publisher. That has its pluses and minuses. The big plus is the prestige that comes with a traditional publisher. The drawback is the amount of time involved. I'd be looking at 1-2 years minimum before the book ever saw the light of day, and that's if everything goes my way. Plus, I'm still responsible for all marketing efforts.

I've found 2 small publishers who put out pet/gift/humor books and I've decided to send them proposals. If one of them grabs it, fantastic. If not, I have no problem putting the book out through my company, Spotlight Publishing.

That still leaves me bogged down in details. I want to get a web site up ASAP for the book. However, I can't design the site until I know what the cover looks like. I haven't decided what to do with the cover because I haven't decided if I'm going to have illustrations, like in the last book. (Not to mention that I don't want to pay for a cover design until I get a yes or no from the publishers.) I'd like illustrations, but that's another $1500 minimum to invest in the book. Would I be better off just going with text and using that money for promotion? Or is consistency better and fans who read the last book will want illustrations in this book? I'm also determined to write out a week-by-week marketing plan for the book. I just winged it last time and did okay in sales, but I want a much harder push this time. Which means, suddenly, a much greater investment, both in time and money. Plus, I could bundle the new book with the old book and do some really cool marketing efforts that way.

There are so many marketing venues that I know so little about... Facebook, U-Tube, podcasts, viral marketing... the list goes on. It takes time to learn how to operate in these venues and that's time spent away from writing and the next project. I think I should just hire a 15-year-old kid as my marketing director and let it go.

This post sounds downtrodden, but I'm actually lighthearted about the whole experience. You know me... making any sort of living by writing about cats puts me in a good mood. And I like the stories in my new book and for the moment, I'm psyched about getting the word out. For now, it's just a matter of deciding traditional or self-publishing. The rest will come.

Have a great weekend.

Dena