CWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The international Cat Writers' Association Inc. will hold its 16th Annual Conference in White Plains, NY. The fun will begin on November 19 and end on November 21. The conference is open to anyone interested in pet writing and will feature two days of professional seminars with nationally known speakers. The annual CWA Awards Banquet features 21 special awards for writing and graphic arts totaling $10,000.

The conference is our once-a-year time to get together to learn, network, be recognized, be inspired and celebrate with our peers, editors and agents and our sponsors.

NOTE: Additional information will be added, as available.

• Conference Hotel
• Transportation
• Editor/Agent Appointments
• CWA Seminars & Conference Schedule | Tentative Seminar Schedule
• Speakers
• TNT - Door Prize and Conference Folder Stuffing Party
• Pet Book Autograph Party
• Conference Registration | PayPal Payment available!
• Conference Sponsors

CONFERENCE HOTEL

Crowne Plaza White Plains Hotel
66 Hale Avenue
White Plains, New York 10601
914-682-0050 or 800-227-6963
www.crowneplaza.com/whiteplainsny
(Enter group code IWA)

ROOM RATE: CWA has reserved a block of rooms for CWA Conference attendees at a special rate of $119 (single/double) plus tax per night. Ask for the International Cat Writers Association room rate. Make reservations by October 29, after which rates go up. (No pets allowed, other than service animals).

TRANSPORTATION

Hotel will provide free shuttle to and from the train and Westchester County Airport, and to and from the Westchester Cat Show (www.westchester-feline.org) every hour from 8 am to 6 pm during the cat show on Saturday and Sunday.

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EDITOR/AGENT APPOINTMENTS

Full Conference registration required.

One-on-one 15-minute appointments are made on first-come, first-serve basis. Editors/agents are still being confirmed. For more information, contact the CWA appointment coordinator Heike Hagenguth at worddesign@usa.net

DO NOT REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL/UNLESS YOU'VE ALREADY REGISTERED FOR THE FULL CONFERENCE.

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PET BOOK AUTOGRAPH PARTY

PET BOOK SALE!
Sponsored by Westchester Feline Club
FULL REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR PARTICIPATION

The CWA hosts a PET BOOK AUTOGRAPH PARTY on Saturday, November 21 at the Westchester County Center during the Cat Show-open to the public--just in time for holiday gift buying!

Pet titles preferred, but any subject welcome. Our host bookstore will order books or you may bring them yourself. CWA volunteers will staff and sell books during the signing.

Lyn T. Garson, CVT coordinates this effort, so watch for details about deadlines and other required information on our web site and in the Fall MEOW newsletter.

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TNT--DOOR PRIZE & CONFERENCE FOLDER STUFFING PARTY

Thursday November 19, 7:00 pm

Start your conference experience off right with an informal networking event. Includes a light meal and a "sneak peak" at all the goodies--all "Kittens" (new attendees) are especially welcome at this get-to-know-you event!

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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Tentative Seminar Schedule

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SPEAKERS

FRIDAY DINNER SPEAKER
November 20

Kevin T. Fitzgerald, DVM, PhD
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Practitioners

Kevin Fitzgerald grew up in Denver and graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder where he also received his masters and doctorate degrees in endocrinology. In 1983 he received a DVM from Colorado State University.

Dr. Fitzgerald has served as President of the Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society (DAVMS), as a member of the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, and since 1985 has been assistant professor adjunct at the University of Denver where he teaches Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine.

In 1998 he became board-certified in Canine and Feline Practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Dr. Fitzgerald writes monthly columns for the American Kennel Club Gazette, American Kennel Club Family Dog magazine and Police Dog magazine. He also has written twenty-one book chapters in various veterinary texts ranging from small animal toxicology and emergency medicine to reptile medicine and surgery. In 1993 he received the "Up and Coming" veterinarian award from the Colorado Veterinary Medical Society and in 2006 he received Hill's Dog Food and Veterinary Specialists in Private Practice's "Spirit of Excellence" award for the outstanding specialist in private practice.

For four years he had a weekly radio spot, "Veterinary Corner," on Lewis and Floorwax's popular morning show. Since 2003 he has hosted a weekly television segment, "Animal House" on Denver's Channel 2 morning news, and since 1997 he has been one of the featured veterinarians on Animal Planet's Emergency Vets.

His hobbies include stand-up comedy, traveling and movies. He thinks none of us laugh enough.

SATURDAY LUNCH SPEAKER
November 21

Leslie A. Lyons, PhD
Associate Professor, University of California, Davis

Leslie Lyons was born and raised in southwestern Pennsylvania, one hour south of Pittsburgh, in Uniontown. Dr. Lyons received her graduate degrees from The University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Human Genetics. Both her Masters and Doctorate degrees are in human genetics, specializing in both laboratory and data analysis of human disease gene mapping. In 1992, Dr. Lyons joined the National Cancer Institute, Laboratory of Genomic Diversity for her post-doctoral career in comparative genetics. While at the NCI, she helped organized the Feline Genome Project. Dr. Lyons developed a feline genetic mapping pedigree using natural mating and assisted reproductive techniques between domestic and Asian Leopard cats. These hybrid cats are known as Bengals by cat breeders. Dr. Lyons was promoted to Research Fellow at the NCI and expanded her interests by initiating population genetic and disease gene mapping projects for the domestic cat.

In the fall of 1999, Dr. Lyons joined the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health and Reproduction, to further pursue disease gene mapping and genetic map construction in companion animals, including the cats, dogs, horses and primates. The laboratory's major focus is the genetics of the domestic cat, including disease, inherited traits, and population diversity. Dr. Lyons' research laboratory has had recent success with the identification of the gene causing Persian cat polycystic kidney disease, which is the most prevalent inherited disease in cats. The laboratory has also identified the mutations for Siamese, Burmese, albino, chocolate and cinnamon coat colors as well as the mutation causing cat blood group B. Each of these mutations can now be used as a genetic test in cats. The Lyons' laboratory has also led an international collaboration to develop a worldwide genetic panel for parentage and identification profiling in cats, which is even being used in forensic applications. Recent work has included the analysis of the origin of cat breeds and the sites of cat domestication which resulted in a documentary for National Geographic, an episode of Explorer call "The Science of Cats".

An avid sports fan, Leslie plays softball and basketball, has seen every major league baseball stadium in the US, is loyal to the Pittsburgh Pirates, skis, SCUBA dives, enjoys car racing, and is a rabid Steeler fan.

CWA SPEAKERS & MORE
Friday November 20 and Saturday November 21
Schedule TBA

The CWA reserves the right to make minor Scheduling changes and/or substitutions in topics or speakers

Wayne Barr, is the sole Acquisitions Editor at Barron?s Educational Series. Of the many titles he has acquired at Barron?s have been scores of pet books, including a new series called Barron?s Breed Bibles. Wayne is an attorney who, during his legal publishing career, has served as editor-in-chief and publisher.
Andrew DePrisco, Editorial Director/Acquisitions Editor BowTie Press
Mary Grangeia, Cat, Equine, and Small Animal Editor, TFH Publications.Mary has been an editor at TFH Publications, Inc., for seven years. She is responsible for all books in the cats, equine, and small animal categories, and various titles in the dog category. Her duties include editing, new title acquisition, author interaction, and contract negotiation. Prior to TFH, she worked nine years at IEEE Publications, a nonprofit technical institute, as a senior editor. She has run a freelance editing service and has written and produced for television. She holds a B.F.A in English Literature and Film and Television from New York University.
	Kate Epstein is the founder and president of the Epstein Literary Agency. She represents nonfiction for adults across a spectrum of topics, with a specialty in accessible projects. Her books included Cat Wrangling Made Easy and Ghost Cat Stories by Dusty Rainbolt, The New Holistic Way for Dogs and Cats by Paul McCutcheon, DVM and Susan Weinstein, and The Dog Who's Always Welcome by Lorie Long.
Children's Book Panel: Linda Kay Hardie, Barbara Stretton, Anne Rockwell, Matthew Van Fleet, Brian Stanton, Rick Aruzza, Lisa Desimini. Moderator: Barbara Stretton
	Matthew Van Fleet is the creator of the #1 New York Times bestsellers DOG and Alphabet. His other bestselling books include Monday the Bullfrog, Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings, Spotted Yellow Frogs, One Yellow Lion, and Tails. Matt’s worked can be viewed on his website at http://www.dragonflys.com. He lives with his family in Chappaqua, New York. Brian Stanton is a New York based commercial photographer who shoots advertising, corporate, and editorial assignments. His clients include The Independent Film Channel, NBC, Bravo Networks, Lincoln Center, Panasonic and Novartis. Brian's work can be viewed at www.brianstantonphoto.com. He lives with his family in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.
	A graduate of Syracuse University, Rick Arruzza has written five Sparky books for beginning-to-young readers about his dog Sparky: Sparky's Walk, No Rest for Sparky, Sparky Coast to Coast, Sparky's Big Race, and The Great Candy Caper, all starring Sparky and her pals. Rick presents programs about Sparky in elementary schools throughout the country. He also works closely with various animal rescue agencies because Sparky was a rescue dog herself, $1 from each book sale goes to the Adopt-A-Dog, the Greenwich, CT-based agency that rescued Sparky from the dog pound in New York City, as well as to other animal rescue organizations throughout the country.
	A graduate from The School of Visual Arts in 1986, Lisa Desimini. has writtenand/ or illustrated over thirty books for children. Her book My House was a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year. Love Letters by Arnold Adoff was a Publisher's Weekly Best Picture Book of the Year, A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. A video adaptation of, Dot The Fire Dog, was produced by Weston Woods.
From an early age, Annie Rockwell knew that creating books for children was what she was meant to do. She published her first book for children in 1964 Paul and Arthur Search for the Egg and has been at it ever since, with well over a hundred books in print, including Katie Catz Makes a Splash, Good Morning, Digger, Our Yard is Full of Birds, At the Firehouse, Trains, Trucks, and Things that Go, taking the everyday world and making it clear to the youngest readers and listeners. She also has written biographies for young readers, including They Call Her Molly Pitcher, Only Passing through: The Story of Sojourner Truth, and Big George: How a Shy Boy Became President Washington.
	Barbara Stretton is the author of the Tori Trotter Mystery series about a cat detective, including The Case of the Tiberian Tiger, The Case of the Purloined Persian, and just released The Case of the Lurking Lion. The Case of the Tiberian Tiger won a Certificate of Excellence in the Cat Writers Association in 2006. She is also the author of three YA novels, A Deeper Season You Never Lose and The Truth of the Matter, and two nonfiction books, The BLR Handbook of Practical Time Management Techniques, and The Heart of the Music (with Salvatore Princiotti).
Vet/Industry Panel: Consumer Guide To Saving Money Without Compromising Pet Health. Susan Little, DVM, Susan Logan, Kimberly Cassar, Carol Frischman. Moderator: Darlene Arden
	A Certified Animal Behavior Consultant, Journalist, Author, Learning Facilitator and frequent media guest, Darlene Arden's passion for helping animals live longer and better lives shines through in all she does. Whether she's writing books or articles, speaking to animal-related groups, attending veterinary conferences to increase her own knowledge and as a presenter, or interacting with individual pet owners, her goal is always the same -- to enhance the lives of dogs and cats. A Judge, Referee and Advisory Board Member for the World Canine Freestyle Organization, Inc Arden also produces and hosts a cable television program in her spare time. She is owned and operated by her Chartreux, GP Sinaye's Plaisir d'Amour of Ajolie, Aimee to her friends. Find Darlene on the web at: www.darlenearden.com
	Dr. Susan Little received her BSc from Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia, Canada) in 1983 and her DVM in 1988 from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. She has been in feline practice since 1990 and achieved specialty board certification in Feline Practice in 1997, re-certifying in 2006. She is part owner of two feline specialty practices in Ottawa, Canada. She serves on the board of the Winn Feline Foundation, and is a feline medicine consultant for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN).
	Kimberly Cassar has been marketing consumer packaged goods for the last fifteen years. She spent seven years at Twinings Tea (U.S. division Grosvenor Marketing) where she worked on channel expansion, product innovation, PR and advertising. In 2001, Kim joined the Hartz Mountain Corporation as the Animal Health & Wellness brand manager. Since then, she has worked on every dog or cat related business at Hartz from toys to treats. Kim is currently the Senior Director of Animal Health, Wellness and Grooming and is responsible for category sales, long term innovation, and advertising. She has been interviewed by Grocery Headquarters and most recently by Pet Business Magazine on the Flea and Tick Category. Kim holds a master's degree in Technology Management from the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. She is a long time pet lover and a proud feline pet parent to her pride and joy, Bailey.
	Carol Frischmann has written 3 books on pets and more than 350 print and online articles featuring a unique blend of pets, science, and nature. Her most recent book, Pets and the Planet: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Pet Care was nominated for the 2009 Northwest Booksellers Association Award and has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the Cat Writers' Association. A lifelong companion for an endless variety of pets, Carol's approach to her subjects comes from her background as a communicator of science to the public. Carol earned a B.A. in Science Education from Duke University, taught high school science, and later created high tech systems to support pharmaceutical research. Carol has a rich diversity of experience in wildlife rehabilitation, interpretation, and conservation through positions with zoos, museums, and the Audubon Society. Carol is a member of Dog and Cat Writers' Associations of America, the Basset Hound Club of America, the Audubon Society of Portland, and the Jane Goodall Institute. Carol resides in Portland, Oregon with a grumpy African gray parrot and a hyperactive Doberman pinscher.
Selling Content in the 21st Century. An agent, a book editor and a magazine or webzine editor discuss their insights into new ways authors can sell content in the future. Moderated by Beth Adelman.
Beth Adelman, a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and a publishing professional. She currently writes "The Cat Lady" column for the Sunday New York Post and is co-editor of the journal Animal Behavior Consulting: Theory and Practice. Beth has edited more than 100 books about companion animals, many of them award winners, and worked for many years as an acquisitions and development editor for Howell Book House and Dorling Kindersley. She is also the former editor in chief of Cats magazine and DogWorld and former managing editor of the AKC Gazette. Her book, Every Cat's Survival Guide to Living With a Neurotic Owner, is a multiple award winner.
	The Art of Interviewing: Next Question. When it comes to interviewing, cat got your tongue? Or did your subject hiss but not tell? This session spotlights ways to land an interview and get the most out of it. Presenter Arden Moore guides you to interviewing professionals, pet guardians and purr-sonalities in person, by phone and by email. You have questions? Arden has the answers. Veteran journalist Arden Moore's list of interviewees range from A-list celebrities to powerful politicians to champion athletes and yes, even a serial killer. Among her subjects: Betty White, Jennifer Aniston, Fred Willard, Tony Hawk and murderer Danny Rolling. She wears many "collars" in the pet world: radio show host, magazine editor, author, professional speaker and blogger. Learn more by visiting: www.ardenmoore.com
	Lying Our Way to the Truth: Fiction, Nonfiction, & Memoir. What, exactly, is the truth? Frank Lloyd Wright said, "The truth is more important than the facts," and Tracy Chapman said, "In the fiction in the space between/Sometimes a lie is the best thing." Where is the line? It's an issue that's hit the best-seller lists and changed the way we think about memoirs, with some authors being caught passing off complete fiction as truth. Yet memoir is about telling a story. We'll take a look at how nonfiction techniques can be used in fiction, and how fiction techniques can legitimately be used in nonfiction. Linda Kay Weber-Hardie is the author of Louie Larkey and the Bad Dream Patrol, the story of teddy bears who chase away bad dreams. Her other writing projects have included an essay in the book Cat Women: Female Writers on Their Feline Friends, and pieces in such national magazines as Cat Fancy and Chile Pepper, and poetry published in literary magazines. Linda is in the master's program at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she is working toward an advanced degree in writing while teaching freshman English. A popular speaker at writers' conferences, she can also speak to other age groups, including adults, about how anyone can get started writing. Linda is a member of Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Cat Writers Association, and Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association, and has won numerous writing awards dating back to 1968. Linda is a graduate student, part-time college instructor, and freelance writer/editor in Reno. Learn more about Linda, her books and her presentations at www.louielarkey.com
	Successful Pitches to Editors. As she tells the story of how she came to get six books published-four about pets-Sharon Sakson recounts her experiences with and advice on pitching pet stories to editors, as well as other ways she's been successful in writing about people and their pets. Sharon Sakson's most recent book is "Paws and Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs." She is a freelance writer/producer of television programs in New York, has been a field producer for NBC Sports, WNBC and ABC National News, and was an editor at The Wall Street Journal Newswires. She produced programs for Court TV, Food TV and local television stations in Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco. Sakson, who has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing degree from the New School for Social Research, is the author of two Bantam travel guides and has written more than 100 articles. She is a breeder of champion Whippets, Dachshunds and Brussels Griffons under her "Parisfield" kennel prefix as well as an accredited American Kennel Club dog show judge, judging most of the Hound Group and some Working breeds.
	Tweet, Poke, and Post--Learn the New Way to More Publicity. Lea-Ann Germinder, APR, Fellow PRSA, is a nationally recognized expert in public relations. She has specialized in promoting pet health and pet products for the last eleven years, and is well-known for her creative ideas -- from "Pets Need Dental Care, Too!" to www.goodnewsforpets.com to her instrumental role in creating the CATalyst Council and its CATalyst Top Ten Cat-Friendly Cities initiative. Social media played a key role in this last campaign. Learn how you can use social media such as twitter, facebook and instant messaging combined with traditional media can create buzz for your latest publishing project. For more information, visit www.germinder.com.
	Animal-Assisted Therapy. Presentation by Voice of Westminster and therapy dog handler David Frei. He has co-hosted USA Network's annual telecast of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for 19 years and serves as co-host on NBC of The National Dog Show, which airs on Thanksgiving Day. He is director of communications for Westminster Kennel Club and president of WKC's charity Angel On A Leash, which promotes the use of therapy dogs to enhance human health and quality of life.
	Rights and Content Fights. Are you confused about contracts and rights? Not sure what changes to ask for, what rights you hold? Frightened by publishers' ever-growing demands? Join Minda Zetlin, vice president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, for some straight talk about today's contracts. You will also learn about two recent lawsuit settlements that could put money in your pocket for books or articles you've already written. Bring questions, and, if you like, actual contracts to review. Minda Zetlin is a recognized expert in the fields of management, technology and international business. Her latest book is Telecommuting for Dummies. Topics covered include the following: First rights, FNASR, all rights, and WMFH (there is a difference) Digital rights and media "to-be-invented" Indemnity clauses Same-topic clauses The changing landscape of book contracts Registering copyright The writers' groups v. databases settlement (being reviewed by the Supreme Court) The Authors Guild/Google settlement
Writing in the Cloud: Building a website on a shoestring, and using free web 2.0 tools to write from anywhere. Having your own domain name and a professional website is no longer optional for working writers -- your competitors already have one. Being able to send a link to examples of your work online will help keep you current. In this session, we'll learn how to inexpensively buy your own domain name, build a cheap (or free!) website, and get your domain and website on the web. Also, the digital tools for writing while on the go are much more accessible than ever. We'll be discussing some great websites that provide tools for word processing, backups, and photo enhancement that are available from anywhere in the world on any Internet-connected computer. Presented by Bill Pfleging, technology columnist, computer consultant, co-author of The Geek Gap and former Lycos Networks Director of Community.
	The Story Behind the Pet Food Recall: Marion Nestle is Paulette Goddard Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, which she chaired from 1988-2003. She also holds appointments as Professor of Sociology at NYU and Visiting Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell. Her degrees include a Ph.D. in molecular biology and an M.P.H. in public health nutrition, both from the University of California, Berkeley. She has held faculty positions at Brandeis University and the UCSF School of Medicine. From 1986-88, she was senior nutrition policy advisor in the Department of Health and Human Services and managing editor of the 1988 Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health . Her research examines scientific, economic, and social influences on food choice. She is the author of three prize-winning books: Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health (2002; paperback 2003; revised edition, 2007), Safe Food: Bacteria, Biotechnology, and Bioterrorism (2003; paperback 2004), and What to Eat (2006; paperback 2007). Her latest book, Pet Food Politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine , was published in September 2008. She writes the Food Matters column for the San Francisco Chronicle, is a contributing editor to The Bark magazine, and blogs daily (almost) at www.foodpolitics.com and at the Atlantic Food Channel (http://food.theatlantic.com/nutrition/).
	Essaying Your Opinion. Tips on writing and selling thought-provoking pieces, presented by Marion Lane. arion, a lifelong cat, dog and all-animal lover, has been a pet author and a pet editor for more than twenty-five years. As editor of first the American Kennel Gazette and then ASPCA Animal Watch magazine, she divided her time and her passion equally between the world of purebred dogs and the world of animal welfare. Although she's written features, filler, news, columns, books and a very occasional short story, Marion's hands-down favorite kind of writing is the personal essay. "I'm always trying to get readers to look at animals a little differently," she says, "not by wowing them with facts, figures and argument, but by bringing them into my world and enticing them to take a look through my eyes." A vegetarian for the last decade, Marion has recently moved to a farming, hunting and fishing community where she's hoping to use the personal essay to give her neighbors a slightly different way to look at the animals who provide their livelihood.
	Getting Socially Connected. Social networking is now a necessity for the working writer. It's no longer a matter of time before you'll need to use social networking. That was yesterday, and today you're expected to be connected. The number of social networking sites is huge - LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, Orkut, Ning, the list keeps growing. But one thing they all have in common is how they can connect YOU to your business colleagues and readers. In this session, we'll learn social network basics: how to set up a Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc. page; best practices in using these for business; top 5 DON'TS with social networking. Also how to combine sites like Twitter with social network pages and even widgets to help build your business. Presented by Bill Pfleging, technology columnist, computer consultant, co-author of The Geek Gap and former Lycos Networks Director of Community. It's not Web 2.0. It's not Web 3.0. It's simply life. We have more technology than ever before. We can reach more people than ever before, in shorter amounts of time. But that doesn?'t mean we should do it! You can have all the tools in the world it doesn't mean you know what to do with them! The beauty of social and viral technology is that it allows us to reach many, many people in nanoseconds. The danger of it? The exact same thing. The discussion includes social networking, viral marketing and all the fun ways to use them and perhaps most important why sometimes not using any of them is your best bet. You'll be shown how marketers, businesses, publicists, and everyday humans are: Using social media to spearhead new marketing campaigns and initiatives Realizing that just because it exists, doesn't mean you have to use it Getting smarter about social networking every day Learning that it's not about making something viral, but about making something good
	Peter Shankman is recognized worldwide for radically new ways of thinking about Social Media, PR, marketing, advertising, creativity, and customer service. Peter is perhaps best known for founding Help A Reporter Out, (HARO) which in under a year has become the de-facto standard for thousands of journalists looking for sources on deadline, offering them more than 100,000 sources around the world looking to be quoted in the media. HARO is currently the largest free source repository in the world, sending out over 1,200 queries from worldwide media each week. Peter is also the founder and CEO of The Geek Factory, Inc., a boutique Marketing and PR Strategy firm located in New York City, with clients worldwide. His blog, which he launched as a website in 1995, (www.shankman.com) both comments on and generates news and conversation. He is the author of Can We Do That?! Outrageous PR Stunts That Work and Why Your Company Needs Them. Born and raised in New York City, Peter still lives there with his two psychotic cats, Karma and NASA, who consistently deny his repeated requests to relinquish the couch.
It's a Mystery to Me: Writing Your Mystery. Outlining (or not), plotting, pacing, developing characters, researching, and more. Clea Simon is author of four Theda Krakow mysteries ("Mew is for Murder," "Cattery Row," "Cries and Whispers" and the new "Probable Claws") as well as the new Dulcie Schwartz series. As if two series' weren't enough, she's also a journalist, arts critic, online writing instructor, cat lover and epicurean human.
Breaking Into Other Genres. Presented by Patricia Fry, a freelance writer, author and editorial consultant. She's president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) and has written 29 books, including The Right Way To Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, The Author's Repair Kit and her latest-Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats.
	Marketing for Nonfiction Authors: Mary Shafer is a full time freelance writer and independent book publisher in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She writes for trade and consumer magazines, newspapers and websites, and does commercial copywriting. She also serves as a marketing consultant, all to support her publishing habit. Mary has authored three published books (two of which have won awards) and pieces in two published anthologies. She has owned Word Forge Books since 2003, which also publishes the work of other authors. As a publisher, Mary is a member of SPAN, IBPA and its regional affiliate, the MidAtlantic Book Publishers Assn. -- on whose board of directors she serves as secretary -- and the Center for Independent Publishing. She is also a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), The Authors Guild, the Humane Society of the US, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. She blogs regularly about disabled animals and related topics at http://almostperfectpets.blogspot.com.

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REGISTRATION INFORMATION

2009 CWA CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

• YOU CAN REGISTER TWO WAYS Complete the form online, print, sign and mail the PDF registration form, along with your check or Money order for the proper amount in US Funds, payable to Cat Writers' Association Inc.
  2) Alternatively, you may complete the registration form online and email it using the email form button, and then make your payment using the PayPal link below
• SEPARATE PAPER FORMS for snail-mail registration must be completed for each registrant or guest, for badge information.
• FULL REGISTRATION includes seminars, banquets, receptions, Sat. breakfast & lunch, editor-agent appointments, & opportunity to sign books.
• YOU MAY NOT SPLIT/SHARE A FULL OR "SPECIAL" REGISTRATION.
• *EXHIBITOR or AWARDS SPECIAL registrations EXCLUDE editor/agent appointments & signing books.
• A LA CARTE selections are for those who have not purchased a FULL or SPECIAL registration. A LA CARTE MEALS must also register by November 7th deadline.
• SEMINAR-ONLY registration is available at the door, BUT extra conference materials (folios, programs, prizes) will only be distributed on an as-available basis.
• CONFIRMATION of your registration can be made ONLY if you provide a valid Email or SAE/postcard.
• MATERIALS will be distributed onsite.
• Registrations non-refundable
• QUESTIONS? cwaconfregistrarsam@gmail.com

Now, you can pay your conference registration fees using PayPal!

FULL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Choose a conference registration option. Please add your name in the "Description" box on the Paypal checkout form

1-day Seminar - FRIDAY $50.00 1-day Seminar - SATURDAY $50.00

FOR QUESTIONS, please email cwaconfregistrarsam@gmail.com

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