Pet Prose with a Purpose

Whenever I’m asked what inspired me to write about animals, I proudly produce a picture of my cat Cassidy (who passed away some years ago) and wax poetic about his soulful eyes and gentle demeanor. “There was something about his eyes, which were the color of highly-polished sapphires and carried the depth of the deepest ocean, that jumpstarted my desire to write,” I respond. That and the fact that I recoil at the thought of spending eight hours a day, five days a week trapped in an office cubicle.

I wanted to—quite literally—work outside the box.

I’m not alone in thinking this way. Most of the writers I know gladly work for peanuts just to have the chance to be creative and work at home (presumably in their jammies, or is that just me?). We love the written word and have an inherent desire to tell stories that move and motivate people. Writers want to make the world just a little bit better for having been here. And if, by chance, we actually get a book published along the way, well, that’s just icing on the cake.

Writers have all worked at “real” jobs before sitting their derrières at their desks to sweat blood and tears onto blank pages. Take me, for instance:  I’ve flipped burgers at McDonalds (give me a break, I was 16), bathed dogs and cleaned litter boxes in a veterinary clinic (that is, until I fainted during my first surgery assist), worked my way through college as a secretary, and went on to a career in marketing before I finally listened to that still, small voice within that nudged me to become a writer. Once I set pen to paper, I never looked back.

Since writing is a solitary pursuit, I like to step away from the keyboard now and then and mingle with the masses. That’s why I put together the “Pet Prose with a Purpose” panel for the upcoming Santa Barbara Book and Author Festival taking place this Saturday. The panel will feature some of the most passionate purveyors of pet prose on the planet and we will share our experiences—whether they are factual, funny, or frustrating—with the writing and publishing process. Perhaps we’ll even inspire you to work outside the box.

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Karen Lee Stevens (Moderator), (www.allforanimals.com) is the award-winning author of “All for Animals: Tips and Inspiration for Living a More Compassionate Life.” She is also the founder and president of ALL FOR ANIMALS, INC., a non-profit, educational organization as well as a syndicated pet columnist. She lives in Santa Barbara with Miss Bella, her 3-year-old rescued British Shorthair cat.

Christopher Ameruoso (Panelist), (www.pawprintmag.com) has done it all when it comes to photography, boasting over 40 magazine covers to his credit with more than 1,000 celebrities photographed. Christopher has produced two books: “Pets and Their Stars and “Pets and Their Celebrities.” He is also the editor-in-chief of PawPrint, “the coolest little pet magazine on the planet.” Christopher and his Chinese crested canine, Stella Blue, live in Toluca Lake .

Porter Evans (Panelist), (www.linesrampantpress.com) is a professional member of the Cat Writers Association, Inc., and her literary gift book, “The Well-Lettered Cat,” won the 2006 Certificate of Excellence Award. She and her husband, designer Edward Fierro, founded Lines Rampant Press, and recently launched The Arts and Cats Movement. They live in Santa Barbara with their feline family.

Audrey Pavia (Panelist), (www.audreypavia.com) is former editor of “Horse Illustrated,” former managing editor of “Dog Fancy,” and former senior editor of the “AKC Gazette.” Now an award-winning freelance writer, Audrey has authored more than 700 articles on various animal topics in a number of publications. She has also written 19 books on animals. She and her husband live in Norco with a menagerie of animals.

Michael Simonsen (Panelist), (www.OfficerByrd.org) is a former police officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. He and his partner, “Officer Byrd” are the authors of “The Adventures of Officer Byrd: Get Help!,” a children’s book whose mission is to educate kids on how to safely deal with dangerous situations. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to support the Officer Byrd Non-Profit Organization’s objective of building a sanctuary for abused children.

 

The FREE “Pet Prose with a Purpose” panel takes place on Saturday, September 29^th from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Townley Room of the Santa Barbara Public Library. Book signing immediately following. Send any questions or comments to Karen at karenleestevens@cox.net.

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By Karen Lee Stevens,
Founder & President, ALL FOR ANIMALS, Inc.
Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

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