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PHAbymom: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at Cat Hobbyist, I'm very pleased to welcome Sandra Toney to our Ninth Annual Chat Week.

santoney: Thanks Aby and hello everyone.

PHAbymom: Sandra Toney is an award-winning writer who has appeared in hundreds of magazines such as Writer's Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, Your Health, Cats Magazine, Woman's Own, Country America, and many others. She lives in Plymouth, Indiana, with her husband, Ray, and four VERY spoiled felines.

PHAbymom: Thank you so much for joining us, Sandra and welcome!

santoney: Your Welcome and thanks for having me.

jpwarner1_nr: How long have you been a writer?

santoney: I've been writing since 1993 -- full-time.

StLouieKits: Sandra, if I have a funny cat story what sort of venue would you suggest to send it to?

santoney: Good question, StLouie. When you are trying to break into writing, you will probably receive many rejections. My advice is to start small. Perhaps your local newspaper or a small magazine/newsletter. Don't expect a lot of pay for your first articles. It takes a while to make the "big bucks."

PHKitmas: Sandra, was there something specific that inspired you to write about cats?

santoney: Besides a lifelong love affair with my furry friends, yes, I read a lot of cat books in my life and then took some advanced writing courses in college. My prof said I COULD write publishable work. My husband inspired me to write about my favorite topic -- cats! Writing what you know and care about show off your talent more than anything else.

StLouieKits: I was going to ask how many cats Sandra has.

santoney: I have three cats right now. Two spunky calico sisters who are 3 years old and one eleven year old grump -- all who I adopted from the shelter I volunteer for...ga

cannonbawlfranci: How do you come up with ideas

santoney: I mainly just WATCH the everyday goings-on with all my cats. Feline interaction is fascinating and gives me so many ideas. Or a particular illness my cat might have, etc. The ideas really are endless...and all around you.

fireladie: When you have a story envisioned... and then can't get it out on paper, What do you do? Is there any advice for someone who suffers from chronic writers block? hehe thanks

santoney: Uggg, writer's block. I'm here to tell you that yes, IT DOES EXIST! I think that GETTING STARTED is the hardest part. Once I've written something on the topic (even if it isn't something I could ever turn in), ideas then start coming to me. Sometimes I make an outline (but it reminds me of school so I don't like to do it) but when I'm desperate, I will go that way. If one idea/article isn't working, start writing about something totally different and eventually come back to your original story. That's what I find to be helpful. Good luck!

fireladie: thank you so much :)

santoney: You're very welcome fireladie!

PHKitmas: Sandra, do you write mainly articles and stories for magazines and such or have you written books? And do you do illustrations also?

santoney: I have written hundreds of articles over the years. It's hard to start out writing books without having a resume of articles to back you up. I have since written eight books on cat care and behavior and won many awards too As for illustrations, I do not draw but I do illustrate with my own photos. Many publishers do not pay for illustrations "with" your articles, etc., but I have started selling photos for stories I did NOT write. Then I can get paid for those. It's helpful to any writer to be able to provide artwork/photos. It gives you a leg up on the competition. And believe me, it's a very COMPETITIVE world out there for writers!

PHAbymom: Sandra, is it beneficial to belong to a group like the Cat Writers?

santoney: GREAT QUESTION, Aby. Yes, I joined the Cat Writers' Association in 1995. It's a group of professional writers who, obviously, write abut CATS! I have gotten tons of work from the people I've met at conventions and even from online listserv chats. Every writer should, I believe, join some sort of organization that supports their particular genre of writing. It really is "who" you know sometimes.

PHAbymom: Thanks Sandra

cannonbawlfranci: Thanks, Sandra , do you right only non-fiction or have you written any cat fiction stories

santoney: I only write nonfiction Unfortunately, the market for fiction is not a large one. There are some well-known fiction writers out there who have tons of cat books, but fiction is usually something cat writers start doing after they have a resume with some nonfiction articles on it.

santoney: In other words, a lot of non-fictions cat writers DO want to write fiction and will eventually be able to...ga

PHKitmas: Sandra, could you tell us the names of some of your books and are they readily available in the major chain bookstores? ga

santoney: Yes, my books are available in bookstores and at Amazon.com, etc. My best-selling book, "The Simple Guide to Cats," won several prestigious awards from the Iams Company and Tidy Cat besides accolades from the Cat Writer's Association. I've also written "The Little Book of Cat Tricks" -- not in contention for the Nobel Prize for Literature, I'm sure, but a fun little book and all the tricks work! I've also written the following books: Feline Behavior, Pampering Your Cats, The Stray Cat, Kittens, Persians, Natural Cat -- all published by the world's largest publishing house -- TFH.

fireladie: Wow! Congrats Sandra! What publishers have you found most cat friendly for accepting your writing about cats? I would assume the magazines would be, but is there a publisher who welcomes this type of writing?

santoney: Since TFH is the largest publisher in the world, they publish the most books on all pets. You have to learn how to write a book proposal (I taught myself everything about submitting articles and book proposals through reading the correct books on those topics). If you write a professional book proposal and have a unique idea, you have a fair chance of getting a bite. And even if you get turned down, don't give up if you believe in your project. I have had so many rejections and then found the right fit with an editor who thought my idea was fantastic. It's part talent and part luck, in my opinion.

fireladie: Thank you, and again congrats on all those books

santoney: You're very welcome!

PHAbymom: I will toss out something... and Sandra, you can tell us if it is beneficial in the long run... there are also a lot of places, like CatHobbyist. We publish articles both on feature pages and newsletters... no pay, but your name is out there.

santoney: Oh yes, working for reputable places like PetHobbyist is a great way to get published. I worked for many editors for zero pay. Especially when you are first starting out, getting those tearsheets are CRUCIAL for your career. I have even given articles to editors after being an "established" writer -- just as a favor I might owe them. Or, of course, for charity purposes, non-profit, etc.

fireladie: hehe.... do you have any dog friends? :)

santoney: Uggg....I must admit the truth -- yes, I do. But it's an ongoing fight as to who is better -- cats or dogs. But we all know the truth, right? Ha.

cannonbawlfranci: sure do

fireladie: lol.. we do *wink*

PHAbymom: Cats rule, dogs drool

cannonbawlfranci: What do you find to be the easiest thing and the hardest thing about writing

santoney: The easiest thing is going to work in your bathrobe and slippers...the hardest thing is actually getting work. Excuse my language, but it's a "dog eat dog" world out there for writers.

cannonbawlfranci: MOL

fireladie: LOL

santoney: P.S. Hi to my sick friend, Bristycat....yep, I see you!

StLouieKits: Sandra, what is your favorite thing that you've written? I guess do you have a favorite story is what I'm asking.

santoney: Probably my first book -- Persians. I did not know ONE thing about them other than what they look like, etc. But it was a learning process for me...right along with the reader. Since it was supposed to be a beginner's guide to Persians, my editor said it was one of the best books she read on the topic because it "appeared" as if I was learning at the same time. Of course, what she didn't know is...I WAS learning at the same time. I never tell an editor I "don't" know something. Because there are a million other writers out there who do and, of course, I can LEARN my topic if I don't know it already...ga

StLouieKits: Thanks for the answer, Sandra.

santoney: You are welcome. I apologize for the length of my answers...ugg!

jpwarner1_nr: I have many of your books, and have read any article I see with your name on it...(I told you I'm a HUGE fan!) Is there any one thing that gives you inspiration?

santoney: Thanks jp. I guess the one thing that gives me inspiration (besides my own cats' many antics) is educating people about caring for felines. I am a spay/neuter advocate, of course, and want to help people realize how to properly care for their furry friends.ga

PHritters: Very clueless here (I know TFH is a publishing house but could you please spell it out for me - or is this the actual name of the publishing house (so clueless) GA.

PHritters: needless to say, I have the aspirations of a "wanna-be"

cannonbawlfranci: ahhhhhhh, dont we all?!

fireladie: hehe... me too ritters

santoney: Ritters, the publishing house is called T.F.H. Publications. Initials do not stand for anything that I am aware of.

Esther: Tropical Fish Hobbyist is what they stand for.

PHAbymom: On behalf of Cathobbyist.com, Jeff B, and myself, I want to take a moment to thank Sandra Toney for being part of our chat week. Sandra, thanks for taking the time out to chat with us on writing about our cats, and maybe getting some creative juices flowing!