Leading Pet Journalist-Author Amy Shojai Talks All Things Cats and Dogs
For more than three decades, Amy Shojai has been helping people better understand their pets through her books, magazine articles, presentations, YouTube videos and more. She helped create the Cat Writers Association 30 years ago and has penned more than three dozen books -- nonfiction and fiction. Her latest thriller is called Dare or Die and is part of the September and Shadow Thriller series.
Listen to Episode #489 Now:
BIO:
Greetings and salutations and welcome to the website about Amy Shojai that features dog and cat care books, Thrillers with Bite! and info-tainment for those of every furry persuasion.
My Magical-Dawg (the handsome German Shepherd pictured above), left us far too soon. But he still inspires my work, and the service dog character Shadow in my thrillers is based on him. I’ve been an equal-opportunity pet lover since birth. All kinds of furred, feathered, finned, and fanged beasts have shared my life, but I must admit that dogs and cats top my list. I’m very grateful for my success as a pet writer but feel even more fortunate that I truly love my work. Bottom line, I get paid to talk and write about dogs and cats-wow! Shortly after losing Magic, our Seren-Kitty also went on to that mystical-magical place we call Rainbow Bridge. My tiny powerhouse Siamese wannabe nearly made it to age 22, and still rules my heart!
Meanwhile, a silver-shaded tabby boy cat, rescued by Magical-Dawg, made an appearance. Karma-Kat adored his German Shepherd buddy, pestered Seren, and helped heal our hearts when we lost them both within only weeks of each other. Karma (below) takes very seriously his duties as an editor, too!
So… Bravo Happened! SQUEEE!
We adopted Bravo as much for Karma-Kat as for us, and they immediately became best friends. His Bullmastiff mother had a romantic interlude with some travelin’ dawg, and we adopted one of her puppies–we think, the pick of the litter. He’s funny, loving, silly, thinks he’s a lapdog, and keeps us laughing. But right around Bravo’s second birthday (February 1, 2020), he limped, and X-rays revealed cancer. He became a “tri-pawd” doggy, as part of his treatment while undergoing chemo. Karma offered him purrs of encouragement, and a stray baby dog, Shadow-Pup showed up to offer extra comfort and smiles. We lost him to cancer on March 4, 2021–which also happened to be Shadow’s first birthday. His memory lives on in our hearts.
All About Amy Shojai & Writing
My college double-majors in music and theater prepared me for performance, and I’ve worked professionally as a singer/actor, pianist and cellist, playwright and as a television news anchor. This experience also comes in handy when I make appearances and give talks about my writing.
But it was the first job as a veterinary technician back in 1981 that paved the way for my career as a pet writer. Clients didn’t always understand health care information-so from the beginning, my work translated medicalese into language all of us non-veterinarians could understand. When successful, my articles and books help make you an equal partner in the health and well-being of your cats and dogs.
From Nonfiction to Pet-centric Thrillers
More recently my nonfiction expertise has expanded into the fiction realm. I’m pleased to read reviews that comment on how much the dog-viewpoint thrillers (with a dose of cat!) have both entertained and enlightened readers to the wonderful world of pets.
For those curious about my schedule, I spend 10 to 12 hours, six days a week in my home office on book projects or writing-related work–or on the road speaking. Most times, researchers and other experts are only a phone or email interview away–you do NOT want to have my phone bills! When I need the break, I explore our 13-acre “spread” called Rosemont located in North Texas, and named for the more than 500 antique rose bushes that bloom a kaleidoscope of color each spring and fall.