“CAT SUMMER” GOES TO THE CAT WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer

Did you know there is a Cat Writers’ Association? Chances are you didn’t. More often than not when I mention I’m a member of CWA, people laugh, as if I’m making a joke. Once they realize I’m serious, they are usually enthused and curious, but it’s obvious that CWA seems more whimsical than profound. Okay, so the name Cat Writers Association doesn’t project the same gravity as, say, Mystery Writers of America, but once you get to know more about this international group, you may change your mind.

CWA is a “global, cat-centric, professional organization dedicated to excellence in written, visual, and audio media.” You can read more about the history of CWA here. Though the title includes the word, “Writers,” CWA also welcomes artists, photographers, bloggers, and creators of just about anything with content about cats. To qualify for the CWA contest, (more on that in a minute) cats must be an integral part of the story/artwork/blogpost etc. You can’t just have a kitty on grandma’s lap in chapter fifteen or a black cat on the cover of your paranormal novel. We’re talking real cat content. So if you are looking for a true cat mystery, (or anything else cat) choose one from a CWA author.

Of course the byproduct of an association such as this is the absolute love of cats. If you go to the CWA Facebook page, you’ll find sprinkled in among the announcements, pictures of cats— our cats, famous cats, cat memes. Yes, we do love a good cat video!

Once a year, CWA puts on a massive contest for work published in the previous year. While CWA is a writing organization, they also support talents in a wide variety of mediums which are reflected in the plethora of contest categories.

“Really, if it’s cats, and it meets the criteria, the sky’s the limit in topic or content – serious posts on veterinary breakthroughs, to product reviews, to stories on the feline-human bond and more. Rescue, advocacy, humor and entertainment, lifestyle, kittens, senior cats, special needs cats, pedigree cats, famous cats, fictional cats – the list goes on and on. Even our big, jungle cat friends – we encourage pieces that inspire, educate, entertain, inform and more. From the smallest piece of cat-designed jewelry to large cat sculptures to an encyclopedia-sized novel, there’s a category for our talents.”  —CWA Website

The rigorous judges first give out a round of Certificates of Excellence in each of the many categories. From the frontrunners are chosen an ultimate category winner who will receive the coveted Muse Medallion. These winners are announced after the gala banquet at the annual CWA conference. There are also several special awards sponsored by such corporate and private sponsors as the American Association of Feline Practitioners and Fear Free Pets which carry a monetary prize as well as status. Last year, my cozy mystery Cat Café won the “World’s Greatest Cat Litter-ary Award!”

In the past, I’ve won both Certificates of Excellence and Muse Medallions for my books, poems, and blogposts. I cherish every one, because, as a judge myself (not for categories I’ve entered in, of course) I know these awards are not given lightly. To read more about the judging process, click here.

I just finished submitting my entries for this year’s contest: two poems, two cozy cat mysteries, and Cat Summer, Book One of the Cat Seasons sci-fantasy Tetralogy, published by Fire Star Press last August. This is my first time entering in the sci-fi/fantasy category and I’m super excited.

It would be awesome for Cat Summer to receive a Certificate of Excellence, and thrilling if the book were to go on to win the Muse Medallion! Of course there’s also that chance it will lose, since the judging criteria is strict and a bit brutal, which would be disappointing… (hide-in-my-bedroom-and-cry disappointing.) But for now, it’s Schrodinger’s prize— could win, could lose, and we won’t know until someone opens the envelope at the conference in July.

 Cat Summer (The Cat Seasons Tetralogy Book 1)

Lise has a special destiny: to help a clowder of sentient cats save the world from an evil older than history itself. It is a terrible battle, but Lise and her feline comrades prevail, putting an end to war, poverty, ignorance and want. The world is a better place.

Or is it?

A century later, it becomes clear that something has been lost. The new civilization produces no artists, no musicians, no scientists, no philosophers. Inertia has taken hold. Lise, now at the end of her life, must join her cat-friends once more to restore the Spark of the Human Spirit, but the goal cannot be reached without sacrifice. Is there enough time left for them to save the world for future generations?

#cwa2020

#catwritersassociation