Leslie Goodwin

I am happy to share my latest book: CAT SKILLS: Loving Care for Cats! for anyone who loves cats or wants to add to their cat skills. This book is a collaboration between cat lovers, veterinarians and personal experience plus extensive research on the latest products and food for cats. I celebrate cats in all their quirky glory, with lots of photos, humor, ways to trouble shoot behaviors, bonding with a cat and unique tips for living happily ever after with a cat. While I was writing this book, I lost a kitten to a deadly disease called F.I.P., so I decided to donate some of the proceeds to a research fund to cure FIP.

I am especially proud of the section on feeding...I researched it thoroughly and have presented a summary of many research papers and practical advice along with the laws regarding pet food manufacture to help you make sense of all the many products available. I devoted a whole section to elderly cats, loss and grieving and even advice on adopting a new cat. This book is fun to read and will make a great gift for anyone who loves cats.

If you missed it, please check out my other book, too. It is called ANTIQUE or Shabby Chic? Appraise and sell like a pro! Because I'm an antiques dealer, my friends are always phoning to say:"Hey, I just got a (cool artifact, heirloom from my Granny, great garage sale buy) and I wanted to know if you would come over and tell me what it is, how much it's worth and how can I sell it?"

So I thought: "Hang on..Hold the phone. Grab your garters Gertie...I COULD WRITE A BOOK."

At first, I planned a simple 1,000 word pamphlet that I could hand out to my chums and thereby glean a few free slabs of pizza and/or beers from my grateful pals. But once I started, I realized there were lots of tips and tricks I could share-and it grew into 10,000 words. Still, I tried to boil it down into the most essential info, make it fun to read; not too long and heavy.

Soon, another friend convinced me to join the revolution--self-publishing that is--and I spent the next four months chained to my computer, tearing my hair out, alternating between swearing and sweating until the eBaby was born.

It really surprised me when it hit the best seller list on Amazon in two categories after being on the market for just a few months. I spent NO money on promotion. I did have some angelic friends who helped me to edit, however. Creating the paperback came next.

I had worked for many years as a journalist, did time :) as a magazine editor and freelance writer, but I had never designed a paperback book. It was kind of like doing an appendectomy for the first time by following the directions in a medical manual! There was lots of blood shed, it took longer than expected and included lots of fumbling about before the loose ends were tied.

That's the story of my book: ANTIQUE or Shabby Chic? Appraise & Sell Like a Pro. I live with two cats who don't understand why I remove my fur from time to time. When I write just for fun, I write poetry, essays and gossipy emails. I won a flash fiction contest in a Boulder, Colorado newspaper in 2010! Thanks to everyone who has encouraged me and bought my books. Ciao!