Books and More

New York Times best-selling authors Dr. Marty Becker (of "Good Morning America") and Gina Spadafori are working on a new book series for the publisher of the "Chicken Soup" books.

They're looking for writers (you don't have to be a professional, or even published before) with inspirational stories on dogs, cats and horses.

They are also looking for great photographs.

Payment is offered for all published submissions.

The deadline for submissions is March 15, with the books coming out in the fall.

Here's where to go for information on how to get stories and pictures in the books:

http://theultimatepetlover.com/

Have a finicky cat lover on your gift list? Here are a few finds from the CatHobbyist.com bookstore:

New this year, the paradigm-shattering book on shelter reform by Nathan Winograd, "Redemption: The Myth of Pet Over-population and the No Kill Revolution in America," has been inspiring and infuriating people all over the country. What's the fuss about?

Winograd, who himself ran an open-admission animal control shelter in upstate New York and is the former director of operations for the San Francisco SPCA, says that the secret to ending the use of killing for animal population control is a set of programs he calls the "No Kill Solution," and that any community -- rich, poor, urban, rural, north, south -- can use these solutions and save animal lives.

Love him or hate him, the book is compelling and impossible to put down.

Next is the newest cat book from longtime CatHobbyist.com friend Gina Spadafori and her co-writer, Dr. Marty Becker of Good Morning America. They are following their New York Times bestselling "Why Do Dogs Drink from the Toilet?" with "MeowWow: Curiously Compelling Facts, True Tales and Trivia Even Your Cat Won't Know." It's jammed with curious facts and mind-bending trivia about our feline friends -- even a few things the most cat-crazy cat lady doesn't know. Gina is the co-author of "Cats for Dummies," and Dr. Becker is one of the authors of "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul," the fastest selling pet book in publishing history. This new offering is the perfect stocking stuffer for a cat lover!

Also new, and indispensible, is Dr. Debra Eldredge's "Cat Owners' Home Veterinary Handbook." Dr. Eldgredge has been a chat guest here on PetHobbyist.com, and her book belongs on the shelf of everyone with cats. It includes signs and symptoms of feline disease to watch out for, the latest research on cat health, tips for senior cats, and step-by-step instructions for handling feline problems, injuries, and treatment. Loaded with drawings and photos.

Want more? Check out the CatHobbyist.com bookstore! You'll find new releases, gift ideas, our top ten bestselling books each month, brand new 2008 cat calendars, and more!

Never Cry Wolf : Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves (Book) Authors:Farley Mowat Manufacturer:Back Bay Books Released:13 September, 2001

Sent to investigate the carnage wolves were instilling on the arctic caribou in Canada. Author Farley Mowat accounts his journey of living alone deep in the tundra amongst the wolves to find out he develops a deep affection for this so called savage beast. But instead he finds a wonderful family skilled hunters and protectors of their young. Never Cry Wolf is a brilliant story on the myth and sacred world of the wild wolves and our place as man amongst these great creatures. "We have doomed the wolf not for what it is, but for what we deliberately and mistakenly perceive it to be -- the mythological epitome of a savage, ruthless killer -- which is, in reality, no more than the reflected image of ourself."

From Salon (if you're not a subscriber, you can get a free day pass to read this):

The love of bird-watching works a bit like a virus. Some contract it in early childhood, perhaps when nursing a downy chick back to health or when a grandmother points out a black-capped chickadee at the backyard bird feeder. Others catch it through contact with other birders, who tend to gaze off into the sky as you talk to them, mumbling something about wishing they had their binoculars. Either way, the epidemic is on the rise as more and more people get hooked on the simple pleasure of identifying and watching birds.

In "Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding," author Scott Weidensaul places birders in a long historical context, from our Founding Fathers to today, bringing the bird geeks from the fringe into the fold. Weidensaul, raptor expert and author of "Living on the Wind," the Pulitzer Prize-nominated book about migratory birds, paints a seamless narrative of the early Americas and the first men (and a few women) who discovered the unfamiliar bird life of North America as Europeans swept over the unknown territory of the continent.

Read the full review here.

Check out an interview with the author here.