2019 CONFERENCE

Our annual CWA Conference and Awards Banquet has been a constant throughout the past quarter century and we want YOU (and your beloved kitties who like to travel) to be part of our next 25 years! We’ve partnered with the Cat Fanciers’ Association, The International Cat Association, BarkWorld, Blogpaws, and successfully held several solo events. We’ve been to Atlanta, Chicago, Anaheim, Kansas City, Houston, White Plains NY, Foster City CA, Los Angeles, Dallas, Nashville, and Chandler AZ. For this year, we’ll be celebrating somewhere in between – the historic and charming St. Louis, Missouri. Please come and join us, both members and non-members for our cat-tastic celebration that will include:

We have made CWA conference tickets as affordable as possible this year with an early bird CWA Member rate of $129 (expired on 3/31/19 – the rate is now $149 per ticket). The non-CWA member rate is $159 (expired on 3/31/19 – the rate is now $179 per ticket).  Ticket price includes a cat swag bag, admission to the exhibit hall, all conference programming, all keynotes, official meals, breaks, and the awards banquet.

To get your conference ticket CLICK HERE.

Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at the Arch
2 South 4th Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
Phone: 314-231-3003

This pet-friendly newly renovated four and a half-star historic downtown St. Louis hotel has modern rooms, a relaxing indoor pool area, and plenty of meeting space for our conference.  We have negotiated a great $132 (and taxes) a night room rate which includes free wi-fi, free hot breakfast, and free evening drinks and snacks.  The hotel is in the heart of downtown St. Louis and near many attractions such as the Gateway Arch, historic Union Station, and St. Louis Cardinal’s legendary Busch Stadium.

To book your guest room at the Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at the Arch, click here for a direct link or call 1-800-325-0720 and refer to Group Number 2350365.

The CWA is honored to have Debra F. Horwitz, DVM, DACVB as our featured keynote speaker for our 25th-Anniversary Conference and Awards Banquet. Dr. Horwitz is an award-winning lecturer, author, media spokesperson, and past president and former public relations chair of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB). She will be speaking on “Improving the Well-Being of Cats in the Home, Shelters, and Post-Adoption.” Please visit here for more on Dr. Horwitz and her keynote topic.

It’s our milestone 25^th Anniversary Conference and Awards Banquet and we’re over the moon excited to announce the powerhouse speaker lineup we have assembled for our 3-day event! We have a combined total of 17 sessions, 24 speakers, and two very special guest cats! From interactive sessions on editing and graphics to informative sessions on self-publishing, traditional publishing, marketing and sales, podcasts, photography, writing for rescues, time management, social media, and more, there is something for communicators of all platforms audio, written, and visual.

For the full list of speakers, session descriptions, time, and date, please click here.

For speaker biographies and credentials, please click here. 

EDITOR APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE! Freelance editor, Robyn Conley; author and editor Lonnie, Hull DuPont; Lisa Miller, Partner and the Business and Marketing Manager at Amphorae Publishing, and Kim Campbell Thornton, content editor for Fear Free Pets will be accepting appointments on Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18 for pitches, counseling, and guidance. Appointments are first come, first serve and require prior signup. Please email CWA President, Deb Barnes at dbarnes@zeezoey.com if you are interested.
For full information on the editor’s appointments, please click here.

JOIN US AT OUR BOOK SIGNING / FUNDRAISING EVENT TO BENEFIT THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI!

From books on cats, dogs, pet mysteries, animal care, veterinary issues and breeds, science fiction, adventure and fantasy memoirs, publishing, marketing and more you’ll want to attend the Cat Writers’ Association (CWA) book signing and fundraising event to benefit the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO). Over a dozen expert authors from the pet, publishing, and marketing industries will be autographing their books at the 2019 Cat Writers’ Association 25^th anniversary conference at the Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch, St. Louis on Friday, May 17 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the West ballroom, located on the lobby level.  The public is invited and prizes from Pet Tree Houses, Cuddle Clones, PetSafe, Sturdi Products, Kong, and My Lap Pet Bed will be raffled off to raise funds for the HSMO. There will also be guest appearances by celebrity cats, Casey the Safety Cat, and Summer the Therapy Cat.

For more information, please click here. 

Thursday, May 16, 2019
NOON – 12:45 PM: Registration – Hotel Lobby
1:00 – 1:15 PM: Early-Bird Welcome – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
1:15 – 2:00 PM: Creative Cause Marketing for Rescues & More: How to Reach, Retain, Respect, and Grow Your Audience – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
2:00 – 2:15 PM: Break
2:15 – 3:00 PM: How to Write Short Pieces for Publication – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
3:00 – 3:15 PM: Break
3:15 – 4:00 PM: The Myth Of Busyness: How To Claim Time For Your Business – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
4:00 – 4:15 PM: Break
4:15 – 5:00 PM: Editing and Graphics with PicMonkey and Canva – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
5:00 – 7:00 PM: Drury Kick Back Food & Drinks / Free Time – Lobby Dining Area
7:00 – 8:00 PM: Swag Bag Stuffing – Jolliet Room

Friday, May 17, 2019
Editor Appointments all day (prior signup required) – York Room
7:00 – 8:15 AM: Registration – Hotel Lobby
7:00 – 8:30 AM: Breakfast – Lobby Dining Area
8:30 – 9:00 AM: Conference Kickoff – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
9:00 AM: Sponsor Exhibits open – Atrium
9:00 – 9:45 AM: The Science of Cats: Feline Nutrition & Hydration presentation by Dr. Kurt Venator and Dr. Janet Jackson of Purina – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
9:45 – 10:00 AM: Break
10:00 – 10:45 AM: Cross-Marketing & Self-Editing to Broaden Markets and Multiply Sales – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
10:45 – 11:00 AM: Break
11:00 – 11:45 AM: Practical Guide to Social Media for Selling Books – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
11:45 – 12:30 PM: Lunch – Lobby Dining Area
12:30 – 12:45 PM: Keynote introduction – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
12:45 – 1:30 PM: Improving the Well-Being of Cats in the Home, Shelters, and Post-Adoption featuring Conference Keynote, Dr. Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
1:30 – 2:15 PM: Networking / Visit Booths – Atrium
2:15 – 3:00 PM: How to be Successful at Self-Publishing and Own Your Career! – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
3:00 – 3:15 PM: Break
3:15 – 4:00 PM: What’s Your Story Now? Own It! Writers and Bloggers Need Their Own Story To Help Communicate & Connect With Today’s Feline Lovers in Social & Traditional Media – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
4:00 – 4:15 PM: Break
4:15 – 5:00 PM: You’re On the Air – With Arden Moore (special appearance by Pet Safety Cat Casey) – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
5:00 – 7:00 PM: Drury Kick Back Food & Drinks / Free Time – Lobby Dining Area
7:00 – 9:00 PM: Book Signing & Fundraising Event for the Humane Society of Missouri – West Ballroom Lobby Level

Saturday, May 18, 2019
Editor Appointments all day (prior signup required) – York Room
7:00 – 8:00 AM: Registration – Hotel Lobby
7:00 – 8:30 AM: Breakfast – Lobby Dining Area
8:30 – 9:15 AM: CWA membership/business meeting – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
9:00 AM: Sponsor Exhibits open – Atrium
9:15 – 9:30 AM: Break
9:30 – 10:15 AM: Feline Health Q&A with Dr. Jennifer Kasten of Tomlyn Veterinary Science – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
10:15 – 10:30 AM: Break
10:30 – 11:15 AM: Bundling for Success – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
11:15 – 11:30 AM: Break
11:30 – 12:15 PM: Picture Perfect Photos for Print, Social Media, and Publishing – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
12:15 – 1:30 PM: Lunch – Lobby Dining Area
1:30 – 2:00 PM: Network / Visit Booths – Atrium
2:00 – 2:45 PM: Communicating, Capitalizing, and Connecting in a Fictional World – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
2:45 – 3:00 PM: Break
3:00 – 3:45 PM: Understanding and Using Instagram to Build Your Personal Brand and Audience (with a special appearance by Summer the Therapy Cat) – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
3:45 – 4:00 PM: Break
4:00 – 4:45 PM: Hypnotic Marketing: How to Create Descriptions and Sales Offers That Mesmerize Readers and Sell More Books, Products, and Services – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
4:45 – 6:00 PM: Free Time
6:00 – 7:00 PM: CWA Banquet Reception – Lewis & Sacagawea Room
7:00 – 10:00 PM: CWA Dinner and Awards Presentation – Lewis & Sacagawea Room

For a printable pdf of the conference agenda, please click here.
For a printable pdf of the hotel/conference floorplan, please click here.