Who Are the Cat Writers’ Association: Ellen M. Laura

by Mollie Hunt

Who are the Cat Writers’ Association? is a series of interviews with CWA members, but not your usual who, what, and where discussion. I like to ask a different set of questions and am always amazed by the answers. I hope you are too.

Our guest today on Who are the Cat Writers’ Association? is Ellen M. Laura, a published author and longtime workshop leader whose work bridges creativity, spirituality, and personal transformation. Over the years, she has written magazine columns, novels, and online content—and now she’s joyfully merging feline inspiration with emerging technologies in her upcoming books. Ellen lives in Lake Las Vegas with Empress Bella Rose, her royal muse and occasional critic.

Part 1:

About My Craft:

My formal writing journey began in the 1990s, when I was hired to write “Body & Soul,” a column for Nevada Woman magazine, focusing on health, creativity, and spirituality. In 2022, I joined Amazon’s Vella platform, publishing 13 serialized books in romance, fantasy, and spiritual fiction—including PussyCat Messages, a whimsical feline fantasy.

I’m currently revising PussyCat Messages with plans to publish it by fall. 

After Vella closed, I launched BLOSSOM, a project for creatives seeking renewal after loss. I also created the website MamaWeArePretty.com to honor my beloved cat, Princess Tonkin, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge—her spirit still lingers in every page I write.

And yes—my current Empress, Bella Rose, has made it clear that her story must be next.

How Cats Inspire My Creativity:

Their beauty, mystery, and ridiculous antics are pure muse energy. Cats live in poetry—they move like metaphors and nap like philosophers. They remind me to be curious, selective, and unapologetically original.

What I Enjoy About Belonging to CWA:

After following the group on Facebook for over two years, I’m thrilled to be officially part of the Cat Writers’ Association. I’m looking forward to connecting with like-minded authors, learning from others, and celebrating the feline-human bond through words.

Part 2:

Mollie: What is your favorite cat movie and why?

I have to share two favorites—each unforgettable in its own way.

First, Unleashed—a whimsical and heart-healing story about a heartbroken woman whose cat and dog magically reincarnate as humans to help her rediscover love and trust. The cat, Diego, is portrayed with uncanny feline precision—aloof, elegant, emotionally complex, and just a touch maddening. It’s one of the few films that truly gets cat energy.

And then there’s Flow, a hauntingly beautiful animated film that needs no dialogue to express the soul of a cat. It follows a solitary feline navigating a flooded world—learning, step by tender step, to connect, adapt, and trust. Flow is a quiet masterpiece that speaks to every cat (and human) who’s ever struggled to open their heart again.

Mollie: Where are you sitting right now? From where you are, how many cat-themed objects can you see? How many cats?

I’m seated in my writing chair, laptop balanced, tea nearby, and one very real Empress—Bella Rose—lounging like royalty beside me. Around the room, it’s clear who truly rules this realm.

I can see a dignified cat statue on the fireplace mantle, Bella’s grand cat castle in the corner (fully staffed, of course), three well-used scratching posts, her sun-drenched lookout bed by the patio door, a basket of grooming tools, and a generous sprinkling of toys she pretends not to care about until 3 a.m.

So: one live cat, at least seven visible signs of feline dominion, and one human, graciously permitted to stay.

Mollie: Does cat love run in your family?

Absolutely. I grew up in a home shared with one dog and two cats, and my father’s grocery store had its own resident feline supervisor. After he passed, my mother kept two beloved cats—Sugar and Karem (named by my brother after the basketball player). My siblings have always had cats, and my extended soul-family does too.

At 76, I’ve been blessed by the presence of many cats—each with their own distinct magic. The most I’ve had at one time was three, but I’ve never been without at least one. Some purred beside me through heartbreak, others through creative breakthroughs. Cat love doesn’t just run in my family—it reincarnates, changes names, changes fur, and always finds its way home.

You can find Ellen M. Laura online at MamaWeArePretty.com

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