Who Are the Cat Writers’ Association: Karen G. Anderson

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 Karen G. Anderson. Karen is a Seattle-based writer and editor involved in a wide range of publishing projects in print and online. She’s written extensively for Rover.com and the Seattle Times Home section but currently focuses on writing, editing, and publishing short fiction. She’s had cats all her life, including the near-legendary Mr. Tippy, whose online story won a 2024 Muse Medallion for entertainment. Her partner, Tom Whitmore, is a dealer in rare and collectible books and art prints, as well as a massage therapist. Karen and Tom collect artwork, primarily etchings of cats.

Part 1:

About My Craft:

After many years as a journalist and a corporate communications person, I changed course and began writing short stories. I’ve been published in a number of magazines, anthologies, and podcasts, and recently began editing anthologies of other folks’ work. 

How Cats Inspire My Creativity:

Cats figured prominently in my work for the Rover.com blog. My cats tested all sorts of products for the blog, from treats to harnesses to DNA tests. My cats have recently begun appearing in my fiction. Mabel, a wonderful Bombay we lost to cancer, inspired a story about a young, inexperienced witch who is rescued by her highly competent cat. That story is scheduled to appear next in an anthology later this year. I’m currently working on a novel that involves Toby, a magnificent black cat we recently lost, also to cancer. In the novel, he’s immortal. Cats make wonderful characters (and narrators) in fiction because they are so observant and opinionated.

What I Enjoy About Belonging to CWA:

I like finding out about other CWA members. The organization has a tremendous variety in membership, from mystery writers to journalists to academics. I love reading about cats as well as writing about them.

Part 2:

Mollie: What crosses your mind when someone tells you they don’t like cats?

I confess, I immediately think of cats I’m sure they would like, such as our delightful neighborhood cat, Max. There’s a type of cat that can charm even people who don’t like cats. We’ve had folks who dislike (or fear) cats tell us they are charmed by our cheery little one-eyed cat, Anne Bonny.

I figure that people who don’t like cats probably had a run-in with a difficult cat. I’ve had difficult cats, such as needy ones that made pests out of themselves, or obnoxious ones that chased other animals. I love them, but I can understand how challenging cats give cats a bad reputation.

Mollie: Tell us a true cat story.

Karen: I had a Himalayan Abyssinian who used to sneak into my next-door neighbor’s house and steal small objects. On my birthday, I woke up and discovered a small stuffed animal on my pillow. It was a mouse, holding a tiny card that said, “Happy Birthday.” The cat had stolen it from my neighbor’s desk and brought it to me. The cat is long gone, and the neighbor and I have both relocated, but we still send each other birthday greetings!

Mollie: Do you sing to cats? If so, what songs do you sing?

Karen: Great question! When I am calling Mr. Tippy, who is allowed out during the day, I sing his name to the tune of The Hallelujah Chorus.

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

Karen: I am sitting on a sofa in our basement TV room typing on a laptop. Freeze, one of our gigantic Oriental shorthair kittens, is sleeping with his head on my left hand. The bookcase across the room has an entire shelf filled with cat-themed books. There is a stuffed cat from the anime The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today on the back of the sofa.

Mollie: Do your cats get along with each other?

Karen: Usually, but one of the new Oriental shorthair kittens, Chase, insists on chasing Anne Bonny (the one-eyed cat). 

Mollie: Have you ever seen a ghost cat?

Karen: After our exquisite Bombay, Mabel, died of cancer, her ghost visited me several times.

Mollie: What’s the craziest thing your cat’s ever done?

Karen: Definitely the Mr. Tippy escapade, which included the cat wrapping himself around the steering column inside our car dashboard, followed immediately by him hiding in our ceiling for 3-1/2 weeks. 

Please give us the names and short descriptions of your cats.

Tinkerbell, 18 – a tiny Calico Manx who is the queen bee of our household.

Mr. Tippy, 17 – a rangy male Calico (yes, I know that’s rare), who has absolutely no common sense whatsoever. His external ears had to be trimmed down because of skin cancer, so his look is…unique.

Anne Bonny, almost 2 – a dilute Calico who flagged down a car on a rural highway at five weeks of age, got rescued, but lost her right eye to an infection. She’s a charming but feisty little gal.

Chase, 9 months – a gigantic Oriental shorthair mix who is very elegant but a bit of an jerk.

Freeze, 9 months – a slightly less gigantic Oriental shorthair mix, who is smart and good-natured. He’s Chase’s brother, likely the runt of their litter.

You can find Karen G. Anderson online at http://writerway.com/about

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