2017 Wrap Up Post

I'm a little late posting a wrap-up (I had a book release May 2) but here are some stats for this year's Pens for Paws Auction:

🙀 4/26 $120
🙀 4/27 $397
🙀 4/28 $205
🙀 4/29 $135
🙀 4/30 $1165
For a total of = $2,022
🙀🙀🙀🙀

Hooray! The kitties are so grateful for the help--especially since I recently heard that the driveway to the sanctuary washed away this winter, and had to be replaced (to the tune of 5 figures), yikes.

I am glad I was able to help Fat Kitty City this year, but this may be the last auction. I know for sure I will be taking 2018 off, as I have several books that need my attention. Plus, it gets harder to get commitments for donated items, as we're competing with several other auctions now. I hope to keep some sort of fund or food drive going for the kitties, so fingers crossed I can make that happen.

Meanwhile, I brought back some pictures to share, taken at the sanctuary on May 5th. Enjoy! (Be sure to turn your sound on for the video, to get the full effect of what a kitty heaven the sanctuary is)

2016 Wrap Up Post!

"Th-th-th-That's all, folks!" (This is not a pig, btw. It's my piggy rescued dog, Chloe)

We did it, folks! We raised a total of $1790 for the kitties at Fat Kitty City with this year's Pens for Paws Auction!

Jeff popping his head out to say "Thank you!" Really, he's more impressed than he looks.

We had the most items on offer this year--in fact, I had to turn some donors away because I just couldn't handle any more posts by myself--but there were a handful of items that didn't get any bids at all. I did hear from one person that they'd tried to bid, but Blogger was acting up for them. I may look into alternative hosting sites for next year.

Speaking of next year, I may have to change the timing of the auction--I took on the Illustrator Coordinator position for SCBWI CA North/Central, and our regional conference usually takes place in April or May. It was crazy enough this year to have both events back-to-back, when I was just stepping into the IC role and also my other volunteer duties at the conference!

What would really help ease my mind is if I could get some commitments from volunteers who would like to help, so that next year can be even better than ever! I'd need help with arranging donations (don't worry, the agents and authors are friendly), scheduling posts, monitoring bids, closing out items, and compiling a list of donors for Fat Kitty City to send out thank you notes.

This might be a good time to mention that out of respect for privacy issues, no one is added to a mailing list for FKC--but if you'd like to stay in touch, you can find a newsletter signup and social media links here

Thanks so much to those who donated items, and those who bid. A grateful Cindy from Fat Kitty City says: "This year is our 10th Anniversary since we started back in 2006, rescuing 73 cats from Pollardville, and we've managed to save over 3000 (cats, kittens and even a fair amount of dogs and puppies, too). Amazing what a difference people can make!"

Meet the Fat Kitty City kitties!

The auction is coming up fast, and I wanted to share a few pictures of the Fat Kitty City sanctuary and its residents. (For the full album of pictures, go the Pens for Paws Auction Facebook page)

I hope you're as excited for the bidding to start as I am! See you back here on May 2nd--the first items for that day go up at 3:00 AM EST.   >^..^<  Don't forget to check out the How It Works page for details on how to bid

Wrap Up Post And Door Prize Winners!

Saturday night's total was $347.57* ! That makes the grand total for the entire auction $1697.57! To compare, we made $2,662 the first year and this was the third time we've run the auction.

Thank you so much to all the donors and bidders who have helped make this auction a much-appreciated source of much-needed funds to support Fat Kitty City!

This is a good time to mention that no donor or winning bidder is added to our mailing list (your contact is used for delivery of items and tax records only) but if you'd like to sign up for FKC's newsletters, please go to http://www.fatkittycity.org/ and fill out the "Join Our Mailing List" boxes.

And although this will likely be our last auction (it's just too much for Angelica to run by herself, especially with a debut novel coming out next year), the Pens for Paws Auction site will stay up. The Donate button will also remain live so we can accept the rest of the payments as they come in. The Pens for Paws email will also remain active for any questions. Thanks again for all your support these last few years!

And now on to the fun part: door prizes!

Door prize winners were selected by assigning all bidders for each day's items (all four offerings on each day) a number, and then using Random.org to generate a random choice.

On to the door prize winners:

From Monday, July 14:
mpike (at) leglue (dot) com ! You won a signed paperback copy of Corridor of Darkness by Patrick O'Bryon (who happens to be another Fat Kitty City volunteer)

From Tuesday, July 15:
slpitsch (at) gmail (dot) com ! You won a hardcover copy of Fair Coin by E.C. Myers

From Wednesday, July 16:
robingustini (at) gmail (dot) com ! You won a signed paperback copy of The Memory of After by Lenore Appelhans

From Thursday, July 17:
@lauriedennison ! You won a paperback copy of Copper Girly by Jennifer Allis Provost

From Friday, July 18:
@luanpitsch ! You won a paperback copy of Outsourcing Grandma Sylvia by Phil Braverman, donated by the author (another local fan of Fat Kitty City)


And that's all she wrote! The kitties say "So long and thanks for all the fish-pate!"


*(the odd change is a conversion from Australian dollars for the bid on Sacrifice--the winner is getting it shipped to a U.S. friend who will forward it, since this item was tagged as shipping only to U.S. addresses)

This Is Where the Money Goes

Fat Kitty City is the no-kill, cage-free sanctuary which benefits from the Pens for Paws Auction, and I stopped by yesterday to get some pictures of the furry friends who call FKC home. Some are adoptable--even some special needs kitties--and others will live their entire lives at the sanctuary. Many of the permanent residents are here as a result of bequests from owners who passed away and no one in the family was able or willing to take on their pet.

On to the pictures, so you can meet some of the kitties who will be getting medical care, food, and supplies from your bids! You can click on any of the pictures to bring up a filmstrip and see them bigger.

This is Bamboo: he was abandoned with another cat and became so malnourished that he developed severe skin issues. He's on the mend, but the poor guy still has some patches that need to heal on his tail, rump, and face. Thankfully, he'll get the care he needs--including affection! He loves to sit in your lap for petting and will give you little love nips if you dare to stop.

Here are part of my entourage that accompany me on walks around the sanctuary

And I think we have a new contender for fattest Fat Kitty (and it has the cutest tiny meow)

And these two kitties are taking advantage of the adoption room and its many cool places to nap. Those stairs in the corner lead to a sleeping loft too, a favorite place to hideout in winter.

And finally, some other sanctuary scenes to give you a sense of the place

Thanks for reading! And now, one of our stars will serenade you (there's no sound, it's just a picture, but be grateful I spared your ears)!

Pens for Paws July 14-19, 2014

The auction is barely a month away, and new items will (hopefully) be coming in fast and furious in the next weeks! Don't forget, you can always see the updates as they go up on the Items Featuring in 2014 Auction page.

And you can still donate items through July 7. More on what kinds of donations we're looking for can be found on the Donate page above.

Also, now that Angelica has a book coming out, her schedule is even more crammed. The past two auctions have been entirely her baby, but she'd love to have some help this time around. We're looking for folks to help with individual items: you'd be responsible for an item, from posting it all the way through the closing and winner notification/delivery.

The time commitment would require composing and scheduling the post, and then you wouldn't need to do anything again until it's time for that item to close. Then you'll need to determine the winner (based on bids and time stamp) and send them a followup email (a template will be provided). An email goes to the donor, too, to let them know to expect the pages for critique or where to send their item. That's it!

If you're interested in volunteering, please shoot us an email at pensforpawsauction (at) yahoo (dot com).

Otherwise, just watch the page for new items, and retweeting our @pensforpaws news is always appreciated! Thank you

2014 Pens for Paws Auction

It's 2014 already, yikes! And I've had a look at my schedule, with Spring pretty well full up, so this year I've decided to do the Pens for Paws Auction July 14-19.

Let's make this the best year ever for the kitties at Fat Kitty City! Over 2013, we helped even more kitties find homes, medical care, or a permanent home at our no-kill, cage-free sanctuary. Monies raised through the Pens for Paws Auction help restock the pantry and hospital.

Stay tuned for sneak peeks at items as I get commitments for them (I'll be starting to send out requests soon, to make sure the agents and authors save us a slot in their schedules), and I've created a Facebook page for the auction as well if you wish to "like" it.

Thanks so much to all the folks who have participated in the last two auctions! My wrapup post from 2013 seems to have disappeared into the aether, but the kitties are forever grateful.

If you'd like to add the button in your sidebar, copy and paste this code into the widget:
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The Auction Starts Tomorrow!

Get those bidding fingers ready, because the first four items go up tomorrow! If you haven't been following the page with the list of items, here is a sneak peek. But you'll have to tune in to the blog for when these actually post (four new items each day). The best way to keep up with the auction items is to follow @pensforpaws on Twitter or subscribe to the blog posts in the sidebar.

• Signed copy of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, with a doodle especially for Pens for Paws
• Signed copy of Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger, with bonus Steampunk Swag
• Picture book and query critique by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency
• Query, synopsis, and first chapter (up to 15 pages) critique from Pam van Hylckema Vlieg of Foreword Literary
• Query and first 10 pages critique from Sara D'Emic of Talcott Notch Literary 
• Critique of 50 pages by Natalie Lakosil of Bradford Literary Agency 
• 5 chances at a query critique by Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary
• Signed copies of the 1st three books in the Elemental Series by Brigid Kemmerer (yes, that includes an ARC of Spirit!) 
• E-copy of To Trust a Thief by Michelle McLean, plus bonus swag 
• Signed copy of Interred by Marilyn Almodovar
• Signed copy of The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman
• Books by Kelley York, plus a 20-page critique 
• Query plus first chapter critique by Sarah LaPolla of Curtis Brown Ltd 
• 2 (!) signed copies each of Jeff Somers's Trickster and Sean Ferrell's Man in the Empty Suit 
• A fabulous package with critiques and items donated by the Operation Awesome crew
• Critique and swag from author Rachele Alpine 

See you in the comments for bidding!

Giving Tuesday and Some News

Today is Giving Tuesday and I wanted to highlight an opportunity to support Fat Kitty City by featuring a few selected photos from the 2013 calendar:

Please go here for the complete calendar and ordering information.

And now for some important news!

March 12, 2013 is the tentative start date for the next Pens for Paws Auction! I've already got a few commitments for books and critiques, but I won't be contacting prospective donors until January. In the meantime, if you have any questions email me at pensforpawsauction (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Thank you and I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!

Final Teaser Tuesday Reveal Before the Auction Start!

In writing blog circles, we do a little thing called Teaser Tuesday, where we offer up short teasers from our work. I'm carrying that over to Pens for Paws by giving you a sneak peek on what kind of items are in the auction queue so far. The current inventory includes:

A Pet-Lover Pack from Stacy Mantle of PetsWeekly.com

A feral cat house from Feline Furniture

The Lucky 13s donated a hefty critique and swag bundle

Set of three handmade glycerin soaps for face, hands and body from Wild Sarsaparilla Soap Co

A 20-page critique from ALL 7 of the brilliant minds behind Operation Awesome, plus a bookmark and bracelet to celebrate Angela Townsend's forthcoming book, Amarok

Mike Mullin Swag pack, incl: signed 1st ed. of Ashfall, signed ARC of Ashen Winter, & signed Ashfall poster

 Manuscript critique (length determined by bid, w/details in auction posting) by teen writer/blogger Riv Re

Unraveling and signed bookmark by Elizabeth Norris

A Sirenz gift bag with fabulous swag and books from authors Natalie Zaman and Charlotte Bennardo

A book tie-in T-shirt from Kimberly Pauley, author of Cat Girl's Day Off

A signed ARC of Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

And an Apocolypsies bonanza (the books and critique will be posted separately) that includes signed hardcovers of:

The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

Shadows Cast by Stars by Cat Knutsson

Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist

Little Dog Lost by Monica Carnesi

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Starters by Lissa Price
and a critique from E.C. Myers

The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot

Five (!) query critiques from agent Suzie Townsend of Nancy Coffey Literary

A 35-page critique from YA author, Cristin Terrill

A 30-page critique from Pam van Hylckama Vlieg,  associate agent at the Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency

Two handmade necklaces from Robyn Chausse

A signed ARC of Hushed by Kelley York (UPDATE: Kelley has also added a critique: the first 25 pages and a query. She would be great for a YA contemporary crit!)

A signed hardcover copy of Tankborn by Karen Sandler

Dichroic glass jewelry (several items spread out over the auction) by John Groth Glass

A first-chapter critique by author Linda Joy Singleton, plus a signed copy of her latest book, Buried: A Goth Girl Mystery

A 12 by 16 print on canvas of one of Angelica R. Jackson's photos or digital paintings (maybe you want one of the paintings featured in the Fat Kitty City calendars? or a print from the haunted Preston Castle?)

A 100-page critique by agent Natalie Lakosil of Bradford Literary Agency

Books by Adam Rex, including a bonus swag item

Signed books by Julia Karr

A 3-pack of First Second books

Signed set of early reader books by Lori Mortensen

A pair of signed cozy mysteries by Gayle Trent and Amanda Lee

A critique by Janice Hardy of The Other Side (I'm always learning new things from her blog)

A signed book and swag set from Rachel Allen Dillon

And we've had offers of additional signed books and ARCs, so there may be more surprises in store for the auction days! Special note: The items will not necessarily be posted in this order, so the best way to keep an eye out for an item you want is to follow this blog, or @PensforPaws over on Twitter.

Of course, we still need more items, so keep them coming! The donation form now has a box for a photo link.

(image source)

Teaser Tuesday for April 24, 2012

In writing blog circles, we do a little thing called Teaser Tuesday, where we offer up short teasers from our work. I'm carrying that over to Pens for Paws by giving you a sneak peek on what kind of items are in the auction queue so far. We got a few donations over the weekend, so the current inventory includes:

Two handmade necklaces from Robyn Chausse

A signed ARC of Hushed by Kelley York (UPDATE: Kelley has also added a critique: the first 25 pages and a query. She would be great for a YA contemporary crit!)

A signed hardcover copy of Tankborn by Karen Sandler

Dichroic glass jewelry (several items spread out over the auction) by John Groth Glass

A first-chapter critique by author Linda Joy Singleton, plus a signed copy of her latest book, Buried: A Goth Girl Mystery

A 12 by 16 print on canvas of one of Angelica R. Jackson's photos or digital paintings (maybe you want one of the paintings featured in the Fat Kitty City calendars? or a print from the haunted Preston Castle?)

A 100-page critique by agent Natalie Lakosil of Bradford Literary Agency

Books by Adam Rex, including a bonus swag item

Signed books by Julia Karr

A 3-pack of First Second books

Signed set of early reader books by Lori Mortensen

A pair of signed cozy mysteries by Gayle Trent and Amanda Lee

A critique by Janice Hardy of The Other Side (I'm always learning new things from her blog)

A signed book and swag set from Rachel Allen Dillon

And we've had offers of handmade necklaces and more signed books, so stay tuned!

Of course, we still need more items, so keep them coming! The donation form now has a box for a photo link.

(image source)

Welcome to Pens for Paws!

Pens for Paws is an online auction with writers, artists, and others from the publishing community to raise funds for Fat Kitty City, a no-kill, cage-free cat sanctuary in El Dorado Hills that also rescues dogs (as foster homes allow). See the About Fat Kitty City page above for more information.

The auction will go live on May 7 and items will go up through the 13th. Bidding on each item will be in the comments and will be open for 3 days. Winning bidder's payment should be made within one week of notification of winning bid, through the Fat Kitty City PayPal button in our sidebar. If you'd like to donate funds rather than an item, our PayPal button in the sidebar works for that too.

In the meantime, we need your auction items! If you'd like to donate an item for auction but are not sure what's a good fit, consider these items:

*Books and swag: signed editions, advanced reader's copies, collections of print or ebooks, and swag like bookmarks, tote bags, etc.

*Artwork: prints or custom artwork, or a custom avatar or portrait for use on a website or blog, jewelry, crochet and knitwork

*Critiques for artists or writers, or editorial services

*Your item doesn't need to be cat- or pet-oriented; it's all good!

These are just some ideas from items that have appeared in other fundraising auctions--maybe you have your own ideas! Contact us through the form on the Donate Items for the Auction page above, or email us at PensforPawsAuction at yahoo dot com.

While we're waiting for the donations to come in, we'll be posting profiles of some of our Fat Kitty City residents, so you can get to know the kitties that the auction will benefit. Thank you!

Make sure to follow @PensforPaws for updates!