The business of being a co-author with Cat Michaels

The TufFish Show is for writers who want to get their first, next or current book out into the world, and this week we welcomed the talented award winning author Cat Michaels!

Cat and I talked about the business of being an author, especially as you consider co-authoring a book, and honoring your path that supports your message with creativity and service. She also shared some valuable tips for working with beta readers.

Our guest is award-winning author Cat Michaels who started writing stories in fourth grade and hasn’t stopped since.

Her books for young and reluctant readers have been recognized for excellence in writing children’s literature with three Purple Dragonfly Awards, a first-place honor from the Children’s Literary Classics Book Awards, and a silver medal by the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards. Her last chapter book, Sweet T and the Turtle Team, also won the Wind Dancer Films competition and was considered for adaptation to movies or TV.

Cat earned an M.S. degree in special education from the University of Kansas and held her first teaching positions near Kansas City, supporting children with learning disabilities. After a career in the classroom, she studied for a certificate in organizational development from National Training Labs and managed communications and training programs for a global high-tech firm in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. Before becoming an authorpreneur in 2013, Cat’s final 9-5 role brought her professional life full circle as a writing coach at a community college.

Cat and her family live outside Raleigh, North Carolina, where she creates a fairy garden for neighborhood children, enjoys photography, works out most days, and writes.

Be sure to check out Cat's tips when an author asks you to be a beta reader