Anne Leighton’s PAWS FOR THOUGHT

Above: Anne Leighton with her cat Emmett

Anne Leighton has been called “the DaVinci of media,” because she’s been involved in all media and believes that artists can work to higher levels in their careers by creating their own opportunities. And like the well-rounded Renaissance man, she also believes that “the tiniest feline is a masterpiece.”

Anne took a communicator’s point of view when creating her latest book, UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR CAT IS THINKING for Rockwell Press, UK, due in Spring, 2007. “The goal of the book is have regular people get along well with their cats, find ways to please their favorite animals, and that comes through understanding what they want.”

Along with illustrations by Stephanie Piro, UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR CAT IS THINKING offers a lifetime’s worth of wisdom on how Anne has been able to make friends with new cats, plus help her 21 cats enjoy their lives together.

Anne has had cats all her life, and they–plus her dog–are pampered with regular vet visits, litter box cleanings, and special attention.

They have inspired a variety of works over the years, including articles for CATFANCY and NEW YORK TAILS magazines, articles in local publications including THE BRONX JOURNAL, and a variety of unpublished manuscripts and book proposals, including a 100 page term paper,The Purrr-fect God for a Lehman college class she took in the spring of 2003, called Anthropology of Science, Religion, the Supernatural. She also has a book called THE LUCKIEST CATS IN THE BRONX that she collaborated with her late Number One Cat Elvis.

She began a freelance writing career in 1975, and sold her first play, Reach for the Sun to Poets Repertory Theater of Long Island in 1976. In 1977 she found a part-time job at WBUZ, a country station in Fredonia, NY. She also worked at Fredonia State’s am & fm stations (WCVF). Before she could graduate, in 1980 she found a full-time job, as the midday on-air personality at WZIR – Niagara Falls, Buffalo, NY. Then she worked at WRNW – Briarcliff Manor. Through the years she’s helped out on Westchester-area public stations, WDFH – Dobbs Ferry, WARY – Westchester Community College, and WFUV – Fordham University in the Bronx. These days she does fill-in shows at WDFH; at least once a show Anne finds a way to bring animals into her on-air conversation.

She is also involved with writing for The Poor Animals of St. Francis and other New York area spay/neuter groups. Outside of her creative cat world, Anne’s first book, Using Your Art & The Media to Comfort People will be released on Free to Run books in 2004. These days she handles the publicity column for Inside Connection, a musicians magazine. She served as the Managing Editor for Hit Parader magazine from 1986 through 1994, created publications Action Movie Heroes, Power Heroes and Villains, and contributed to a variety of publications from the music, fitness and martial arts worlds.

Anne also is an active publicist and her clients all love animals. This includes Grand Funk Railroad and Jethro Tull — both artists raised over $100,000 in 2003 for animal charities — SAFE HARBOR SANCTUARY in Florida, BEST FRIENDS SOCIETY in Utah, and more listed as links here. Tower of Power’s Doc Kupka has two cats, and Jay and the Americans’ Marty Sanders is a snake rescuer!