Niki Anderson ~ Author & Speaker

more...Welcome

Before writing What My Cat Has Taught Me About Life, I freelanced for the Christian market on a variety of topics for 12 years. Though a lifelong cat lover and owner, I had never written on the subject of cats. One day an editor asked me if I “happened to like cats.” The conversation quickly led to a discussion about my beloved kitties and ended with an assignment to write a collection of true cat stories.

My motive for writing comes from a desire to reveal the nature and character of God through non-fiction How-Tos, personal experience anecdotes, and Bible passages. The quotation on my author biography best expresses my enthusiasm—“I simply delight in sharing the truths that are vital in my own life.”

A balance of inspiring themes in my new compilation of whiskered lore, titled Whiskers, Wit, and Wisdom, were drawn from experiences as a wife of 35 years, mother of two, bookkeeper, short-term missionary in Africa, secretary to three pastors, and from a daily a pursuit of God. I teach at women’s events, lead and write Bible studies, present workshops at writers’ conferences and taught writing at Spokane Falls Community College for over 10 years.

On a Purr-sonal Note

You might guess, I grew up in a family of cat lovers. My grandmother's screwtail cat was featured in a newspaper article after the prized kitty disappeared, and later returned in the arms of the woman who read Gramma's ad for her "missing cat." My mother gained my father's white cat, Crummy, when she married my father. And one of the first gifts I received from my husband was Margo, the stray kitten he brought home from work.

My inherited attraction for cats is cat-ching, you could say. My adult children consider a house without a cat like a home without a soul. My daughter’s two cats include Calvin, a three-legged red tabby, and Maddie, a black-striped American shorthair. My son and his wife share their bed with Mama Cat, an aging lady of numerous litters, and with a handsome Russian Blue named Raco. My brother, aunts, nephew, and even shirt-tail relations keep daily company with their purr-sonable feline residents.

Preachers also speckle my family tree. Firebrands for Christ, they imparted the gospel message of God’s love on the hearts of us who followed. My mother, a four-foot-eleven bundle of fun and faith, painted a warm image of God on my youthful mind. At sixteen, I made my own serious commitment to Jesus and began a passionate pursuit of Him that led to an African mission, to years of Bible teaching, and eventually, to a career of writing. Best of all, however, has been the romance of doing life with God.

With my love for God and affection for cats, I'm not surprised that three of my books are true cat stories that reveal the nature of God and encourage readers to make His acquaintance.

On a Professional Note

Niki attended Northwest Nazarene College, Living Waters Bible Institute and Elim Bible Institute. She teaches at writers' conferences across the country and taught writing courses at Spokane Community College for 12 years.

Her occupations have ranged from wife, mother, bookkeeper, missionary in Kenya, and secretary to three pastors. She speaks at women's events, garden clubs, retreats, and grade schools.

Niki's love of teaching the Bible led to her writing career. "I didn't begin writing because I longed to be an author. I longed to write for the purpose of sharing the things God taught me."

Her first three books, What My Cat Has Taught Me About Life, Inspur-r-rational Stories For Cat Lovers and What I Learned From God While Gardening, earned the SILVER ANGEL AWARD, a recognition granted for works that excel in promoting ethical and moral excellence.

Niki has been interviewed on radio stations nationwide and appeared on the national TV cable network program, FOX Pet News.

Her other publication credits include numerous articles, devotionals, personality profiles, and book contributions. She is a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association and the Cat Writers Association.

Her pleasures include Myles, her orange tabby cat, reading, antique collecting, teapots and High Tea, gardening, friends, a five-star family and the backseat of her husband's Harley-Davidson motorbike!