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Cathy Alter

Cathy Alter
Photo Credit: Marissa Rauch

Cathy Alter

Cathy Alter is a Washington, D.C.-based writer whose articles and essays have appeared in The Washington Post, Washingtonian, Self, Fitness, and McSweeney's. Her first book, Virgin Territory: Stories from the Road to Womanhood, was released in 2004.

Author Revealed:
Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. Avoid making excuses or standing in long lines.
Learn more about Cathy Alter
My life in 8 words: "Saved my life with women's magazines. Thanks, Cosmo!"
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    1. Shop Around with Cathy Alter
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FIND OUT WHAT S&S AUTHORS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW
Up For Renewal is now available in Trade Paperback
Jul 28, 2009
Up For Renewal will be released on July 28, 2009 in Trade Paperback
Jul 28, 2009
Up For Renewal is now available in Trade Paperback
Jul 28, 2009
Brightcove:
Shop Around with Cathy Alter
Jun 27, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
May 14, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What’s your greatest flaw?
May 14, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What’s your best quality?
May 14, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
Who is your favorite fictional hero?
May 14, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
May 14, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What trait is most noticeable about you?
May 14, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What is your greatest achievement?
May 14, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
With whom in history do you most identify?
May 14, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What are your most overused words or phrases?
May 14, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What do you regret most?
May 14, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
Which living person do you most admire?
May 14, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What is your motto or maxim?
May 14, 2009

Cathy Alter Revealed

Q. What is your motto or maxim? A. Avoid making excuses or standing in long lines. Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you? A. Loyalty, humor, compassion. Q. What is your greatest achievement? A. Some days I feel like my greatest achievement is just remembering to put on pants before leaving the house. But, on a larger scale, I think writing my book was pretty huge. There were many days when I just wanted to chuck it all and get a job at Queen Nails. Q. What are your most overused words or phrases? A. I swear like a sailor, so I'm afraid my most overused word rhymes with 'duck." Interestingly enough, my other most overused phrase is 'I love you,' which I enjoy saying almost as much as the word that rhymes with duck. Q. What is your biggest pet peeve? A. Slow walkers! Hurry up, people! Learn more about Cathy Alter

Authors on the Web

Q&A: Jud Ashman Previews The Gaithersburg Book Festival
Gaithersburg Patch, May 14, 2012
...We have an amazing cast of comedic authors, including: Henry Alford (“Would It Kill You to Stop That”), Cathy Alter (“Wedding Cake for Breakfast”), Larry Doyle (writer for the Simpsons, and author of “I Love You Beth Cooper” and...
BBAW 2011: Readers
Sophisticated Dorkiness, September 15, 2011
...excited about this book and pointed me to it when it was on sale. Up for Renewal  by Cathy Alter — Meg ( Write, Meg! ) recommended this one after I wrote a post about how much I love stunt nonfiction. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin —...
BAND July Discussion: What’s Your Favorite Type of Nonfiction?
Sophisticated Dorkiness, July 12, 2011
...doesn’t seem like fun. One recent stunt memoir I was disappointed with was  Up for Renewal  by Cathy Alter. In the book, Alter spends a year following the advice she gets from women’s magazines, ranging from everything to cooking to organization,...
The Sunday Salon: Vacations and Injuries
Sophisticated Dorkiness, July 10, 2011
...terrible hostess because I spent so much time reading. While up there I finished: Up for Renewal  by Cathy Alter , a “year in the life” memoir about a woman who spends 365 days following all the advice she reads in women’s magazines. While I...
Books for My Beach Bag
Sophisticated Dorkiness, June 29, 2011
...and murder on vacation? Up for Renewal: What Magazines Taught Me about Love, Sex, and Starting Over by Cathy Alter because Meg ( Write Meg! ) recommended it as a great example of a “change your life in a year” memoir, which I am hopelessly addicted...