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Heidi Bender on Muck Rack

Heidi Bender

(She/Her)
Michigan
As seen in: MSN, Flipboard, EIN News, Wealth of Geeks, Killeen Daily Herald, The Salem News (Salem, MA), Denton Record-Chronicle, Enid News and Eagle, Washington Times-Herald, EIN Presswire and
Heidi Bender is a writer, author, and cat lady. AP Newswire Byline @tonsofthanks and @thejoyofcats

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Heidi Bender’s Biography

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Heidi Bender is a writer and author who founded Tons of Thanks, a website that helps people write thank-you messages. She is also a cat lady who writes about cats on her website, The Joy of Cats.

Heidi Bender's first book, A Modern Guide to Writing Thank-You Notes, was published in 2016.

The book is a reference guide to teach people how to write a thank-you note. The book provides guidance and examples for common situations, such as baby showers, weddings, and graduations.

Examples are also pro…

Heidi Bender’s Journalist Portfolio

7 Teachers Share How They Actually Want To Be Thanked on Teacher Appreciation Day | Wealth of Gee...

7 Teachers Share How They Actually Want To Be Thanked on Teacher Appreciation Day | Wealth of Gee...

What do teachers want this year on Teacher Appreciation Day? I asked my teacher friends, and they didn't say …

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61 Pastor Appreciation Messages and Thank You Note Examples

61 Pastor Appreciation Messages and Thank You Note Examples

Pastors are often underappreciated. Don't believe the old joke that pastors only work one hour a week on Sund…

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6 Random Cat Lady Thoughts

6 Random Cat Lady Thoughts

As a cat lady living with seven indoor cats and caring for two outdoor cats, sometimes I have random thoughts…

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35 Thank You So Much Alternatives

35 Thank You So Much Alternatives

Do you feel you've been overusing "thank you so much"? Are you wondering what's another way to say thank you …

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How To Write A Good Thank You Note

How To Write A Good Thank You Note

Writing thank-you note notes can be rewarding and an excellent way to express gratitude! Most people are happ…

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14 Creative Ways to Make Walking Actually Feel Fun

14 Creative Ways to Make Walking Actually Feel Fun

Here are some fun ways to change up your walking routine.

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Articles

Why We Should Keep Sending Handwritten Notes

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By Heidi Bender
| Tons of Thanks
Getting anything that is handwritten in the mail is rare. I am talking about actually handwritten. Sometimes a business will send a thank-you note that looks handwritten, but was actually written by a robot pen. And once you realize that, it can feel like another piece of junk mail. Writing and mailing notes takes more effort than sending a digital message; however, the recipient of the card will likely feel delighted to receive something in the mail that’s not a bill or an advertisement.
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2025 Year End Cat Letter

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By Heidi Bender
| The Joy of Cats
Hello Friends, 2025 was a good year overall for our cats. After losing two cats in 2024, we were very happy to have no losses in 2025. Violet has had some health struggles, and the vet thinks she has either irritable bowel syndrome or cancer. We switched the indoor cats to prescription food, which helped stabilize Violet’s condition. Nacho continues to have an unknown allergy that causes her to lick her skin excessively at times. Taco, Charlotte, and Jake, our other indoor cats, continue to do well.
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The Call No Cat Lady Wants to Get

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By Heidi Bender
| The Joy of Cats
I recently received a call from a friend of a friend about a cat. This person asked me to rescue her cat. That part was okay. The challenging part was when she shared that she would “send the cat to Heaven” if she was unable to rehome it by an upcoming date, when she will be away for 4 months. Even if this was not the caller’s intention, it still feels like emotional blackmail. It’s like saying, “Take my cat or it’s going to die.” No one wants to get random calls like this.
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Interview

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Have you ever used a typewriter?

Yes. I learned how to type on a typewriter.

How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?

Email

What tools and software do you use to do your job?

Grammarly, Canva, WordPress