Book Signing

I had my first book signing!

There are moments when I feel like a "real" author, but mostly I feel like a fraud.  Yesterday's book signing was a combination of both feelings.  It was amazing.

Jax had grouped all of the horse-based authors together, so no matter what we wrote, we all had something in common.  Sitting right next to me was Jennifer Morrissey, who literally wrote the book on Fell Ponies.  I'd never even heard of a Fell pony, but I tell you what, I really want one.  They're a larger working pony and they're beautiful.  Though mostly Fell ponies (for those of you who have ever heard of them) are thought of as miniature Friesians (don't call them that, though, because they're not) due to their predominately black color, they also come in dark bay, brown, and grey.  Only about 6,000 Fells exist in the world, with most of them living in the UK.  About 400 of them live here in the US, so they're a pretty rare breed.  I was thrilled to get to learn about them from Jennifer.

Also at my table was M.J. Evans who has written a couple of very popular trail riding guides.  In fact, I think Mom and Bill own at least one of her guidebooks.  She and I compared notes on a few of the trails we had in common.  M.J. also writes children's fiction and has several books out.  Her Mist trilogy sounds fascinating to me and I delighted in hearing her tell the kids who came by just enough to get them interested in her books.

And man, oh man, what I would have given to learn to pack from Ollie Hill.  I hate packing.  Not the move-a-house-kind, but the haul-guests-into-the-mountains-kind.  Ollie thrives on it and he just lights up when he talks about pack trips. I wish I had even 1/10th the passion for pack trips that he does.

There was one author who was segregated from the rest of us, which was a shame because he's a hoot!  Let's just say that someone whose answer to the simple question, "how are you doing?" is, "only modesty prevents me from telling you" is someone you want to spend some time talking to.  His books are collections of short stories from his years working ranches and taking out trail rides.  Sound familiar?  The difference is that his are awesome and told in a way that only a grizzled old cowboy can do it.

I was nervous about being at my first book signing and not having anyone come see me, so I pestered my family and friends and they came through big time.  Not only did I have a fairly steady stream of visitors, but my Ashinator even brought me flowers!

She's a good kid.  I sometimes don't deserve her.

Jay spent the day with me and got to meet one of his four-wheeling heroes, Chuck Wells, and talk to a handful of children's book authors and illustrators.  Maybe next year, we'll both be a part of Jax's Local Author Day.

The only problem with Jax Author Day was that there were so many great books that I ended up spending more money Christmas shopping than I made.  Oops.  I'll have to plan better next year.

I Got Interviewed!

I'm over at Momma Fargo's today with an interview.

Anyone who leaves a comment over there will be entered to win a copy of the book.

Back to the Drawing Board

It turns out I did jinx myself by posting the Baby Daddy.

Audubon didn't take.  Not the first nor the second time.

She's of prime breeding age, healthy, and has been successfully AI'd with Baby Daddy in the past, so I was confident she would take.

Unfortunately, I was a bit over-confident.  I was sad when I got the message from Ida - more sad than I thought I would be, honestly.

However, it's okay.  Sometimes God just says, "not now" and that's that.

I had the equine love of my life and I know that she was one of a kind, I'm blessed to have had her in my life.  She taught me so much and helped me find strength I didn't know I had.

I always said my next horse was going to be one of Ida's or a Mustang.  Well, now that "one of Ida's" is out of the question, I'll be looking for a Mustang this spring. 

Since I don't have the set-up to adopt one directly from the BLM, I'll have to find one ready for reassignment.  There is a Mustang trainer not far from here who won the 2012 Fort Collins Extreme Mustang Make-over and placed well with both of her horses at Mustang Million last month.  She's currently working with her newest horse for Mustang Magic in January.

What she does with her horses is nothing short of astounding and I hope to get to take some lessons from her next year.

The beauty of Audubon not taking is that I can be back up on the trails a couple of years sooner than if she had taken.  Of course, I'm not overlooking the possibility that she'll take in the spring.  If she does, I'll still go forward with my plan to find a Mustang.  By the time the baby (if there is one) is ready to ride, the Mustang should be a pretty good husband horse, don't you think?

Denkai Animal Sancturary

After some internal debate, I've decided that Denkai Animal Sanctuary will be the rescue organization that will receive the proceeds from the sale of TALES FROM THE TRAIL.  They are a local organization, who will make the most of any funds donated and I have a lot of respect for them.

I know it's early to start thinking about Christmas, but contributing to Denkai via book purchase can kill two birds with one stone!  You get a great stocking stuffer AND get to help the livestock displaced by the flood.

This Cowgirl's Hat

I know the title brings to mind Chris LeDoux, and like his hat, mine has a bit of a story behind it.

I love my hat.

One night, after a successful day, the other wranglers and I were sitting around, decompressing and having some adult beverages.  We were also feeling a bit flush with tips and thought it would be a good idea to run over to Estes and do some shopping.

We loaded up into the sober wrangler's car and headed north about twenty miles.  One of the wranglers had a store she wanted to check out and it seemed like as good a place as any to spend our money.  I'd been in the market for a hat, as I have an odd-sized head.  It's slightly too big for a kid's size and too small for an adult size hat.  I figured I'd have to buy a straw hat and stretch it, even though they gave me headaches something awful.

Ashinator and I wandered around the store, poking at this and that, until we came to the hat section.  There it was: the perfect hat.  I must have been feeling extra patriotic that day, because I kept going back to the obnoxious monstrosity that someone dared to manufacture.  Eventually, with some encouragement from Ashinator and the other wranglers I plunked down a lot of money for that hat.

The next morning, thinking, "why not?" I got up, got dressed and snugged my new hat down on my head.  It fit perfectly.  For once, I had a hat on my head that wasn't slipping down into my eyes or gripping my noggin like vice grips.  Until I found my hat, I'd only worn ball caps to work.

High Noon like'ta bust a gut when he saw me come out of the bunkhouse in my new hat, "What the hell is on your head?"

"It's my new hat!" I exclaimed, caressing the brim.  "Isn't it obnoxious?" I asked grinning.

"Why?" He asked, still laughing.

"Why not?"

"It's hideous," he pointed out.

"Well," I admitted, "it might have something to do with one or two too many drinks last night."

"We can't tell the guests that, and they will definitely want to know about that hat," he proclaimed.

I shrugged my shoulders, and started pulling the horses we needed for the day, happy to finally own a hat that fit my odd-sized noggin.

The first group of guests arrived for their ride and as we were getting them mounted up, one said, "I love your hat! Where did you get it?"

Before I could even open my mouth, High Noon spoke up from the other side of the horse, "She won that last year.  Wrangler of the Year two years running.  But you can't give a cowgirl a tiara, and the sash is a bit much, so she just wears her hat.  Yessir, you guys are going to be in great hands on your ride, getting to go out with the reigning Wrangler of the Year."

Each time he told about the Wrangler of the Year for the rest of the season, the story got bigger and bigger.

I semi-retired that hat at the end of the season, but still break it out every year for the Fourth of July Parade and for special occasions.

So, while my hat story's not as cool as Chris LeDoux's at least I have one.

Water, Water, Everywhere

My heart is breaking watching all of the livestock that are being flooded out and I was trying to figure out how to help.  I don't have any property, so I can't take any in.  But I *do* have a book for sale, and I *can* donate the proceeds from that book to the people who can help the livestock who are displaced.  So, all proceeds from book sales starting tomorrow, September 15, and running through the end of the month will be donated to local large animal shelters.

Click the book in the sidebar to order.

So, please spread the word far and wide.  Let's help the critters we all love.

It's Live!

You know, I've been working on my book for a long time.  I set a date I wanted to release it and it seemed so abstract.

Even yesterday, after I had submitted it to Amazon and was awaiting approval, it felt abstract.

But when I got the email this morning that it was ready for sale?

I wanted to puke a little bit.

Writing a book, working on it, cussing at it, that's all stuff that is within my control.  Putting out for other people to read is and hopefully not hate?  That's scary.

But it's done and I'm not going to undo it.  Having said that, TALES FROM THE TRAIL is available through Amazon in Kindle format for $1.99.  If you don't have a Kindle, you can download the free Kindle app for your computer or smart phone.  To get to the Kindle version, click the cover in the side-bar.

You can also order it in print edition for $6.99.  It is currently only available through the createspace store, but will be available through Amazon in about a week.