If I could credit a single book for my current work-in-progress, the Dreams of Yesterday series, it would be the Western Horseman Book called “Arabian Legends.” Published in 1999, the paperback book features 24 of the most successful and legendary Arabian mares and stallions. I have worn down my copy to the bare threads of the binding. I have spent hours pouring over this book and the photos of horses from in the 30s to the 90s. There are pen marks, pencil marks, highlighter marks, bent pages, sticky notes and everything in between. A hybrid of my two loves: horses and history, this book has followed me everywhere – even...
What I’m reading
I’m a sucker for good historicals… “Love Thine Enemy” presents memorable characters with page-turning action. Set in Florida during the American Revolution, author Louise M. Gouge puts the reader in the town through strong description and realistic period dialogue. The main characters, Rachel Folger and Frederick Moberly are genuine with true chemistry. Rachel has a heart for helping others among other endearing qualities that instantly connects to the reader. Frederick is the hero we all love, struggling to do right while society looks down upon him. I was sucked into the book right away and unable to put it down until I finished! Gouge has a real way with her...
My horse, the super model
You have seen the pictures all over my home page and my “about me” page – the little grey horse is my Arabian gelding, Grunnion. While the camera here paints him in a nice light, he hasn’t always been the most eye-catching equine. In fact, we call him a “donkey.” But this eight-year-old has a heart of gold and I have owned him since he was three and known him since he was born. My friends, Christopher and Ashlee Murr (www.murrphotos.com), wanted to do a photo shoot with a horse, so I volunteered my ugly duckling, hoping a good bath would fix him right up. Well, he did look beautiful and we had...
Beyond the hairspray…
This week, the 141st Clark County Fair takes over the small town of Ridgefield, Wash., and erupts into a 10-day flurry of wild rides, cotton candy, elephant ears, dozens of vendors, animals of all shapes and sizes, demolition derby and monster trucks. All the good, traditional fair activities aside, the Clark County Fair lands near to my heart. Apart from having shown horses at the fairgrounds for most of my life, I represented the fair across the Pacific Northwest in 2004. I was a Clark County Fair Court Princess. Yes, I know what you are thinking. Oh. One of those girls. Well, I was. However, the world of rodeo queens...
My first interview…
Not job interview, not a radio interview. No, the first time I interviewed someone else. I was thirteen. My family and I journeyed to La Pine, Oregon, to visit my grandparents. I already took up my insatiable habit of writing all the time, so I carried a little notebook with me and worked on my stories, drafting new ideas for novels and reworking the novel I had already completed. My grandparents took us down the road to a little house and a huge garage. A garage bigger than my horse’s barn twice over. Inside there was a collection of old cars and World War II memorabilia. The owner, a World...