We had a wonderful party for the Big Book--aka WESTMINSTER, VT., 1735-2000; TOWNSHIP NUMBER ONE. We enjoyed some Cava, drank toasts, and sold tons of books. I am not a mother, but I feel about that book the way I hear one does after childbirth. I love it but I'm a little dazed and Read More
THIS IS WHAT AN EQUESTRIAN LOOKS LIKE
Keeping Barney
August 1, 2012
I'm thinking about Keeping Barney, my first book, and suddenly the one I'm hearing about from fans--young women now, who say it was an influential book for them. It was a long time ago for me, that book. I wrote it during my junior year at Wellesley, while taking a semester off and working Read More
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Who's Confused, Me or the Horse?
July 24, 2012
Trying to teach Robin to leg yield. To the right, no problem. To the left, not possible. I read my books (Mary Wanless, Sally Swift, everyone!), worked on my position, agonized. I also, in the barn, asked her to sidestep away from my hand on both sides. Click, treat, nicker. She was definitely less Read More
Westminster, Vermont, 1735-2000
July 13, 2012
The Big Book, as it's long been called in Westminster Historical Society circles, is finally in our hands, and it is so beautiful. I feel quite detached from it; it looks like a lot of work to me, and I'm impressed with the author. Strange! I'm very aware of its imperfections, and the number Read More
Chico's Challenge is here at last!
July 10, 2012
It's been a long haul, but CHICO'S CHALLENGE, my middle-grade novel about a young Quarter Horse, is finally out as a paperback and a model and book set. Chico was raised on a suburban ranchette; when he gets a new owner and moves out to the range, he's mystified and frightened by those strange Read More
Bramble and Robin, Maggie and Jessie: Horses Meet Girls
June 29, 2012
When I began BRAMBLE AND MAGGIE, now the first in a three-book series, I was just getting to know my new horse Robin. She most definitely had her "little ways." An unbroken three-year-old, Robin "didn't think poorly of herself," in the words of Cheryl Rivers, who bred her. I was heartbroken at losing Atherton, Read More
So Write About Robin
June 25, 2012
I have finished all my projects, on time, under budget, without going nuts. Now I have no projects. NOW I'm going nuts!
So I'm thinking about a new novel, not wanting to start because I don't know enough yet. But I often used to start a novel knowing only the first sentence, and I Read More
So I'm thinking about a new novel, not wanting to start because I don't know enough yet. But I often used to start a novel knowing only the first sentence, and I Read More
Click for Clarity
June 21, 2012
Round penning. I'll admit that I've never done it, and don't get it, and am not attracted. Obviously lots of people use it and have success. And I've seen Robin do it to Zeke, working him back and forth along the fence-line like an enormous calf until (her version) she chases him up the lane.
But I don't want to be another horse to my horse, and I don't want to be in a predator-prey relationship. I want to reach her mind, more the way I would with another human. I want to elevate the discussion. Clicker training, and clicker thinking, allows me to do this when I do it well, and I like having a horse who chuckles occasionally when she gets her cue. If I were better, sharper, more consistent, she'd be a better-behaved horse, but I'm refining my skills, and the conversation keeps getting more interesting. Read More
But I don't want to be another horse to my horse, and I don't want to be in a predator-prey relationship. I want to reach her mind, more the way I would with another human. I want to elevate the discussion. Clicker training, and clicker thinking, allows me to do this when I do it well, and I like having a horse who chuckles occasionally when she gets her cue. If I were better, sharper, more consistent, she'd be a better-behaved horse, but I'm refining my skills, and the conversation keeps getting more interesting. Read More
Better Blogger
June 19, 2012
I'm back in two weeks, not two years. I actually noticed that I never actually posted my last blog entry. I corrected the error. I'm improving. I deserve chocolate.
Wicked Bad Blogger!
June 2, 2012
I'm shocked to see how long it's been since I posted anything on this so-called blog. Excuses? I've written 5 books in this period, and trained my beautiful Robin to be a fun riding horse. We took our first canter strides two days ago!
Bramble and Maggie is out, and going back to print after only two months, and I just finished the third book in the series. And the big Westminster history will be out soon.
What will I do with all my free time? Just possibly, I may post on my blog occasionally. Or maybe not. We'll have to see.
Thanks to all of you who have said nice things about my stories. You made my day! What I love best about being a writer (besides writing, and getting to take afternoon naps, and having time for horses) is knowing that somewhere, people I will never meet get several hours of pleasurable experience with a book of mine. What you make of it I will never know, but it's a thrill to think of you in your window seats, beanbag chairs or sleeping bags. Thanks for writing! Read More
Bramble and Maggie is out, and going back to print after only two months, and I just finished the third book in the series. And the big Westminster history will be out soon.
What will I do with all my free time? Just possibly, I may post on my blog occasionally. Or maybe not. We'll have to see.
Thanks to all of you who have said nice things about my stories. You made my day! What I love best about being a writer (besides writing, and getting to take afternoon naps, and having time for horses) is knowing that somewhere, people I will never meet get several hours of pleasurable experience with a book of mine. What you make of it I will never know, but it's a thrill to think of you in your window seats, beanbag chairs or sleeping bags. Thanks for writing! Read More