Are you looking for a heroine? I was given the book Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls, what a story! I owe my friend a huge thanks. I love a good story, adding horses, is even better. This novel is based on the life of the author’s grandmother. Her lifetime tumbled from the ranch, horse breaker, schoolteacher, pilot, wife, and parent. This dynamo of a woman lived a real life that is the stuff legends are made of. The author calls it a novel as she needed to fill in detail that was not left in the treasure of family stories.

I love historical family stories. That is what made this book such a delight to read. The author Jeannette Walls has taken the oral history of her grandmother’s life and made us never forget it. I highly recommend this book to the reader who loves historical stories, the West, and a powerful woman.

The post Half Broke Horses, a Book Review appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

By Jodi Stuber and Jennifer Marshall Bleakley

A poignant true story of an inspired partnership between Jodi Stuber and her horse Solomon has rippled across a broad community. What can rescue horses do for people who need rescue? Jodi answers that through her prayerful narrative of a life enriched through deep relationships with horses. Can a battered horse help a man who suffers PTSD from military duty, under the direction of Jodi and her HopeWell Center the answer is yes! The book covers an expanse of years and closes with photos that capture the spirit of HopeWell along with some of its most prominent characters and clients. Jodi was not in this alone, she built an expansive community of client families, volunteers, paid help, and her own family. If you struggle there is something here for you. If you have moments of despair there is something in the horses for you. If you love horses there is something we know and understand for you here. I highly recommend this journey of prayers answered with horses.

The post Review: Project Solomon appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

By Judy Ricketts-White

Judy writes Slater Mountain from her deep reservoir of equine and horsemanship knowledge. Each chapter is a full lesson in the communication between horses and humans. This technical wisdom is imparted through a believable and engaging family story of life on a horse farm on a distant mountain. The main character Bailey Mathews is thrust into a rescue mission with her Mustang, Nugget, the trial proves her maturity and capability in a rustic world fraught with the everyday dangers of rugged ranch life. A sweet spot of hope when emergency strikes is the handsome Noah who comes to her aid. Their meeting kindles a few sparks of teen romance with the boy from the far side of the mountain.

If you are an avid equestrian hoping to learn better communication with your horse then Slater Mountain – The Journey, book one of the series imparts a wealth of knowledge for you.

The post Review Slater Mountain – The Journey appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

By: Harriet Cole Illustrated by C.S. Fritz

I love Norse mythology, the tales of the Viking gods of Asgard are wonderful for reading and oral storytelling. Here is a very readable collection of stories perfect for storytellers and all those who enjoy a myth. This Norse myth collection is a good mix of their extensive lore. If you have never read Norse tales this is a good place to start.

I was particularly taken with the author’s ability to make the mythology an easy read for younger readers as well. It is important to pave the way for new generations of readers to discover the wealth of world mythology. In this collection, I loved The True Story of Thor’s Hammer and the lesson woven into the title story.

This was such a pleasant read, the stories stayed with me for days simmering in my mind. When was the last time you read a few Norse myths? Fifteen Pounds of Muscle and Bounce could be your next adventure in Asgard.

Mythology, what’s not to love?  Find t on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Fifteen-Pounds-Muscle-Bounce-Harriet/dp/1947408232

The post Fifteen Pounds of Muscle and Bounce – Reviewed appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

Now and then a great horse comes along and is remembered and celebrated for who he was to a breed or sport and its people. UC Ringmaster was just such a horse. The UC is for the University of Connecticut where he was born. I just had the pleasure of recalling those days as I read three excellent books by local author Helen Scanlon. If you read aloud to your children or grandchildren, have a classroom, daycare or library do consider these books. The trilogy covers his birth in book one. His show career and his rise to fame in book two and his legacy and prodigy in book three.

These books are written with a light, artistic pen that plays with the words and sounds. The author is also the illustrator of the trilogy. Her pen and brush take similar strokes to paint a picture of this legendary horse. The wash of watercolor over the page is soft and enticing as she depicts the first steps, a mother’s love, and a championship in the show ring.

I have great memories of watching UC Ringmaster in the show ring. I remember him in the barn at UCONN as a youngster and later when he returned to fulfill his destiny and carry on the great Morgan horse breeding legacy that was part of the founding of the university. Later we were fortunate to have one of his sons in our barn. UC Daybreak was like his father in so many ways. These books hit such a sentimental chord as it was a remembrance of both of these horses. UC Daybreak made his own brand of fame and often in his escapades mention was made of the resemblance to his father in spirit and attitude as well as looks.

I highly recommend this wonderful trilogy for your equine book collection or introduction; you can’t go wrong!

Order Helen Scanlon’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/Helen-Scanlon/e/B00DVWLTVS%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

UC Daybreak son of UC Ringmaster

Read more about UC Daybreak, the son of UC Ringmaster

https://www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com/dedication-one-step-from-insane/  a four-part series on the escapades of UC Daybreak

The post Review The Great Red Horse Trilogy by Helen Scanlon appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

Writing is a labor of love. Lately it is the labor piece of that saying that has caught my attention. I have to get my edits done and they are a long slow labor to go through the manuscript. It is during the work of edits that I once again fall in love with my characters and refine them so you will too. The labor and the love are intertwined. That doesn’t mean one isn’t more significant on a given day. If I finally get some time to work on my book projects and come to it tired, it will be mostly labor. If I am well rested when it is editing time the tweaks will lean to the love side of the scale.

My characters become so real in my mind. I do know them well. I know what they would and wouldn’t say in a situation. I picture them in my mind I hear the voices. (Hearing voices hmmmm!) When I read the segments of the book aloud I often go back and add more description or refine it to sound like I imagine them. If I am to develop a faithful readership then the readers have to fall in love with my characters too. This may take several editing rounds to get them where I want them. There is that labor part again winding itself around my favorite characters.

In my soon to be published book “How Far is Safe?” I have a boy and his donkey for main characters. This pair have quite a tough start, but it is their relationship and dedication that shines through in the story. Because I have had many long-term relationships with animals I know I am getting that part right. I still have edits to it though, often more grammatical or typo.

Here I am with the late Jassper, a true character. While not my donkey I had a long relationship with him. He became an inspiration to write this story.

I have lost track of how many times I have gone through “How Far is Safe?” in its preparation for publication. Despite due diligence, last week I found a word form that should have been from! YIKES! Nothing like a form to make you go back to page one and start again. Darn my mind’s eye for seeing what it thinks should be there and not the actual ink on the paper.

I am here, powered by coffee and working on edits. You will get to read my labor of love when “How Far is Safe?” is released this summer! Follow this blog to get the updates and be one of the first to get your copy.

The post Editing – Labor of Love appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

I’ve become totally immersed in my book writing project. The story has become part of me. I think and dream with my characters in mind. I have been craving the foods they eat. Those cravings are so strong I even made biscuits and strawberry jam the other day. The boy in my book loves them and holds the first bite in his mouth to savor the summer flavor of the strawberry as it melts across his tongue. Do I have your mouth watering for them now? I’m currently testing recipes to find the perfect fluffy biscuit.

This book is titled How Far is Safe? This is my first novel length book and I’m so excited it will become a reality in late June 2021. My book was written in response to the many rescue donkeys I have met at shows, demonstrations, and fairs. Why do people continue to misunderstand donkeys and put them in a situation where they need to be rescued? I wanted to write a story that would show people how devoted and loving they can be when you take the time to develop the bond of trust and a loving relationship. My early readers suggest I am on target with more than one saying they were moved to tears by the characters journey and they just love the boy and donkey.

My target date for the book launch week is June 27- July 3, 2021. The launch day event is to be held at the Donkey and Eeyore Museum in Hebron CT. It is the perfect spot for the event and will help launch the museum as their opening was ruined by the Covid Pandemic lockdown. The last details of the book project are in the works. I am waiting on a forward, cover art and a final edit check for those last typos not caught in the many rounds of editing. It won’t be long until I hold a cover reveal, and a box opening. What is a box opening? It is the very first time I open a box and see my finished book and hold it in my hands. I can tell you even the thought of that gives me flutters of excitement! Follow my blog, more updates are coming!

The post Immersed in a Book appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.

There I was today freezing in the barn. It was 50 degrees but the wind was whipping itself around and in the north door and I was tired and grumpy and cold. Cold that is the word and as I watched the very bubbly and optimistic weather forecast I was amazed, it will happen again. Instant Summer! Yes it is coming our way this weekend, cautiously optimistic the weatherman said we may see 90 degrees or more. Why, it really isn’t that great to break another weather record. This one has stood since 1908, let it be, 70’s is plenty why push so hard to get all the way to 90. I know how easily we layer up and down and we New Englanders may be the best at that, but our bodies won’t be ready for this heat wave. On the other side of the spectrum I expect to see hair literally fly off the horses. They will want to launch that fur coat like projectiles into the wind. Some are still very fuzzy and they will be suffering on the weekend. There was sleet and hail here in the past week, we’re talking ice coated water buckets and now 90!
Living on a farm, weather plays a predominant part in daily life. Not just a convenience to know what is coming, it means life and death to the young animals. The very old ones feel the effects just as we humans and we have to dress for it and stay out in it hours at a time. So the first thing I do in the morning is flip on the weather report and see what we have to deal with. Now with the advent of this instant summer I will have to be on storm watch. Getting horses in before a big thunderstorm and the dog secured as she is terrified of them is the goal for each storm.
So for the next week or two we have to be ready for all seasons. Wool coat on standby, rubber boots at the door, mittens and gloves in the pockets and sunscreen and big hats for the afternoons. So… last one to the pool is a rotten egg! © 4/23/09

The post Instant Summer appeared first on Carolyn Stearns Storyteller.