This summer my book family will grow with the edition of Christmas Letters that will be launched on July 29 at The Vineyard and Hillyland in Scotland, CT. If you are new to my writing or have missed a title let me introduce you to the family.

How Far is Safe? was my first novel and is appropriate for ages 8 and up. More adults than kids have been reporting that they read this and enjoyed the tale. The main characters are a boy and his beloved donkey. The time setting is the 1890’s and the setting is rural Pennsylvania. That makes this book historical fiction. I say this book comes right from my heart. It is inspired by rescue donkeys I have met. There are strong strands of the value of kindness and empathy. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BGKHY48

Mystic Girl was my second published book. This one is geared toward girls and horse lovers and any who love Norse Mythology. My main character in this book is Gaia a child living in Mystic Connecticut. She rides horses at the home of her mom’s friend. As she struggles she is befriended by Odin and Thor the Viking gods. (Also Marvel characters but here in their more traditional personas). This was such a fun writing project twisting the mythology through the text. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TDSMVWN

The next book I published is Thirteen Spooky Stories from Mysterious Connecticut. This  collection of short stories is easy to read and not bloody or gory at all. I write spooky as a suggestive text to make the reader wonder if the ghosts and apparitions mentioned could possibly exist. If you live near me these are fun sites to visit. If not, there is enough here to make these stories fit into your local area. In these pages you will find ghost trains and a mysterious lake, a young woman wandering, a story of old friends and more.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJHFYGBX

My next book Christmas Letters is an adult novel. It takes place in 2017 but there are many letters within that are dated during WWI, 1917. The setting of this upcoming book is a family dairy farm in northern Connecticut. I think you will enjoy this uplifting story of love, hope and family et in the holiday season. Keep following me here on my blog, send an email address to get on my mailing list, and or follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Mastodon.

A link for this book will be available July 29, 2023

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            It’s Saturday and that means a dozen errands that added up over the week and eat in to writing and family time. I try to add some side adventure, curiosity or food stop to make the necessary more enjoyable.

Today we were off to get repair parts for the lawn mower – ho hum!. It turned out to be wonderful. I hadn’t driven to that town where the dealership is in about a year. As we were approaching I looked ahead on the side of the road and exclaimed, “Is that a covered bridge?” As we got closer, “It is a covered bridge – so cool!” We were on West Road in Ellington Connecticut. There are no covered bridges in the area. Wait, I need to correct that, there were not any in the area. Just before us was a stunning example of a covered bridge.

It just so happens I wrote a covered bridge into my forthcoming book, “How Far is Safe? Here is a passage from the book that is due out in the next month on Amazon. At this point in my story a boy and his donkey are walking at night.

“He scanned the road edge for a log to sit on, but he thought maybe the dark shape ahead could be the bridge. His pace quickened and Donkey trotted along to try to close the gap that widened between them. It was the bridge.                                      

        He stopped at the mouth of the shadow filled bridge. Anything could be hiding in those rafters that supported the roof. More than likely the only thing would be an owl. He stepped in and listened as Donkey’s hooves clip-clopped on wooden boards, resounding like a big horse. As they exited the far end, he could see a glow of light at a window and smoke curling out of the chimney.”

I just had to return and take a close-up look. After getting the much-needed parts we went to check it out. We pulled into The Barn Yard. They sell little barns, sheds, garages – every sort of outbuilding. We looked about then spoke with a salesman and then I went to the bridge. The smell of fresh cut wood spawned memories of my father’s woodshop that flashed into my mind. Owner Chris Skinner welcomed us to look around. He told us about their project of building the bridge.

This was the bridge in my book. I was so excited to see it in person when and where least expected! Look at these pictures and when you read How Far is Safe? later this summer you will know exactly what the boy walked through with donkey on that dark night.

FFollow this blog or my social media to keep up to date on my book launch events as they are announced. I should be ready to set the date very soon. Only a couple details being finished up!

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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.

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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!

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I am so excited to be closing in on the publication date from my first novel. Look for How Far is Safe? this summer of 2021. This is the story of a boy and his beloved donkey. I know my book will appeal to animal lovers of all ages. I have geared my writing to the sixth-grade level, it would also make a great read aloud for a slightly younger audience.

The book is historical fiction set in Pennsylvania 1890. Writing historical fiction allows me to teach a little history through a compelling tale of a fictional character. You will love this Boy!  You will adore this donkey!

My book is the culmination of many experiences meeting donkeys that had been rescued. Why do so many donkeys require rescue? That question eats at my brain. o Some poor donkeys are misunderstood and treated second class.

My favorite donkey (now crossed over the rainbow bridge) Jassper and his owner John taught me so much about the contemplative, kind and gentle donkey way. I am hoping that this story will continue that education to donkey wisdom for all my readers.

I am currently working with my editor and cover art illustrator for the final steps toward my goal of a published book. Join me on the journey as I tell this story. Follow my blog for more updates on the book release events and where you too can get a copy and become a fan of the boy and a huge fan of donkeys!

Although the book launch exact date is not set yet the location is! There is a new Donkey and Eeyore Museum in Hebron, Connecticut. I have visited and checked it out – it is the perfect spot to launch this book to the reading world!

                                                                                              Inside the Donkey and Eeyore Museum

Follow me here on my blog or any of my social media pages to get the next update on the journey to publication of my debut novel.

Want to see a collection of images that influenced my story? Look here:

https://pin.it/6ziyO4B

Read another donkey related blog

https://www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com/donkeys-just-wanna-have-fun/

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Ring of Fire Scene from the Bishop Orchard Show in 2010 Save May 7, 2011 to come to Guilford,CT. for the   Annual Donkey and Mule Show

                                                                  
Click on the link below to see the article from  “THE DAY”

The Day – Kim Brockett Helps Educate, Entertain News from southeastern Connecticut

You will see all kinds of action at the Donkey & Mule Show

The Whole Family Can  Show Donkeys & Mules Get Your unemployed donkey out of the backyard and preparing for the  Bishop’s Orchard Donkey & Mule Show….. see YOU there!

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Coming into the ring for your viewing pleasure the obstacle class for donkeys. Let’s see how our exhibitors have trained their donkeys to work their way through the obstacles. Then there will be the riding and the driving classes. Yes, they let donkeys drive but it has to be an automatic…….. well couldn’t resist the joke, the driving will be donkey to a cart and a exhibitor at the reins. There are many classes in a Donkey show and again I will be delighted to be the announcer for the annual Donkey show at the Brooklyn Fair in Brooklyn Ct. this Saturday. See my schedule of shows at www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com

http://www.brooklynfair.org/ The show starts at 9:30 in the event arena near the cattle barns. Donkeys are such fun animals and a resurgence in interest has brought a large number to the fairs and shows held annually around New England and beyond. They are patient and thoughtful much like Eeyore from the Pooh stories. They may not pass an obstacle at first attempt but will ponder the risk involved and the value in doing as they are asked and will make a valiant attempt despite having fear issues.

The donkeys come in three sizes. There are the miniatures which are invariably cute, the standards which are the Grand Canyon type and made popular by the children’s classic storybook Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry. Then there are the Mammoth Variety a rather large horse height donkey with magnificent large ears. My all time favorite donkey is a character named Jassper! He has the world’s best ears! Jassper resides in Franklin Ct. on Blue Hill Farm and has many donkey friends, he is a gentle ambassador. Jassper recently starred in a video I made in a corn maze with his friend Tabassco and they will both be at the show Saturday. I will see them again next week when they come to the A-MAZE-ING Story Slam at Fort Hill Farms http://www.forthillfarms.com/ in Thompson Ct. The story slam is a storytelling competition and Jassper and Tabassco and possibly their friend Asster will be all ears as they listen to the tales told on the theme “In a Quiet Corner”.

http://www.a-maze-ingstoryslam.ning.com/

After their fun at the story slam they will be at the Blue Slope Country Farm Museum Fall Festival in Franklin, Ct. Here they will also have some demonstrations of how to operate donkey powered farm equipment. Dependable and steady work habits the hallmark of the donkey as a farming partner , Jassper did some corn chopping last year very economically, he works for cookies! www.blueslope.com/fallevent

Come out and watch our friends in the show ring Saturday!

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They passed a beautiful town green when they got off the highway. It had not been a long ride, what excitement could be in this quiet country town?

A sign showed them where they would turn and pointed the way to Ct. Grown at Fort Hill Farms http://www.forthillfarms.com/ . Blue Hill donkeys at Fort Hill, Jassper and Tabasco hoped they had more than green grass.

Tabasco helped find a place to park their trailer.

They soon new they were welcome at Fort Hill Farms and it would be a great Daycation!

They got tickets for the Corn Maze. They had never been in a corn maze before!

Jassper and Tabasco tried all the paths, up and down the hill and to the towers and had so much delicious fun!

Winding through the green paths was fun, and relaxing and sometimes they even felt like running a little.

They found answers to the quiz and looked at the secret maps. At the end they looked at the big map again and saw all the places in the maze they had visited. They wished more friends had come to the maze with them.

Back under the big tent they were told about the

A-MAZE-ING Story Slam

coming on Sept 4, 2010 at 1 p.m. They asked if they could come too.

Of course the answer was yes! Jassper and Tabasco would be “All ears” when listening to the stories at the A-MAZE-ING Story Slam. They could be really good listeners!

Jassper whispered to Tabasco that they would look it up on the barn computer when they got home. Tabasco had to try to remember the site address.

www.A-MAZE-INGStorySlam.ning.com

After all the fun in the maze little Tabasco was sooo hungry he was happy to see a little grass. Jassper had a better idea. He had heard from a friend at the Farmers Cow about the new ice cream and he really wanted to try it!

Jassper looked near the fishing pond but it wasn’t there.

They found the Creamery and had a hard time choosing a flavor!

Other people were in line to place an order and Jassper got in line next.

Finally it was his turn to order, Mint please! and make it all natural.

Jassper’s cone was so delicious!

Got Ice Cream?

It was an exciting Daycation at Fort Hill Farms for Jassper and Tabasco!

Now they will be counting the days until

Sept 4, 2010 when they can come back.

Will they be seeing you at the A-MAZE-ING Story Slam?

Jassper may tell you a story about Scarlet the new baby donkey at Blue Hill, but he may be to busy trying a few more flavors.

THE END!

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1:10 p.m. Time for milking at our farm Mountain Dairy ( http://www.mountaindairy.com/ ). We all have chores that are set by schedule maybe none quite so time demanding as milking cows. None the less we set up certain jobs for certain times and it is no different with our storytelling.

Making time to get things done is a battle we all fight on a daily basis and when we start to get a real handle on it usually Murphy’s Law is invoked and the whole system is in chaos for a bit. We make time to do the laundry because otherwise we won’t have that fresh outfit for the next gig. We never miss time for coffee, well we don’t want to be around each other if we do! We have time for parties, time for pizza and Ice Cream! There is time allotted for the income tax annually even if some take until the 12 strokes of the clock in the bell tower on April 15 to turn it in.

Storytelling is all about time and there are lots of stories that deal with time, didn’t Cinderella have to heed the clock as well? I make time on Monday’s to update my web presence. Usually it takes both cups of coffee to get the job done. Sometimes its half in the morning and half at night, that’s OK part of storytelling is being my own boss, I’m never late for Me! Scheduling my chores to fit my life at a given moment in time is a real asset, especially around the farm schedule where everything can be changed with a rumble of thunder.

Tonight I made time to listen to the Teller-Phone. Not the phone call that offers me bargain windows, reduced rates on loans, a great new roof or any other deal of a lifetime. This Teller -Phone offers me a true deal, a free story. Better yet I can call next week and get another free story, and the week after, and the week after…. you get it! Tonight I made a little time for me. I dialed 617-499-9662. There was the momentary pause as the circuits connected and a slight click of the line opening and the clear voice of Clare Vadeboncoeur. www.goodheartpro.com Funny thing was it was a Donkey story. I had just sent a donkey joke to my donkey owning friend. Earlier I had posted pictures of Donkeys to my http://www.A-MAZE-INGStorySlam.ning.com/ because some are coming to listen and be “All Ears! I had an email recently about the latest birth at Blue Hill Farm Franklin, Ct. another new black donkey.

This week Clare was the host for the LANES Teller-Phone. ( www.lanes.org ) League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling. Each Sunday a new teller will come on line and tell a fresh story. I’ve already put the number in my cell phone so I can call often. I can’t wait for the look of surprise the first time I do that and hand the phone to my nephew or niece. Instant quiet! Just so happened for me the story was a perfect fit for the unexpected donkey theme to my days.

Next I opened my email. There was the weekly post from Library of America, a publishing house who sends out a new story every week to read. www.loa.org right on the home page is a banner to sign up for the story of the week. I’ll be going back after I finish writing this to read my story. Sometimes I only read the bit offered on the front page, some days the story is a perfect fit I click through to get it all!

Now I have made time to read, listen and write in my day, it’s been a good day. In fact they don’t get any better in a storytellers world than to read a story, hear a story,write a story, next is share a story. When my son comes in I think I’ll have to tell him the Donkey story from Clare and finish out the day right!

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