ruh roh! More deadlines!

YUP! Gotta keep moving otherwise the bike'll fall over and then where will you be? Um, stopped?

Or something like that.

Anyway, shooting for a completed manuscript by early May, so that means I need to impose a deadline on myself and my fact-checkers.

I need some time in the saddle (soon) and some ice cream. That should do the trick.

Today's image is of my Monkey Man, Jamie. He's like a yoga guru and a freckled kid with a crooked baseball cap all in one.

What an intriguing goofball he is.

The Monkey Man puffs and snorts like a freight train when he really gets moving. It's then that I feel like I am on some hotshot show horse (it's because I am, and it's really quite awesome). Love that bay rapscallion! I mean, just look at that face. Okay? You're hearing me.

He's the special Morgan in my life right now, and he makes my heart go pitter pat.

...work on my second book continues as well. *smile*

more fact-checks...

The rough draft is now with two more people for additional fact-checking. So, we are moving right along!

I received some wonderful feedback from one of my checkers--she called My Horse, My Heart a--ready for it?---great book.

Talk about some fantastic encouragement--

THANK YOU!

Let's hope a publisher thinks so, too. Fingers crossed.

yours truly as a young and bewildered UConn student...

...circa 1993. This was the year UC Ringmaster won his second World Championship. I remember reading about him and thinking how cool it was that UConn bred such an amazing horse.

This photo appeared in the UConn newspaper, The Daily Campus. They had a roving interviewer/photographer asking random students what they thought of the UConn library's construction being halted. I said something like "Well, I don't feel safe with that big ol' building wrapped up in a Hefty bag. They should finish that job right quick."

They printed this part of my response, however:

"It makes me feel increasingly unsteady, nervous and insecure."

True. It did.

The library was in a Hefty bag, though. Why? Because bricks were falling off of it. Ouch. So, yeah. I was a tad anxious any time I got near it.

My time at UConn changed my life. I made lifelong friends, had great fun and learned much.

Proud to be a Husky!

(the library has since been fixed)

Break's over!

Okie dokie, back to work!

Rough edit is printed off and is in the hands of some experts for a fact-check.

Then, edit edit edit edit. Still on track for an early-summer publisher search. I am accepting any and all suggestions. My Horse, My Heart is my first book--so I am kinda new at this!

Oh, and my dinner date at the Altnaveigh is happening this week. I'll be sure to tell you all about it! *smile*

thank you...

...to my best friend, my life partner, my soulmate, my husband, Steve Scanlon.

and now, deep breaths...

I am taking a little break before moving on to the editing phase.

Today, I am getting reflexology and Papa Gino's pizza. In that order.

What the flip is reflexology? It's wonderful, is what it is. Google it.

Above is a wonderful compilation of some great Morgan stallions. Watch for early UConn herd stallions, Abbott and Canfield. Handsome guys.

Have a great day, everyone--and THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

DONE

Five minutes ago I finished my book.

My Horse, My Heart: The Morgan Horses of the University of Connecticut is officially DONE!

A year and a half in the making...Research, googling, phone interviews, magazine archives, registry information, mountains of e-mails, writing, painting, inquiring....whew. Who needs a drink? Make mine a double hot chocolate with extra whipped cream.

Now the fun begins! Editing, more illustrating and the search for a publisher.

Wow. I need to let this sink in. Time for a walk in the sun, methinks.

THANK YOU to everyone who made this book possible. You know who you are--much gratitude!