Two fact checks down...

....ONE to go!

Then, this big ol' manuscript gets handed over to the brilliant and beautiful Nannyberry for her editing magic.

Perhaps I should tell you who my publisher is?

It is Createspace, Amazon's amazing publishing company. They are pretty awesome--very helpful and knowledgeable. So, no worries, Kindle users--you will be able to order My Horse, My Heart and get it directly on your Kindle device thingy.

(Can you tell I don't have a Kindle, and hence, have no idea how it works? Go ahead and laugh at me, it's okay. I laugh at myself all the time).

Thanks, as always, for coming along on this wonderful book journey with me. It's good to have your company!

ask and ye shall receive

I snagged an editor, and I am going to shout it from the rooftops:

She's perfect, she's wonderful, she's fabulous and now she's MY editor!

Three cheers for Nannyberry!

Nan King, writer and English Instructor, has agreed to tackle My Horse, My Heart. She's my writin' sister--I was in an incredible writers' group with her and we've been friends forever. I trust her implicitly. She will take good care of my "baby."

Ah yes, it's a good day!

Must include a big shout-out to my other writin' sister: MAUREEN!

I love you guys! Thanks for helping this writer.

(Maureen, I will never forget the pink cake you brought to our first group meeting. *smile*)

onward!

Yup, I decided to go with a publishing partner.

So, that's figured out....whew! *wipes sweat from brow*

What's left?

1. Fact checks. (They are going well so far)
2. Editing.
3. More editing.
4. Designing.
5. Send it off.....

Did I mention that American Morgan Horse Association Hall-of-Famer John Bennett is writing the foreword? Well, he is.

How awesome is that?

Stay tuned!

publishing partner?

I may have just discovered my publishing partner for My Horse, My Heart.

I need to do some research before I spill the deets--but, it sounds really good so far.

I had an informative (and motivational!) conversation with a local author who told me about a great opportunity that worked very well for him and another author who just published his fifth book.

Stay tuned for more. I really would love to see the book in print by fall.

(Now, on to pester my fact checkers!)

Celebrate!

Last night, my husband treated me to a delicious celebratory dinner at the Altnaveigh Inn, Mansfield. On the way, we passed the subject of My Horse, My Heart--the University of Connecticut horse barns.
...on our way, just take a left off of Horsebarn Hill Rd....
We're here! Steve proudly announced that we were there to celebrate my book completion, and many congratulations followed. Then, we were seated at one of the best tables in the restaurant. I felt quite pampered, I just love the Altnaveigh!

We were seated next to the fireplace. Romantic and cozy--I'll drink to that!
Our awesome server brought me a carrot cake complete with a festive candle. What a way to celebrate nearly two years of writing and research! Please note Steve's fantastic bright green St. Patty's tie--boy, do I ever I love that man o' mine. Thank you for a great evening, sweetie!

Many, many thanks to the Altnaveigh Inn and Restaurant for making my celebration dinner a memorable one. (I highly recommend their Surf 'n Turf--WOW.)

Now that I am well-fed and feeling a surge of creative energy, time to edit like the wind and get this labor of love published!

And--thank YOU for following along and supporting me. I can't get this huge, goofy smile off my face. :-)

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.