Galloping along....

The scanner was whirring all weekend...

So that means only one thing: ALL OF THE PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE DONE!

The chapters are formatted (I chose Garamond for my font) and now the layout can begin.

Many, many thanks to my design wizard husband!

The book is taking shape.....

America's Son, copyright 2012 by Helen Scanlon.

my heavy heart...

I am sad, I lost a friend. More than a friend--an inspiration.

This book would not have been written without UC Ringmaster. He told me to paint his portrait and to write his story, and the stories of his friends and ancestors.

Who am I to say 'no' to a two-time World Champion?

Thanks, Ring. I will miss our visits, so much.


 A Wish for an Old Friend
by Helen Scanlon

I wish you sunbeams in your mane
I wish you wind under your hooves

I wish on a sparkling star tonight
for wishes that come true.

Go here to read my tribute to The Great Red Horse: 

http://greatredhorse.blogspot.com/2012/11/rest-in-peace-my-friend.html

DONE and off to the designer!

Spent several hours yesterday typing on The Snowman, (my nickname for my Mac laptop), and the final changes have been made and my WAY AWESOME designer gets to have a crack at these 72 Word files.

My designer just happens to be my husband. He's a Graphic Designer and a tech guru--a perfect combo of logic and creativity. He is just that incredible. Plus, I happen to think he's pretty darn cute. BONUS.

Wait--72 files? Dang. Is that what I've been doing for the past two and a half years? Gracious.

Now what? Do I sit back and enjoy some idle moments? Heck no. I have started on my SECOND book already--The Great Red Horse. As the snow starts to fly you can find me in my little drawing studio illustrating my heart out--because--the outline for The Great Red Horse is already done. 

Onward!

Watch this space for the BIG publication announcement....

PS new book blog is here: http://greatredhorse.blogspot.com/

Hello laptop, my old friend.....

....I've come to work on this book again....

FINAL changes!

Let me repeat that:

FINAL CHANGES!

*grin*

I love my editor. Not only does she use a purple pen, but she says stuff like, "Like your book? I don't like it. I LOVE IT!"

Heeeee!

The stories of the University of Connecticut horses will be in PRINT before long. I can't wait to share this book with all of you!

So what's left?

1. Final tweaks to the manuscript *cracks whip*
2. Design and layout of text, front and back covers, spine, etc (I will let my designer worry about that stuff, that's why he gets the BIG money, haha).
3. Final permissions for use of archival material
4. Endnotes and index (Gaaaaaaahhhhh...Okay, my editor said she will help and that it's NO BIG DEAL. Goodness, she's the best).
5. Convert the whole thing to a PDF (again, letting my overpaid designer worry about that). (In case you haven't noticed, that's sarcasm). *smiley face*
6. SEND IT TO THE PUBLISHER!
7. Ice cream.


Thank you for coming along for the ride! This is FUN.

Halloween and Hurricanes....

Hurricane Sandy arrived with a bang.

She ripped through and tore up the eastern seaboard, leaving millions uprooted. My thoughts are with all those affected by the storm's wrath.

Hampton, Connecticut fared well, just some power outages. We were lucky. Blessed. That wind was fierce and angry, and it genuinely scared me. Ever hear a million-ton freight train? I can't imagine what it was like to be in the storm's direct path. My heart goes out to all who are rebuilding and waiting.

After the storm hit and the wind stopped roaring, my husband and I decided to carry out our original plan of going to Cape Cod to celebrate our 16th anniversary (yes, we were married on Halloween). The power was out at home, the reservations were made in Eastham, so off we went. Hot showers and clam chowder awaited us--again, lucky.

The Cape was largely unaffected by Sandy, the sun was shining as we pulled into the motel parking lot. And, hello? No one but us? "No Vacancy"--but we'll take a couple of Scanlons. Happiness!

And here's some BOOK NEWS! My editor is DONE and we meet for a final time this week.

I almost can't believe it.

I am in the home stretch.

Here I am with a handsome thoroughbred named Andrew. He decided to smooch on me and blow horsey whispers in my ear as his owner, Sara, gave him a wither scratch.

Andrew was one of my charges many moons ago, and I'd like to think he remembered me. He was so young last time I saw him--and now, he is a Cape Cod pony, breathing in the clean, sea air everyday. That air agrees with him, he is fit, healthy and ready for a brisk gallop on the beach.

Why do I write about horses? Why do I feel compelled to paint them and draw them and fill my days with them? Why horses?

This photograph should answer those questions for you:

Be well, everyone. Hug those you love. Don't be afraid, comfort is close by.

And one more...

Me and UConn junior herd stallion, UC Doc Sanchez.

He wanted my attention as I was talking, so I offered my hand for him to nuzzle. He played and fiddled with my fingers as I blabbed about his sire, UC Doc Daniels. Yes, you could say he was being really cute.

UC Doc Sanchez has his sire's kind energy---not to mention that rich bay coat and otherwordly Morgan horse beauty. Simply breathtaking...


"Sanny" is  a superstar, and he likes me. *smile*

halfway...halfway....

My editor has informed me that she is HALFWAY done with the final draft!

*deep breath*

That's halfway to the design phase....

Okay, I have discovered that the journey from "writer" to "author" is a long one, filled with delightful little speed bumps and distractions.

Get this: I have re-written the WHOLE book about six times. Because, as Hemingway stated, "The first draft of anything is crap." He actually said a stronger word than "crap," but this is a family show and all.

I had to force myself to walk away from the final draft, slam the laptop SHUT and go out and have some fun already.

I printed it out, my Canon i9990 whizzing and clicking as it devoured about a gallon of black ink. I slapped myself when I felt the need to re-write something YET AGAIN. I forced myself to look away from the words on the monitor.

I gave the final draft to my beautiful editor. She e-mailed me and told me she was basically squealing with delight over it.

So, I figured squealing with delight is a good thing. I need to sit back and allow the final product to emerge, all burnished and gleaming.

My editor has a purple pen. That makes me smile.

The photo is of me  UC Doc Sanchez, junior herd stallion at UConn. He's an enchanting little bay, cute as a button and very polite. The above photo captures the exact moment he stole my heart. (Many thanks to my husband, Steve, for his photography prowess).

Many thanks also go  to Kayleigh Meyer for introducing me to "Sanny." He is a son of UC Doc Daniels--and he is totally handsome, sweet and utterly charming. I mean, hello? He's a stallion and I am just hanging out with him in his stall, like he is some kid's friendly little 4-H pony.

Those UConn Morgans are pretty special...