I have been graciously invited to join a blog
hop hosted by one of the most talented children’s authors I’ve had the pleasure
of working with; Linda Ulleseit, mom, teacher, author, and everything else. And  the best part of her story is horses!

 Not just your average horse hero of the race or the range, not
even close to our favorite horse heroes of New England stables, or Arizona
mountains. These horses fly! Set in old Wales – a long time ago – winged horses,  a remnant of a much earlier age, fly with their devoted riders over northern  mountains. The saga, penned by Linda Ulleseit, covers generations of horses and  villagers through love lost, and love gained, through joy and sorrow, betrayal  and forgiveness, terror and success.


Whether you love horse stories, or historical novels, or light
romance – or the drama of growing up and struggling to find your own identity,
you will be enthralled by the four books Linda has blessed this world
with.


So, in the first six days of September, join me in this journey
and get to know the drama, the horses, and their riders. I will be posting on
September 6. The lineup goes as follows:



September 1: Linda Ulleseit  http://ulleseit.wordpress.com   kickoff/welcome


September 2: Charles Ray   http://charlieray45.wordpress.com


September 3: Apryl Baker  http://mycrazzycorner.blogspot.com


September 4: Victoriya Aliferchyk 
  http://viktoryarch.wordpress.com 



September 5: Connie Peck  http://mrspiddles.weebly.com/blog  Under a Wild and
Dangerous Sky, final book in the saga.


September 6: Angela Fristoe  http://angelafristoe.blogspot.com



Be a part of the flight, and check these fabulous blogs. Indeed,
I walk among giants in this lineup. And don’t forget to
comment.

I try never to give up on a goal I've set for myself. I make lists to remind me what's next, and breakdown big projects into manageable chunks. But sometimes the projects pile up and almost get away from me. Such was the case with an art contest from a year ago. I got to know some extremely talented young people and was thrilled to publish their art with my little books (yes, all permissions and compensations taken care of).

The one that took my breath away, was a thick manila envelope with a return address of a school. Nineteen children ages 6 & 7 had the courage to work and draw little sketches after my book was read to them in class. As I gazed in wonder at each drawing, tears flowed. I couldn't choose just one, just like the potato-chips, I conjured up a story for each sketch.

Easy, right? Well the concept was clear in my head, but in front of the keyboard, only mud flowed. Back to basics, story line, character building, where do I want each character to be at the end of the story.

The job has been like writing an entire novel in only a few months. Thank heaven for organizations like The Next Big Writer, an online critique group. Thank heaven for an online program called AutoCrit; just drop your chapter into their window and hit the button. Like magic all those nasty hot words you always try to avoid are underlined. Dialogue tags are pointed out and sentence length is actually graphed (great way to catch your missing punctuation)

The message here. Not that I finished a book - I learned to trust and use technology! Yay Me!

Now onward and upward, find the next big goal.

I believe you roll over the pictures below to see the caption, this is another one of those technical things I'm learning.

Thanks for reading, feel free to comment.

I watched a movie a few days ago about a man on a mission. This movie wasn't an ordinary show. The mission wasn't anything heroic. And yet, this mission, and this man's dogged determination, will stick with me forever. Oh yea, the movie was in German, made in Germany, but some of the scenes were in Texas and Louisiana. The plot? This guy worked his entire life in a salt mine. Work, go to the pub with two close friends, go home to bed, repeat. His transportation was a bicycle, sometimes he pulled a small trailer. Then the company retired him and his two friends. What now? By accident one night he tuned his radio to an American station which played Cajun music. It changed his life and he spent months trying to learn more about this magical rhythm and melody. The quest took him to Texas - New Branfels, during Octoberfest - not what he was looking for. He went to Louisiana and reached his goal. But in the middle of a dance, he died. 

I wasn't sad, surprisingly I didn't tear up, rather, I celebrated. He didn't quit searching. He found his grail.



What does this have to do with my writing, other than I did actually study this dramatic plot and character building?  I have reached a similar goal. Yay!

When I was fourteen I made the first of many trail rides into the Superstition Mountains of Arizona. To say I was hooked is an understatement. I read every shred of paper about the mountain and its legends; both history and fiction. Later I studied the geology of the region. But from the first moment I rode into those hills, I dreamed of the book I just finished. For forty years these words have rattled around in the grey matter.

Three years ago, I started the first book of the series. I learned real fast it takes more than whacking on a keyboard to get the story written. I had the help of a great critique group, and hired an editor, then paid a proofreader. I'm the impatient sort, so after more than a year of sending my little story to agents and publishing houses, I went to CreateSpace.

The journey continued with the second book, Midnight and the Racehorse, a story I wish had happened when a friend invited me to Turf Paradise. These two first books are close to my heart, but they were practice for my goal. The Legend of the Superstition Gold is finally finished. Yay!

Now, don't get all panicky. I don't intend to kick the bucket tomorrow - but that is not something we are guaranteed. So, the message I stress with this little blog is this: What ever your heart desires, no matter who tells you it's impossible, never give up on it!

Then, never stop reaching for that next goal. I promised three other stories, and I have a novel in the works. There's always another star to reach for.

Have you set a goal which you know will take time, sweat, and blood (those paper-cuts are murder) ?  How do you keep going?