Episode 123: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, Jennifer S. Kelly returns to the show. Jennifer is an author and freelance turf writer. Her first two books, Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown and The Foxes of Belair: Gallant Fox, Omaha, and the Quest for the Triple Crown , chronicle the lives and careers of the first three American Triple Crown winners. She also contributes to The Racing Biz , America's Best Racing , and T winSpires Edge . Jennifer's work focuses on both the history...
Nov 01, 2023•50 min•Ep. 124
Episode 122: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Kathy Simmers. Kathy always wanted to live on a farm with horses. When she was twelve years old, she started taking riding lessons. At nineteen she bought her first horse. It seemed like she was well on her way, but life doesn’t always go in a straight line. Though Kathy faced many obstacles she never gave up on her dream. Today Kathy & her husband live on a farm in North Carolina with horses, llamas, a small herd of goats, cats, ...
Sep 25, 2023•47 min•Ep. 123
Episode 121: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Mustang Camp Volunteer and Board Member Veronica Moore. She has come on the show to share her adventures with fellow volunteer animal trainers from around the globe who teamed up to write a children's book about a baby burro. Mustang Camp is a non-profit organization that helps formerly wild animals transition to a life with people. It is operated by volunteers and students, placing 40 to 70 animals a year into private ownership. It w...
Aug 26, 2023•34 min•Ep. 122
Episode 120: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Cheryl L. Eriksen. Cheryl is an author and blogger who has been involved in multiple areas of the horse industry for over twenty-five years. A student of equine behavior and communication, she has experience as a horse midwife, equine assisted therapy facilitator, veterinary assistant, and horse trainer. Cheryl is the author of the award-winning memoir, Follow Me, Friend , a true story about her struggle with undiagnosed PTSD and the ...
Jul 24, 2023•44 min•Ep. 121
Episode 119: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Sarah V. Barnes. Sarah is both a historian and a horsewoman. When she is not writing stories, she practices and teaches riding as a meditative art. She also offers equine-facilitated coaching and wellness workshops. Sarah holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and spent many years as a college professor before turning full-time to riding and writing. Sarah's book, She Who Rides Horses , is set more than 6,000 years ago ...
Jun 13, 2023•43 min•Ep. 120
Episode 118: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Nancy Lee Gerson. Nancy is a certified Equine Gestalt Coach who partners with her herd of horses to help people deepen their self-awareness, heal from long-buried wounds, and reignite their passion for life. Her memoir, The Horse Who Changed My Life: My Serendipitous Journey through Equus , is a heartfelt story documenting the life-changing, serendipitous journey of a New York City lawyer who learned how to deepen her capacity to conn...
Apr 24, 2023•50 min•Ep. 119
Episode 117: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Mary S. Corning. Mary changes lives by defining the transformative power of pain. As a mentor, speaker, life consultant and writer, she clearly and compassionately models this process through her messages and stories. Mary extends her philosophy into her world of horses, where both people and horses benefit from realizing a different way to interpret challenges. Great teachers have offered support and blessings that caused a shift in ...
Mar 26, 2023•58 min•Ep. 118
Episode 116: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Caroline Akervik. Caroline has always been a voracious reader of most any genre. Blessed with a wonderful husband and three amazing grown children, Caroline grew up fox hunting in the Maryland countryside and then rode and trained to Grand Prix level of Dressage. Now a school librarian, she remains an animal lover and believes that libraries are among the most magical of places. Her writings reflect the eclectic nature of her life and...
Feb 22, 2023•52 min•Ep. 117
Episode 115: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet cowgirl Corinne Joy Brown. She is a Denver native who loves history, especially the American West, the story of the Jewish people, and the cultures of the greater Southwest. A partner in a high-end home furnishings and design firm, she’s also a published author and freelance journalist with frequent by-lines in local and national publications. Saddle up for a conversation about living the western lifestyle, one woman's incredible adve...
Jan 08, 2023•56 min•Ep. 116
Episode 114: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Robin Hutton, author of Sgt. Reckless: America's War Horse. Robin Hutton has spent her adult life working in major event productions and the motion picture business. She was the writing and producing partner of Tom “Billy Jack” Laughlin for over thirty years until his death in 2013. Currently she is President of Angels Without Wings, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation that spearheaded the development and dedication of six national...
Nov 25, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 115
In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, Valerie Ormond, author of the Believing in Horses series, returns to the show. Saddle up for a conversation on revisiting a series after a seven year break, the importance of winning awards, and how trips to various dude ranches inspired her to write her newest book, Believing in Horses Out West . Valerie Ormond retired as a Navy Captain after a 25-year career as a Naval intelligence officer and then founded her own business, Veteran Writing Services, LLC, pr...
Nov 07, 2022•51 min•Ep. 114
Episode 112: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Mary Perdue, author of Landaluce: The Story of Seattle Slew's First Champion . In Landaluce: The Story of Seattle Slew's First Champion , Mary Perdue tells the story of a horse whose short but meteoric career could have changed racing history forever. Sparking comparisons to Ruffian, Landaluce helped elevate California horse racing to the national stage and could have been the first filly to ever win the Triple Crown. In telling this ...
Oct 15, 2022•52 min•Ep. 113
Episode 111: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast episode, you'll meet Karen Gross, author of the Lady Lucy's Quest book series. Karen Gross is an educator, author and artist. A former professor, college president and senior policy advisor to the US Dept. of Education, she currently teaches at Rutgers School of Social Work. She specializes in trauma and its impact on individuals and organizations with an emphasis on student success and leadership in a time of crisis. She writes a book ser...
Sep 25, 2022•54 min•Ep. 112
Episode 110: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast episode, you'll meet Lisa D. Stewart. Lisa discusses the 500-mile solo horseback trip she undertook at the age of 54 on her horse, Chief. As a woman alone, with one horse, traveling through the Midwest, she was forced to face the pain of her past, embrace the beauty of the present, and envision an empowered future for herself. Lisa's epic journey of self-discovery inspired her to document modern rural America's people, animals, and land, w...
Aug 30, 2022•52 min•Ep. 111
Episode 109: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast episode, you'll meet Linda Ballou, author of Cowgirl Jumped Over the Moon and Embrace of the Wild . Saddle up for a conversation about travel writing, finding salvation in nature, and romancing the soul. Linda shares her love of travel, horses and writing while taking us on an epic journey from the volcanoes of Hawaii to the majestic mountains of Colorado. She discusses her newest book, Embrace of the Wild , a work of historical fiction ab...
Aug 12, 2022•53 min•Ep. 110
Episode 108: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast episode, you'll meet Noche Miller, author of Understanding Horse Whorls . Noche walks us through the meaning of horse whorls and the benefits of trick training horses. With whorls, her analysis goes beyond the forehead whorl and considers head shape as well as all the other whorls that appear on a horse's body. She paints a clear picture of what we can tell of the inner workings of the horse by looking at the outside of the body. Once cons...
Jul 27, 2022•56 min•Ep. 109
Episode 107: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast episode, you'll meet Brett Wilson of SkyDance Mountain Audiobooks. Brett is in the business of audiobook production from start to finish. His company, SkyDance Mountain Audiobooks, helps authors design, create, produce, publish, market and sell their audiobooks. Saddle up for a conversation about the audio revolution, audiobook production best practices, and what an author needs to know in order to create a quality audiobook on a budget. S...
Jul 14, 2022•54 min•Ep. 108
Episode 106: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast episode, you'll meet Valerie Power, Author of the Fairy Glen Suspense Series. Valerie is a lifelong horse lover and a California native. She has had a varied career that includes photographing pearl farms in Asia, and running an underground performance art circus. She now lives with her husband at their off-grid homestead in the high desert of San Diego County. Valerie's equestrian suspense series takes readers to Fairy Glen — a horsewoman...
Jun 29, 2022•40 min•Ep. 107
Episode 105: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Chad Oldfather, author of A Man Walks Into A Barn . Saddle up for a conversation with Chad about why he chose to write a personal memoir about his life, his daughters, and their experience with horses. You'll be moved by his dedication to his daughter’s equestrian dreams, glean tips on parenting equestrians, including how to manage expectations in the sport, as well as insight on enjoying the little things. Chad believes "the best mom...
Jun 22, 2022•47 min•Ep. 106
Episode 104: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast episode, you'll meet Laura Holt-Haslam of River Pony Press. Saddle up for a conversation about: Laura's spokesPONIES, Max and Dusty, who inspired her book series while she was dealing with an empty nest. How she's building up her confidence as an author, including a few true confessions of stumbling blocks she faced starting out. Why she chooses to write books with strong themes. Her middle grade novels, Sofia's Surprise , A Place for Sofi...
Jun 04, 2022•59 min•Ep. 105
Episode 103: Tune in for an eye-opening conversation with Beth Anstandig, a licensed psychotherapist; leadership, culture and well-being consultant; and owner of The Circle Up experience at Take a Chance Ranch. Beth shares how we can work with horses to better address issues within the human herd as well as what we can do to embrace our innate mammal skills, in order to deal with pressure and find a state of ease. Show notes: https://www.carlykadecreative.com/blog/episode-103-on-embracing-our-ma...
May 18, 2022•59 min•Ep. 104
Episode 102: In this week's information packed episode, Rebecca Didier, Managing Editor and Graphic Designer at Trafalgar Square Books, returns to the show. Saddle up for details about the first annual Buy A Horse Book Day sponsored by Trafalgar Square Books and Heels Down Media. Learn how horse book lovers and authors can participate as well as take advantage of deals, sales, and prizes on Buy A Horse Book Day. Show notes: https://www.carlykadecreative.com/podcast.html Want a free guide to secr...
May 05, 2022•50 min•Ep. 103
Episode 101: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight with Mandee Flanders, Host of the Leadline Podcast, you'll learn ... About relationship marketing, the power of networking, and tips for networking success. What led Mandee to return to the horse industry and successfully develop a podcast and community for equestrian business owners. Why she always makes important decisions using the rule of three. And MUCH more! Show notes: https://www.carlykadecreative.com/blog/episode-101-on-relationship-marke...
Apr 21, 2022•47 min•Ep. 102
Episode 100: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, I'm turning the tables. I've invited my hubby to return to the show and interview me. We did this a couple years ago for the very first episode. While I was producing this episode, we celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. Tune in to get a peek at our relationship, how we survived the pandemic together, how our new horse is fitting into the herd, where I'm heading with my writing, and what's next for the podcast. Thank you to everyone who has li...
Mar 25, 2022•32 min•Ep. 101
Episode 99: In this week's information packed episode, Brittney Joy, author of sweet stories full of hope, heart, and happily-ever-afters, returns to the show. You'll learn ... What a sweet/clean adult romance includes (and doesn’t include), and why Brittney was inspired to write a sweet romance series for adults after writing for young adults with the Red Rock Ranch and Overruled series. Why Brittney decided to write to market, how she infused tropes into the Maple Bay stories, and what she has...
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 100
Episode 98: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, award-winning, bestselling author, M.J. Evans, returns to the show. You'll learn ... About M.J.'s twentieth book, The Sand Pounder , a Young Adult historical fiction set during World War II, and what she thinks the key is to longevity in a writing career. How she targets the right audience for her books and other solid advice for authors. M.J. regularly presents to audiences on what she wished she had known when she started out as an author. And M...
Feb 10, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 99
Episode 97: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Author and Michigan American Saddlebred Historian Heidi Madsen. You'll learn ... About Heidi's lifelong love of horses and history, which led her to take a deep dive into Michigan’s role with the American Saddlebred Horse and write the book, Gaited In The Great Lakes . How she rebounded and got her manuscript back after her first publisher went under, including advice for authors who are preparing a manuscript for publication. And MUCH...
Jan 26, 2022•49 min•Ep. 98
Episode 96: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Carly Heath. You'll learn ... About what led Carly to write her debut YA novel, The Reckless Kind , which BuzzFeed named as one of 16 LGBTQIA and Young Adult novels to devour. Why she thinks diversity and representation are so important in historical fiction, and how she researched for this book. How she found the courage to stay the course with the long traditional publishing process, including her work with agents, editors, and desig...
Jan 13, 2022•53 min•Ep. 97
Episode 95: In this Equestrian Author Spotlight, you'll meet Lesley Baumann. You'll learn ... About Lesley's work as a graphic designer, nationally-known animal portrait artist, and entrepreneur. What inspired Lesley to write, illustrate, and design a children's book. J is for Justify is an alphabet book featuring 26 famous racehorses. How Lesley came to fall in love with the American Saddlebred breed. And MUCH more! Show notes: https://www.carlykadecreative.com/podcast.html Want a free guide to...
Dec 16, 2021•37 min•Ep. 96
Episode 94: Welcome to the Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast! In each episode, you’ll hear inspirational stories from horse book authors, including writing advice and marketing tips to help you write your own horse book. If you are an author, aspire to be an author, or simply love horse books, then you are in the right place! In this week's episode, you'll meet award-winning author, high school teacher, freelance writer, equestrian, and farmer Hope Ellis-Asburn. You'll learn ... Why Hope decid...
Dec 08, 2021•54 min•Ep. 95
