📖 Blog Tour ~ The Spirit of the Horse by Pam Billinge

 

Thrilled to host today's blog tour stop

Blackbird Books
16 March 2021

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of the book
and the invitation to the blog tour

The Spirit of the Horse is about following dreams, finding your truth and how much stronger joy can be when we learn to interconnect with all that is.

Sequel to The Spell of the Horse. Pam continues her exploration into the true nature of horses, their power to heal and the spiritual dynamic between human and horse.

‘When Pam follows her dream to a farmhouse with five acres in northern France, she is able to live alongside her horses for the first time. Here, in the heart of nature, deeper insights are revealed into the healing connection between horse and human and the incredible power of presence to transform. Might it be that learning to honour and communicate with another species helps us to reframe the way we perceive each other, as well as how we might see ourselves?

📖 My thoughts...

We learn so much from the way we interact with animals, their connection and in particular with horses, is what makes this such a special memoir. Author, Pam Billinge once again shares her experiences as she works with people who sometimes don't even know they need help, and by using her herd of very intuitive horses, she allows a profound closeness to develop using the instinctive nature of the horse to pick out those who are troubled. 

The book is divided into short chapters which make dipping into and out of the memoir such a joy to read especially as we learn the stories, sometimes of an individual, and sometimes from a group of people, all of whom have chosen to work with Pam in a professional capacity. I enjoyed reading through the case studies and marveled at how the horses helped in so many different circumstances.

I read this author's first memoir, The Spell of the Horse, and was impressed, not just by the calm way that Pam interacts with people, but also of her special connection with her horses which comes across in the joyful way she brings each to life on the page.  The Spirit of the Horse, however, is not just a series of case studies but is also about how the author searches within her own life experiences to find personal fulfillment and shows that sometimes the journey itself can prove therapeutic. 

I've always loved the gentle spirit of horses, there's something about the intelligent understanding in their eyes, and the quiet dignity of their presence, which draws me towards them. That the author has an infinity with these gentle creatures is without question, and sharing her undeniable skill, love and understanding with a wider audience is what makes this memoir something special.

About the Author

Pam Billinge is a therapist, coach and author who specialises in embodied horse-led learning. This unique approach relies entirely on the emergent relational process between horse and human. At her bases in the UK and in France, Pam supports people of all nationalities, ages and walks of life with their personal and professional development. Through her workshops and her writing Pam wishes to share the healing wisdom of horses whilst advancing the cause of this sometimes much-misunderstood species. She hopes also through her work to reconnect us with the natural world from which we are too often separated.

Twitter @pam_billinge

@Blackbird_Bks

The ebook is £3.99 and available on

Amazon smarturl.it/spirithorse

iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1550335216 [US link..]

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-spirit-of-the-horse

Review ~ Ten Poems about Horses from Candlestick Press

Jaffareadstoo is delighted to share this latest poetry pamphlet from

Candlestick Press

Candlestick Press
19 June 2019

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this poetry pamphlet

Poems that capture the beauty and magic of horses

The poems in this selection take us on an exhilarating canter through our friendships with horses. Along the way, we meet an edgy stallion waiting for his winter bale and a pony picking her way across paddocks after having her hooves trimmed:

“…she sidled through the silver air

pretending to shy at shadows

each hair of her coat

standing upright with joy.”

from ‘The Grey Pony’ by Dorothy Hewett

There are also encounters of a quieter kind – a moment lingering at a field gate as horses decide whether to come over and say hello. The poems beautifully illustrate that humans and equines are always equals. We can learn as much from them as they from us.

Alison Brackenbury is an award-winning poet who has kept and loved horses for most of her life.

Poems by Alison Brackenbury, Jane Commane, Tony Curtis, Sally Goldsmith, Adam Lindsay Gordon, Jen Hadfield, Dorothy Hewett, Geoffrey Holloway, Maxine Kumin and Robert Wrigley.

Cover illustration by Lizzie Ginbey and Barry Tottle.

Donation to Bransby Horses.

My thoughts...

Just a couple of weeks ago I watched a beautiful bay mare, with a glorious blonde mane, gambol and frisk in the sunshine. The horse was simply stunning, beautiful, so graceful, and filled with the simple joy of being alive, in perfect harmony with nature.

In this collection, Alison Brackenbury has made a clever selection of ten poems which bring to life this animal who has walked alongside us for so many centuries. With over a million horses in the UK trying to find ten poems which encapsulate this beloved friend must have been a mammoth task! But there are some real beauties:

Rebuke by Geoffrey Holloway

"...You stand etched in sunlight,
then slowly canter down;
wind ruffling the russet nap
of your coat, turning
your mane spiky..."

Last Horse by Alison Brackenbury

Once from long rides where hit hills rolled
to sun's glare, she would drift away.
Now, tail a flare, a melt of gold
she moved to me as at first day..."

Reading Ten Poems about Horses has made me smile and brought back happy memories when, as a teenager, I spent many Saturday's in a local stable, learning to how to ride and care for these wonderful animals.

As always, these beautifully presented poetry pamphlets make lovely gifts, and this one is absolutely perfect for those who love horses, however, with such a glorious selection to choose from, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

Candlestick Press is a small, independent press publishing sumptuously produced poetry pamphlets that serve as a wonderful alternative to a greetings card, with matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message. Their subjects include Clouds, Walking, Birds, Home and Kindness. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.

Connect: www.candlestickpress.co.uk 

Twitter @PoetryCandle

Review ~ Gift Horse by Jan Ruth

Kindle edition
September 2018

Caroline Walker’s daughter suffers a horrific riding accident. Her distraught parents wonder if she’ll ever walk again, let alone ride. And when Mollie’s blood group is discovered as rare, her husband offers to donate blood. Except Ian is not a match. In fact, it’s unlikely he’s Mollie's father.

Eighteen years previously, Caroline had a one-night stand with Irish rock star, Rory O’Connor. Caroline fell pregnant. Deeply flawed boyfriend, Ian, was overjoyed. And Caroline’s parents were simply grateful that their daughter was to marry into the rich, influential Walker family. 

Caroline turns to Rory’s friend Connor; and although his almost spiritual connection with his horses appears to be the balm she needs, Caroline cannot forget Rory, or her youth – both lost to a man she never loved. Eighteen years on and after surviving cancer Rory lives as a virtual recluse in the Welsh mountains. Through his well-meaning but interfering sister, he is shocked to discover he has a teenage daughter. Or does he? 

Someone has made a terrible mistake… someone is going to get hurt…

My thoughts about it..

I have a few writers in my arsenal of "go to" authors, those whose stories I know will never disappoint, and this author is definitely one of those who I know will never let me down and, her latest novel, Gift Horse certainly ticks all the right boxes. 

Caroline Walker's daughter has a dreadful accident at a riding event, a trauma which acts as catalyst for what follows in the rest of the story. Flipping effortlessly between past and present, the story gradually emerges of something which happened in Caroline's past, a youthful indiscretion, which will have repercussions far into the future. 

The story flows beautifully, not just around the characters, but also of the landscape around it. People and places merge, delivering a story of a traumatised girl on the road to recovery, the emergence of secrets long buried, and of the devastating consequences of the truth being revealed.

There's such a powerful connection to the characters that you can't help but form an emotional bond with them, some I liked more than others, and yet, they all bring an overall strength to the story, particularly, Connor with his tender care of the horses at the therapy centre, Rory with his laissez-faire attitude to life, and Ian, Caroline’s husband, who brought some powerful anxieties of his own into the story. Throughout the whole of journey is Caroline, fighting her own particular demons with a reserve of character which, I think, we would all like to have. I enjoyed her company immensely and hoped that everything would eventually work out for her and her family.

I read Gift Horse quickly over the space of a few hours, not because it was light on content, far from it, but because once started, I really couldn’t put the book down and needed to keep turning the pages until I knew just how the story would eventually play out. And yes, there were a few tears at the ending.

About the Author

Jan Ruth lives in Snowdonia, a mountainous area of North Wales, UK. Jan writes contemporary fiction about the darker side of the family dynamic, often blending life in rural Wales with a touch of city business. Her style is best described as fast-paced and realistic, with a sprinkling of dry humour. 

Jan is also an active member of her local RDA group (Riding for the disabled) and is an Assistant Equine Facilitated Learning Practitioner for the Welsh Institute of Therapeutic Horsemanship. In her spare time she enjoys riding and walking the Welsh hills; a constant source of inspiration.

Jan’s books are available globally via Amazon in paperback and for Kindle; and locally, you’ll find them in North Wales libraries and Hinton’s bookshop of Conwy.

Website

Twitter @JanRuthAuthor

Amazon UK

Author in the Spotlight ~ Hollie Anne Marsh

It gives me great pleasure to welcome the author

Hollie Anne Marsh

Photograph by kind permission

Welcome to Jaffareadstoo, Hollie. Tell us a little about yourself. 

I am from Australia and live in Barcelona Spain with my partner and adorable eighteen month old baby boy. For fifteen years I worked in marketing, working with well known brands such as Gillette, Nature Valley, Red Bull, Orange and Laurent Perrier champagne. I started writing at school and had a little dream to create a fun, new equestrian book series, a bit like the Saddle Club series or Babysitters Club with addictive characters. A bit like T.V. in a book for young (middle grade) readers. I studied a business / marketing degree, but I also chose some writing subjects at University and I enjoyed those classes a lot - particularly creative writing. 

How long have you been writing and what got you started? 

I started writing when I was about twelve. I had a wonderful teacher called Mrs Mclean. She was also our Principal and she was a teacher I remember as she encouraged me with my writing. I remember Mrs Mclean trying to persuade me to go into a writing career. Alas twenty five-ish years later I wrote a book! 

What inspired you to write the Sweetbriars Books series - and what can you tell us about your latest book that won’t give too much away? 

I decided to finish the first Sweetbriars book Leaving The City after having a baby in 2017. I was also working for a company and the job I had wasn't particularly creative. So I was keen to do something different and have some fun writing again. I created the story based on my experiences of living in England, where I trained two horses for dressage and participated in competitions. But the book is also inspired off all my experiences with horses (I started riding when I was eight years old), also from what my dream upbringing would have been - growing up on the wonderful Sweetbriars Farm.

Book two will be from the character Tabby's point of view. The fate of her poor horse Bliss and her loan horse Nancy will be revealed. Readers will also learn more about Tabby's glamorous mother and the mysterious neighbour Sophia.

Are you a plotter...or ...a start writing and see where it takes you sort of writer? 

I am a plotter however I learnt so much from doing this first book and working with a good editor in London. Next time I will plot the story again, but I also think it's good to leave room for 'seeing where the story can take you'... 

What do you hope that middle grade readers will take away from your stories? 

I hope that readers will not only find the books fun to read, but they will also be inspiring and help readers to learn more about horses. 

I also found that adults that love horses and animals are enjoying the story a lot, so that is very nice. 

How can young readers discover more about you and your work? 

Website: www.sweetbriarsfarm.com / readers can join the Sweetbriars Club to find out more information about the book, characters and also book two! 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hellosweetbriars 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hello_sweetbriars 

Twitter: @Hollieannem

Amazon UK

Here's a little bit more about Hollie..

Hollie Anne Marsh is an Australian author who lives in Barcelona Spain, with her partner, baby boy, and Oldenburg mare, Frieda.

Hollie has been riding since she was a little girl, enjoying activities such as Pony Club, show-jumping, eventing, and trail-riding in the great Australian bush. Hollie lived in England for almost ten years where she had two horses and trained them for dressage.

The Sweetbriars series is inspired by all the special moments Hollie spent with horses... good, funny, and challenging moments!

Huge thanks to Hollie for sharing  the details of SweetBriars: Leaving the City  with us today and for giving such a wonderful insight into her writing life.

Blog Tour ~ The Spell of the Horse by Pam Billinge

Jaffareadstoo is delighted to be hosting today's stop on The Spell of the Horse Blog Tour

I am delighted to introduce the author

Pam Billinge

Hi Pam and welcome to Jaffareadstoo. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to write The Spell of the Horse?

I live and work in Wiltshire, I am a horse-led coach and psychotherapist. I am bonkers about horses, not from a sporting point of view - I don't compete. I just love being with them and riding out to explore the world in harmony with them. I follow a "natural" approach to training and managing my herd and try to fit into their world as much as I expect them to fit into mine. I love the outdoors, nature, animals, good food, dancing and reading (mostly fiction and memoir). My latest achievement is learning how to get my jam to set - although I did so well I think I could probably use it tore-tile my bathroom.

In 2013 I had to rebrand my business, I offer what I call embodied horse-led therapy and learning to companies and individuals - I will say a little more about that shortly. The consultant I took on to help me with the branding exercise interviewed me on Skype to find out about me and what I do. He started by asking me almost the same question as you have Jo, "Tell me a bit about yourself and how you came to support people with your horse-work in the way that you do?"

We initially scheduled one session of about an hour but the time passed quickly and we had barely scratched the surface. We arranged another, then another and finally a fourth conversation. I got through quite a lot of hankies during each call because I couldn't answer "how did you come to do what you do?" without pretty much telling him my life-story, and in particular the story of how I came to understand what I do about horses and their ability to heal us. And how they healed me. When we were done he said straight out "Pam, you should write a book." I laughed. I had never written anything, apart from a few short articles and blogs, although I had always loved English at school. Writing a book could really not have been further from my mind. But over the months, the seed he had sown began to grow and take shape and the following year I began to write.

Without revealing too much what can you tell us about the book?

At its core, I would say that The Spell is a homage to horses and also to the human spirit. I tell my own story of how horses helped and healed me, through some really tough times, and also stories of transformation which those who have worked with me and my herd have experienced. But really it is not about me, or them. It is about how anyone can transcend the kind of life challenges we all experience at some point or other, like loss of self-belief, rejection, grief, redundancy, trauma and go on to live with purpose, joy and love. And most of all it is about the true nature of the horse and how they guide us to be true to our spirit.

Whilst writing, The Spell of the Horse did you learn anything which surprised you either about yourself, your clients or your horses?

Oh yes! Writing The Spell was as much of a journey as the life I lived in order to be able to write it. Mostly I learned about myself, although the reflection needed to tell the stories did also bring me an even deeper appreciation of the amazing nature of horses, and of the courage shown by my clients in tackling the issues that they do.

Getting the first draft completed was an epic journey with real troughs of self-doubt, fear of failing and being judged. It took a long time before I dared show my work to anyone and I kept telling myself that I wouldn't ever publish, just to make it OK to carry on in the face of my fears. When I did find the confidence to show a couple of people that I trusted, who worked in the publishing world, I was amazed when they told me it was really good and I should carry on. What helped me to find the courage to do that was really my work with clients, which is all about helping them to believe in themselves, and live without fear. If I was going to do the same, I realised, I owed it to myself and to them to get on with it and take my book seriously.

Once I had secured a publishing deal, and fine editing began, a new world of personal learning opened up. Not just about the technical side of writing -but about what my writing revealed of myself. In particular noticing which words I had "overused" in my text. These tended to be words which I realised I also used a lot in daily speech. For example words like 'slightly’, ‘less', 'almost’, ‘just'.....perhaps I was not living or communicating with as much clarity or confidence as I liked to think....that was the one of the things I took away.

Finally the process of publishing has connected me with real feelings of vulnerability. Showing my authentic self so openly to the world. I’m learning still to trust that by becoming vulnerable in this way will bring me strength, and I hope that I will inspire others to be true to themselves in the same way.

Your style of writing is very much 'from the heart'. Did this take its toll on you emotionally, and if so, how did you overcome it?

That is a great question Jo and so insightful. Yes it took a huge toll on me even when I was in final editing stages and knew the copy back to front. Since writing my book I hold anyone who writes a memoir in total respect because I know they have gone through the same process. Because of the nature of my work, as a psychotherapist, I was fortunate to have experience already of how to look after myself emotionally - lots of quiet peaceful time in nature, good food, sleep, exercise, fresh air. Being really kind to myself. Only doing as much as I knew I could deal with on that particular day. And of course my beloved horses, being with them always brings me great peace and comfort, whatever is happening in my life. It is like they connect me into a universal power source - I always leave the herd with renewed energy and heart.

Again, without giving too much away, what do you hope readers will take away from The Spell of the Horse?

I hope that readers will see themselves differently and that they can make different choices about how they live their life, if that is what they need. I hope that they will know horses differently, in all their depth, wonder and value to the planet.

Take a look at the other blog tour stops

My thoughts about The Spell of the Horse

There's something very special about our relationship with horses. For so long we relied on them, they helped to manage our daily lives in such a way that the symbiosis between us runs deep and is forever. In The Spell of the Horse the author reiterates this message time after time and shows just how the perfect cooperation between horse and human can be used to therapeutic effect.

Anyone who has ever had contact with horses will find an immediate connection, and will completely understand the unique spell of the horses in this book. The author writes about this association with fine attention to detail, her special affinity and deep respect for horses shines through with every well written word and every emotional connection.

I think what this book also shows is that it’s not just about galloping horses across feathery fields, or kicking up surf along the water’s edge, as sometimes the most valuable healing comes from just being in close proximity to one of these magnificent creatures. Anyone who has ever stroked the soft face of a horse and looked into the quiet wisdom of its eyes will know exactly what I mean. There’s comfort to be had in standing quietly in a horse’s stall, just listening to the quiet munch of hay, or hearing the stamp of restless feet and the judder of breath.

I can easily understand how the author wanted to share her work and the value of what she does is boundless. The Spell of the Horse is not just about the value of horse led therapy, it’s also a fitting tribute by someone whose love and respect for horses shines through this book from start to finish.

You can find out more about Pam on her website

Visit on Facebook 

Follow on Twitter @pam_billinge #HorseSpell

@Blackbird_Bks

My thanks to the author for being my guest today and to Stephanie and Rosalie at Blackbird Digital for their kind invitation to be part of the tour and for providing an e-copy of 

The Spell of the Horse.

~***~

Review ~ Centaur by Declan Murphy and Ami Rao

Doubleday
Transworld
April 2017

What's it all about..

Coping with your own death, when you are not yet dead, is a strange thing...

A natural on a horse since he was able to walk, and imbued with a pure love of riding, Declan Murphy became one of the most brilliant jockeys of his generation before his world came crashing down at the final hurdle of a race at Haydock Park in May 1994.

What did I think about it ..

I love horses. The power of them, their shadowy grace, the sheer exhilaration of watching them move, muscles rippling. However, I also have a healthy respect for them, they scare me a little, which is why I was never an over confident rider.  Now I'm older, I can't watch horse racing and I can't even bring myself to bet on the Grand National because I don't want to see either the horse or jockey fall and be injured. The image of a horse and rider going down is frightening, especially when you remember that 1,200lbs of muscle and bone is cutting through the air at tremendous speed.

In May, 1994, at Haydock Park racecourse, just a few miles from where I live, jockey, Declan Murphy was catastrophically injured when, Arcot, the horse he was riding in the 2:30 afternoon race failed at the last second to clear a hurdle. The race had been running for just 3 minutes and 27 seconds when Declan's life changed forever. Transferred to one of the best neurological specialist hospitals, The Walton Centre in Liverpool, twenty eight year old Declan's life hung in the balance.

Centaur charts Declan's long, slow journey to recovery.

I have no words to do justice to this story other than to say that I am in awe of the power of the human spirit, the sheer strength of determination and the perseverance which Declan needed in order to pick up the pieces of his shattered life is awe-inspiring.

Beautifully written by Ami Rao, Declan's unique affinity and special relationship with horses, from his childhood spent in Ireland, through to his natural ability to race horses and win, comes across with every well-chosen word. That Declan is speaking and recounting what he can barely remember, because after the accident he lost chunks of his memory, is never in any doubt. I could sense Declan's strength of spirit in every well uttered sentence, and his unique personality in every eloquent turn of phrase.

Declan's perfect symbiotic relationship and understanding of horses lies at the very heart of the story and despite the catastrophic injuries he sustained at Haydock Park, even when his own steely determination was the only driving force keeping him alive, his abiding love for horses never faltered.

I read Centaur in less than a day, travelling in Declan's footsteps on an inspirational journey, with tears shining so brightly in my eyes that at times I couldn't see the print. I had to stop and take frequent breaks in order to breathe, only to be impatient, after a few minutes, to pick up the story once again.

At the end of Declan's story I felt emotionally wiped out and completely overwhelmed by this story of a man who, with all the odds stacked against him, just wouldn't give up. Truly inspirational.

My thanks to Alison at Transworld for giving me the opportunity to read and review this amazing story.

Follow on Twitter #Centaurbook

~***~

Review ~ Strawberry Sky by Jan Ruth

The Midnight Sky Series - Part 3
April 2017

What's it all about...

A rosy future seems certain but Laura has some tough decisions to make.

Maggie is devastated by her daughter's plans, but Jess is determined to remove the past from her life no matter the upset it will cause. James is no longer running from his past, but a multitude of unresolved issues are set to catch up with Laura.

As an orphaned foal and a motherless teenage girl slip seamlessly into her life, are they key to a positive change or an omen for impending danger? Armstrong is a troubled young man and a trail of minor events ends in a catastrophe no one could have predicted. Can the family ever recover, or should they simply trust in destiny?

What did I think about it...

For those readers, who like me, who have followed the Midnight Sky series from the beginning returning to the lives of James and Laura in this final part of the trilogy is like coming home after an absence and hoping that once the door opens a warm welcome from loved ones will await you inside.

Despite the catastrophic events which occurred in book two, James and Laura are getting on with their lives together, they share the ups and downs of running their successful equestrian business and even though their objectives clash on occasion, there is always the noticeable warmth and passion of the love they share. For Laura's sister, Maggie, life is less accommodating and Maggie’s flighty daughter, Jess once again proves that she only has her own selfish interests at heart by leaving her mum, Maggie and dad, Pete, to care for her baby. A situation which is fraught with worry as Maggie and Pete try desperately to keep their own lives from spinning out of control.

As always, this clever author gets right into the intricacies of life, and with warmth and wisdom draws together the final strands of a story which has seen much action take place. Those who have followed the story will know just how bumpy a ride it has been for James and Laura, certainly the path of their true love has never been allowed to run smooth and neither has the complex family drama which seems to have shrouded Maggie and Pete’s lives from the very beginning.

Strawberry Sky once again draws on the author’s love of horses and it is in the moments of equestrian housekeeping where the story becomes truly fascinating. The lure of horsemanship and the remarkable power of an animal’s spirit to heal those who are damaged are so well explained that I almost wish I could take a trip to James and Laura’s new equestrian centre to see the set up for myself.

Of course, the story is not just about horses; it’s about love and healing, it’s about tragedy and misfortune. It shows both the best and the worst of human nature, but ultimately, what shines throughout is the power of really good story telling by an author who knows just how to draw readers into a story and what’s more important, keeps them reading page after page, and it must be said, leaves them always wanting to read more.

Best Read with...sweet and tender Welsh strawberries and a sparkling glass of strawberry pink prosecco 

About the Author

Jan Ruth writes contemporary fiction about the darker side of the family dynamic with a generous helping of humour, horses and dogs. Her books blend the serenities of rural life with the headaches of city business, exploring the endless complexities of relationships. 

Amazon

You will find the Kindle copy of Strawberry Sky on Amazon UK 

Find Jan on Facebook, Follow on Twitter or visit her Website



Read an interview with Jan here

Huge thanks to Jan for sharing Strawberry Sky with me.

~***~

Author Guest Post ~ Jan Ruth

I am delighted to welcome back to the blog the author

Jan Ruth

Photograph courtesy of the author

Hi Jan, I'm really pleased to welcome you back to Jaffareadstoo and I'm excited to learn that your latest novel Palomino Sky is newly published.

What can you tell us about Midnight Sky and it's sequel, Palomino Sky ?

The power of Self-belief versus Fear…

Horses have been a lifetime’s passion for me. No surprise that they feature in most of my novels, more so in MIDNIGHT SKY and PALOMINO SKY. Both books draw on the principles of horse-whispering and the power of self-belief – but I take on this theme in a fictional sense rather than a technical sense.

Monty Roberts’ father was virtually destroyed by his son’s belief in ‘horse-whispering’, as a far more humane and less exhausting method of breaking and training horses. It’s no secret that Monty took a severe beating for it.

A remarkable man, Roberts went on to foster disadvantaged children, using much the same wisdom and insight he’d learnt through studying horses and their social groups in the wild. It’s too easy – and often misguided – to bestow animals with human emotion, but maybe trust is rooted in the same place in humans as in horses, and observation and interpretation is all that’s required to make a valuable connection, regardless of language. And isn’t whispering usually far more effective than shouting? Much the same as writing good fiction; and if we’re talking analogies there’s nothing worse than clunky dialogue. Is Natural Horsemanship simply natural dialogue?

It’s so easy to swamp the narrative with too much unwanted detail. And yet, it’s the minutiae of life which underpins the storyline in PALOMINO SKY. As with horse-whispering, it’s the observation of perhaps something seemingly inconsequential which can change an entire situation. If you’re not horse savvy or enjoy only a passing interest, I’ve tried to portray the equine aspect as secondary to the storyline in these books. On the other hand, horse enthusiasts will hopefully embrace the setting!

MIDNIGHT SKY

How can we harness the future if the past will not set us free? An emotive story of love, loss and letting go. Opposites attract? Laura Brown, interior designer and James Morgan-Jones, horse whisperer - and Midnight Sky, a beautiful but damaged steeplechaser.

Laura seems to have it all; glamorous job, charming boyfriend. Her sister Maggie struggles with money, difficult children and an unresponsive husband. She envies her sister’s life, but are things as idyllic as they seem?

She might be a farmers daughter but Laura is doing her best to deny her roots, even deny her true feelings. Until she meets James. But James is very married, and very much in love, to a wife who died two years ago. They both have issues to face from their past but will it bring them together, or push them apart?

Part One:  Midnight Sky 99c/99p

PALOMINO SKY

Part Two of The Midnight Sky Series

A golden promise for the future in a lonely palomino mare, but life deals a cruel hand for James and Laura.

James is still running from the past after the loss of his wife, and a devastating accident forces him to face his final demons, but at what cost? Laura is forced deeper into his rural world - a life she once despised - but discovers empathy and hope in the palomino mare she calls Song.

Repercussions abound for Maggie too, when the full extent of her daughter's dangerous liaison comes to light, leaving the entire family in turmoil. Will James and Laura ever find a golden future, or has life dealt too vicious a blow?

Part Two: New Release: Palomino Sky



Extract from Palomino Sky:

He took her hand, pulled her gently towards the bed and she kicked off her shoes and lay with him, and a million answers seemed to come out of nowhere. When she went to kiss his cold face, his mouth found hers and it was impossible to deny the essence of such sweet hiraeth when it was so simple, so perfect. The fact that this was happening on the sleigh-bed sent the ghost of Carys to another dimension entirely. For some inexplicable reason, she felt the need to exhort her feelings about this woman above all else. Her voice sounded strangled with the words, but she had to get them out somehow, like an exorcism, like opening Pandora’s box. She rested her forehead against his. ‘I gave the rings to Sam.’

‘I seem to remember saying, several months ago, that he could have them.’

‘Imagine if… I don’t want Jess to have her ring. Ever.’

A long considered moment of silence followed, and she wondered how much he understood of the situation, the significance. All of it, from his expression, but she knew for certain he was moved by her disquiet. Perhaps it didn’t matter where the future of the rings lay. They were only a small piece of the picture, and more importantly, Carys wasn’t even in the picture. Somehow this woman had shifted to become her guardian angel of the future, and even in her ethereal form she carried a certainty that everything in the universe could be changed and strengthened by love, whether it was historical or not.

After a moment she said, ‘What made you go off on Mal like that?’

‘Something Jess said about not letting that scum Armstrong win. And it was something you said about fear, months ago. I thought, if I couldn’t get below nine I’d be stuffed. It was your fear scale for getting on Tyler.’

Since he didn’t offer a number, she lowered her head to his chest in much the same way she’d done in the hospital, willing him to breathe. ‘What was wrong with Clive, the thoroughbred?’

‘Nothing. Blind in one eye and possibly deaf in one ear. Frightened he’s not getting the full picture. A bit like me.’

‘Could you work with him? What would you do?’

‘Blindfold him, so he’s not getting conflicting images. Teach him to use his other senses.’

‘Should I do that to you?’

He almost laughed and it was such an unexpected sound she turned to look at his face but he had one arm across it. There might have been a tear too, so she laid her head back down. ‘After being kept alive by a machine, I’d like you to know you have an amazing beating heart.’

‘Debatable.’

‘And so does this place. Have a heart, I mean.’

‘Now you’re really stretching it. Have you seen the state of everything? It looks like they’ve had a demolition derby.’

‘You might listen to Clive but you’re still not hearing me, are you?’

‘I am,’ he said, and paused to study his disjointed hand. ‘Dad used to say horse whispering was nothing to do with whispering, it was all about listening. So, go on, cut to the chase. I’m listening…’

©JanRuth

About the author

You an find more about Jan on her website

Find her on Facebook

Follow her on Twitter @JanRuthAuthor

Huge thanks to Jan Ruth for sharing this tantalising extract from Palomino Sky with us..

All her books can be found here 

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The author in my spotlight is ....Linda Chamberlain

Linda Chamberlain

Author of 

The First Vet

CreateSpace Independent
Publishing Platform
2014

Linda ~ a warm welcome to Jaffareadstoo and thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions...

How long have you been writing and what got you started?

I’ve been writing forever. Well, since childhood. Doesn’t everyone find it easier to jot something down rather than say something? Ideas, thoughts even jokes have been known to flow from me if I’m holding a pen but ask me to tell you a story to your face and I might freeze. 

Such a personality made me the ideal candidate for a career in journalism so that’s where I headed straight from school. It was wonderful and they paid me for doing what came easily. Journalists don’t have to talk about themselves because they are always asking questions but the writing style is clipped and efficient. No editor will ever ask you to describe the clouds in great detail and so turning to fiction from such a background wasn’t easy. 

The average news story will be a few hundred words. My books are about 100,000. I never like to think about that when I start a new one because the length is intimidating. 

But you asked what got me started on fiction? It was the need for financial independence. I felt a little lost when children came along and made a career in journalism hard to hold onto. By the time my youngest started going to football training, he was dutifully followed by his mum and a laptop. I never missed a training session, got a lot of writing done but, to my credit, didn’t miss a match or a goal.

What can you tell us about The First Vet that will pique the reader's interest?

Apart from it’s a darned good book, of course! Personally, I love books that have some facts at their disposal so that by the time you get to the end you are so intrigued that you start thinking beyond the story and want to know more about the thread underlying it. So, make yourself comfortable and let me tell you about one of this country’s first vets and why he was such a remarkable man worthy of the status of hero in a romantic novel. His name was Bracy Clark and he gave up a promising career as a surgeon in order to become a student at the newly opened veterinary college in 1793. It was all about horses at that time – sorry, Jaffa, cats didn’t matter, unfortunately. Horses were central to our economy and we were losing them more at home through ignorance than were being killed in the revolutionary wars. 

So, Bracy took a huge risk to help the horse because no one had heard of a veterinarian in the late 18th century and this new breed of animal doctors would have everything to prove, suspicion to overcome. You can already tell he was a self-sacrificing, wonderful man, can’t you?

But just as Ross Poldark had to deal with the wicked George Warleggan, Bracy had his own real-life nemesis to thwart in the guise of Professor Edward Coleman who ran the veterinary college for more than 40 years. He was charming, well liked and extremely well connected but, according to my man and a few historians, he was an ‘unmitigated evil’. The charges against him are many. He shortened the veterinary course to just three months. Fact. He allowed unsuitable pupils. Quite possibly. For the sake of the student fees that were going into his own pocket. Ah, an intriguing allegation. He died a very wealthy man and this gave credence to the claim of corruption. 

Since Bracy, as well as a few periodicals at the time, ran with the story in print, I saw no reason not to do the same. So this is the background to my historical romance - a story of love and corruption. Bracy has a few horses to ride, just like Poldark, but without the sea. He also has a few animals to save and a woman to convince. 

Are you a plotter...or...a start writing and see how it goes, kind of writer?

Plotters! I try not to talk to them. I certainly wouldn’t play chess against them. They know what’s happening, before it’s happened. Nothing surprises them. Be wary of them, Jaffa, they probably know what’s going to be in your food bowl tonight. History hasn’t been kind to people who plot so that’s probably their excuse. So many plots; so many executions.

No, I’m the type of writer who has great difficulty organising the book launch party, seems to get there in the end but has forgotten to write a thank-you-for-coming speech and has to wing it on the night. Faced with a new novel to start, I introduce my blank mind to a blank page. I have some characters, a bit of a story, possibly some historical research and off we go. There are huge disadvantages to this approach. The manuscript needs to be rewritten many, many times. Inconsistencies have to be spotted, ironed out; characters have to be honed. To be honest, I envy plotters and their dreadfully tidy, organised lives and their ability to get their tax return in before the deadline. 

What do you hope readers will take away from the story?

Bear with me because this is about the welfare of horses. Bracy Clark was an animal rights campaigner before we ever coined the phrase. He campaigned for better treatment of these animals; he was against heavy loads, whips, spurs…and horse shoes. Shoeing horses with metal and nails is the issue I have slipped in without anyone noticing. The non-horsey reader won’t even know there are welfare concerns about this age-old practice but it’s dividing the equine world and has led to much vitriol as well as prosecutions. I’m only going to intrigue you…not bore you, so I won’t tell you more. Anna Sewell popped a welfare issue into Black Beauty – the bearing rein which forced horses to hold their heads high but caused pain and injury. She told a good tale, sold an enormous number of books and did some good. So, I would like my readers to enjoy my story but also consider whether clip clop should, in future, become pad, pad…

Huge thanks to Linda for sharing her thoughts so eloquently. 
Jaffa and I have loved having you as our guest on the blog today.
We wish you continued success with your writing.

My review of The First Vet can be found here.

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