When you finish a book, you are supposed to have a short description that is pithy, immediately intriguing, and leaves that person begging for more. And you should be able to chirp it out at any opportunity. Like an elevator.
Here goes…
When most women go through a mid-life crisis, they start a diet, get plastic surgery or have an affair. My life went to the dogs…and horses…and llamas…did I mention happy hour with the goats?
My urban world came apart, so I took a leap of faith and crash-landed on a dilapidated would-be horse farm on the flat, windy, treeless prairie of Colorado. It was a place where white horses turn pink at sunrise and I didn’t have to worry about locking the back entry to the house, because the door was missing. The biggest social event of any week was greeting the trash man on Tuesday. And what should I do about the deceased llama in the laundry room?
It’s the story of my bittersweet transition from a mid-life orphan to a modern pioneer woman, building an entirely different kind of family farm.
It’s a start. Thanks for stopping by for the first post in this brand new world. I’m your biggest fan.
Anna Blake, Author 
I’m SO excited … for you, for us, for all the horses! Congrats on this new adventure!
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Yay, and look, you are the first comment here. No surprise, we have been blog friends for years now. Thank you.
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Love it. I will buy your book and read it with pleasure. I love reading real-life stories–especially when they have horses and strong women. (When available, can I get a signed copy pretty please?)
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Absolutely. Just as soon as I can.
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Anna Blake, pioneer woman in every respect. I am so excited for you!
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Thank you, Pat. Your input on my manuscript was invaluable. I’m so fortunate to have you on my side.
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you are the Anne Lamott of ranching. Seriously.
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I aspire… That might be the nicest compliment I have ever received. Thank you.
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I’m hooked. Can’t wait to read Stable Relation. Can’t wait for the book signings. Hurry, hurry pulishers, and get this book on the market!
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Thanks! I can’t wait either!
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I’m with everyone else….can’t wait!!! I am going to read it to my almost 34 y/o mare….or maybe I’ll just hang out with her while I read it! Seriously, your essay on the “Feel of Forward” left me speechless and I’ve sent it to my instructor and numerous rider friends. I also sent the essay on the emergency vet call for the Grandfather Horse to a number of people who are connected to my elderly mare. Thanks for the inspirational writing.
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Thanks, Amy. The memoir is different than my blog, but my favorite character in the book is my Grandfather Horse. No surprise there. I haven’t read it to him, but he has kept me on the job of writing it.
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I want to put in an order for a signed copy as well… :-). Reading your blog has been a godsend for me. We have much in common: Horses, dogs, llamas, goats, farm living… It has been amazing how I will have an issue in my important life (read “horses”), and you will post a blog that gets to the center of the issue and helps solve my problem….sure you are not clairvoyant??? Love the blog….appreciate how well you write and how you think…..want the book!
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It sounds like we are living a similar life… Hope you like the book, it is a bit different than the blog. Thanks, I’ll make sure you hear about it once it is on paper.
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Anna- Congrats on the book! It sounds like a book signing event(s) may be in order…. 🙂
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I hope so, Jewel. You don’t think it will happen in a barn, do you?
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I think you should have a book signing in a barn – what better place?:)
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None come to mind. Maybe I can do a world barn tour and come to meet you! (The donkeys roll their eyes at this.)
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My donkeys LOVE company, especially the baby. He would would be thrilled to host a book tour. Of course, he would want to “sign” all the books himself:)
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Yep, can’t wait for a signed copy – put me on the list. Oh yeah, a World Barn Tour (that needs some caps!) sounds perfect. I’ll provide the adult beverages and a bunch of horse women (and maybe even a guy or two) to buy your book. Florida is so nice in the winter….
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I’ve never traveled that far for a glass of wine, but then I never wrote a book before either…
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I can’t wait to be able to read it!
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Yay!
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This is the best news ever! Can’t wait to read, and re-read it!
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Waiting with bated breath to read your book. I am anxious to hold a printed copy in my hands. It is inspiring, this accomplishment!
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Me, too, my hands! Thanks, old friend.
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Anna, you rock, as usual. Anywhere to pre- order the book?
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I have submitted the manuscript and I await the imaginary bidding war in the cold silence…. I wish I could pre-order! (I’ll keep you posted when my fantasy life seeps into reality.)
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I want to read it! So there’s your validation of your elevator blurb. 😉
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Thanks!
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Anna, oh Anna…. in your words “When you finish a book, you are supposed to have a short description that is pithy, immediately intriguing, and leaves that person begging for more….” your blog is the definition of intriguing and from the first time that I read the post about Walter and Preacher Man I was hooked so I am sure that your book is a product of the same. (I am a city-girl with very little experience on the prairie who is owned by a corgi) and after reading about the pair I subscribed to your blog and have enjoyed every read of yours since.
I too am interested in reading your book and will continue to follow your blog because your writing is unique, truthful, inspiring and captivating.
KEEP (yes this did need CAPS) keeping on girl and filling the airways with compassion, honesty and truth in short snippets that we love!
P.S. How are Walter and Preacher Man?
Peace and Love ~ Cat
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Thank you, I so appreciate your words, Corgi sister. And there is no end in sight, no worries. And the Little Men’s gotcha anniversary is coming up!
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[…] an author, without a book, so I opted to share my quest for a publisher in the first posts on my author blog. It felt sticky and vulnerable, but I was lucky that so many of my horse/life blog readers signed […]
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