<—YAY!!

It’s BEYOND exciting to see my name on the line up for EQUINE AFFAIRE’S YOUTH PAVILION. I’m still in shock that the amazing Coagi Long invited me. I REALLY thought she had meant to email someone else when I got the note.

Back in 2007, when TAKE THE REINS sold, I learned about EA and knew that I wanted to go. But I lived in Florida at the time and money was tight. Plus, there was NO WAY that I would be able to afford a booth there.

So, every year I followed the event on Twitter, IG, Facebook–you get the idea. 😉 I was sooo jealous of everyone who had attending or was planning to go. I distinctly remember sitting on the floor by my bed and telling myself that when I “made” it, I would go to EA.

Here’s a snipped of Coagi’s email:

“We will be celebrating our 50th event this fall in Massachusetts and would like to pay tribute to the authors of children’s horse stories –both past and present– as they have indefinitely influenced the lives of many horse people. As an accomplished author of the “Canterwood Crest” series, we’d like to invite you to join us to present your books in a session at Equine Affaire.”

Now, I’m not only able to attend this event, but I get to be part of the super cool Youth Pavilion. I’m working on my talk now although I usually speak on the fly.

I’m also working on perhaps the MOST important thing: my outfit! 😀

So, if you’re in West Springfield, MA on Sunday, November 16th, come see me at 11am. I’ll be talking and signing CANTERWOOD books, CHARM and ARISTOCRAT Breyer models, and UNICORN MAGIC books.

I’m beyond thrilled to be able to meet one of my Elite Team members–Miss Juliet! She and I are working on a TOP SECRET HORSE PROJECT together. 🙂 You guys are gonna L-O-V-E it, trust me! I’m going from EA to Juliet’s home and stable so we can work on TSHP. But . . . there’s one tiny little thing about going to Juliet’s that makes me want to jump up and down . . . we are going on a trail ride!!! She’s going to pick the quietest mount for me and even though we’ll likely only walk, I’m grinning now at the thought of being on a horse again. I haven’t ridden since last Christmas with Lexi.

Aside note about the riding: I’ve been reading a TON online about people who had have spinal fusions and still ride. Now, mine gets a little more complicated because 12 inches of my back is fused–not just a vertebrae or two. Plus, my right elbow is shot. I had to neck rein in CA because even tugging gently on the reins hurt like crazy. I don’t want to push it and potentially end up in a wheel chair and/or tear up my arm even more, BUT I am going to see a spinal doctor. I’ll get an MRI and figure out if pleasure riding is something that I can do more often than once or twice a year. We’ll see! END of side note, sorry! 😉

I’m truly honored to be speaking at this event. I mean, THE Bonne Bryant spoke there not long ago. I hope that I catch a little of her magic and can write hundreds of horse books.  It’s also surreal that Pat Parelli and David O’Conner will be there. Both have Sunday clinics so I’m definitely getting to the arena when the doors open at 9:30 to see David’s seminar.

There were over 100,000 participants at EA last year. I hope a fraction of all of those people are Team Canterwood members! If you’re coming, comment below or Tweet me!

xoxo