Hello, kind folks!
The Great Red Horse: A Colt is Born just got its first reader review, and it was 5 big, bright stars!
THANK YOU!
This is a great story, well written, with fun illustrations. It tells the
true story of UC Ringmaster, a Morgan stallion born at UConn. Follow
him on the beginning of his journey. Even though I know the horse's
story well, I'm looking forward to the next two books!~sfstearns, Amazon reviewer
Here is the Amazon link to purchase:
The Great Red Horse: A Colt is Born on Amazon
Also, the American Morgan Horse Association is offering it in their online store, go here and support a wonderful organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the Morgan horse:
http://www.amhamarketplace.com/product-p/red-horse.htm
If you are interested in a signed book, I got you covered!
I will be doing a book signing at the Willimantic Food Co-op, 91 Valley St., Willimantic, CT on Saturday, June 27 from 10am to 2pm.
The Willimantic Food Co-op supports local farmers, artisans, cheesemakers, etc etc etc--and they support local authors as well! BIG SMILE! More than just a place to get food (and really good coffee)--the Willimantic Food Co-op is a community treasure.
The Willi Co-op currently carries both of my books on their shelves.
Here is their website:
http://www.willimanticfood.coop/
And one more link--have you joined my Facebook yet? No? Well, here it is! Click "like" and get all updates, don't miss a thing!
https://www.facebook.com/helenscanlonofsoundthebuglestudio
Okay, that's enough links to keep ya busy...
THANK YOU so much, wonderful readers! Your support and wonderful words inspire me!
Monday, June 15, 2015
Friday, May 15, 2015
PUBLISHED!
The day has finally arrived!
The Great Red Horse: A Colt is Born is HERE!
It is currently available through createspace at this link:
https://www.createspace.com/5345198
Soon, it will arrive in select bookstores and on Amazon.
Thank you EVERYONE for supporting me and cheering me on. This book could not have happened without you!
"I promise to write a beautiful book for you."
~Yours truly to UC Ringmaster, November 11, 2012. He left us the next day.
Promise kept.
The Great Red Horse: A Colt is Born is HERE!
It is currently available through createspace at this link:
https://www.createspace.com/5345198
Soon, it will arrive in select bookstores and on Amazon.
Thank you EVERYONE for supporting me and cheering me on. This book could not have happened without you!
"I promise to write a beautiful book for you."
~Yours truly to UC Ringmaster, November 11, 2012. He left us the next day.
Promise kept.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Final desgn: DONE
The front and back cover are completed--and I must say, my book designer hubby Steve chose a super-fun font! It's cute and playful, just like a foal. He really knocked this one out of the park. Steve has the perfect (and rare!) blend of artistic sensibility and techno-expertise. I know how lucky I am, believe me.
Not only is the final design in the bag--the files were uploaded to the publisher, and the publisher just gave the green light for publication!
Wow!
The next step is to order proofs and get them to my selected test-readers.
Thanks to my editor, friend and champion, Nan King, for convincing me to write and illustrate a children's book. What a great idea--now I am hooked. I have two more Great Red Horse books to finish, and another on the back burner. The bug bit me!
And, thanks to YOU for sticking by me and cheering me on!
Not only is the final design in the bag--the files were uploaded to the publisher, and the publisher just gave the green light for publication!
Wow!
The next step is to order proofs and get them to my selected test-readers.
Thanks to my editor, friend and champion, Nan King, for convincing me to write and illustrate a children's book. What a great idea--now I am hooked. I have two more Great Red Horse books to finish, and another on the back burner. The bug bit me!
And, thanks to YOU for sticking by me and cheering me on!
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Initial design and layout: DONE
...onward to the cover design.
When that is all done, I order some proofs and get them to my "test drivers" and my editor.
More specifically, I want to see how their children enjoyed the story. Kids can be a tough audience--I know I was--so I want them to be big part of the final creative process. They may tell me that the story dragged in one part, or maybe they want to see more dragonflies....You can never have too many dragonflies!
Then, after that, the book is released to you, my kind readers. Thank you for being there with me, cheering me on! The Great Red Horse: A Colt is Born is so very nearly done.
The final page count is 45. Here are two of them in InDesign. *big smile*
When that is all done, I order some proofs and get them to my "test drivers" and my editor.
More specifically, I want to see how their children enjoyed the story. Kids can be a tough audience--I know I was--so I want them to be big part of the final creative process. They may tell me that the story dragged in one part, or maybe they want to see more dragonflies....You can never have too many dragonflies!
Then, after that, the book is released to you, my kind readers. Thank you for being there with me, cheering me on! The Great Red Horse: A Colt is Born is so very nearly done.
The final page count is 45. Here are two of them in InDesign. *big smile*
Friday, March 20, 2015
Design phase....
The Great Red Horse: A Colt is Born, the first two pages on InDesign: (wow! WOW!)
My second book, and the first book of the Great Red Horse trilogy, is coming to life. Many thanks to my talented and amazing design wizard husband, Steve, for being so brilliant.
I can't wait to share this book with all of you! Many hours of writing, rewriting, illustrating, illustrating some more, editing, etc...now it all comes together.
Thank you for being there, cheering me on! It won't be long now....
I would like to share the book's dedication. Was it written for you? I do believe it was! Read on:
I can't wait to share this book with all of you! Many hours of writing, rewriting, illustrating, illustrating some more, editing, etc...now it all comes together.
Thank you for being there, cheering me on! It won't be long now....
I would like to share the book's dedication. Was it written for you? I do believe it was! Read on:
Dedication
To all who knew and loved UC Ringmaster, The Great Red
Horse.
To all of the children who love horses and books.
To all of the grown-ups who found freedom on the back of a
horse.
To all who know the magic of horses.
This book is for you.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
DONE DONE DONE!
The Great Red Horse: A Colt is Born is DONE. No more edits, no more drafts, no more illustrations.
My Indesign wizard book designer now has everything. Magic awaits!
Thank you everyone for cheering me on in this journey.
Oh, here's the cover image--young Ringmaster and his dragonfly friends:
THANK YOU, friends!
My Indesign wizard book designer now has everything. Magic awaits!
Thank you everyone for cheering me on in this journey.
Oh, here's the cover image--young Ringmaster and his dragonfly friends:
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Updates, updates, updates!
Why the heck haven't I updated this blog in forever?
Well, I've been busy writing a bunch of books. *smile*
First things first: The Great Red Horse is now THREE books. Yup. My work tripled in the blink of an eye. How did that happen, you ask?
You see, I made bacon cheeseburgers for my creative team, sat 'em down, and recited the WHOLE first draft of The Great Red Horse to them.
After I was done, Bruce looked at Steve. Steve looked at Bruce. Silent.
Then, they looked at me.
"What?" I implored.
"You wrote too much for one book," Bruce replied.
"I agree," Steve added.
"I...what?"
Bruce continued. "It's easily three books. Make it a three-part series. One book is too long."
"You can have part one be his youth, part two his show career, part three his legacy," Steve said. Brilliant. Can you see why these two are on my creative team?
At first I thought: aw man, I thought I was almost done with this book! But, that thought was soon replaced with: WOW, this is going to be FUN.
So, that's where I've been--writing THREE books. Wait, hold up--FOUR books. I am also working on a book on the UConn Polo program.
Sure, it's a lot of work--but if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.
The Great Red Horse: A Colt is Born is the first book, and I am shooting for a spring 2015 publication. WATCH THIS SPACE!
Even more updates, read on:
So, yesterday--the sun was out, the sky was a brilliant cerulean, and there was a hay-scented autumn chill in the air--a perfect day for an author photo shoot with The Great Red Mare!
Here I am with UC Serendipity, a Reserve World Champion daughter of The Great Red Horse himself, UC Ringmaster. Many thanks to Megan Thompson of Depot View Farm for lending your beautiful farm and your beautiful mare. 'Dippy' is thirty, and is full of spark and spunk. She still owns that Champion energy and grace!
My husband Steve took A LOT of photos, and if you have ever tried to take photos of a horse in a field of grass, you will know how challenging it is to get that horse to 1) lift her head up and 2) stop munching for two whole seconds and 3) perk the ears just so. A lot to accomplish, and Steve did brilliantly!
We were able to get a couple of really nice shots. Dippy was a doll and lifted her head and perked her ears just so--but didn't quite get the whole "stop munching for two whole seconds" part down. And you know what? It's totally wonderful because I LOVE THIS PHOTO for so many reasons:
1. We look like we are having a lot of fun, because we are.
2. I love a chestnut mare that is not shy about expressing her love of green, succulent grass. Yummy nummy!
3. Her expression says JOY, pure and simple. Joy of life, of friends, of home, of fun, of laughter, of good eats.
4. My expression also says JOY. I love this horse. She is my kind and generous friend. She is my wise and patient teacher.
5. It's a great photo for a children's book--because it's cute, it's funny and it says so much about the nature of horses: They delight us and make our lives whole.
Steve also captured this lovely shot:
At the end of the shoot, I gave Dippy her head and let her put her face in the deliciousness all around her.
This photo shows us relaxed and simply enjoying our time together.
Horses remind us to be in the moment; to appreciate that sometimes the simplest things are the most profound and bring us the most happiness: sunshine on our faces, time with friends, a beautiful day, and---yummy snacks.
Thank you for cheering me on, everyone! What an amazing journey this has been so far!
Enjoy some sun on your face today.
Helen
Well, I've been busy writing a bunch of books. *smile*
First things first: The Great Red Horse is now THREE books. Yup. My work tripled in the blink of an eye. How did that happen, you ask?
You see, I made bacon cheeseburgers for my creative team, sat 'em down, and recited the WHOLE first draft of The Great Red Horse to them.
After I was done, Bruce looked at Steve. Steve looked at Bruce. Silent.
Then, they looked at me.
"What?" I implored.
"You wrote too much for one book," Bruce replied.
"I agree," Steve added.
"I...what?"
Bruce continued. "It's easily three books. Make it a three-part series. One book is too long."
"You can have part one be his youth, part two his show career, part three his legacy," Steve said. Brilliant. Can you see why these two are on my creative team?
At first I thought: aw man, I thought I was almost done with this book! But, that thought was soon replaced with: WOW, this is going to be FUN.
So, that's where I've been--writing THREE books. Wait, hold up--FOUR books. I am also working on a book on the UConn Polo program.
Sure, it's a lot of work--but if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.
The Great Red Horse: A Colt is Born is the first book, and I am shooting for a spring 2015 publication. WATCH THIS SPACE!
Even more updates, read on:
So, yesterday--the sun was out, the sky was a brilliant cerulean, and there was a hay-scented autumn chill in the air--a perfect day for an author photo shoot with The Great Red Mare!
Here I am with UC Serendipity, a Reserve World Champion daughter of The Great Red Horse himself, UC Ringmaster. Many thanks to Megan Thompson of Depot View Farm for lending your beautiful farm and your beautiful mare. 'Dippy' is thirty, and is full of spark and spunk. She still owns that Champion energy and grace!
My husband Steve took A LOT of photos, and if you have ever tried to take photos of a horse in a field of grass, you will know how challenging it is to get that horse to 1) lift her head up and 2) stop munching for two whole seconds and 3) perk the ears just so. A lot to accomplish, and Steve did brilliantly!
We were able to get a couple of really nice shots. Dippy was a doll and lifted her head and perked her ears just so--but didn't quite get the whole "stop munching for two whole seconds" part down. And you know what? It's totally wonderful because I LOVE THIS PHOTO for so many reasons:
2. I love a chestnut mare that is not shy about expressing her love of green, succulent grass. Yummy nummy!
3. Her expression says JOY, pure and simple. Joy of life, of friends, of home, of fun, of laughter, of good eats.
4. My expression also says JOY. I love this horse. She is my kind and generous friend. She is my wise and patient teacher.
5. It's a great photo for a children's book--because it's cute, it's funny and it says so much about the nature of horses: They delight us and make our lives whole.
Steve also captured this lovely shot:
This photo shows us relaxed and simply enjoying our time together.
Horses remind us to be in the moment; to appreciate that sometimes the simplest things are the most profound and bring us the most happiness: sunshine on our faces, time with friends, a beautiful day, and---yummy snacks.
Thank you for cheering me on, everyone! What an amazing journey this has been so far!
Enjoy some sun on your face today.
Helen
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