tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85889931758029303812024-03-15T21:10:09.402-04:00Saver of MemoriesReading, Writing, HorsesHelena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.comBlogger262125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-49451314895565437282022-03-16T08:00:00.001-04:002022-03-16T08:00:00.198-04:00Introducing: Helena Š. George and The Lost Bard of Taliyaven<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The name is George. Helena Š. George.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There, I've said it. Some of y'all might already know this. But perhaps others are unaware. And there are still more who call me by my penname by choice (which I'm totally cool with).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But it's time to let y'all know: I'm stepping away from the penname. "Julian Daventry" was created back when I first started blogging as a way to be safe on the internet. But now I'm a published author, and I published under my own name, and I'm worried it'll confuse people to have the two names floating around.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">With this announcement comes one big change: I'm moving to another blog. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">From now on, be sure to check out </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://helenasgeorgeauthor.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Druhý</a>, my new home in the blogosphere.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And, ESPECIALLY, check this new blog out today, because I am releasing the blurb for my latest and greatest release, <i>The Lost Bard of Taliyaven</i>. If you enjoy epic fantasy, you won't want to miss this one!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So. Until we meet again. *hugs*</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-86957993343469544182022-01-26T08:00:00.001-05:002022-01-26T08:00:00.183-05:00The Red War Annals<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">So....what is <i>The</i> <i>Red War Annals</i>??</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Firstly, it's a series that I started writing in 2015. I didn't intend for it to become the grand story that it currently is. I simply wanted to try a new outlining style, and shoved together a couple loose plots and characters that I had lying around.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Secondly, it's gone through a <i>lot</i> of revisions over the years, but the core plots and characters have always remained.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thirdly, the first two books release this year!! Keep your eyes and ears open for cover reveals, release dates, and more. :)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So. What sort of questions do you have? What would you like to know about <i>The Red War Annals</i>? Drop your questions below, and I'll answer them in a blog post. :)</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-2389597908535241092022-01-19T08:00:00.001-05:002022-01-19T08:00:00.190-05:002021 Wrap-Up<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I didn't get to do everything I wanted to this year. I missed out on fun trips. I had to cancel plans. Work was stressful and even had me in tears. Life gave me a thorough beating and completely wore me out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But there were good things, too, and I should not forget them. Life may look perfect when all you see are the picture, but there are trials and troubles people don't share online. And life may feel dark and dreadful, but there are always moments of genuine happiness and contement.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And, though it all, the good and the bad, is God's great Providence, giving me what I need, what I can bear, and what is good for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">January </span></b>we cleared the horse trails (they close for hunting season), had a dusting of snow, and made exciting plans for the new year. I even got my dad to come and join us on a trail-clearing expedition!</span></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUmhkiC0VRaGm18Lnt3MaTRQWmq_nhPkexML2raz7rOjuPlXfSWvTrxw2B2X5e1eVe5JZgl-3tD-6ads4FlVhmBYSD6hgqXQ4WYbdKOshVwKOoOxBqS12ZGoqkuvkxm66SSFmCgyOJbUNRIxsIXVaie81_IoCZTFRgKEJUs5NNUDr4O-oo7oO0tqe9=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUmhkiC0VRaGm18Lnt3MaTRQWmq_nhPkexML2raz7rOjuPlXfSWvTrxw2B2X5e1eVe5JZgl-3tD-6ads4FlVhmBYSD6hgqXQ4WYbdKOshVwKOoOxBqS12ZGoqkuvkxm66SSFmCgyOJbUNRIxsIXVaie81_IoCZTFRgKEJUs5NNUDr4O-oo7oO0tqe9=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the tiny patches of snow beside the road...that's about all the snow we got all winter!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">February </span></b>I practiced mounted archery, got farm work done, and struggled through a few days of icey rain. Mars, Sarah, and I also got together and went for a hike and chatted about all sorts of things.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2o4Lxk7OJj_6mnZseOYr0gNLN5AFJvUj5pgOeKWTA1Kk1E9jtvfqerMM9wpmaXEqzSFDuMf4qdHcAutOzOkKTwQLbJv85UA0RUtRRkr81FXzAFStZkwYh6pYdu3hOVjC_xgdbuoOrprFyGcMh5cJx9AUSmefpr4xEMSOwXXZJau5CGMqgf2-QWTdy=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2o4Lxk7OJj_6mnZseOYr0gNLN5AFJvUj5pgOeKWTA1Kk1E9jtvfqerMM9wpmaXEqzSFDuMf4qdHcAutOzOkKTwQLbJv85UA0RUtRRkr81FXzAFStZkwYh6pYdu3hOVjC_xgdbuoOrprFyGcMh5cJx9AUSmefpr4xEMSOwXXZJau5CGMqgf2-QWTdy=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This park has lots of memories...Ride and Tie races, ultra races, and now a lovely hike with friends.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">March </span></b>I finally purchased a cozy, one-person tent, all for myself! I also went on a camping trip with some dear friends. We had days of farm work, nights of music jams, and afternoon trail rides.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCaCTSbYBxxOb9pO4LXgEYzR0McYmOf61JfHEFFT_iM3wacAfT7E8pf6nhSgfEAmlZHVMSzEQvKqeIgICGm6txxiNsGmTOEtWoSgMHQyB3oq5jYVggkpplK4v5ShK7xTNYbTp1kUm1b9zPp2KLJ3GvuHvfsNNeEnu1rNmlpLNffdgQ3Rl75aJOuDUI=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCaCTSbYBxxOb9pO4LXgEYzR0McYmOf61JfHEFFT_iM3wacAfT7E8pf6nhSgfEAmlZHVMSzEQvKqeIgICGm6txxiNsGmTOEtWoSgMHQyB3oq5jYVggkpplK4v5ShK7xTNYbTp1kUm1b9zPp2KLJ3GvuHvfsNNeEnu1rNmlpLNffdgQ3Rl75aJOuDUI=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our motley crew of horses and ponies!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">April </span></b>I got to go to the beach for a business expo (hotel and food paid for, oh yeah!) and spent way too much money on swords and knives (in my defense, the store sold a lot of used weapons/armor from the nearby Medieval Times dinner theatre). A friend and I also did a 10 mile Intro Race with Shadow and Pepper, and had a lovely time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhL8FHNzS2OQfwlr9T_0wdvEfQCp46HOd-YdapBfA63iR68kImQ5W9H9iQHxGL89bRHejO0TYAuST76KQujR9fLqRi00KR-4n4onhAAZtWix1BYNwJmcJz6A5q15lVHq1wN-3HOQxnJIYCenJmP86qrJ4B6Pow20rq_Q7PphyqHq2-kVHPPLswJ8zIK=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhL8FHNzS2OQfwlr9T_0wdvEfQCp46HOd-YdapBfA63iR68kImQ5W9H9iQHxGL89bRHejO0TYAuST76KQujR9fLqRi00KR-4n4onhAAZtWix1BYNwJmcJz6A5q15lVHq1wN-3HOQxnJIYCenJmP86qrJ4B6Pow20rq_Q7PphyqHq2-kVHPPLswJ8zIK=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not really a beach person (give me the mountains any day!) but I did enjoy standing in the water and looking for pretty shells.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In <b><span style="font-size: large;">May </span></b>we had our yearly Presbytery meeting, and my congregation was hosting this time around. Which meant all my church family came to town!! <3 We had church meetings, picnics, hikes, psalm sings, music jams, and rainy-day ultimate frisbee games.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq874lyiZu8vFV5o2P_teF8X9SNssNbQGnh8XpwMR-QOKYctiXl0f7FLmFSJPAtAIZ6CDsWt88nbKWrn1r3qaUlPa_oa68yYaCKgTPDHcPUDJSoXDBQ7rEagcnSKUpIMIeCVKkxv_zWttOBgtKyGC9fV7B6GYD-hgf460lUfS5Z-WIb3fnvR6h3GT2=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq874lyiZu8vFV5o2P_teF8X9SNssNbQGnh8XpwMR-QOKYctiXl0f7FLmFSJPAtAIZ6CDsWt88nbKWrn1r3qaUlPa_oa68yYaCKgTPDHcPUDJSoXDBQ7rEagcnSKUpIMIeCVKkxv_zWttOBgtKyGC9fV7B6GYD-hgf460lUfS5Z-WIb3fnvR6h3GT2=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got a photo of me and Max during one of the Presbytery hikes.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In <b><span style="font-size: large;">June</span></b>, we had a scare at work, where a customer hit a nearby state-owned building, breaking some pipes. Air was wooshing out, someone thought they smelled <i>gas</i>, and the place was cleared before it blew up. (Turns out it was just regular air, and there was no danger.) I went horse camping with my sister and a friend. And the cook at the restaurant gave me a kitten (don't ever say "oh, I love kittens" when someone mentions their cat had kittens).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO6YCIFCiWPwK181RqW-DYkUs7pQE7KmsWns-gUROiQYreHLkS_rIpoKxOht5NSe_2THbbF2cR16lk6eYYRTzNrU7N23RRrCcl90YR6VbLQR25zEcUQYp9W1iv6I-tAehCgAfCyhtYDs3Um1ae7TWKGqa6gJyoXcJlQzu7G5RVRTjkpLJqkMK10A_r=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO6YCIFCiWPwK181RqW-DYkUs7pQE7KmsWns-gUROiQYreHLkS_rIpoKxOht5NSe_2THbbF2cR16lk6eYYRTzNrU7N23RRrCcl90YR6VbLQR25zEcUQYp9W1iv6I-tAehCgAfCyhtYDs3Um1ae7TWKGqa6gJyoXcJlQzu7G5RVRTjkpLJqkMK10A_r=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny little Sammy. If you've been following my Instagram, you've probably gotten to see him grow up, lol. He makes regular appearances.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, <b><span style="font-size: large;">July </span></b>was REALM MAKERS!! Sarah and I drove together and had a lovely time. The courses were amazing, I got to meet some amazing people, and Order of the Pen Press had a book table. I cosplayed as Hadrian Blackwater, and got to have a drink at a bar while in full costume.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIlrhbqTs86Rck9rVtfSGWTYlZe0FHzIjUi-umpWkOkSsJucQ2RIi7jSXRuGqgX83TibCPZcEWLSoxLiRigFdmh_GAzJr6kfMzAboA-wE5Ac3iYULXzcektet1wQ6PZxPv2z1gbpJbye4KYr3DulMoPitOIdwZWRWEUAdNOaTprpZU3q_ovOIWEN6V=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIlrhbqTs86Rck9rVtfSGWTYlZe0FHzIjUi-umpWkOkSsJucQ2RIi7jSXRuGqgX83TibCPZcEWLSoxLiRigFdmh_GAzJr6kfMzAboA-wE5Ac3iYULXzcektet1wQ6PZxPv2z1gbpJbye4KYr3DulMoPitOIdwZWRWEUAdNOaTprpZU3q_ovOIWEN6V=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't know that getting a drink at a bar while in full costume was on my bucket list, but apparently it was, and now I've crossed it off. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">August </span></b>was full of conditioning trail rides, and at the end of the month, Shadow and I completed our first 25 mile endurance race. We also lost a lot of employees at work, and I was working over 50 hours a week.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiV9UWG3XWe2-Xz1jG9Em5_xTZn1LovJQ79NI6IYq-JlfttPGZVz5LmPNtnlJq61cMQNklZI3oH2CfM8JWqz4_irsAAGwtTwDpztYYJsIOQZLIcYTe9Y8Ac9RL5LcOm3W9NOqNDL6twBRQlh6gak_JbhQ0n0j3jDuSlrTnWrNlwGzVzjn6rFqiEclV=s1226" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="1226" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiV9UWG3XWe2-Xz1jG9Em5_xTZn1LovJQ79NI6IYq-JlfttPGZVz5LmPNtnlJq61cMQNklZI3oH2CfM8JWqz4_irsAAGwtTwDpztYYJsIOQZLIcYTe9Y8Ac9RL5LcOm3W9NOqNDL6twBRQlh6gak_JbhQ0n0j3jDuSlrTnWrNlwGzVzjn6rFqiEclV=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our race photo. Temps were close to 90 degrees. But Shadow did great, and was still ready to go by the end of it. He handled everything quite well, and I'm very proud of him.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I organized my Ride and Tie race in <b><span style="font-size: large;">September</span></b>, and also turned in my work notice. The month was full of stress, attempting a horse trip in OH (that didn't happen), getting the race course ready, and making sure the job would be okay with me gone. Pepper raced both days in the Ride and Tie, and carried his teams to a second place finish (out of four teams) both days. And while the eagerly-awaiting OH trip didn't happen, I did go hiking in the Blue Ridge with Mars and Sarah (and we saw a bear, which was cool).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht_R1phTmB0G0TxFdSwcvw83sPUqzOqDCiZeISxj-vaNmhjOfGK6Hdx4J8yHiOIOYVyEQ3Demu0Eyu-Jc6jh3ADc8yVrZvzm9601qSBWqxxl_k7YGQCJs9PKBESttiTZW_eyn05bdOTYcptgYBcHS3taiaYtx5YeXRmA0gwY5PquCAN2rUGVqrVXsn=s5184" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht_R1phTmB0G0TxFdSwcvw83sPUqzOqDCiZeISxj-vaNmhjOfGK6Hdx4J8yHiOIOYVyEQ3Demu0Eyu-Jc6jh3ADc8yVrZvzm9601qSBWqxxl_k7YGQCJs9PKBESttiTZW_eyn05bdOTYcptgYBcHS3taiaYtx5YeXRmA0gwY5PquCAN2rUGVqrVXsn=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pepper really is such a lovely horse...he gently carried a youth team the first day, and then kept a fast speed on day two, fighting with a half-Arab for the win (he only slowed on the final uphill...gravity works against him, haha).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite my worries, <b><span style="font-size: large;">October </span></b>was relaxing. I went on a family trip and didn't have to stress about work. I caught up on piddly things I'd pushed aside because of work/riding/writing. And I went hiking in the mtns with my family.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeEE3-6YhCtXueGnLd-RxTeDRcan9T0RX8eKssBSqIViYsCUgGNGCZw_8TWlAEYBhH_yAISYysEcFdpzK_su6ijpSydRtZSsFx7rHdNYRt2mej4zoOaUuBCECjLSyApkevgrGphC95vZD5qCr9mypVvO5gGf7uuYiUmlTuM7gkm-826eZD0BRQespS=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeEE3-6YhCtXueGnLd-RxTeDRcan9T0RX8eKssBSqIViYsCUgGNGCZw_8TWlAEYBhH_yAISYysEcFdpzK_su6ijpSydRtZSsFx7rHdNYRt2mej4zoOaUuBCECjLSyApkevgrGphC95vZD5qCr9mypVvO5gGf7uuYiUmlTuM7gkm-826eZD0BRQespS=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of the mountains with brother and sister.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I started a new part-time job in <b><span style="font-size: large;">November</span></b>, working at a friend's bookstore. I also began helping out at my dad's shop. Some dear friends came to visit for Thanksgiving, and we all went out to the Zoo and a horse auction. (Guess where we got to see a Zebra up close? Hint: not the Zoo...) I also did NaNo, and did a mash of drafting new scenes for Lost Bard and starting on a secret OotP project.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0jrVJBZz_SGHXj-KS_neSQRS8pQISYVBdrqQInH-L2IlIjheY_8Ef0VLdm6FDPkYMOJRpjRLqKrTY7XRMedvqPZ25atGWAWFLNh9Fb9yWPqOXT1txnKfqV4jVL6DWMt3rz3IP7X2BsBy8jP2IXe_XGsGy2iYDXzm6NznLJXTgp3cnqrL8q5jEq2Vi=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0jrVJBZz_SGHXj-KS_neSQRS8pQISYVBdrqQInH-L2IlIjheY_8Ef0VLdm6FDPkYMOJRpjRLqKrTY7XRMedvqPZ25atGWAWFLNh9Fb9yWPqOXT1txnKfqV4jVL6DWMt3rz3IP7X2BsBy8jP2IXe_XGsGy2iYDXzm6NznLJXTgp3cnqrL8q5jEq2Vi=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That awkward moment when the local horse auction sells...a baby zebra...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And <b><span style="font-size: large;">December</span></b>, the month of wrap-ups. I finished up on my goals, settled into my jobs, and got to hang out with Sarah and Joe. We strolled around town, watched Joe snowboard on what little man-made snow was out on the mtns, got coffee and tea, and went bowling. A perfect end to an interesting year!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuWe4qC_42VsrXorDvRZGw6fylLwpjMSianxL1QRnpfRq4UK4pNmTUpbAef-p11ipLWNIlzEhJ5wtquKQhGrnOXPne5b74tk8ojLPcgDvP4IVIUCTaAr1TFcnNlY12tCQvezX6CuJaHsCXJVTKwzzMWMCaMgYy7TeDr0-9pMGmEwwjnezDuMIIRIms=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuWe4qC_42VsrXorDvRZGw6fylLwpjMSianxL1QRnpfRq4UK4pNmTUpbAef-p11ipLWNIlzEhJ5wtquKQhGrnOXPne5b74tk8ojLPcgDvP4IVIUCTaAr1TFcnNlY12tCQvezX6CuJaHsCXJVTKwzzMWMCaMgYy7TeDr0-9pMGmEwwjnezDuMIIRIms=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Planning some epic things for the next few years!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-64348268579416561232022-01-05T08:00:00.001-05:002022-01-05T08:00:00.176-05:002021 Recap (Goals)<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">2021 has been quite a year, and I can't believe it's over. All things considered, it was a pretty nice year. Good and bad, like usual. That's part of life, I guess.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But did I reach my goals?? Hmmm..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Read 100 Books</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So this is my goal <i>every </i>year, and at first I was worried I wouldn't reach it. Normally my family takes a long trip or two (basically to Presbytery, and then another church conference), but Presbytery was hosted by our congregation this year and we didn't go to the conference. Usually I get a bunch of reading done on those trips.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not sure if it's "cheating" or not, but I also added up the full-read-through edits and the proof copy read-throughs for the three books we released. That boosted my book count a bit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I still had to sit down and do some speed-reads at the end of December. But I made the goal, if barely.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I do have a wrap-up post coming with my favorite reads of the year. :)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Compete in an Endurance Race</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been wanting to do an endurance race for years, but a few things always stopped me, namely the time limits and the fact that my main horse is a chunky Friesian. But after getting Shadow the Paso last year, I figured the time had come.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And yes, Shadow and I completed two races this year. We did a 10 mile "Introductory Ride" in April, and then completed an actual 25 mile race in August. Shadow did great, and I also have a blog post about that. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Drive Pepper 3 Times</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I ground drive a lot, especially when I don't feel like riding or want to change things up for the boys. But actually hitching up the cart? Much harder. The cart is heavy and awkward, and getting the shafts in place by myself is a PAIN. But I did manage to hitch up 3 times and drive around for a bit. Pepper is always such a sweetie, and every time I drive I think "boy, I should do this more often" lol.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Quit My Job</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sad that I had to make this part of my "yearly goals" but I had to. I loved the job, and appreciated my bosses, and met some really great people (coworkers and customers), but it was stressing me out and also taking way too much of my time. People would call me when I was at home, and even on Sundays, and I even spent a good hour or two at Realm Makers making phone calls. And none of that was paid for, since I'm not salary, nor was I able to clock in for those times.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I put in my notice in September, and have since begun working part-time at a friend's bookstore, and part-time with my dad's repair shop (again).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Publish Sins, Sons, and Siren Songs</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Publish Rumors, Reunions, and Revenge</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Publish Rogues, Royals, and Raiding Roc</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you might know, all three books have been published, and are available on our website and Amazon!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'll be back next week with my 2022 goals!</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-61529264592399884372021-12-22T08:35:00.009-05:002021-12-22T08:35:00.201-05:00Journey Before Destination<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>I did my first endurance race this year. </b>And while it was really fun and I have TONS of great memories and stories from that day, do you know what I also have?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even more great memories and stories from all the training rides I had to do to achieve that goal of finishing the actual race.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEUQ5E0dvmXYRQ5-PLhk1XGljpSR0NjoMZ6RFwo3QOW4QsQQHrczovVpDDGU-09CHR6wF527CgG1VIoH6rEJ8fNrqyuS4olYZPqAf-p48i95_Fh_1kvxc7Q32I-mDha-iI33BpKow5fqIcXeTesyd94Z62w3cuv7toA1KcgyvWNaSYEHMqNLelo_kd=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEUQ5E0dvmXYRQ5-PLhk1XGljpSR0NjoMZ6RFwo3QOW4QsQQHrczovVpDDGU-09CHR6wF527CgG1VIoH6rEJ8fNrqyuS4olYZPqAf-p48i95_Fh_1kvxc7Q32I-mDha-iI33BpKow5fqIcXeTesyd94Z62w3cuv7toA1KcgyvWNaSYEHMqNLelo_kd=w360-h640" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like the day I was supposed to do an out-and-back on the trail, and got bored and just rode home instead of back to the parking lot. We rode through the "downtown" area (just a post office and hardware store, really), passed by the local winery, and along the train tracks. Lots of fun!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then the day I went into the nearby "big city" and did the 7 mile loop around the lake. I hadn't been there in years and it was so fun to do it again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Or the day I did the most popular trail section and trotted the whole trail, breezing past big groups of trail riders while playing dramatic soundtrack music on my phone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid2IKJuz7aKQ22xh-Kp9oQe2DYccq7MynrLOvUDieGowkAGuEa4f2ZHcEvPMtgcYwPpRfCQ3BT6J4R3VjkpzsJlOBUjF2wIWvLvrbIvjQjFre5xR5V5x3GsDyo1pjf5GSzVICgF_6IpiRLD4pmFG4RgdtihDsWPAt3kTqczjodldlMA6-Jx0cMntZy=s596" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="339" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid2IKJuz7aKQ22xh-Kp9oQe2DYccq7MynrLOvUDieGowkAGuEa4f2ZHcEvPMtgcYwPpRfCQ3BT6J4R3VjkpzsJlOBUjF2wIWvLvrbIvjQjFre5xR5V5x3GsDyo1pjf5GSzVICgF_6IpiRLD4pmFG4RgdtihDsWPAt3kTqczjodldlMA6-Jx0cMntZy=w364-h640" width="364" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Or getting together with friends and just racing along for a few miles, laughing and enjoying the horses.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The race comes for a weekend and is over, but the conditioning rides will continue.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>We published more books this year.</b> I can't believe Sarah and I wrote and published an entire series. How cool is that?? Even better than release day, though, are the memories made during the journey.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting our "dis"sertations from Mars Evan, and the laughter and merriment that ensues.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Talking with Sarah over the phone and getting way too excited about a character or plot thread we just came up with or figured out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Writing or editing a scene and just...GRINNING SO HARD BECAUSE IT'S PERFECT.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>"Journey before destination" is one of the core statements of the Knights Radiant order in the Stormlight Archives.</b> SA is a series I read this year, and really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But journey before destination really hit me, because I feel it. I have done a lot of journeying this year. A lot of my goals have been made, but in other ways, I'm still travelling. I'm still journeying, and haven't quite reached my destination yet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If the journey lasts longer than you expected, don't give up. After all, it's not the destination that changes you, <b>it's the journey you take along the way.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>It's nearing the end of 2021. </b>A lot of us are looking at the goals we had, and some of those goals...they haven't been reached yet. Some might have been tossed out the window completely. We're not where we expected ourselves to be a year ago, for good or for bad.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm here to tell you: <b>embrace the journey, no matter how long or hard it is.</b> Look back and see how you've grown. See what has changed. See what progress, however big or small, you've made, and be proud.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dare to dream big for next year. Dare to try something new. Dare to challenge yourself, push yourself. And accept the journey laid before you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Journey before destination, y'all.</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-51775309623772375612021-12-14T08:35:00.001-05:002021-12-14T08:35:00.157-05:00NEW RELEASE: Rogues, Royals, and Raiding Roc<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Today is the day...the final Pirate Hunter book is out in the wild. You can grab your copy off our website <a href="https://www.orderofthepenpress.com/product/rogues-royals-and-raiding-roc-signed-paperback-pre-order/10?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE </a>or order from Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09M7H8K58?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_3&storeType=ebooks&qid=1637791280&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6wO156LfBXEzHci_XWFmDpzBGvb1wR2NG9KNLhcw2WPctWbI-C922UfQodcFZ-1Teocze_-mAw1xHyxxuLbMBG5dOgAn7lKscH9mq4j-vqlwXUA7OrDliDIA-5DdMleDY6zJNpBxAPKXesqOZNrNXktQAa4pCJzyAALxoXVuE4a4hrsddlq1X1975=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1346" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6wO156LfBXEzHci_XWFmDpzBGvb1wR2NG9KNLhcw2WPctWbI-C922UfQodcFZ-1Teocze_-mAw1xHyxxuLbMBG5dOgAn7lKscH9mq4j-vqlwXUA7OrDliDIA-5DdMleDY6zJNpBxAPKXesqOZNrNXktQAa4pCJzyAALxoXVuE4a4hrsddlq1X1975=w421-h640" width="421" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I want to take this opportunity to thank our amazing team of beta readers, Chloe and Samantha especially. Thanks to your help, your encouragement, your advice...these books are complete and published. To everyone who read these books, who left reviews, who cheered us on...thanks, from the bottom of my heart.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>What is the book about?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two queens fighting for a throne.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A king returns to his home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And the master of the seas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Three years, and Pirate Queen Bonnie Clearwater still sails the seas. She continues to evade the pirate hunters, and her army only grows stronger until it threatens the whole Alliance of Kingdoms. In a desperate move, Captain Adi sails to the east to look for allies before her cousin begins to march across the kingdoms, one by one.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meanwhile, Ravin must do the impossible—return to his home country of Arrothray and gain the leadership of the del Mankayl assassin clan. After running from his past for years, the time has come to confront the truth behind his family name.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Red Wind Legends were once fire-side stories, told by sailors, parents, and travelers. But they continue to grow, wild and free, like the seas themselves. As the Alliance makes a final desperate stand against the Pirate Nation, the legacy of the Master of the Seas holds the key to victory.</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-86626509460999743742021-10-20T11:00:00.002-04:002021-10-20T11:00:00.203-04:00Tabor Cover Reveal!<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">I first read Golgotha earlier this year (and fell in love with the cover much, much earlier, lol). And then I beta-read the sequel, Tabor (also earlier this year).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">AND HERE I AM WITH A LONG-AWAITED COVERRRR</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE3hMHM9QW08iAq0k81_cLQwH1rgWGPtT8OMAGdAm7AOdcOOBv-2rDNGcYM4fB66GwDFlqjgh000b9k_TBLn90g0vi_hAioyys0ccwPixkbJsBZr7eeh5PpvUEBk_S8Xw8wORV9i66sQ/s2048/Tabor+eCover+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE3hMHM9QW08iAq0k81_cLQwH1rgWGPtT8OMAGdAm7AOdcOOBv-2rDNGcYM4fB66GwDFlqjgh000b9k_TBLn90g0vi_hAioyys0ccwPixkbJsBZr7eeh5PpvUEBk_S8Xw8wORV9i66sQ/w266-h400/Tabor+eCover+%25281%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tabor is the second book in the Remnant Trilogy, and it was really fun to read! A diverse cast of characters (from noble Finn to roguish Gunnar to sweet Ama)(and EPIC MORAY) and some exciting plot twists!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(Maybe I should do mini reviews more often...that totally sold y'all, right??)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyways, here's the official blurb:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>Five ragtag friends must close the Rifts between the Realms before an ancient war snuffs out all innocent life for good.</b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>King Finnigan’s kingdom is crumbling—traitors plot in his midst, a witch has fled execution, and enemies attack allied lands. When Rifts form between Golgotha and Mazzabah, the ragtag remnants must close them before the ancient warlock, Shafiq, takes control of the realms.</b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></p><p><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></b></i></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>With darkness engulfing both realms, the group parts ways to seek answers about the histories and what can be done against Shafiq. But what they find changes everything. If they can’t fight the darkness, Mazzabah will be lost, and so will every innocent life left behind. But to survive the ancient war, they need help. And with more help comes more traitors.</b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG1H6UzNc_dnUovWNgQhbRs0pqESOL4Fi4ikJ4btLg_Fv9OesHfVOlgJ15GUZxdMBc2ALrhRn3u8cOxu21W86KJHVDZiX04TeZ-H3g-bp-AozhqnB5jj6XpOM-GgqG0MLc0ijvCB8PiY/s1080/BookBrushImage-2021-10-19-10-4954.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG1H6UzNc_dnUovWNgQhbRs0pqESOL4Fi4ikJ4btLg_Fv9OesHfVOlgJ15GUZxdMBc2ALrhRn3u8cOxu21W86KJHVDZiX04TeZ-H3g-bp-AozhqnB5jj6XpOM-GgqG0MLc0ijvCB8PiY/w400-h400/BookBrushImage-2021-10-19-10-4954.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Preorders open today and all receipts can be sent HERE. Just be sure to do it before 11/15!! The first thirty pre-orders will get:</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> a map, character cards, a bookmark, a customized note, and an <i>exclusive </i>monster art print!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLw-aIDAFhr7EEeOAIHBFJha3SMyAjILwuzfjeE87rntUwDxvB1qBDrQzJhoAbXE2d28uaqndIfNjeLnVx7S7frdl9s5kJiliZXuDCItFyKlE8Lm_1rDsf11WN7HwrjOVAL4bOkBIDgY/s1080/PREORDER+SWAG.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLw-aIDAFhr7EEeOAIHBFJha3SMyAjILwuzfjeE87rntUwDxvB1qBDrQzJhoAbXE2d28uaqndIfNjeLnVx7S7frdl9s5kJiliZXuDCItFyKlE8Lm_1rDsf11WN7HwrjOVAL4bOkBIDgY/w400-h400/PREORDER+SWAG.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also, TWO readers who preorder and submit their receipts will be entered to win signed paperbacks of Golgotha and Tabor AND a scented candle inspired by one of the characters (as well as the swag previously mentioned).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For the record, these two books look absolutely beautiful together. I have both covers below as proof. :)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMH_jqxw_94p-KbsTuD0lve-1O-PXuw-3SgAebhAdVpAcs4YdXQvZHFKmtIuTFDNKCScjLoH_m4gDCEjWYS-o-xGe3TDyzJ1xnh8o0NboGswmGxOA5hTwmfWxlcYBk4Jv2gUYDHROAJRo/s2048/Tabor+eCover+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMH_jqxw_94p-KbsTuD0lve-1O-PXuw-3SgAebhAdVpAcs4YdXQvZHFKmtIuTFDNKCScjLoH_m4gDCEjWYS-o-xGe3TDyzJ1xnh8o0NboGswmGxOA5hTwmfWxlcYBk4Jv2gUYDHROAJRo/w266-h400/Tabor+eCover+%25281%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwQKUAjsxbu8wF6u2bcFYLOLX3WHJYx__Yyn5KrJfAJkN4cj3V3YtFNn3RgWmexKcXei_vls73zMNf2Fu1nB2PrRuzjr_OO22-8bYgi2upFLSBONM8goe3EvEzaF-Qb_DIL3oXNWuHig/s475/57635571._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwQKUAjsxbu8wF6u2bcFYLOLX3WHJYx__Yyn5KrJfAJkN4cj3V3YtFNn3RgWmexKcXei_vls73zMNf2Fu1nB2PrRuzjr_OO22-8bYgi2upFLSBONM8goe3EvEzaF-Qb_DIL3oXNWuHig/w268-h400/57635571._SY475_.jpg" width="268" /></a></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-16793625121805467942021-09-08T17:43:00.001-04:002021-09-08T17:43:04.175-04:00Rumors, Reunions, and Revenge - OUT IN THE WILD<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Beware everyone - krakens have been released!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rumors, Reunions, and Revenge is now out and available to purchase off the Order of the Pen Press website, as well as on Amazon (ebooks and paperbacks).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you like adventure on the high seas, dangerous sea creatures, a touch of ocean magic, and found family...you will love the Pirate Hunter Chronicles!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpqFiElX5RwK2nriJ07U1tTBNa-vpsDrjoBYqA3x8wLS5wA59PVjN1MFzcPXB_Ct0t12xuXvsGZYn2BYHGZu9WuMtlc9U6AzfWxzkHVTrDJKR6u0RCBI4sppuqETJu5FJ5ttY27ITGwc/s1080/BookBrushImage-2021-8-20-11-3625+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpqFiElX5RwK2nriJ07U1tTBNa-vpsDrjoBYqA3x8wLS5wA59PVjN1MFzcPXB_Ct0t12xuXvsGZYn2BYHGZu9WuMtlc9U6AzfWxzkHVTrDJKR6u0RCBI4sppuqETJu5FJ5ttY27ITGwc/w400-h400/BookBrushImage-2021-8-20-11-3625+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG0aYNfJte9PgmIimAbRr6TW4JzTye_ompkDtljct_MUG61zzy0WcGLc8kfw6JyVmA9aMnXgmuZjfFrKERuH7FAHsJ8Ax7b77_Sr35csqa0-xKDzrZssc4FDeenMB5toQFd8DD_niP84/s1800/Chapter+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDG0aYNfJte9PgmIimAbRr6TW4JzTye_ompkDtljct_MUG61zzy0WcGLc8kfw6JyVmA9aMnXgmuZjfFrKERuH7FAHsJ8Ax7b77_Sr35csqa0-xKDzrZssc4FDeenMB5toQFd8DD_niP84/w400-h400/Chapter+7.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amazing Mars Evan did the chapter headings for Rumors, and I could not be more excited about them!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KuwzL5vW32rGrutoWQyS3fucH6oi97tHkkrpLRsu4Zzl9aFDUiJ6UUVNf04SFNoBSnWPv3S3jR1wJcdsNaF7M_xJZnZvaVXJSGuYOezK7jj69JBmq5LvNFSj19cBwnzlnxzmTdd7AhY/s1800/Chapter+18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KuwzL5vW32rGrutoWQyS3fucH6oi97tHkkrpLRsu4Zzl9aFDUiJ6UUVNf04SFNoBSnWPv3S3jR1wJcdsNaF7M_xJZnZvaVXJSGuYOezK7jj69JBmq5LvNFSj19cBwnzlnxzmTdd7AhY/w400-h400/Chapter+18.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean...LOOK AT THIS!!! <3</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GCfn15wCek1z8fCpz1yV6t2l9gNa8LhhArVhTm_6Y870lLma6O1QwpV1hUtr8NS5uxM9E8YlwtsilRe4BiHjEso296iGOAfvnazj6O0JgJ0Z7rQ4MKDzLFJTWJOrTHFrtlK4WlU7U7Q/s2048/Rumors%252C+Reunions%252C+and+Revenge+ebook+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1346" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GCfn15wCek1z8fCpz1yV6t2l9gNa8LhhArVhTm_6Y870lLma6O1QwpV1hUtr8NS5uxM9E8YlwtsilRe4BiHjEso296iGOAfvnazj6O0JgJ0Z7rQ4MKDzLFJTWJOrTHFrtlK4WlU7U7Q/w421-h640/Rumors%252C+Reunions%252C+and+Revenge+ebook+%25281%2529.jpg" width="421" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">A wealthy duke from a mysterious island.</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rumors of the dead walking.</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">And siren songs of immortality.</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">A year has passed, and another Scaera Dumeda is about to begin. Captain Adi and the rest of the pirate hunter crew are escorting the Belfarren nobles when they come across a fleet claiming to belong to the Pirate Nation, led by the last person she ever expected to see again. Perhaps it’s not as easy to leave her past behind as she thought.</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">As Ravin settles into his new life he begins to consider the del Mankayl clan and others in his family who might want to run away as he did. But when an opportunity comes to rescue a relative, is he truly making a difference or is he only putting his loved ones in danger by bringing a violent assassin on board?</span></i></b></div></div><p><br /></p><p>SIGNED PAPERBACKS - <a href="https://www.orderofthepenpress.com/product/rumors-reunions-and-revenge-signed-paperback-/9?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p>AMAZON PAPERBACKS - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rumors-Reunions-Revenge-Pirate-Chronicles/dp/B09F1G2H5P/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SW8EHOBSYGLG&dchild=1&keywords=rumors+reunions+and+revenge&qid=1631137186&sprefix=rumors+reunions+%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a></p><p>AMAZON EBOOKS - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rumors-Reunions-Revenge-Pirate-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B09BBHLJ73/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1631137186&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-12327147142062777982021-08-06T11:00:00.023-04:002021-08-06T11:00:00.220-04:00United We Fall Cover Reveal<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">It's a busy week over here at Saver of Memories, and it's not done yet! I'm popping in again to share the new cover for Brooke's second book in the How We Rise Trilogy - the AMAZING BEAUTIFUL COVER for United We Fall!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRiBAvZLUjqdVikRKCw-gTEWS82ZYiR5fM62uHgN8YnSKAHW8htId7QvyUSwkIeNiT6PpwNGjhr1ncVuZPYQmNuLTqXcoSCFZi-Hvq0T0jVrnWT-cENlXwUGlnMxRV0V3awBu_obk26Y/s2048/email+graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRiBAvZLUjqdVikRKCw-gTEWS82ZYiR5fM62uHgN8YnSKAHW8htId7QvyUSwkIeNiT6PpwNGjhr1ncVuZPYQmNuLTqXcoSCFZi-Hvq0T0jVrnWT-cENlXwUGlnMxRV0V3awBu_obk26Y/w640-h360/email+graphic.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I recently read How We Rise for the first time, and you can read my review HERE on Goodreads. I really enjoyed Brooke's writing voice, and while it's not a genre I read a lot, I did enjoy the plot. I will defintely be getting this book once it's out (if only to stare at the COVER).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh. Right. I should probably share the cover. :)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwY2XPWsc5Mzl4vgc8OOGkLNl5uli0lVFeXWDkcH92aGvCgNaycEUtH4VwxnUSy2-gXsA4I64iKaK9ncQ40-GamdgUxcl2GFlX7O5gKjdXrXGvF27SB5Q-NJAc2eZUFpmliFqZrmpz8M/s2048/United+We+Fall+Front+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1325" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwY2XPWsc5Mzl4vgc8OOGkLNl5uli0lVFeXWDkcH92aGvCgNaycEUtH4VwxnUSy2-gXsA4I64iKaK9ncQ40-GamdgUxcl2GFlX7O5gKjdXrXGvF27SB5Q-NJAc2eZUFpmliFqZrmpz8M/w414-h640/United+We+Fall+Front+Cover.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's the blurb:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What is Truth? What Are Lies?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's been two weeks since Raegan's death. Two weeks since a big blow was dealt to the resistance. Two weeks since Peter lost his best friend and perhaps his soul mate. Now, he's out for revenge on everyone responsible, starting with the biggest coward: Agent Specter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Peter doesn't care what rules he has to break to bring down those who took away the one he loved the most. When someone he never expected comes forward with information that seems too good to be true, he has to make a decision on what to do before it's too late.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQX18Dcb1bO9kkTpa6aoDJOVED6YPo_96DVQLw4SC-0-nAvse7UOp5wvMrdoVyhtjqVv5tJWR-vYfeUMuqHvZv5_vXQhBFnQF-snz2r_r8gvoSNQC45NM3fr8KK9PkdZRGHU7hcqq9qc/s1080/uwf+graphic+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQX18Dcb1bO9kkTpa6aoDJOVED6YPo_96DVQLw4SC-0-nAvse7UOp5wvMrdoVyhtjqVv5tJWR-vYfeUMuqHvZv5_vXQhBFnQF-snz2r_r8gvoSNQC45NM3fr8KK9PkdZRGHU7hcqq9qc/w640-h640/uwf+graphic+3.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hmmmm. Sounds exciting!! I except an Inigo Montoya-style showdown once Peter finally faces Agent Specter.</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-38783424366264988652021-08-05T08:35:00.069-04:002021-08-05T08:35:00.172-04:00Year of Shadow<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> It's been a year. August 5th, 2020....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wait, let me back up. This really started YEARS ago.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In 2008, after outgrowing the Shetland pony, I got my first horse, a Paso Fino named Cordero. He was cute, well-trained and FULL of energy. Little 12 preteen me was terrified to ride him. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCIbhD4EQiaD4oij2EdPXrA8dVCK5_QXgxsKESmDa6T7txPb3Y0_uRq2L9gZj2ngPYycO0QJUSG2P_NeRrCIbs6aFQ-XbXvIMf6x6EnKr15S1wE9KhKoBMdi70ubjDuHbIN-a9sphXUY/s2048/Bob+and+David+Visit+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCIbhD4EQiaD4oij2EdPXrA8dVCK5_QXgxsKESmDa6T7txPb3Y0_uRq2L9gZj2ngPYycO0QJUSG2P_NeRrCIbs6aFQ-XbXvIMf6x6EnKr15S1wE9KhKoBMdi70ubjDuHbIN-a9sphXUY/w640-h480/Bob+and+David+Visit+019.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who knew that someday I would trust this horse more than any other?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cord was the best horse. If you wanted to lead little children around, he would walk oh so slowly and carefully. If you wanted to gait along, he could corto with the best. And if you wanted to gallop....oh, he'd be flat out running in a second.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwCjCU_0g1rvsDltvnIR6-pziCYFYbemVPg7hadmQckUsTwkO2fxr0kMWC2vU6gGAbLqW3dVOvKtJ5PV2CjqVfrzkS8-yVN7o4NBbb6PCoHdfWqUNHu8Tri2yOFXB1H6pTDKP28TZErI/s2048/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwCjCU_0g1rvsDltvnIR6-pziCYFYbemVPg7hadmQckUsTwkO2fxr0kMWC2vU6gGAbLqW3dVOvKtJ5PV2CjqVfrzkS8-yVN7o4NBbb6PCoHdfWqUNHu8Tri2yOFXB1H6pTDKP28TZErI/w640-h480/040.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a pretty decent snow (for NC). And he still is grumpy about it.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">He did it all. Show ring. Barrels. Trails. Pony rides at parties. Bareback trips to the river. Stupid childhood shenigians. And all bareback with just a halter, if you wanted.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cord passed at age 28, and I miss him every day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqAtoQBjR6WA14pR2uLsI0ilcDnaaO1in17e8i_NcM96G4JXXfz-MIrerY6zNGOfaLIyjf8Ps8tESKB_V2Lu37xlw3CCF4V-1ZDG5U_UNfxvTnMJAb4oUZ78XPD17YWUpHcdmuNrkxJM/s1728/45256664_635586466843895_6947741485458522112_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1728" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqAtoQBjR6WA14pR2uLsI0ilcDnaaO1in17e8i_NcM96G4JXXfz-MIrerY6zNGOfaLIyjf8Ps8tESKB_V2Lu37xlw3CCF4V-1ZDG5U_UNfxvTnMJAb4oUZ78XPD17YWUpHcdmuNrkxJM/w640-h480/45256664_635586466843895_6947741485458522112_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cutest face! <3</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few years passed. I downsized to just one horse...my Friesian that I've had since he was a 3 year old. "I don't need another horse," I said. "Pepper is perfect. I don't need a second one."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, deep down inside, I missed having a Paso. I missed having something small and easy to work with (Pepper is amazing, but he's the size of an elephant). I missed that merry little gait.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, as one does, I occasionally scour the internet for Pasos. And, at the beginning of August 2020, I found this Craigslist ad.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdNCjEYKmbcsqHj-fC-pvfTev2MxzD71sNkyY3Qzz_9oIccz9LjM2BpRig0dwND_sMTubH60hOgNrwh4GBPOwEUJS_qrfKa6yRylTSOH7bjheAyw-JwWUOcSAEmD3IQfmWnPQVgtRJ2c/s1560/Screenshot_20200806-075849_Chrome.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdNCjEYKmbcsqHj-fC-pvfTev2MxzD71sNkyY3Qzz_9oIccz9LjM2BpRig0dwND_sMTubH60hOgNrwh4GBPOwEUJS_qrfKa6yRylTSOH7bjheAyw-JwWUOcSAEmD3IQfmWnPQVgtRJ2c/w296-h640/Screenshot_20200806-075849_Chrome.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, why not respond to it??</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I called and scheduled a date to see him. When I pulled down the driveway, I saw him. He was tied to a branch, already saddled and bridled, sweating up a storm and anxiously jigging in circles around the tree.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is where that small inner voice would say "I've heard of stories like this, they're trying to hide something, this horse looks batshit crazy, don't get on him."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unfortunately, I do not have that small inner voice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I rode him. He bucked a few times as we cantered up a hill. He pranced around downed branches and over mud puddles. He tossed his head and side stepped and was a little crazy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then I got him on the driveway and let him fly. And y'all. I could feel the Paso Fino Smile spreading across my face. I was crying when I got off. It had been years since I'd last ridden a corto.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I still wasn't sold on the horse. I didn't need</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> a second one. It wasn't an "instant connection that means I have-to-have-him" deal. There was no love at first sight. Yeah, he was cute, but...he was nuts. He couldn't stand still, he wasn't a color I liked, he wasn't...perfect. I would never call myself a horse trainer, which is probably what he needs. I didn't even bring the trailer, so I would have to go home and think about it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTgDEEaeqSv2uoX7wgdiyiJmwhibj6hHn6P67vw2H7BNXgBDXAJRu-7-jJ3pcXBT4YFG4HHLMKy0cNp-Otr5xV_GhZASI4lAZUaiSc4d8YjQ3irjWgSqKamSB6xbX2UhhXDzkBCXNy-0/s595/Snip.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="343" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTgDEEaeqSv2uoX7wgdiyiJmwhibj6hHn6P67vw2H7BNXgBDXAJRu-7-jJ3pcXBT4YFG4HHLMKy0cNp-Otr5xV_GhZASI4lAZUaiSc4d8YjQ3irjWgSqKamSB6xbX2UhhXDzkBCXNy-0/w368-h640/Snip.PNG" width="368" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was our first ride, the test ride...(hey, I did bring my helmet!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then I took the saddle off, and saw his ribs sticking out. I fully took in the bony hips the saddle pad had covered. The thin neck and legs weren't just a case of "I've been riding an elephant for the past year, so of course everything will look little." No, this boy was thin.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Crazy or not, I was bringing him home, and the rest could be figured out later. I came back first thing the next morning, where it took me over 30 minutes to coax him into the open stock trailer (that no horse has ever refused to load into before). But we made it home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTkbddAeylIIL_DfTdMIBdU50H-Wzb2ZuIoo9HN6mo8i8XD5YQpEJJnAjxb3nBb1_3SBjMzM7ZclgM6PLQNoSzR7pL0BGT37Cs23t6qEqPS0qmNH7BUbFjF2b8JM7nbbNwgJlS_1VUfs/s1541/20200805_095450.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1541" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTkbddAeylIIL_DfTdMIBdU50H-Wzb2ZuIoo9HN6mo8i8XD5YQpEJJnAjxb3nBb1_3SBjMzM7ZclgM6PLQNoSzR7pL0BGT37Cs23t6qEqPS0qmNH7BUbFjF2b8JM7nbbNwgJlS_1VUfs/w640-h512/20200805_095450.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shadow and Pepper meeting each other for the first time (note the poor skinny boy).</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I named him Shadow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I spent the first week feeding Shadow senior feed in the horse trailer (get weight back and fix that fear of the trailer). We started doing little rides with my local trail group, where he learned how to conquer creeks, rivers, and bushwhacking.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our DNA tests came back, I was able to contact his breeders, learn what history I could from them, and get papers mailed. I reached out to the lady I purchased him from, and got in touch with the owner between the breeders and the seller.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">His history is as follows:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">-Paso Fino farm was downsizing; they sold a bunch of pregnant mares.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">-Owner 1 buys a mare, she has her foal, they are left in a large pasture with minimal contact for a couple years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">-Owner 2 is told by Owner 1 that if they can catch him, they can have him. They manage to catch him, load him, and bring him home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">-Owner 2 gelds him, breaks him to ride and drive, takes him up and down their road.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">-Owner 2 is killed in a driving accident.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">-Owner 3 lives down the road, and eventually takes on all the animals (horses and dogs) after Owner 2's death.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">-Owner 3 isn't familiar with Pasos and lists him on Craigslist.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">-Owner 4 comes along. Me. :)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">-I turn Shadow into a lovely trail horse and get him registered.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So it's been a year now. August 4th, I rode him. August 5th I went back and brought him home. We have done the Ride and Tie race, and an Intro Endurance race. We've gone horse camping. Ridden out by ourselves. Ridden in huge groups. He's been through tunnels and over bridges. And our latest trick...riding out with just a halter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shadow is everything about why I love the Paso Fino breed. They're not for everyone. (When I brought Shadow out for his first coggins, my vet gave me a look. "Now, have you ever had a Paso before," she asked, which only made me laugh.) They're smart, maybe too smart. They have brio, which can make some riders nervous. They're sensitive and gentle and maybe just a tiny bit crazy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shadow has that Paso Fino fire. He'll spring into a canter at the drop of the reins, and then drop into a halt with just a quiet word. He's got a fun little gait (worthy of that Paso smile). I wish I could have had him and my old Paso at the same time. No horse will ever compare to Cord, but I think Shadow will eventually be able to give him a good run for his money.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">He still hates mud, though.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMC4l0JtxfJjhoB12v57cKslVHhgascq6vOAr5IK57Z6_Pb69nPypQ5FrZfsTXjMpXYUbGnsGTQRv7wLWmoGcs2MIcmJg1Ti51aSiwH24CLq18pioclyxjxHEZzXw2iqk-YHISZ_m3YJo/s960/118602339_1103491023386768_2596949627137844893_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="565" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMC4l0JtxfJjhoB12v57cKslVHhgascq6vOAr5IK57Z6_Pb69nPypQ5FrZfsTXjMpXYUbGnsGTQRv7wLWmoGcs2MIcmJg1Ti51aSiwH24CLq18pioclyxjxHEZzXw2iqk-YHISZ_m3YJo/w376-h640/118602339_1103491023386768_2596949627137844893_n.jpg" width="376" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shadow's first time encountering a river.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWY7TOqgtAwTzLdOff76lG7-0pAjG9PN_Ehp2FVNv_uCExjIqeI5Q7hkgirIr-8JSOqsNZR7X8Q17eQQNk4120887Er_J0GHMiT-kkMRqA2bD5bat-PH3v3bwl2W8oD5OrqhFOLW5XXo/s960/127811606_1177269956008874_6508784082407117283_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="541" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWY7TOqgtAwTzLdOff76lG7-0pAjG9PN_Ehp2FVNv_uCExjIqeI5Q7hkgirIr-8JSOqsNZR7X8Q17eQQNk4120887Er_J0GHMiT-kkMRqA2bD5bat-PH3v3bwl2W8oD5OrqhFOLW5XXo/w360-h640/127811606_1177269956008874_6508784082407117283_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little sister, who learned to ride on Cord, riding Shadow.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2u9a16FFYqoPv-2_9SnsUBADpH52d8rvMxRoik8ADeVuRboRYy0UF3nF6IDxvJQezF7KfvB3T0NgRxDnofK8D88oVVB7Zg0GkbPkyid-a_W8bMssEddMVDPzkxtPAQJFrrwFJuTuKTw/s2048/Sauratown-67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2u9a16FFYqoPv-2_9SnsUBADpH52d8rvMxRoik8ADeVuRboRYy0UF3nF6IDxvJQezF7KfvB3T0NgRxDnofK8D88oVVB7Zg0GkbPkyid-a_W8bMssEddMVDPzkxtPAQJFrrwFJuTuKTw/w640-h426/Sauratown-67.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first Ride and Tie race.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpx-_pGxYdNguhZ0pRRmfDljxN4J98asQ27iz6qkKtNqsTmZcF1_rTL-RpPvPPCWT4wSz7_KlEEy8bsojk-Zn_Ogbk1QntlH8G29Y5EKrqunN3fCqtBkMru3eVC5InpJEbheQ7MCihX4/s2048/Sauratown-68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpx-_pGxYdNguhZ0pRRmfDljxN4J98asQ27iz6qkKtNqsTmZcF1_rTL-RpPvPPCWT4wSz7_KlEEy8bsojk-Zn_Ogbk1QntlH8G29Y5EKrqunN3fCqtBkMru3eVC5InpJEbheQ7MCihX4/w640-h426/Sauratown-68.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Switching off during the race.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9_nHi4Lgm35GHbY15NPNVS96EhggPb_pMSHUu3Gs2ZhL1StQJ1jSWE5OY57PnVB9KZ-Hf-bO5qIH0AmHkBcRrsEcznOWe5SEA42amnH6rmzZlo3CtpYamxniJ8aODG_t57wjGZ9Fdag/s2048/228880706_10222935938040067_1572974352829855698_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2048" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9_nHi4Lgm35GHbY15NPNVS96EhggPb_pMSHUu3Gs2ZhL1StQJ1jSWE5OY57PnVB9KZ-Hf-bO5qIH0AmHkBcRrsEcznOWe5SEA42amnH6rmzZlo3CtpYamxniJ8aODG_t57wjGZ9Fdag/w640-h362/228880706_10222935938040067_1572974352829855698_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group ride photo, taken on our most recent trail ride 7/31/21 (Shadow is the gray horse second to the right, Pepper my Friesian is the black beside him).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVM6Xk49IdVoaaPzwN9ZERirGs07z5xIu3KJC_YJLzW5WMZVM4Kqfr3Ypj7PPqTWG_l-ZwMyNy5EQ2eJOUOV72j1g2wf21RhF-uSg0PeM_6oV_Hnwj5iLfneLe9DP7P-angbe9qSUkm8/s2040/45224977_635585683510640_8683391860590247936_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVM6Xk49IdVoaaPzwN9ZERirGs07z5xIu3KJC_YJLzW5WMZVM4Kqfr3Ypj7PPqTWG_l-ZwMyNy5EQ2eJOUOV72j1g2wf21RhF-uSg0PeM_6oV_Hnwj5iLfneLe9DP7P-angbe9qSUkm8/w640-h480/45224977_635585683510640_8683391860590247936_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cord, the day he came to the farm in 2008.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_J5w0dtkkP2A40OUY8U51vWtn1HGwLcwmXWX3nEJWuKINOH8jm5dHDvkYy3I4WeEeE2saiZ75A-Ltw1kuKL_qui5oI9D5cyXrclhrpH5MDLi8twhsn9lS7pzGK5Tu4H9paTqEwuSdOU/s4608/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_J5w0dtkkP2A40OUY8U51vWtn1HGwLcwmXWX3nEJWuKINOH8jm5dHDvkYy3I4WeEeE2saiZ75A-Ltw1kuKL_qui5oI9D5cyXrclhrpH5MDLi8twhsn9lS7pzGK5Tu4H9paTqEwuSdOU/w640-h480/033.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing a bridge on the local trail system.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj349rcZU9vTQs-p4E8n-dA8qEZ_KJdzCt8iXhJ6PJnvwaltFcE8ao6zTh1Povd9gx02133j0E31OOfBXkP7lxu9wwPD2SoHmeNgBJWgzhjbLzU8V-CMPlwjxRP22bFhlNZRBXQY3o9__M/s2048/IMG_2667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj349rcZU9vTQs-p4E8n-dA8qEZ_KJdzCt8iXhJ6PJnvwaltFcE8ao6zTh1Povd9gx02133j0E31OOfBXkP7lxu9wwPD2SoHmeNgBJWgzhjbLzU8V-CMPlwjxRP22bFhlNZRBXQY3o9__M/w640-h436/IMG_2667.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad being a cowboy with Cord.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoUW1TYk2H68vVp8I9WHqwZJW84VgZszpOhSrxOU7VLyZpp_k3QEbK9i368FqQxKggsy-kQY099HRRVbAZg2PP89xyPYUCH5wayPzIlqadCQOFoFy__KHLr9QeGqwdpVCmBKCZFmiE8o/s2048/IMG_2852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoUW1TYk2H68vVp8I9WHqwZJW84VgZszpOhSrxOU7VLyZpp_k3QEbK9i368FqQxKggsy-kQY099HRRVbAZg2PP89xyPYUCH5wayPzIlqadCQOFoFy__KHLr9QeGqwdpVCmBKCZFmiE8o/w640-h480/IMG_2852.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little me, learning to conquer fear and ride outside of the round pen.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVW9abVgwSsLU2WkbDITSxgMM1lmYLoqOYu4TWMysUwel6pa1yZIZI6VpbN6ekZebPU5NjqhO6K4_P6WQmxIPZmNsjuYaYL8XcnPg-kfhXCUKIYkgvubjxttPAP1AGxjHJHylneRhcfQ/s1386/95938973_1012721782463693_2296474830842626048_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVW9abVgwSsLU2WkbDITSxgMM1lmYLoqOYu4TWMysUwel6pa1yZIZI6VpbN6ekZebPU5NjqhO6K4_P6WQmxIPZmNsjuYaYL8XcnPg-kfhXCUKIYkgvubjxttPAP1AGxjHJHylneRhcfQ/w296-h640/95938973_1012721782463693_2296474830842626048_n.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for reaching the end of the post. Here is my little sister riding Pepper the Friesian. Because Pepper is a sweetheart and deserves some attention after having to suffer through chasing down Pasos all his life.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-46791112244861448592021-08-04T08:35:00.001-04:002021-08-04T08:35:00.185-04:00Realm Makers Recap<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;">How to put an experience...feelings...memories...into a blog post? Well, I'm going to attempt it. My Realm Makers is made up of little moments, small occurrences, that keep it bright and adored in my memory.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>~~*~~</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRYBO7xY00uQbWoGAP7dGfVuRhJ6qB4acxmLzp_T_xSSEMd0LAv7hlbcm7uNPyGSv62bH6MkzDTtLGbhH3IkZFPm9G5hRGCAbtyXI8WKMUZKJOLMGKzTuu59umrBSDaPT6bvcZX_7Hgc/s2048/IMG_20210718_194256726_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRYBO7xY00uQbWoGAP7dGfVuRhJ6qB4acxmLzp_T_xSSEMd0LAv7hlbcm7uNPyGSv62bH6MkzDTtLGbhH3IkZFPm9G5hRGCAbtyXI8WKMUZKJOLMGKzTuu59umrBSDaPT6bvcZX_7Hgc/w480-h640/IMG_20210718_194256726_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Editing my pitch like crazy Tuesday morning before heading to work and re-printing everything out after finding a SINGLE. TYPO.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not packing until Tuesday night at 11:30pm, while on an energy drink rush. (In my defense, I was testing out the new green tea energy drinks from work.)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting up at 6am Wednesday, throwing everything in the Falcon, and stopping by work to hand out paychecks.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">True to her namesake, the Falcon not starting back up when I try to leave work.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1UQyN6EDK5X4ADtQsZ3EwZsuB05K_Hffsx7O62EeHdkUNZjrSb8SZczhJFqPSxfa9bvQUFnD33LRsMvXVHMQ3p-fn3dd9zfBD8FUi1CvfM4KXrIcazoqHRQ9b5h_Vp7-bg1uCvQc4D0/s2048/20210714_073011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1UQyN6EDK5X4ADtQsZ3EwZsuB05K_Hffsx7O62EeHdkUNZjrSb8SZczhJFqPSxfa9bvQUFnD33LRsMvXVHMQ3p-fn3dd9zfBD8FUi1CvfM4KXrIcazoqHRQ9b5h_Vp7-bg1uCvQc4D0/w360-h640/20210714_073011.jpg" width="360" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Driving straight to Sarah's house because my car might not start up again if I turn it off.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Sarah's dad: *opens my trunk* So, what needs to go into the van?</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Me: Um....all of it.</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Driving with Sarah, jamming, and chatting about anything and everything.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My gps telling me to turn around in the middle of the highway and go in the opposite direction.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HO4tqPBv3jdsimf8usXJdWgeLsHPoXkwa00-_Qs7fbsttQP_-_m8VgzlCvBXUdqDeWjYno8051q4_yO-3HcBLFNp2lVLK6TDy9WPuth_dCj3X38t9WnaK_MStPiVch4DKH67mIoS7xA/s2048/IMG_20210715_091825951_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HO4tqPBv3jdsimf8usXJdWgeLsHPoXkwa00-_Qs7fbsttQP_-_m8VgzlCvBXUdqDeWjYno8051q4_yO-3HcBLFNp2lVLK6TDy9WPuth_dCj3X38t9WnaK_MStPiVch4DKH67mIoS7xA/w480-h640/IMG_20210715_091825951_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me: *gestures grandly while telling a story while driving<br />Sarah: One hand on the wheel, please.<br />Me: What? I was using my knee!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Trying to find a hotel that isn't already booked up, and calling 3 before finding a place to sleep.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Me: Just pull up google maps on my phone.</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Sarah: *opens phone* This is all in Russian.</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">IHOP delivery not putting avocado on my food (making me crave avocado for basically the rest of the trip).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Watching Road to El Dorado (for the first time ever) and simultaneously rolling on the floor in laughter and also being rather horrified. (Also, Sarah and I do know what our costumes will be next year.)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>IS THAT AN ARMADILLO????? - me, while driving</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Arriving at the Sheraton in MO and careening into the parking lot blasting <i>He's a Pirate</i> with the windows down and the base turned up.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAXZuw27iY6vHXXnJtVaFw38imaejVNKG3NkltnCSb3Pm87V6TBB3XnFHK0JdahKYYuLorrsx01WlcInAl10FVDuj2n1z-tV4nX5TSzBVNqireF4lftCfkDSJyUYECWeamGUQg0tHBss/s2048/20210715_115637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAXZuw27iY6vHXXnJtVaFw38imaejVNKG3NkltnCSb3Pm87V6TBB3XnFHK0JdahKYYuLorrsx01WlcInAl10FVDuj2n1z-tV4nX5TSzBVNqireF4lftCfkDSJyUYECWeamGUQg0tHBss/w640-h360/20210715_115637.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Setting up our book table and absolutely loving the setup (one of my dad's sailing maps was the perfect finishing touch).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Trying to smuggle swords through the hotel elevator.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVf4MlUQeIQPIqyjyrCbxkXBXmiINeYYcmn9OxNK7ZRC55zCIIS8TedudtFSoL3wZ4Dr0pgJubxzsVT_73YwC5FxdDSO499qL284i6VwJF2w6pPpujgU22kR8JAeofWyDm1HRznOkIubA/s2048/20210715_144930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVf4MlUQeIQPIqyjyrCbxkXBXmiINeYYcmn9OxNK7ZRC55zCIIS8TedudtFSoL3wZ4Dr0pgJubxzsVT_73YwC5FxdDSO499qL284i6VwJF2w6pPpujgU22kR8JAeofWyDm1HRznOkIubA/w360-h640/20210715_144930.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this even legal??</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting to listen to 5 minutes of the opening keynote before getting emergency work calls, and spending the next hour and a half making phone calls, trying to figure out what's going on, talking down the employees as they panic, and hoping the gas station won't blow up.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thinking I don't need to set an alarm Friday morning and basically sleeping through Sarah and Nicole getting up...and then waking up to an empty room about twenty minutes before the morning session started. And I still had to shower.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Feeling absolutely horrible during the first class and thinking "oh, crap, I'm getting sick...I'm gonna be the one who gets covid and gives it to everyone at Realm Makers" and then feeling 100% better after eating lunch (probably was hungry)(because I skipped breakfast)(because I SLEPT IN).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Really enjoying David Farland's classes. <3 SO MUCH material that really encouraged and motivated me.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting a "no, we're not interested, but it does sound really cool and unique, so keep at it" in my first pitch.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Selling the pirate books to a random hotel-goer who wandered downstairs.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dressing up as Hadrian Blackwater from the Riyria Revelations for the awards dinner, and actually having someone recognize me.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Me: *randomly passing by Captain America while in costume*</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Captain America: *salutes* Hadrian, SIR!</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlmM57qfvxHjZ9e5zQr9TUGNPXJ46AuvEFYPjXOGSChhC_tDt7qQT7VuVxT3VyjxjT9V2wLzySxDKOt2ZdU_FkQ8bVI3d-aYGsUgnIJP8Cz3vWsuXNbzyGbxolmlIcRbtjVm11VdolUs/s2048/20210717_194810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlmM57qfvxHjZ9e5zQr9TUGNPXJ46AuvEFYPjXOGSChhC_tDt7qQT7VuVxT3VyjxjT9V2wLzySxDKOt2ZdU_FkQ8bVI3d-aYGsUgnIJP8Cz3vWsuXNbzyGbxolmlIcRbtjVm11VdolUs/w360-h640/20210717_194810.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did the great Carla Hoch ask to hold my sword? Ummm....yes....(should I have been scared??)</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(Apparently) Intimidating a group of soccer boys while in full costume, causing one of them to accidentally walk into the wall.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">People asking to hold my swords.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting asked like three times if I was the Witcher (maybe I should have strolled around with mandolin while singing "Toss a Coin...").</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaP3-ewdJ7szDXOlA-JkS3pum7et8wS7M1xEXeOqae5JbgEw4mtV-X3XNdjWxL6dJaqFNmLZblKhfP__ggrYUNR8JEzovMtdqjgFIKLxZCiQVGaczHqCZaFGIfQPYJCbrE5I4sy5uWLo/s2048/20210716_222758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaP3-ewdJ7szDXOlA-JkS3pum7et8wS7M1xEXeOqae5JbgEw4mtV-X3XNdjWxL6dJaqFNmLZblKhfP__ggrYUNR8JEzovMtdqjgFIKLxZCiQVGaczHqCZaFGIfQPYJCbrE5I4sy5uWLo/w360-h640/20210716_222758.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun facts: My large sword is a replica of William Wallace's claymore from the Braveheart movie, my short sword was originally from Medieval Times and used in their theatre fights, and the "regular" sword is a replica of Anduril, Aragorn's sword from LotR - BUT it has the name "Hirenadaye" engraved on it, which is the name of Duren's sword in The Red War Annals.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Person: Is your sword real?</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Me: *turns around to display all three* Which one?</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Person: :o</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Playing In Dreams with some amazing people (also in full costume). THEY WERE THE BEST!!!!! <3</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting to see all sorts of cool costumes (Shallan!) (HTTYD family!) (Winter Soldier!) (Peggy Carter!) (Men in Black!) (and so much more)!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pWTnUjCyzrH4al5dd9Nh2hrBuQEHZKYQP6kq7oEMNGyDOgVmq9U7FyZwr5mENQ1ewgdSfzi5F0vul7Bid8hJeMzlaxTCeFsHRp8dZaO0Q1wrIAlspZAXDJ6b1uecbLVFbesNxBP7yL0/s2048/IMG_20210716_181855600_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pWTnUjCyzrH4al5dd9Nh2hrBuQEHZKYQP6kq7oEMNGyDOgVmq9U7FyZwr5mENQ1ewgdSfzi5F0vul7Bid8hJeMzlaxTCeFsHRp8dZaO0Q1wrIAlspZAXDJ6b1uecbLVFbesNxBP7yL0/w480-h640/IMG_20210716_181855600_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting admittedly bored by the end of the awards...it did kinda go on too long, imo. Reading some excerpts was an amazing idea, but not when there's like, 50 awards to go through...</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stopping by the hotel bar for a drink (while in full costume). Apparently I had no idea that was on my bucket list, but it is, and now I've crossed it off.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ-pnahWI8pSB218jsNxPWewdzVeqk5WFv2x9Q0POLg_uArIvuLbUpe6g2dthR8XChxt35rmmG35TyRZAIv9bHgU2qCAXKUIFvN6-eAc80kvGTwsDN19W1TJ6VXgmNolrAgjsxhP5YKA/s2048/IMG_20210716_233811703+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ-pnahWI8pSB218jsNxPWewdzVeqk5WFv2x9Q0POLg_uArIvuLbUpe6g2dthR8XChxt35rmmG35TyRZAIv9bHgU2qCAXKUIFvN6-eAc80kvGTwsDN19W1TJ6VXgmNolrAgjsxhP5YKA/w480-h640/IMG_20210716_233811703+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bartender still IDd me.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Deciding that the costume is super cool and comfortable, and wearing it</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> again on Saturday (though I exchanged the 2 swords for a long knife).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Random Kid: Is your sword real?</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Me: Yes.</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Kid: Can I hold it?</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me: N</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">o.</span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Doing my second pitch (in costume) and getting a request for three chapters!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Discovering that Carla's classes are a meme gold mine.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Random people coming up and asking me to sign their pirate books (can one get tired of that???).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Buying way too many books.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-mRYAwIK2JTUqF3fjFNd8zu8OAKCi3HWsg5jpptSQInA8pR3UFnMeKIAcsTpvHB3CtTzAlRmEWk_cTly3hoXJfTDolvYG6Du5M-YKoyza9EKWGJdhSuThVdqw0XY-glmKMisBTpavqw/s2048/20210717_222257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-mRYAwIK2JTUqF3fjFNd8zu8OAKCi3HWsg5jpptSQInA8pR3UFnMeKIAcsTpvHB3CtTzAlRmEWk_cTly3hoXJfTDolvYG6Du5M-YKoyza9EKWGJdhSuThVdqw0XY-glmKMisBTpavqw/w640-h360/20210717_222257.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Worshipping with the dear folks at the nearby FCC on Sunday morning.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chilling with Sarah Sunday night and going for a stroll around the hotel (in full costume).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMf9FkGbOcyc0yda0jV6ua4-O96jxK1kjfH27GGIKnalGoSbO3g-kRrKFmTMZkhpC1SdzzpsWLQPp-4Ps9UGFOP5eCW3bwjN6J4DviexpcalRGeRzxu4A_825J1lTkw9dMxeEZlSAFBe0/s2048/20210718_194744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMf9FkGbOcyc0yda0jV6ua4-O96jxK1kjfH27GGIKnalGoSbO3g-kRrKFmTMZkhpC1SdzzpsWLQPp-4Ps9UGFOP5eCW3bwjN6J4DviexpcalRGeRzxu4A_825J1lTkw9dMxeEZlSAFBe0/w360-h640/20210718_194744.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Driving home in the rain through the misty mountains...while singing along to all the LotR songs. (Such vibes. What mood.)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Falcon not starting again when I try to leave Sarah's house. Thankfully I have a pair of jumper cables always on hand, and those did the trick this time.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Arriving home to all the family (and animals) really missing me (the dogs didn't eat anything...guess I didn't explain my pattern well enough).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unpacking and smelling all the new books. Realizing I might need a new bookshelf.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-AG5dGpD_bwtv_t7DSjUfn6KkBHAwFM7H41mVCvtNeCwk7_4AaGAdUHPY8OpidkZkE6ea2TCM7WJkB7ZQrAPU_kJdlyHnvmvIMHHj98mONGIyqk86Jo_uYIokUnqp7AHHv6HmFXiUko/s2048/IMG_20210718_195905628_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-AG5dGpD_bwtv_t7DSjUfn6KkBHAwFM7H41mVCvtNeCwk7_4AaGAdUHPY8OpidkZkE6ea2TCM7WJkB7ZQrAPU_kJdlyHnvmvIMHHj98mONGIyqk86Jo_uYIokUnqp7AHHv6HmFXiUko/w480-h640/IMG_20210718_195905628_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Planning for next year!!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Realizing that I have costume plans for 2022 and 2023. So....yeah.</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-27820291278103535912021-07-14T08:35:00.005-04:002021-07-14T08:35:00.182-04:00Comp Titles<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Realm Makers is coming up, and I've been preparing my pitch for <i>Rauladin</i>. Which, admittedly, is giving me a little more trouble than I expected, mostly because I have been so busy working on titles for The Order of the Pen Press that I haven't done anything with <i>Rauladin</i> in...*swallows*....YEARS.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">*awkward chuckle*</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(I do hope the folks I pitch to don't look up my blog and read this one, hehe.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1QEDvV1_3jrQTThgszyOHeU4eiFiwjZodRCtNqxrM3HHMroXMfzvWfq_tekxJ_5YUkomOKoNiCC1II_lFS1t52znkbLptSN1JvXLeEIXZN9tyIQdbh7xl8T17VTN3nNsOzR5oSR8ba4/s560/20192+%252812%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1QEDvV1_3jrQTThgszyOHeU4eiFiwjZodRCtNqxrM3HHMroXMfzvWfq_tekxJ_5YUkomOKoNiCC1II_lFS1t52znkbLptSN1JvXLeEIXZN9tyIQdbh7xl8T17VTN3nNsOzR5oSR8ba4/w640-h360/20192+%252812%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I jumped right in and tried to make a synopsis and couldn't even remember a POV character's name. I completely forgot about the GRIFFINSSSS. And that Mayra even existed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But anyway, I'm buckling down and re-reading and going through my editing notes and just giving myself a quick refresher on the story. And one thing I'm doing is figuring out what my comp titles would be.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One thing that's often asked for when pitching and querying is comparable titles. And that makes sense. What books are your books like? What vibes do they give off?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It can be hard. If you say "Lord of the Rings" everyone might laugh, because yeah, <i>sure</i>, you're <i>obviously</i> the next Tolkien - did you create entire new languages and craft three ages of history? Hmmm?? Didn't think so.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But if you say "The Rise of Aredor" you run the risk of people not knowing what the series is, and therefore also running the opportunity.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So....what do we do?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is a simple formula to create some comp titles while also making an elevator pitch while also helping you stay on track plotwise:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">BLANK meets BLANK.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There you have it. Ta-da! *dances*</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now you can give a generic idea about what books the story is like, provide a cool answer for the dreaded "what is your book about" question, and keep you on track while you write.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Red War Annals I would describe as "The Stormlight Archives meets The Books of Bayern." We have an expansive world, with multiple POV characters and an overarching timeline <i>with </i>a softer writing style and characters with a speaking sort of magic.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Pirate Hunter Chronicles would be "Pirates of the Caribbean meets Assassin's Creed." Comical adventures on the high seas....with assassins. (Footnote: I haven't played any AC games, so....yeah....anyone wanna correct me if I'm wrong??)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And, for the book I'm pitching, <i>Rauladin</i>, we have "The Riyria Revelations meets The Dark Crystal." A motley crew of people with awesome talents trying to wade through politics to save the world, while set in a murky swamp with creepy creatures. Oh, and the people have WINGS!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyone else going to Realm Makers this year?? *waves* I AM!!!! In fact, I'm on my way now (well, I'm writing this post in advance, but it posts the day I leave, haha).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also, drop your comp titles down below, with a brief explanation. I want to hear them!!</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-21004000944009357772021-05-19T08:35:00.022-04:002021-05-19T08:35:00.185-04:00If The Lord of the Rings was a YA Fantasy Trilogy<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAfWrg4YAzJ6__NFehW-3xenOR2GlEwGKsOnh2pVKomxzdcmJFLAfNCZ2NqXq-i6WLeT59BCCK3rDjAPkknF8ZypKopJvkujQCluxfo18jmYtFIh2vxtsMVH2vddPCiGMilgNd_ZnrZ4/s560/20192+%252811%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAfWrg4YAzJ6__NFehW-3xenOR2GlEwGKsOnh2pVKomxzdcmJFLAfNCZ2NqXq-i6WLeT59BCCK3rDjAPkknF8ZypKopJvkujQCluxfo18jmYtFIh2vxtsMVH2vddPCiGMilgNd_ZnrZ4/w640-h360/20192+%252811%2529.png" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /><i><br /></i></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>If Lord of the Rings was YA fantasy...</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Frodo would be a young woman. Miss Frodo would have grown up on Bilbo's tales of dragons and dwarves, and her heart would yearn for adventure...but young Hobbits don't go off on adventures, of course.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then Gandalf sends her on an adventure with the garden boy, Sam. Sam is not adventurous, nor brave (in Miss Frodo's mind, anyway), and she is soooooo certain she'll spend the whole trip constantly saving his life over and over again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, by the end of the book, Miss Frodo realizes she was mistaken about sweet Sam, who is just the golden-haired, soft-spoken hero we all need.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>If Lord of the Rings was YA fantasy...</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gollum wouldn't be some creepy, half-shriveled creature....Gollum would be an attractive, morally gray young man. Is he helping them destroy the ring, or does he want it for himself? Miss Frodo begins to fall for this fellow (and is sure he's <i>trying</i> to be good), but ol' Sam knows Gollum has no good intentions whatsoever.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>If Lord of the Rings was YA fantasy...</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Theoden and Eowyn are at odds...King Theoden is preparing to betroth Eowyn off, and she spites him for it. She would much rather be galloping off on her stallion, firing arrows into the...no, wait, that's <u><i>Brave</i></u>. Then she falls in love with Aragorn, and dreams of traveling Middle Earth with the ranger....but he obviously has no interest in her. Despite her protests, Theoden betroths her to Denethor's son to strengthen the alliance with Gondor. Horrified, she rides off into battle, disguised as a boy, and then gets wounded while fighting the Witch King. While in the houses of healing, she befriends a handsome warrior, Faramir...turns out that's the man she was betrothed to all along!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>If Lord of the Rings was YA fantasy...</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Arwen would have her own plot on the side. Maybe she's learning elven magic, like how to see into the future like her father. Everyone is telling her she is foolish for loving a mortal. But she lets no one tell her what to do, and practices her Elven Magic and probably ends up responsible for the death of Saruman or something. Anyways, her plot never intersects with the Real Plot, but just dances along the sidelines to show that our hero's true love isn't some helpless elf maiden but a Strong Independent Woman.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>If Lord of the Rings was YA fantasy...</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It would be written in First Person. Miss Frodo, Aragorn, Arwen, Eowyn, maybe even Faramir, would all be the POV characters. We might get some chapters with Denethor or Saruman's villainous POV. But gone would be all those long-winded descriptions and archaic language.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>If Lord of the Rings was YA fantasy...</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Miss Frodo and Sam would be like, around 18 (and let's not get into a discussion here about human ages vs hobbit ages)(I mean "<i>very </i>young adult" here). Aragorn and Eoywn and Faramir would all be 19-21ish. All young and beautiful and full of angst. Arwen would probably be young and naïve for an elf, right?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>If Lord of the Rings was YA fantasy...</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Boromir would probably show up in the third book, like "surprise, I didn't actually die!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>So...would y'all be interested in reading this new and upcoming YA release? (jk) Would LotR be more fun if put into a YA format? Or is it perfect when left untouched? (I would prefer to leave it untouched, but I must say, a YA spoof book would be funny, if also written well.)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Also, should I make a "if *classic book/series* was YA" blog post series?</b></span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-83544141438549937752021-05-04T08:35:00.001-04:002021-05-04T08:35:00.188-04:00Sins, Sons, and Siren Songs is OUT<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYe8DysVveJXfqliU7K5ipVpbq50jjyhHvQHOPORe_8rWOBN_fHYOdU3xkQC0KNG7A5ci53V19UYO33hoYZgGXC-qjYmWZQAezIInnxDUlLKnmVNyqU8TYcbni4FDQU6RwAuSGY-BvHtI/s2048/Sins%252C+Sons%252C+and+Siren+Songs+E-Book+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1346" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYe8DysVveJXfqliU7K5ipVpbq50jjyhHvQHOPORe_8rWOBN_fHYOdU3xkQC0KNG7A5ci53V19UYO33hoYZgGXC-qjYmWZQAezIInnxDUlLKnmVNyqU8TYcbni4FDQU6RwAuSGY-BvHtI/w420-h640/Sins%252C+Sons%252C+and+Siren+Songs+E-Book+Cover.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today is release day, and it just feels WEIRD. Like, okay, another book is out. Moving on with life. For the first book, everything was a First. First Time getting a cover, First Time getting the proof copy, First Time seeing it available to purchase..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But now...oh, yeah. The book is out today. Please buy it. I've got signed copies available. *takes a picture of me with the newly published book* Whee. *goes back to work like normal*</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I guess it's sad? Like, hey, today I literally have a book that just came out. And I'll be at the restaurant, talking to the customers, helping the girls, eating tacos (Taco Tuesday!!) just like normal.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'll tell everyone, of course. They'll be excited and happy for me. Maybe someone will buy the book. I'll bring extra business cards, just in case they need to find the website.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But you, blog readers, together we have the power to change the world. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">How? BUY THE BOOK. NOW. TODAY. (while supplies last)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I may even slip a bookmark or two into the package, as an added bonus. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Signed paperbacks <a href="https://www.orderofthepenpress.com/product/sins-sons-and-siren-songs-signed-paperback-/4?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE </a>/ ebooks available <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0917V6JS3?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_1&storeType=ebooks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-84901930932942008852021-04-21T08:35:00.001-04:002021-04-21T08:35:00.147-04:00Realm Makers Flash Mob!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One thing I've noticed about a lot of people in the writing community is that not only are we avid readers & writers, but many of us are also musicians of some sort or another.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, for Realm Makers 2021, I want to propose a sort of "Realm Makers Flash Mob" thingy-thing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPie_4eT0jHis6ngSWDt1e4r3bFvdYEWI6UFbCv-yfme58DSKwxYnpsloYzZcRoQ_eeZzPXQA0AUmwUAqJaWZkwzh4_EdpSllrnY5wh3iNRbLVVpM_1ZzLShckDmzZocqimj938SOcQ9s/s560/20192+%252810%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPie_4eT0jHis6ngSWDt1e4r3bFvdYEWI6UFbCv-yfme58DSKwxYnpsloYzZcRoQ_eeZzPXQA0AUmwUAqJaWZkwzh4_EdpSllrnY5wh3iNRbLVVpM_1ZzLShckDmzZocqimj938SOcQ9s/w400-h225/20192+%252810%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For the night of the big dinner, </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">let's get as many musicians together as we can, and play a song together </b><span style="font-family: verdana;">in the book room while waiting for the dinner room to open. Or out in the lobby and freak random people out. Or in the dinner room after all the announcements and things have quieted down. Or whatever works, whatever people want to do, whatever we are <i>able</i> to do.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm thinking of "In Dreams" (from </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">The Lord of the Rings</i><span style="font-family: verdana;">) as many people will know it (though I am very open to options), and finding sheet music will be simple (I know someone who has copies). And it gives instrumentalists a chance (either melody or backup), as well as vocalists, to shine!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sarah and I are driving to Realm Makers and will be able to bring extra instruments for those who can play but are unable to bring their own instrument. I also will put together some sort of communications thread for those planning to participate so we can work out instruments, the actual song, and the time. Messenger, google chat, email list, what have you. (I promise I am actually sort of decent at planning things.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If no one wants to do a fancy flash mob thing, I will <i>happily </i>"settle" for a casual jam in a corner. :) I just thought that everyone getting together in costume to play a song would be EPIC!!!! (Cuz who doesn't want a bunch of people cosplaying all sorts of characters playing/singing a LotR song!)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">SO if you are a Realmie musician or happen to know someone who will be there who is a musician PLEASE contact me. There's the fancy little contact button on the left-hand side of my blog. You can also</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> send me a message over Instagram (@julian.daventry).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So whether you are going or not, please share my post! Let's get some musical Realmies hooked up, and maybe plan something awesome! *salutes* Look forward to seeing y'all at Realm Makers! <3</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-32272748561494065182021-04-07T08:35:00.001-04:002021-04-07T08:35:05.033-04:00Leatherwood Mountains - A Review (or a Warning?)<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week marked my 7th trip to Leatherwood Mtns. This is a place close to home where you can camp with your horses or rent a cabin and all that cool stuff. Almost everyone in the area knows about it, and they either love it or absolutely hate it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I understand. Completely.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">First off, they have a MAZE of a trail network. Like, just LOOK AT THIS.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_csT2Odcy8Eqmhch1OxWHCTWNvHrRcH-3y02uL2afjXHrMBUrNhuJWj-R63HVZ7I9RsPPDvgBO0EWxSGA-xwZ_qKcsDnmxpl1IMjqwhLwaMEny98xWK43tEGG5zu7BrvH5LnsdAwKPDI/s587/Map.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="587" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_csT2Odcy8Eqmhch1OxWHCTWNvHrRcH-3y02uL2afjXHrMBUrNhuJWj-R63HVZ7I9RsPPDvgBO0EWxSGA-xwZ_qKcsDnmxpl1IMjqwhLwaMEny98xWK43tEGG5zu7BrvH5LnsdAwKPDI/w400-h311/Map.PNG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Secondly, not only do they have a maze, but they have almost ZERO signage. And the signs you do come across are often unreliable and downright WRONG.</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnxCxkRkZ4ohHlcEjoH4emiF97KuVWoCO7o80SkEWMOjK4JYrb0POrLIBW_VKjxthOf6o-qld8n4El8zjCdCVC-1bh1kyTEQM4DcMSnQcoBbrJS7TiAfpc7TK8RuhgAzGdii8elevSJI/s936/Trail.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="936" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnxCxkRkZ4ohHlcEjoH4emiF97KuVWoCO7o80SkEWMOjK4JYrb0POrLIBW_VKjxthOf6o-qld8n4El8zjCdCVC-1bh1kyTEQM4DcMSnQcoBbrJS7TiAfpc7TK8RuhgAzGdii8elevSJI/w400-h251/Trail.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thirdly, they do a poor job w/ maintenance. So it's not uncommon to plan your route, only to come across a wash-out, downed trees, or some other reason that makes you have to turn around.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>First Trip, December 2010.</b> Brought 4 horses and stayed in a cabin with a barn at the top of the mountain. My dad planned out all the routes we were going to take, and as far as I know, we didn't get super lost (or maybe my dad just pretended he knew where we were going the whole time??). We did, however get</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> snowed in, the non-4WD Suburban got stuck in a ditch on the one-way road in the snow, and we at least got to ride the horses in the mountains in the snow. So that was nice.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6WcShy6Z942sFbGfa2ssKWN2h7kZUvl9WkqaKY8cTBWoET_6yH7oA4KFkrVfbweWJOQRpJWlyWmsJ-ItFGuk2WZV2PoaxqYRUG5ZStCETlA7kpsmFzpQsM6lik7wPhH5DsaAM9As42Q/s2048/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6WcShy6Z942sFbGfa2ssKWN2h7kZUvl9WkqaKY8cTBWoET_6yH7oA4KFkrVfbweWJOQRpJWlyWmsJ-ItFGuk2WZV2PoaxqYRUG5ZStCETlA7kpsmFzpQsM6lik7wPhH5DsaAM9As42Q/w400-h300/005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only picture of someone on a horse we managed to take (we weren't skilled at taking photos while on horseback then, haha).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi281BD_LAdDk65a3yYL_oEpihdUH88l3QgTj2Yy0H2Hz42AqjFteCvVaCAULArCLNE1LHdAyWdJyIY7xWIv_lRGoOyVb9T3cm1MUMED-wmgAsVyCiOmbMBPX6ickhdVCYzhtBLmFi4IDY/s2048/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi281BD_LAdDk65a3yYL_oEpihdUH88l3QgTj2Yy0H2Hz42AqjFteCvVaCAULArCLNE1LHdAyWdJyIY7xWIv_lRGoOyVb9T3cm1MUMED-wmgAsVyCiOmbMBPX6ickhdVCYzhtBLmFi4IDY/w300-h400/007.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowy mountains (view from our cabin).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdX-NT22QbyVzFG48v5Kff9ynKAOViye5oMHL0ptYaGMpLuOEQ6xuHKckv46lhP9h7dZpeETpRWB9B12-87ScW_nqr_NSFpf0pYW1GS_VMh3GSXNVfiEwOwH2FqF88WydfDWdtZVqrF_I/s2048/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdX-NT22QbyVzFG48v5Kff9ynKAOViye5oMHL0ptYaGMpLuOEQ6xuHKckv46lhP9h7dZpeETpRWB9B12-87ScW_nqr_NSFpf0pYW1GS_VMh3GSXNVfiEwOwH2FqF88WydfDWdtZVqrF_I/w400-h300/018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horses in the snow.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Second Trip, May 2012.</b> Brought our crappy first camper (the one that caught fire)(not on this trip, though)(which I think I forgot to mention in my <a href="https://juliandaventrymemories.blogspot.com/2019/05/fire.html">fire </a>post...tragic) and our 4 horses. We stayed at the river campground with horses in the barn across the road. Nugget fell off the mountain (because he has no brakes and was a bit cooky in the head) and ended up lame. Had to take him to the vet when we got home and put on stall rest (he did eventually heal fine).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vz-Bym725ysjxZYqtLIkHg8IUU_48xlomvcE7G3izmoLwVsBRD2IaoYKFZ4W4mDoPhoc0ZWIubv6GU3WF4MBKBVioOzILuW_mhQnQcX727chGw597tDy6nsf-KalqIo5IvWl6gwRoyg/s2048/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vz-Bym725ysjxZYqtLIkHg8IUU_48xlomvcE7G3izmoLwVsBRD2IaoYKFZ4W4mDoPhoc0ZWIubv6GU3WF4MBKBVioOzILuW_mhQnQcX727chGw597tDy6nsf-KalqIo5IvWl6gwRoyg/w400-h300/043.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ambush Trail (super fun).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopMLzUPmXkhxYqxG968agyzh1EdV0nPechTDjjU2nJf14-4STbEw7179iiLgGc7CUi3FmFrJj-Bkfq6E8TNN3-GYMHnpySjwEqaQaIqhOrcFu5oBkyNU5Z7pdKKc78AUpEXzzX2l-Iq0/s2048/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopMLzUPmXkhxYqxG968agyzh1EdV0nPechTDjjU2nJf14-4STbEw7179iiLgGc7CUi3FmFrJj-Bkfq6E8TNN3-GYMHnpySjwEqaQaIqhOrcFu5oBkyNU5Z7pdKKc78AUpEXzzX2l-Iq0/w400-h300/065.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping right beside the river <3</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78v9zBUTzkkdU1mNQRULexdv5WVzSMtSWCBM4EvKq6y61YquWLSFqBNVrcV9V3EY8xEMIn7Q9yNz4fTtnszDFyUeneksGGkDectbhTQE4MY6lPH8Gbh7lHuGUqIT36MvxeDgpgNSQ1Bg/s2048/150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78v9zBUTzkkdU1mNQRULexdv5WVzSMtSWCBM4EvKq6y61YquWLSFqBNVrcV9V3EY8xEMIn7Q9yNz4fTtnszDFyUeneksGGkDectbhTQE4MY6lPH8Gbh7lHuGUqIT36MvxeDgpgNSQ1Bg/w400-h300/150.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nugget doing his thing....NOT walking.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Third Trip, May 2015</b>. For my "graduation party slash birthday party" sorta thing, we went with some friends and did a big ol' horse camping trip. Stayed at the campground with a total of 8 equines. This is the first trip where I know for a fact that we got lost on two seperate rides and ended up just finding a road and taking it back down the mountain both times. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spirit choked on his grain and had to be taken to the vet mid-trip (he came back later that day and was fine, though we didn't ride him out on the mtn again).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp0w5OApif4aOBCeDpx6QVG2XaZolIFbw6PZKVI107s_no4CmMz0BbklOrSZE8MFFhZOdN0PVhRUWoK5dUSe5cBpbU3eb8CARtWDvHDszTNrrPYUTbzz46Q0rUXNk31YD7n3LKUVWJyQ/s4320/SAM_3375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="4320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp0w5OApif4aOBCeDpx6QVG2XaZolIFbw6PZKVI107s_no4CmMz0BbklOrSZE8MFFhZOdN0PVhRUWoK5dUSe5cBpbU3eb8CARtWDvHDszTNrrPYUTbzz46Q0rUXNk31YD7n3LKUVWJyQ/w400-h300/SAM_3375.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The barns (view from the campground).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUzslB-Ptk3Nk-66VNq7KzMI2x-uOW4yep16MGtlpxalrrSNhMhPU2yrYlrfxH4pqlT5Pr83M9v30L6n0MrN_ZGG3qf8jyx6kocDQWfkR6K-HVpcyLrvicZKq4jW5w-LFwwkkiWRphO4/s4320/SAM_3447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="4320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUzslB-Ptk3Nk-66VNq7KzMI2x-uOW4yep16MGtlpxalrrSNhMhPU2yrYlrfxH4pqlT5Pr83M9v30L6n0MrN_ZGG3qf8jyx6kocDQWfkR6K-HVpcyLrvicZKq4jW5w-LFwwkkiWRphO4/w400-h300/SAM_3447.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading out to the trails!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoFuglhza7LxhhByApzm7WfetuqG32Joko570B0hVuzyNAfdaqLhs7xKsQNfjytkR3CtrNnSK89ZVNfP9rghm3ZUs-B3ZnCfXT2cK5xPQFF69Y_7j-skV4bPvtGVwVmPUAAwTWNOmUfc/s4320/SAM_3452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="4320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoFuglhza7LxhhByApzm7WfetuqG32Joko570B0hVuzyNAfdaqLhs7xKsQNfjytkR3CtrNnSK89ZVNfP9rghm3ZUs-B3ZnCfXT2cK5xPQFF69Y_7j-skV4bPvtGVwVmPUAAwTWNOmUfc/w400-h300/SAM_3452.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tip-toing around the rocky creek.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="font-family: verdana;">Fourth Trip, December 2016.</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just the family going for a quick trip. Rented a cabin at the far, far end of the mountain, and kept the horses down at the main barn. Pretty laid back and short trip, we did some new trails. A decision was made that Cord was getting too old for trips like this. Another decision to buy some breeching was made when Pepper's saddle ended up at his ears on a long downhill.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1Nnn67SVuXSUucPL9xerfbYxh7_kqIJAzm-FqFJqLVILCSXXQ2gWseIaawLPZiYPks5sHD9am_uGBChDYnOk6CDCErkvzRRGkzZQav6gkOxiz_LXjZBQIUUZTKAHIbUqZg5JBh6xuXI/s960/15741120_283896335346245_2924397841008067336_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1Nnn67SVuXSUucPL9xerfbYxh7_kqIJAzm-FqFJqLVILCSXXQ2gWseIaawLPZiYPks5sHD9am_uGBChDYnOk6CDCErkvzRRGkzZQav6gkOxiz_LXjZBQIUUZTKAHIbUqZg5JBh6xuXI/w400-h300/15741120_283896335346245_2924397841008067336_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up on the mountain in the dark, looking down at the lights from the trail barn at the bottom.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXFboYboMAeM4G1BDXSd0tKc4vXgyKnKwNVdJ-kJmIofbqOZUXAcRMisNeY5-1kU_AOvDLqCMtZqdpTWQaM_3RSb_k_4z_Xyfjm24gIV_di6XUlmOZ-9MAPglJAlPSpuUA19BKNeK3GE/s960/15741247_283896992012846_8742329767382137395_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXFboYboMAeM4G1BDXSd0tKc4vXgyKnKwNVdJ-kJmIofbqOZUXAcRMisNeY5-1kU_AOvDLqCMtZqdpTWQaM_3RSb_k_4z_Xyfjm24gIV_di6XUlmOZ-9MAPglJAlPSpuUA19BKNeK3GE/w300-h400/15741247_283896992012846_8742329767382137395_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a break on one of the steeper portions.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuYjclNKY6PawIRBrIQRAgWwJKkaJfIIMoEpdGAzY6-4ybnYsMhgUMwzjlGJcPgrbkZgvFF_e2nYPyuHSaD5eDg8DR9qMsUZgsOPU0ssn2gYYFXlRqfKMZTgfSGpu1Igv9sHTUYmm8v8/s960/15781207_283896105346268_2279655727444796335_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuYjclNKY6PawIRBrIQRAgWwJKkaJfIIMoEpdGAzY6-4ybnYsMhgUMwzjlGJcPgrbkZgvFF_e2nYPyuHSaD5eDg8DR9qMsUZgsOPU0ssn2gYYFXlRqfKMZTgfSGpu1Igv9sHTUYmm8v8/w400-h300/15781207_283896105346268_2279655727444796335_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running along a ridgeline.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="font-family: verdana;">Fifth Trip, May 2017.</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Me, Mars Evan, and Sarah went on our own for a "riding and writing retreat". Stayed in a cute little "cabin and barn" combo building which was really cool. Found a trail that went straight up and ended up turning around half-way bc it kept GOING UP. Actually had a lovely time, though getting a 4-horse trailer turned around in the tiny mountain cabin driveway was rather challenging and left a nice dent in the red trailer. There was a obstacle clinic going on at the main barn at the time, and they let us ride our horses through the course....bc we showed up that evening while going for a quick bareback stroll....</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj4UhbjMlSmLATqMK-UvEr2-8UlUy98wAw4IMBgV6TaLWCNdB9ye1qyqNpeeMOv45LTwJDdWC0kmGZugt_3Sb0p6Hqk2Ki-Z6KE-Xm5eZ6lq1dCVZ7FuGMhSFhSc8C7sKhLnS503uw2g/s960/18582293_355945341474677_7205145499260083448_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj4UhbjMlSmLATqMK-UvEr2-8UlUy98wAw4IMBgV6TaLWCNdB9ye1qyqNpeeMOv45LTwJDdWC0kmGZugt_3Sb0p6Hqk2Ki-Z6KE-Xm5eZ6lq1dCVZ7FuGMhSFhSc8C7sKhLnS503uw2g/w400-h300/18582293_355945341474677_7205145499260083448_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree down on the trail - Mars and Sarah lifted it up while I led the horses underneath it.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKW1OaujUqL6NdiWe4fjs6N_pDUAImc5TR2Uzgi7Or89o9jf1fPv28CgA_gkbbTfs8TmqeJh7vvflBeJrJtE6qh-L5XTiOaU7_mVrEXiHTyQmhqqRnv6ap6jCKr1UwnwFOvbQFHco5Ko/s960/18582374_355944928141385_6692021668868216126_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKW1OaujUqL6NdiWe4fjs6N_pDUAImc5TR2Uzgi7Or89o9jf1fPv28CgA_gkbbTfs8TmqeJh7vvflBeJrJtE6qh-L5XTiOaU7_mVrEXiHTyQmhqqRnv6ap6jCKr1UwnwFOvbQFHco5Ko/w400-h300/18582374_355944928141385_6692021668868216126_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going up another steep climb.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lIdtx-M1OUSOukr5DTp8bv1VrufFRWQ2HOAQiRwBveRi8O6MDOdB85zv-4OXHr_e2EXSETLmvg6nxwjpupLG44H8wohbT5y2CmtUxVkXPDsZr-3FdXeVh1OfLY8OcUQnbSGgBEkbwnk/s960/18620141_355944218141456_491815614758344244_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lIdtx-M1OUSOukr5DTp8bv1VrufFRWQ2HOAQiRwBveRi8O6MDOdB85zv-4OXHr_e2EXSETLmvg6nxwjpupLG44H8wohbT5y2CmtUxVkXPDsZr-3FdXeVh1OfLY8OcUQnbSGgBEkbwnk/w400-h300/18620141_355944218141456_491815614758344244_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming back down the mountain.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Sixth Trip, May 2020.</b> Due to covid, I was no longer working, so a friend and I planned a trip. We rented a cabin down at the main barn and went for a few days. Got lost once, and got re-routed due to poor trail conditions almost every time. My mom came and hiked along with us once, and Sarah and Joe came up for a run as well. Our two horses were very well behaved and we enjoyed the trip.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE47IxwD2cw9F-GIV3hC5ZrlO0axqtiljA5WN7puZCdthpEm_GXZ796zN1_sVgFGN_DbYi2FIUhjAGRzw7JkWwlbdQTQDnyrdfD1BFhC13FN5VGFGV96D2rsxBjmaGEczRWqaheH-9Ss/s2048/20200516_112922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE47IxwD2cw9F-GIV3hC5ZrlO0axqtiljA5WN7puZCdthpEm_GXZ796zN1_sVgFGN_DbYi2FIUhjAGRzw7JkWwlbdQTQDnyrdfD1BFhC13FN5VGFGV96D2rsxBjmaGEczRWqaheH-9Ss/w225-h400/20200516_112922.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Letting the young-un's go for a ride.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aeSlDYVckgN0ynZ3b91ZO5PW6Mim5572MxvZ4Lt6DRpw6s2AXbxwxFNl0868nohSRMCeOcImqRHH4VX6qbIsgYO4sE1mUV-nAPRRV_fh_AxVuubreDFTITUAoR9hCCUk-NFPrj1CB8Q/s2048/20200515_104410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aeSlDYVckgN0ynZ3b91ZO5PW6Mim5572MxvZ4Lt6DRpw6s2AXbxwxFNl0868nohSRMCeOcImqRHH4VX6qbIsgYO4sE1mUV-nAPRRV_fh_AxVuubreDFTITUAoR9hCCUk-NFPrj1CB8Q/w225-h400/20200515_104410.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming down the hill.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBSqdKXKpfU6qv7TS2RlAaL-wCt3lbqDC3ll_BqF2QMIXm0Id9VHpS6jq3M587MOsCG-NA9HJLnRBons4FCQR-UvFSHJHgwLY4IWBzRIlppMfHXzxeW4WDVH5ENbiPw55ALPJI_sJY1o/s2048/20200516_130739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBSqdKXKpfU6qv7TS2RlAaL-wCt3lbqDC3ll_BqF2QMIXm0Id9VHpS6jq3M587MOsCG-NA9HJLnRBons4FCQR-UvFSHJHgwLY4IWBzRIlppMfHXzxeW4WDVH5ENbiPw55ALPJI_sJY1o/w400-h225/20200516_130739.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little cabin down at the bottom of the mountain.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Seventh Trip, March 2021.</b> Camped at the trail barn across the river (for the first time). After the first ride, Shadow coliced and I stayed up late into the night watching him before deciding to drive him to the vet in the wee hours of the morning. After the vet said he was good (but would need to stay for a few days under surveillance) I went back to camp, had breakfast, and we went out again (but one horse short). We took turns walking and/or riding double. But otherwise, had a good trip. (And Shadow is home now, doing quite well.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FzVuBKJ6cfqUAS_bYtUDTK3kyCRfO159CW2RvAGlHq9-AVkEIf9afwFWzSnTRLkutoz01kKFJdLruOrtLyXh5P1CMnZ8wClat9RxBCfRTSkVacnywcw_-mn2T70P1CG_E6fp7sPxYA8/s960/160943979_1251581315244404_8900842184307113081_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FzVuBKJ6cfqUAS_bYtUDTK3kyCRfO159CW2RvAGlHq9-AVkEIf9afwFWzSnTRLkutoz01kKFJdLruOrtLyXh5P1CMnZ8wClat9RxBCfRTSkVacnywcw_-mn2T70P1CG_E6fp7sPxYA8/w220-h400/160943979_1251581315244404_8900842184307113081_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling into ride camp across the river.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEges7icN1V-it6MYack-che-LunKMquz_Jlmt4IR_Jdvsnnj9R3fcjVVGO_1TWhESvX1xGgXy4nQ_m97eek-H-PkPSVkPqjvbtql7hwrJProSdy4jEmWIrstofLmJUHiQinAvkeIlyOrKM/s960/161543844_1251581615244374_7759201347025471115_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEges7icN1V-it6MYack-che-LunKMquz_Jlmt4IR_Jdvsnnj9R3fcjVVGO_1TWhESvX1xGgXy4nQ_m97eek-H-PkPSVkPqjvbtql7hwrJProSdy4jEmWIrstofLmJUHiQinAvkeIlyOrKM/w220-h400/161543844_1251581615244374_7759201347025471115_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoops!! We just went down a "double black diamond" trail! (In our defense, there wasn't a sign at the other end....)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqESDO8YApcH01xim8RdGZoNCXIPZavfu75LNBBAOAAgW8qtJUaRvu-C0gXoNm89L8DzkGQd2ecnkrm3BHz-dGoqw0Mo6_-XJN_vOKKR3uI5Aj94Ew9wk854hbVYwyi1qLz2HnPvBK7UU/s960/161706980_1251581375244398_2833638212491209626_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqESDO8YApcH01xim8RdGZoNCXIPZavfu75LNBBAOAAgW8qtJUaRvu-C0gXoNm89L8DzkGQd2ecnkrm3BHz-dGoqw0Mo6_-XJN_vOKKR3uI5Aj94Ew9wk854hbVYwyi1qLz2HnPvBK7UU/w400-h225/161706980_1251581375244398_2833638212491209626_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our awesome trail mount line-up!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>So, what'cha'll think?? A place you'd like to come experience? Or pass up? MWAHAHAHAHA</b></span><span style="color: #888888;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br clear="all" /></span><div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></span></div>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-68308034873484098682021-02-24T08:35:00.041-05:002021-02-24T08:35:00.272-05:00Running Vibes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfTmj4qMJKrKDeYUMSmuG1VYhAEgwZ9qTABAUIwFRPTPXTnvmVYIeMHnCmPhPn26BaFzdjIhHXmEi7w4jy1LQfQTxUchAlq1L4yBraUg7dFVvjxWdqbcqGYGGUscE68Uejy8I7UIeuYA/s560/20192+%25289%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfTmj4qMJKrKDeYUMSmuG1VYhAEgwZ9qTABAUIwFRPTPXTnvmVYIeMHnCmPhPn26BaFzdjIhHXmEi7w4jy1LQfQTxUchAlq1L4yBraUg7dFVvjxWdqbcqGYGGUscE68Uejy8I7UIeuYA/s16000/20192+%25289%2529.png" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That tired feeling you get when you finish a run, and how your muscles ache and you just want to shower and go to bed...and then how <i>good and alive</i> you feel the next morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The multiple pairs of sneakers you now have to own: road shoes, trail shoes, trail shoes for muddy trails, the spare pair in your car in case you forget the pair you actually wanted to wear, the super old favorite pair that you can't seem to throw away, the new pair you need to break in but plan to wait for the next run, because <i>this </i>run you need your comfortable shoes...</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Finishing a group run and hanging around afterward comparing times and chatting about how you feel and how that was a good or a bad run and what races everyone is doing next and what goals everyone is training for.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Good job!" - a phrase the faster runner repeats when passing the slower runner (meant to encourage them)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Those awkward few miles of a run where you are running the same pace as an up-hiller, and you happen to be a down-hiller....so you get left behind on every uphill, and then speed past the other runner on every downhill...and repeat for about five miles of hills...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The fun of looking for races to do, and using them as excuses to travel. "Let's do this race at the beach!" "Let's go to this race in SC!" "I've always wanted to go here - let's go to a race there!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The fun of visiting friends/family and going running with them (for fun, or at races).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me: *stopping at an aid station halfway through a half-marathon*</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nearby cop, directing traffic off the running course: Doing alright, miss? Need a ride back?</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me: *wipes sweat out of my eyes* Do I look that bad??</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Deciding that yes, we needs alllllll the leggings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP8q3eEEgUXAakZ9UUy_vtE0rR_xBRep-E355znoElav4fNhGyiOzhBwLWj9a0t4z6Zd48qRT99LIysDyVmfA7M5h7mEikNDEd1tV2Nn6ljYEiLsdaUGL0yrarzu5wJyYai2Y71WLYAc/s720/G3.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="720" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP8q3eEEgUXAakZ9UUy_vtE0rR_xBRep-E355znoElav4fNhGyiOzhBwLWj9a0t4z6Zd48qRT99LIysDyVmfA7M5h7mEikNDEd1tV2Nn6ljYEiLsdaUGL0yrarzu5wJyYai2Y71WLYAc/w640-h360/G3.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, running on the road feeling like I'm getting absolutely nowhere. (Also feat. the people in the car trying to make that turn and I'm just trying to get across the crosswalk.)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wondering where to put all those age award medals, and being jealous of those runners who make cute little displays in their living room or office or whatever.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Faster runner: *passses me* Good job, good job!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me: *tries not to look like I'm dying* *sweaty grin*</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All the swag!!! The useless swag. The useful swag. The cool swag. Sunglasses, bumper stickers, chapstick, gift cards, coupons...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That one time you felt really good and beat someone who normally finishes ahead of you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Feeling horrible and still going for the run because no matter how bad you feel, it'll feel worse if you miss a few runs and then try to get back afterward.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Feeling amazing during the entire run and being totally convinced you have a new PR and checking your watch and...you're actually slower than last time (which explains why you feel <i>good</i>, haha).</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4G5J_KhQjCE6OCoijF35KYzqEk2cDKdSi4ViWcwBaBeZPFmMUTq47Hztn-Ar_U2pU-uXmiScNxDWuSJdmd-UeH8NIsD3PKqyWHjoxikv2-x-KRv9itgbYexlcTHJfYGrg63tLE-5c5c/s500/G1.gif" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4G5J_KhQjCE6OCoijF35KYzqEk2cDKdSi4ViWcwBaBeZPFmMUTq47Hztn-Ar_U2pU-uXmiScNxDWuSJdmd-UeH8NIsD3PKqyWHjoxikv2-x-KRv9itgbYexlcTHJfYGrg63tLE-5c5c/w640-h266/G1.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, in the middle of a long run.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Running in the cold and being completely frozen at the beginning and sweating worse than in summer at the end.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Running in the cold and being completely frozen the. entire. time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Running in the perfect temperature and deciding to go an extra distance because it's absolutely perfect out and you feel amazing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Running in the heat and sweating the entire time and people are looking at you like you're crazy, but melting tomatoes can't be crazy, right??</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Faster Runner: *passes me again* Good job!</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me: *suddenly realizes why runners turn up murdered....it was the slower runner getting sick and tired of the chipper, faster people passing them over and over*</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Realizing that running opens up so many more places to you: you're always looking for new parks, new trails, new routes to run; vacation spots and activities now take you to scenic overlooks and little bunny trails where hardly anyone else ever goes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting to a creek and hop-scotching your way across on the rocks only to turn around and see a barefoot runner (or sandeled runner)(or hardcore runner) legit just run right through the water and zoom past you with this obvious "you sissy" look on their face.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting to a creek and hop-scotching your way across on the rocks and then watch a first-time-trail-runner look at you in awe right before they slip on a stone and fall into the water.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1mTUDiFG6edb3rxEbHcYBVptkGk-mDmBxzIN6MOAjI8ddh5roTaGhJQ626izMhERdM59ZyV7u2FBAHJa7XYUgY1nl5E3MG3JEH8ETNARdKbqCMtREAjuhvyadghjVP9WeAtMLuBmgY4/s250/G4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1mTUDiFG6edb3rxEbHcYBVptkGk-mDmBxzIN6MOAjI8ddh5roTaGhJQ626izMhERdM59ZyV7u2FBAHJa7XYUgY1nl5E3MG3JEH8ETNARdKbqCMtREAjuhvyadghjVP9WeAtMLuBmgY4/w640-h320/G4.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me after navigating a creek crossing without getting wet.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Passing walkers and hikers and wheezing "on your left" and being disappointed when no one catches your reference.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Seeing a friend waiting for you at the finish while you were convinced they were <i>behind</i> you the whole time.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Finding random food and runner fuel lying on the ground and just picking it up and eating it because you might as well.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cross-fitters who came wildly unprepared for the distance run.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The starbucks barista dude that you can't quite keep up with.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The heavy, old guy who finishes before you.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The dude in blue jeans and boots who finishes before you.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The pregnant lady who finishes before you.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The dude in the Chick-Fil-A cow suit who finishes before you.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The ten-year-old who finishes before you.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being the only one in your age group so you get the first place medal even though you were legit the last person to cross the finish line in the entire race.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being still out on the course and hearing the announcer call your name in the age awards.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dogs.</span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me, passing someone slower than me: Good job, good job!!!</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-41166477235992252092021-02-10T08:35:00.000-05:002021-02-10T08:35:05.410-05:00Audiobooks - Yay or Nay?<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">I think it's safe to say that most of us keep track of how many books we read every year. Some of us do the Goodreads Challenge, others simply list off and maybe review these books in monthly or yearly wrap-up blog posts. Maybe we share how many books we've read with others, or maybe we keep it to ourselves.</span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But in any case, I'd like to pose this question: do audiobooks count to your book-reading goals?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2ckSme1aF2OUAj21oivM8nncWziFS_dfNgy15zhOK1pNWUyj5Uc67IPtm5tpYQK27lfGqadeNQkzN5xuwTeAANBoR8BkeS1hmK75hfqlbAU634Asa_bbUYvrO09rdQrjrCZpVF0NsVE/s560/20192+%25288%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2ckSme1aF2OUAj21oivM8nncWziFS_dfNgy15zhOK1pNWUyj5Uc67IPtm5tpYQK27lfGqadeNQkzN5xuwTeAANBoR8BkeS1hmK75hfqlbAU634Asa_bbUYvrO09rdQrjrCZpVF0NsVE/w640-h360/20192+%25288%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I personally think listening to a few audiobooks is certainly fine, and can certainly be counted towards your Goodreads Challenge or other reading goals. I only end up listening to three or four throughout the year, usually while driving to and from work (I only have about a 10 minute drive).</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As long as you are paying attention to the audiobook and actually listening, I think counting a <i>lot</i> of audiobooks is still fine. I know there are some folks who either don't have lots of sit-down time or else struggle to concentrate for more than five minutes on a print book but can stay focused while listening and doing some hands-on task (like cleaning or drawing).</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If your main method for consuming literature is audiobooks while driving to work or cooking dinner, that's perfectly fine. Just make sure the audiobook doesn't become background noise and you zone out for three chapters. Just like my whole "if you speed-read the whole book and skipped whole pages and remember almost nothing about the plot afterwards, did you really read it" thing (cuz I can be soooo guilty of this). Use discernment here, y'all.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you read audiobooks and turn the reading speed up fairly high...I have mixed emotions. At first I might be inclined to say that that's cheating, but then again, some folks can read or listen at fast speeds and still comprehend the whole thing. If you're one of those superfolks, more power to ya.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ultimately, you do what works for you. Listen or read or do a mix of both. But if you're listening to audiobooks at twice the speed and not even actually listening half the time...maybe it's best you don't count that book. Same as if you speed-read a book and skip pages at a time...maybe don't count that one, either. Use common sense. And maybe be sure to tell people "I listened to audiobooks at double speed this year while driving to work" so they aren't in shock that you consumed over 200 books...</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What do y'all think? Yay or nay to counting audiobooks? Pet peeves about reading challenges? Time to rant in the comments!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also, what kind of reading challenges have you set for yourselves this year? I'd love to know!</span></div>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-85590212110655623682021-01-27T08:35:00.014-05:002021-01-27T08:35:00.306-05:00Run Chicken, Run!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I normally condone animal abuse, but I make an exception for chickens.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Roosters, to be more specific.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If that two-foot-tall pile of feathers wants to come at me with its claws of fury then I <i>will </i>kick that little bugger like a football and feel zero remorse because that furious beastie had it <i>coming</i>, mate.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyVCIaFnw6r_91lyfFhOoDRavMC3yw0cbMUINaXoCW4FpamFrYyo9phKkMeX0kU-zeJFmO79xkWCg5TnR4_7t_6j4CJrcKLAUq7uPcVxyL73Tgj2QxmTxVjDCHGzTnSC7qoAII3wypag/s560/20192+%25287%2529.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyVCIaFnw6r_91lyfFhOoDRavMC3yw0cbMUINaXoCW4FpamFrYyo9phKkMeX0kU-zeJFmO79xkWCg5TnR4_7t_6j4CJrcKLAUq7uPcVxyL73Tgj2QxmTxVjDCHGzTnSC7qoAII3wypag/w640-h360/20192+%25287%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is actually a stock chicken picture I pulled from Canva the day I created the blog post. Not one of my chickens, lol</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In my years of farm life, I have encountered quite a number of spikey, hate-filled roosters. Some were occasionally violent, only pecking when they felt that you were too close to their hens. A few roosters ignored adults but went after small children, dogs, cats, baby goats, and anything else that they felt they could actually best in a wrestling match.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then there was Jaco.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jaco was a beautiful speckled sussex rooster, and his favorite hobby was eating people alive. Not only was he close to three feet in height, he had a nasty habit of flying over the pasture fence and prowling the yard, waiting for some unsuspecting person to come into view.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the few (or maybe only) times I heard an adult scream in terror was when a friend who was boarding her horses at my house walked her new horse to the horse pasture...and didn't see the incoming chicken bent on protecting his domain from anything that didn't have a beak and feathers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jaco somehow survived a hit-and-run with a bike, a shovel-wielding Russian, and numerous "yeet him into the air like a football" kicks. Not once did he ever limp or get injured...or show signs of remorse for his misdeeds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Worst of all, this rooster had a soft side. If you could push through his beak-and-nail defenses and get him in your arms, he would turn into a nice little pet. Tuck him under your arm and pet his pretty feathers and feed him some grain and he'd sit there all nice and happy and chuckle to himself while pecking the corn ever-so-sweetly from your palm.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then place him back on the ground and he'd scuttle over to you, hackles raised...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We gave him away to some hunting friends, and said that we didn't want to know what they were planning to do with him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">None of our roosters since have been quite as mean. We did have a Black Australorp rooster named Toothless that turned mean. We penned him up in a small hutch, claiming he was too pretty to sell or eat (or maybe we just felt a little guilty about Jaco's fate?). Eventually the cow broke the hutch and Toothless was inadvertently freed....and he never bothered to attack us again. Perhaps he learned his lesson.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As of right now, we have two roosters - a Rhode Island Red rooster that is the perfect rooster, and a gray rooster that has never actually /attacked/ but does that little beady-eyed-side-shuffle that you chicken owners know all about. He does jump out of the pasture and lead his little band of freedom flighter hens, but is for the most part, quite docile. I still don't trust him, of course.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Never trust a rooster.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd4pXMet6zI2GsT1zxG6Ql3_aP0DnuIBEim4kD3lE151I3G0c3-_OnPFLZKyyvIxDnEiTCtYWSPyU7MlNUmlKIVk41rn0sRgBYxbjK3tR5gmo6mbLrqEWGj9IqdaWtYF3d39NjPjjTZs/s566/Jaco.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="566" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd4pXMet6zI2GsT1zxG6Ql3_aP0DnuIBEim4kD3lE151I3G0c3-_OnPFLZKyyvIxDnEiTCtYWSPyU7MlNUmlKIVk41rn0sRgBYxbjK3tR5gmo6mbLrqEWGj9IqdaWtYF3d39NjPjjTZs/w400-h325/Jaco.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And for anyone wanting a picture, I dug through the computer and managed to find this picture of Jaco himself.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-74836294159223518702021-01-13T08:35:00.022-05:002021-01-13T08:35:00.306-05:00Introducing: The Order of the Pen Press, LLC<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A long time ago, I had a dream: to be a published author. At the time, I didn't think about /how/ that would happen, just that I wanted to write stories and have them, somehow, end up in printed book format.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In 2014, Sarah Rodecker and I co-founded The Order of the Pen, an email-based writing group where members shared stories and flash fiction and gave each other writing tips and helped edit and beta read WIPs. As the years went by, tOotP sort of disbanded. We'd all become adults, and while a few of us still continued to write, most members were busy with work and college. We still kept in touch, but the group emails and monthly meetings stopped going out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fBL8i81kqgcKwKqh4uOWqUv5i26778yFn9vRjWGieIaOt-afl9kDdwibPx4uy5I7rcu3Zai-krsHCTrHmWGhKSUDWeI47_0OZbGwN7MczMpLOWaSxBE4SeMxvQQCxaBVvDBsBWB8Q_8/s1359/Meeting.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="1359" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fBL8i81kqgcKwKqh4uOWqUv5i26778yFn9vRjWGieIaOt-afl9kDdwibPx4uy5I7rcu3Zai-krsHCTrHmWGhKSUDWeI47_0OZbGwN7MczMpLOWaSxBE4SeMxvQQCxaBVvDBsBWB8Q_8/w400-h118/Meeting.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snippet from a monthly meeting email.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fast-forward to May 2020. Sarah and I are preparing to self-publish our co-written book Ships, Secrets, and Survivors. We are finally getting into those lovely, nitty-gritty publishing details and reach an unforeseen problem: taxes. If you are self-publishing by yourself, you can just use your social security number and report the taxes when you do your own yearly W2s. But....two of us wrote the book.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unsure what to do, we spoke to a local accountant, who advised us that the best option was to start a business and use a business tax identification number. Now I have been doing small business finances for 5 years. Sarah had taken accounting classes. Neither of us are afraid to get down and do things ourselves. And with the knowledge that I already planned to self-publish my other books, and Sarah was considering that route for some of her own WIPs, we decided to take the jump and do it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But what to call the publishing business? We almost did zero brainstorming whatever. We already /had/ a name. So we checked in with the old OotP members and got their okay. The paperwork was filled out, and we became official.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, y'all, allow me to introduce...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Order of the Pen Press!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwE0f-WTwvwMq1Ee1aIuRjLvssPFRKYaV5QIvk0uqgPPsLRkjAiC22L8n9TGoLoOanofPtWfjjzLfoOopezL_DGYThoi9Hxy23o5HkxpNwn3HuvzwhgFXeg7QkA413D1oTcovgrvLaQ8/s500/The+Order+of+the+Pen+%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwE0f-WTwvwMq1Ee1aIuRjLvssPFRKYaV5QIvk0uqgPPsLRkjAiC22L8n9TGoLoOanofPtWfjjzLfoOopezL_DGYThoi9Hxy23o5HkxpNwn3HuvzwhgFXeg7QkA413D1oTcovgrvLaQ8/s320/The+Order+of+the+Pen+%25281%2529.png" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For the moment, our little publishing business is "just" for our books. The final <i>Pirate Hunter Chronicles</i> books are coming out in 2021. In 2022, my own series, <i>The Red War Annals</i>, will begin releasing. 2023 will see the release of <i>Fire Horse</i> - a sci-fi duology (also co-written by me and Sarah).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After that, we still have many other WIPs bouncing around in the w</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">orks. We will always be open to helping the original Pennites get their own works published as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All that being said, we are certainly not opposed to, in the future, opening our submissions to writers outside our original Order of the Pen writing group. Helping young writers achieve their goals to become authors has always been a dream of our own. So maybe, someday, submissions will be open!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We look forward to sharing our adventures in the coming years! You may follow us on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theorderofthepenpress/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE </a>and on FaceBook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theorderofthepen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Our website is <a href="https://www.orderofthepenpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm so glad it's finally time to share this news!!! We've been sitting on this since....May 2020, I think. But guys. I'm just...beyond excited. <i>Pirate Hunters</i> has been such a journey. Starting a publishing business. And in another year, I'll get to share Marywyn's story that has been on my heart since...2015, I think.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's to an awesome year!!</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-51822982933785768282020-12-30T08:35:00.001-05:002020-12-30T08:35:03.241-05:00Final Goodbye<span style="font-family: verdana;">This is going to be a short-and-simple post. It's the end of the year. Everyone is busy.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So today I'm just going to share some WIP playlists. Maybe you'll hear some new tracks that you can enjoy in 2021. Or maybe you can just melt into the music and imagine your in the storyworld.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">*ahem*</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>The Red War Annals: The Golden Bard of Taliyaven</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">high fantasy // fiddles // war horses // long journeys // travelling through snowy mountains // climbing canyons // slipping through dark streets // gathering with friends to play music together // friendship</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2TsE6gmc9s7YIHODguwPFz" width="300"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>The Pirate Hunter Chronicles: Ships, Secrets, and Survivors</b></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">pirate fantasy // talking ships // assassins // princesses // sea dragons // ocean magic // stars on the water // siren songs // storms on the horizon // deserted islands // strange countries // different accents // kingdoms</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/62nyCpV5M5Ul46Qjfq6JMr" width="300"></iframe>:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Havendenara: Rauladin</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">ya fantasy // strangers in the woods // winged beasts // distrust // an ancient legend // old forests // shadowed sunlight between thick branches // murky swamp // warring clans // twisted histories // winged beasts // hatred // blood-debt</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2v2hzxO53RaFdGgs6hHbCS" width="300"></iframe>:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyways, hope y'all enjoyed that.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">2020 has been quite a year, yah? Hard to believe it's about over. I'll be back in January with some wrap-ups and goals and all that rot. So talk to y'all next year!</span></div>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-63346957065299107982020-12-23T08:35:00.004-05:002020-12-23T08:35:01.654-05:00NaNoWriMo 2020 WIP Excerpts<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So Sarah and I wrote the third book in <i>The Pirate Hunter Chronicles</i> for NaNo 2020. We actually only made it a little over halfway through the outline, but hey, it went well otherwise. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today I have a few excerpts. Non-spoilery, of course. But a taste of what is to come...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You're welcome.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH_LDdCuoB6uM5otLZ69b72HQAyEA2acudXlLD0g4usFpjsrXxMPOxOga537k53MjSzMUn0L468mb2xKc3WHxwxSyz49Jp9FNmN4KC48klQSeQk5FDC6slCdlPXhBI-1qrxNvMCIrGWg/s560/20192+%25286%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH_LDdCuoB6uM5otLZ69b72HQAyEA2acudXlLD0g4usFpjsrXxMPOxOga537k53MjSzMUn0L468mb2xKc3WHxwxSyz49Jp9FNmN4KC48klQSeQk5FDC6slCdlPXhBI-1qrxNvMCIrGWg/w640-h360/20192+%25286%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">~~*~~</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;">A slimy tentacle rose out of the harbor, dripping water onto the deck of the ship. Justin choked on his words and the tea cup fell to the deck and shattered. Shade muttered a few words that Ravin hadn’t heard in a while (and hopefully would never hear again).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“<b><i>Oh, yeah,</i></b>” the <i>High Dragon’s</i> voice echoed across the harbor. “<i><b>There’s a kraken.</b></i>”</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~*~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">A pirate rushed towards Ravin, cutlass in hand. Ravin pulled a knife from his pocket, dodged the man’s thrust, and sunk the knife into the back of the man’s hand. The cutlass tumbled to the deck, and Ravin kicked it away.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“Please be careful.” Ravin adjusted his grip on his violin. “I don’t want to drop this.”</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~*~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">“You’re the one that ran,” the assassin said, pointing to the tattoo on Ravin’s bare arm.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“I hope you’ve heard a little more than that,” Ravin set his crossbow down on the ground and drew a knife. “I’ll give you one chance to drop your weapons and surrender right now.” </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~*~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">“You got more knives?” Adi didn’t look surprised.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“They’re Jaco’s.”</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~*~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">“You doing alright?” Adi put a hand on his shoulder. “From the pirates?”</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“Oh, yeah, it’ll take more than that to worry me!”</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“Justin, you passed out!”</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~*~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">“Well, the king was busy.”</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“Doesn’t excuse his tardiness or negate the fact that we had everything under control.”</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“So having the entire port in flames is your definition of ‘under control?’”</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~*~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyways, there you have it. I wanted to share more, but some are spoilery for book three <i>and</i> book two. So oh well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Good news is, we are still pushing for a publication of <i>Sins, Sons, and Siren Songs</i> in May 2021. Not only will you be able to buy the paperback and get cool swag (music?? another short story?? stickers??), but you'll be treated to the title of book three. :) So stay tuned!</div></span></div></div></div>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-63448744517283792322020-12-16T08:35:00.032-05:002020-12-16T08:35:00.161-05:00Dreams Take Work<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gO1BugjMtlRMGpPn6n30_jCE1BvL8kT600xIFRxX52KtpiU00TsYuHdF2QjYwWWG4FMxSoPplr-zJ6DFVRPET4dKgoNqwjVa-uFsO7EdKEdrV1_mKz9OzHCPEsZrqxCyLVvrtUnzz1I/s560/20192+%25285%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gO1BugjMtlRMGpPn6n30_jCE1BvL8kT600xIFRxX52KtpiU00TsYuHdF2QjYwWWG4FMxSoPplr-zJ6DFVRPET4dKgoNqwjVa-uFsO7EdKEdrV1_mKz9OzHCPEsZrqxCyLVvrtUnzz1I/w640-h360/20192+%25285%2529.png" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana;">March 2014. I was going to buy my dream horse.</b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After finally selling Nugget, my horse-with-no-brakes, I went to a huge 3-day auction with my dad. As you can imagine, my head was full of dreams. What kind of horse was I going to come home with? A fun little Paso, just like my sister's horse? Maybe another Haflinger? A beautiful buckskin? Who knows?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I came home with an elegant black Friesian. I remember holding the end of the lead rope and walking him to the trailer, filled with awe that this ginormous beastie was now mine. We drove home, and I imagined what it would be like to gallop bareback across the hay fields...just like Alec and the Black Stallion, only the "I live in the mountains, far away from the beach" version.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMgp-m97Ng6G8EYhp3v8cvi0vQq6FjfT3VkJxUVTTzbLopudwocg11PZO86dvUEnRyI79Tkv-8BQknvg1GUBHqXtWt4NXJjDd3sR5yjya9Gu7JbpaOcx0bz3B-qdwPRadZT0hzilUfhc/s960/MUJV5438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMgp-m97Ng6G8EYhp3v8cvi0vQq6FjfT3VkJxUVTTzbLopudwocg11PZO86dvUEnRyI79Tkv-8BQknvg1GUBHqXtWt4NXJjDd3sR5yjya9Gu7JbpaOcx0bz3B-qdwPRadZT0hzilUfhc/w640-h426/MUJV5438.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pepper at his fastest speed (a trot) at a Ride and Tie in VA.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But when I got home, my dreams were shattered. Pepper didn't like to ride away from the house alone. He panicked every time he got left behind by the other horses and would bolt to catch up (which, because he walks so slow, was pretty frequent). Loading and unloading him was a pain. He bucked every time he cantered, and sometimes when he was in a trot.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I cried myself to sleep a number of times. This wasn't the dream horse I had thought I'd bought. A few times I even wondered if I should sell him, but despite the rough rides I really loved him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHVAbgLSNznEkTMhsvH2Wab11C5UTRFndhKpDHnJ-rlnvM1ZcJLyW9wwpvDth-cr1FbRdiYJ5ki3S4hwpi92fSoeucerW-QEFfz3FLnBvGLslIlZLoJ-uZgkSUx5kWIORZCRj8_lrVCM/s2048/20200618_161604+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHVAbgLSNznEkTMhsvH2Wab11C5UTRFndhKpDHnJ-rlnvM1ZcJLyW9wwpvDth-cr1FbRdiYJ5ki3S4hwpi92fSoeucerW-QEFfz3FLnBvGLslIlZLoJ-uZgkSUx5kWIORZCRj8_lrVCM/w640-h490/20200618_161604+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pepper and Max getting ready for a ride in the rain.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Years passed, and I kept stubbornly riding Pepper. And then, one day, I realized I was riding my dream horse. I could load him right up in the trailer, go out riding by myself, trot and canter away, and load him right up and go home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTdzTP3bNeph8QcSJmBFjsuSfySRAUItzFjrmIuyJ_y3e6nh-IfIsUbpavWfhKlE4W5e-cXSYSK_iq3pwBIvVCI-5VNmRgbITRiJ97t0TiEJl0BbXngVz_BQwpec_H4doMqsfGLeoiZA/s2048/20200801_135216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTdzTP3bNeph8QcSJmBFjsuSfySRAUItzFjrmIuyJ_y3e6nh-IfIsUbpavWfhKlE4W5e-cXSYSK_iq3pwBIvVCI-5VNmRgbITRiJ97t0TiEJl0BbXngVz_BQwpec_H4doMqsfGLeoiZA/w360-h640/20200801_135216.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pepper enjoying a quick cool-off during one of our solo rides.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana;">August 2020. I was going to look at a cheap Craigslist horse.</b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A long time ago I had told myself,<i> if you go to look at a horse and he's already tacked up when you arrive, the sellers are trying to hide something, so don't buy the horse.</i> Well, this horse was tacked up, tied to a tree, and sweating. To keep the drive from being a total waste, I rode the horse anyway, and while he threw in a buck or two and tossed his head around and was an emotional mess, he wasn't <i>horrible</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then I took the saddle off and found I could see every rib on the poor thing. I offered the seller $500 less than what she was asking, and she took it and I took the horse. <i>I've made a mistake,</i> I told myself. <i>This horse is crazy. He'll never be like your old Paso. He was trained by a drunk, never been on the trails, and has who knows how many bad habits.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXS3nvwJQXsuIzaxjHBia18RKQSLRmiQxlDSS9BcOT_EOrli5sD6AYQUCWoA_P_TuAOTCHEGubnD-odAyOukK8jSx9a-7dUlSoC6KSvOk5TePLWDN6Jb0Iqd8WfX4PUGgYGZgDPx94vvo/s2048/20200829_150159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXS3nvwJQXsuIzaxjHBia18RKQSLRmiQxlDSS9BcOT_EOrli5sD6AYQUCWoA_P_TuAOTCHEGubnD-odAyOukK8jSx9a-7dUlSoC6KSvOk5TePLWDN6Jb0Iqd8WfX4PUGgYGZgDPx94vvo/w360-h640/20200829_150159.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shadow learning to be a good little Ride and Tie beastie.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I jumped right into working with him. I practiced loading him. I started on trails. Worked on tons of little quirks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This November, I took this horse to VA with a friend and we rode over bridges, through tunnels, and even galloped a couple times. This little horse didn't put a hoof wrong the whole time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5rJgfpRbQ_yjGH1YuIw2V_VQh2GRLk2xWsRYhU5evfpamrgGRYXyzk8yl7WK-BdVzExlKp_fCCSs6ZIfFgEPuGqn0Oz70mPnKqsBc2lo_xGmSRL7p3HYfcdKWmgrB6IpckTeq9GDl2s/s2048/125205911_397349488297215_3261413059145620594_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5rJgfpRbQ_yjGH1YuIw2V_VQh2GRLk2xWsRYhU5evfpamrgGRYXyzk8yl7WK-BdVzExlKp_fCCSs6ZIfFgEPuGqn0Oz70mPnKqsBc2lo_xGmSRL7p3HYfcdKWmgrB6IpckTeq9GDl2s/w480-h640/125205911_397349488297215_3261413059145620594_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Shadow after going through the tunnel.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Perfect horses, dream horses, aren't purchased. They're made.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So pull your boots on, take a deep breath, and get on that horse. He or she may not be your dream horse yet. There may be a few rides between now and that "bareback gallop across the field" that everyone dreams of. But don't give up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">To those who don't have horses, maybe you have some other dream you're chasing and maybe it seems so unattainable. Maybe it'll take some bravery, or maybe some hard work, or maybe lots of time and dedication, or maybe a healthy dose of everything I just mentioned.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Don't give up. Keep pushing forward. Every little bit counts. Every step forward is <i>forward</i> progress. Every ten minutes spent on your project is ten minutes closer to finishing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Don't give up on your dream. Stun it with your last bullet, and when it tries to get up and run away, grab a hold of the tail and and run after it through the woods and never let go no matter where it drags you (sorry, a hunting story analogy here).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">2021 is beginning and we're all setting new goals and trying to get over the shock of 2020. Here is your reminder to keep trucking on. Don't give up. It gets better, I promise. It may get worse for a while, and you'll stress and you'll cry. But when you're done crying, dry those tears, maybe look at a different angle, and try again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR6DeNc4Tn0ds0hqHup363HitLymz0xQVYhUJ0Riyw-G3KuVX3gKKWfP34j49T18MRDMfZkDvWoJnngrMgyH6y9VmSXEVK8XmovN2XXtnUqSIexNnW2HUClsKg4Ss0MP8MUwftFPjfbs/s1136/IMG_9840.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR6DeNc4Tn0ds0hqHup363HitLymz0xQVYhUJ0Riyw-G3KuVX3gKKWfP34j49T18MRDMfZkDvWoJnngrMgyH6y9VmSXEVK8XmovN2XXtnUqSIexNnW2HUClsKg4Ss0MP8MUwftFPjfbs/w360-h640/IMG_9840.PNG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These boys have some blood, sweat, and tears in them, but boy, have they been worth it! <3 Don't give up on your dreams!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-63455600804634080382020-12-15T08:35:00.006-05:002020-12-15T08:35:00.272-05:00Blood of the Seer - Cover Reveal<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Super awesome news on the blog today -- Claire's book <i>Blood of the Seer </i>now has a COVERRRRR and BOY AM I EXCITED!!!! <3</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So Claire has been a favorite author of mine ever since I stumbled across her indie book <i>The Rise of Aredor</i> (which I SUPER SUPER SUPER recommend -- think The Horse and His Boy meets G. A. Henty). The sequel to Aredor (<i>The Wildcat of Braeton</i>) was also awesome. And then her first book in the <i>Dragon Keep Chronicles </i>(<i>Oath of the Outcast</i>) was AMAZINGGGG </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">and now the second book in the <i>Dragon Keep Chronicles</i> HAS A COVER</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">and I get to share it with y'all.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(so I have a little sister bellowing away on our bagpipe chanter right now IN THE SAME ROOM as I try to type this up and it's RaThEr DiStRaCtInG....)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrZatp05of9P9TUNtNMIrRBeQ4bfq2QwZWv49wIAlrHe5-HZI2Jy43fTJwfO6Hq7Vrn0i3d2RXrF8iuQJKDvIlgzjKoLMgngcjFU5gXLuUB5eJK2MUYSFV0m9ribT5X0fG1zwaWgktFQ/s1080/Blood+of+the+Seer+graphic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrZatp05of9P9TUNtNMIrRBeQ4bfq2QwZWv49wIAlrHe5-HZI2Jy43fTJwfO6Hq7Vrn0i3d2RXrF8iuQJKDvIlgzjKoLMgngcjFU5gXLuUB5eJK2MUYSFV0m9ribT5X0fG1zwaWgktFQ/w400-h400/Blood+of+the+Seer+graphic.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyway, let me share with you this cover. Because there's a high change y'all scrolled down and didn't even read half of this to begin with, yah?</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZV3kqOfmxQUYxBJC30IRg7WEtSlTsAralSSj2qttCd0duF4uLazO_axcVKRT9foU-12VDjzshiYpD8fnUdPYotSxSfqDc9OA_C3Kz0NE8427RLZdR0XitBiDcrn7Lb65qUtrWdTynzs/s2048/Blood+of+the+Seer+-+C.M.+Banschbach+-+standard+image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1325" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZV3kqOfmxQUYxBJC30IRg7WEtSlTsAralSSj2qttCd0duF4uLazO_axcVKRT9foU-12VDjzshiYpD8fnUdPYotSxSfqDc9OA_C3Kz0NE8427RLZdR0XitBiDcrn7Lb65qUtrWdTynzs/w414-h640/Blood+of+the+Seer+-+C.M.+Banschbach+-+standard+image.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Isn't it beautiful??? <3 And let me share the blurb, just in case you already don't want to read the book based on the cover alone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>A blood curse.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>A shadow world.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>An indomitable evil.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>A forgotten bond.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Banished for a crime he didn’t commit, Rhys MacDuffy risked his life to rescue the little brother he no longer could claim as his own. Sean, the Seer of Clan MacDuffy, returns from his ordeal to war between the Clans and Lord Adam Barkley. Moreover, the Clan Lords refuse to lift the exile on Rhys. No outcast has ever been forgiven. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>But the druids who held Sean captive have taken the key to controlling his powers—his blood. Rhys determines to keep his brother safe no matter the cost. Heedless of the war, he leads his rowdy band of Mountain Brigands on a hunt to destroy the druids before they destroy Sean with their dark magic.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The druids force Sean into a shadow world full of demons and danger, where their menacing god Deronis can consume him. Yet Rhys is able to follow Sean into the other world. There they discover an older magic that might be the key to stopping the druids.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The bond of brotherhood between Rhys and Sean runs deep. But is it strong enough to stand against the druid’s blood god?</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjch522eo2nj2Qdc_gvJhFfgkxXfTZ9PSSqIVNvsZiQc5HBC73NM49wZ2rGZN_0jmZxePMnlKKtRY2bl-7iuoYksd2XA_218c25Y5jFZoZPlFOL6DisM2q7nAnK6mAS3WhLo8eUmqkVOgE/s2048/C.M.+Banschbach+-+Author+Headshot.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1870" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjch522eo2nj2Qdc_gvJhFfgkxXfTZ9PSSqIVNvsZiQc5HBC73NM49wZ2rGZN_0jmZxePMnlKKtRY2bl-7iuoYksd2XA_218c25Y5jFZoZPlFOL6DisM2q7nAnK6mAS3WhLo8eUmqkVOgE/w365-h400/C.M.+Banschbach+-+Author+Headshot.jpeg" width="365" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">C.M. Banschbach is a native Texan and would make an excellent hobbit if she wasn’t so tall. She’s an overall dork, pizza addict, and fangirl. When not writing fantasy stories packed full of adventure and snark, she works as a pediatric Physical Therapist where she happily embraces the fact that she never actually has to grow up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She writes clean YA/MG fantasy-adventure as Claire M. Banschbach.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Instagram</b>: @cmbanschbach (https://www.instagram.com/cmbanschbach/)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Facebook:</b> @cmbanschbach (https://www.facebook.com/cmbanschbach)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Website:</b> https://clairembanschbach.com/</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Pinterest:</b> @clairebanschbach (https://www.pinterest.com/clairebanschbach)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Email Newsletter Freebie:</b> https://tateauthor.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5db0817cde53281a40e5ff6a3&id=8d79f331f1</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Blood of the Seer</i> releases February 9th, 2021 (and I don't think I can wait that loooooooonnnnggg). You CAN (if you're impatient like me)(or if you like preorder swag, also like me) preorder the book <a href="https://uncommonuniverses.com/product/blood-of-the-seer-autographed-paperback/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE </a>(for a signed paperback) or on Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QGFCCT8/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a>: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(See y'all tomorrow, for my regularly scheduled post as well...)</b></span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588993175802930381.post-16176780883075558972020-12-09T08:35:00.007-05:002020-12-09T08:35:00.178-05:00Getting Hitched<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm2pAaOOro_LjoSeNo4ogDHxVGrEAi74ej7Ni3t-Tz1PhkjQEkDnhgTyJqwtXXEkIOT_CHt-liM_Bx81IUujRIE9_w9YNlzr2qYwmv-mRbYhYHCdgBvUqCJ_1Ub13bVzueCnxhzqHl78/s560/20192+%25284%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm2pAaOOro_LjoSeNo4ogDHxVGrEAi74ej7Ni3t-Tz1PhkjQEkDnhgTyJqwtXXEkIOT_CHt-liM_Bx81IUujRIE9_w9YNlzr2qYwmv-mRbYhYHCdgBvUqCJ_1Ub13bVzueCnxhzqHl78/w640-h360/20192+%25284%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">October 22nd. I drove my Trailblazer into town and picked up a log-splitter-trailer-thingy to get some work done in the new pasture we were clearing. Dropped it off in the pasture and was on the phone with Sarah when I pulled up to the gate. (For quick reference, the gate is on a downhill slope.) I put the car in park, open the gate, and get back in the driver's seat. I shift the car from park to drive and...the car goes backwards, and not just because of the hill. I hit the brakes, glance at the gear shift and...it's stuck in reverse. It never made it to drive. Just went to reverse and stuck. I wiggle it, play with it, and consider my situation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Seeing how I need to hurry and close the gate before an animal gets out, I coast down the hill, drive the car in reverse around the barn, and back it up the hill and through the gate. Because gravity pulls the car downhill, but the stuck-in-reverse-engine makes the car want to go uphill, the parking brake manages to balance everything out and keep the car from moving so I can jump out and close the gate.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">At this point, I tell Sarah that I need to call her back and end my phone call. Then I sit there for another few minutes, trying to figure out how to get my car out of reverse. The gear shift refuses to budge. If I take the parking brake off and step off the brake, the car goes backwards.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I decide to turn the car off and then on again. That always works, right?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Haha, nope. It turns off, but because the car is in reverse, and I can't get it <i>out</i> of reverse, it won't turn back on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I do the phone call of shame and Dad comes, also can't get it to start, and we leave it. The tow truck comes to take it to the repair shop, and I head to work in my mom's car.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(I promise this story is going somewhere....)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next day, Friday, I get a call from my dad. The conversation basically went like this:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dad: Hey, I went back to the barn and there are horses on the road.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me: Are they my horses?Dad: No.Me: What do they look like? Is there a yellow one? *thinks of Richard, the closest neighbor who has a couple horses, two of which are palominos.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dad: Yes, there's a yellow one and a black and white one.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me: *panics, because Richard doesn't have any paints* *panics more, because another neighbor, Betsy, is out of town, and has a buckskin <i>and </i>a paint*</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dad: They're running around, I think you need to come home and help us catch them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I leave work, drive the 10 minutes home, and see three horses that I've never seen before. By the time I arrive, their owner has come to help catch them. Apparently a tree had fallen on the fence, and they had gotten out and run off.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dad kindly offered to hitch up the trailer so they could drive the horses back instead of lead them back through the woods. The hitch on the trailer is my fancy $200 Amazon hitch - </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(Quick Interruption to tell the story of the $200 Amazon hitch...when I bought my 2-horse, the only hitch I had with the right size ball made the trailer tilt up at such an angle that the front set of tires were lifted off the ground. My dad said to buy a new hitch that would drop down lower for the trailer, and offered to split the cost with me, since it would go on his truck and he would use it as well. Long story short, he never paid me back, and I keep forgetting to remind him, and at this point, i really don't care. Anyway, I went to Amazon, picked out a heavy duty, fancy hitch and when I went to order, Amazon gave me the whole "try Amazon prime, and we'll ship this 2-day for free!" And I calculated the weight of the box with this heavy hitch, said "okay, then, your funeral" and took the free trial. And then cancelled it shortly after. But I got my hitch in 2 days.)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">- and back to the story. So I go to flip the ball size on my hitch, since I need the 2'' ball for the red trailer and...it won't come off. I jiggle it, shake it, pound it on the ground, but nothing happens. My brother finds a hammer and manages to pound it off (and deafen everyone in a 3-mile radius), but now the connector is so damaged that we can't hammer it back in with the 2'' ball on top.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rather frustrated at how my trusty hitch has suddenly decided not to work <i>now</i>, in the moment of emergency, I rummage around in the garage and grab one of the older hitches. We hitch up the red trailer, load the runaway horses, and get them home. When I mention to my dad that I had troubles with my fancy hitch, he says, "Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you...I was fixing something at the barn and couldn't find a hammer, so I used your hitch and think I broke it."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next day, Saturday morning, I get up and begin to prepare for my usual Saturday trail ride. I load everything up in my 2-horse as always, and back the truck up to get hitched. That's when I realize I have the wrong hitch (a 2'' inch ball). And then I remember that Daddy broke my hitch. So I hurriedly pillage the garage until I find my old 2 5/16'' drop-down hitch (it's better than using the 3-ball hitch that makes the tires lift off the ground, but still is a little too high). I hitch up the trailer and go to plug in the lights when...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>...the adapter is awol.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, not exactly. The adapter is on my Trailblazer, from when I pulled the log splitter. And the Trailblazer is still in the shop (I told you I had a point to that intro). So I pull out one of the new adapters, just to see if it still has the same problem. And it does. Basically, the truck brakes are so <i>crap </i>and the trailer brakes are so /sharp/, that using a brand new adapter makes the trailer brakes lock up. (So I use the old broken adapter, which somehow makes the lights work, but not the brakes.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">By now I'm worried I'll be late to the ride. So I switch hitches and hook up the red stock trailer. Only to find the pigs have chewed the cables so there is no way I'm getting any lights or brakes there, either. Oh, and the tag just expired like, a month ago. But at least this trailer is lighter and I'm just going 20 minutes down the road, and I'm not re-hitching anything.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I move the tack into the truck, load the horses, and head out. The trail ride went well. I get my car repaired and back from the shop. All is good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The <i>next </i>weekend, my dad needed the truck to help a friend move, so he took the flatbed. No worries, I said, I'll just pull the stock trailer with the Trailblazer (the 2-horse is too heavy for the Falcon, but she pulls the red one just fine). That's when I remember the lights haven't been fixed. And since my car is a good step down or two from the truck, I decide I'd rather have brakes for this. (Thankfully, my friend is able to pick me up, and we still went on the ride.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then the <i>third </i>weekend comes. My family is out of town, and I'm meeting with a friend to go ride in VA. I remember my hitch problems on Friday, and while on lunch break, run to Tractor Supply, examine the row of hitches, and look for a 2 5/16'' drop-down hitch (that's lower than the one I already have). Finding one, I make my purchase and head back to work, feeling, for once, on top of the game.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturday morning I go to hitch up and...the hitch will not fit on my truck. The shaft is too big. (Like....why?????) So I go to use my old drop-down hitch and...I can't find it. It's gone. Vanished. Yeeted into the void and blasted into oblivion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm driving to VA. Over the mtns. I need brakes and lights (so I can't take the red one, which still doesn't have hookups...or a current sticker). But I'm not driving up and down the mtns with the first set of tires spinning uselessly in the air. And the closest tractor supply store is 30 minutes away...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After calling my family and friends to complain, I search the truck one more time and manage to find my old drop-down hitch. With that, I am able to successfully hook up safely and use the old adapter to have lights/turn signals. (And we had a very good 18 mile ride in VA, if you're curious.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Earlier last week, I returned the new hitch to Tractor Supply and found that, for some reason, they don't have any drop-down 2 5/16 hitches with a smaller shaft that would fit my truck (Ford 250).</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So yeah. Hope you enjoyed that little taste of my life.</span></p>Helena Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511426093471571440noreply@blogger.com15