Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year!



Wishing all my fans a healthy, prosperous and amazing 2013!


Monday, December 3, 2012

Horse Expo Pomona 2013

Logo - Home 

 I've been invited to participate in the Book Corral at the Horse Expo Pomona from Thursday, January 31 through Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Fairplex, 2100 North White Avenue, Pomona, CA.

I'll be joining a group of other equine authors as we share with our fans our inspirations, our publishing journey and our final products - horse books!

Al ten of my books will be available, but I'll highlight my five Beloved Horses books, including the latest release, "Beloved Horses from Around the World."

If you plan to attend this expo, please stop by and say hello! See the list of Book Corral authors at http://www.horseexpoevents.com/bookcorral.html and for more information about my books, visit my site at http://SharonMiner.com.



Saturday, November 24, 2012

SC Tack Shop Visits

While visiting family near Charleston, SC over Thanksgiving weekend, I took my granddaughter and her two girls to five tack shop and stables in the area. They loved trying on Western boots and checking out other equine gifts. Only the 7 year old was able to find the size and style she liked for boots, but the teen is returning to one of the shops to select her boots! I gave the little one her Christmas gift early - the riding helmet!

Find these equine businesses on Facebook to learn more about their location, hours etc!


Black Bottom Stable & Tack Shop (Summerville area) - two huge floors of all types of riding supplies and clothes! Including some used clothing and boots. Also a boarding/training stable.


The Recycle Cowboy (Summerville area) had a wonderful selection of used clothes and gifts! I even found a lovely tapestry vest to wear at Christmas! The little one "gasped" when she saw the room full of square dancing clothes!


Medicine Wind Stable (Summerville area) had closed their tack shop but I found out we could have the girls ride there with an appointment! So next visit from Florida, we'll try to set that up. Beautiful stable! Couldn't find them on Facebook, but they have a website: http://medicinewind.net/


Tack 'N Tow (Charleston area) had helmets for a great price! New and used clothes etc, and saddles, too.



Meeting Street Tack Shop (Charleston area) had tons of gifts for horse lovers of all ages!  Also, the usual tack supplies. My family bought me this lovely wallet for my December birthday! Love it!






Sunday, November 4, 2012

Beloved Horses From Around the World





Beloved Horses From Around the World is my 5th book in the series and features real stories about equines from Aruba, Switzerland, England, Canada and the U.S.

Visit the Facebook page to meet some of the equines included - horses, donkeys, mules and zebras!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beloved-Horses-From-Around-the-World/365095303583149?sk=wall&filter=2&notif_t=wall

The book will be available from me this month, and shipping orders during the last week of November.
See my site to order an autographed copy! http://sharonminer.webstarts.com/books.html

It will be available online at Amazon etc sometime in December.

Please share with other horse lovers - great gift for any age!

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Horseshoe Fun at Antioch Days!







Such creative youngsters!

Thanks to all who stopped by my Puppies & Ponies Booth at Antioch Days in Thonotosassa, FL today!

If you missed me, or want to order books, visit my Author website at http://SharonMiner.com


Monday, October 29, 2012

Barktoberfest!

Great benefit event for SPCA Suncoast thanks to these sponsors & vendors!



Sunday, October 21, 2012

Antioch Days in Thonotosassa, FL!







My Puppies & Ponies Booth will be at this Tampa area event!

From the Facebook Page:


Join us for our 7th Annual Antioch Days on Saturday, November 3rd, 2012! A day of live entertainment, rides, attractions, games, crafters, exhibitors, and more. Parade starts at 10 am.

Antioch Days is a celebration of early settlers to an area near the shores of Lake Thonotosassa. There is something for everyone in the family. Join the parade or sit back and watch!


East Thonotosassa Baptist Church
12735 Knights Griffin Rd.
Thonotosassa, Florida 33592




Visit the official Antioch Days website: www.antiochdays.com
for more information.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Barktoberfest!


Join us at Barktoberfest on Sun. Oct. 28th from 11am - 3pm   FREE Admission!
Location: Harley Davidson on SR 54 in New Port Richey, Fl.

I'll have my Puppies & Ponies Booth there featuring my nine horse, dog & mystery books, novelties & horseshoe craft!

Bring your furry friends to enjoy a day of food, fun & pet costume contests! 

Barktoberfest 5th Annual Event will be a Tail-Waggin good time!


Sunday, September 16, 2012

8th Anniversary Sale!


Celebrate the 8th Anniversary of Beloved School Horses with me!

The first in the series, featuring the unsung heroes of the horse world - the lesson horse - was published in September 2004 after we had closed our Unicorn Stables (1975-2000).

From little Petey, my son's first pony, to big Tetris, an ex-dressage horse, these stories have been enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages. I've read some to kids as young as five because several anecdotes describe the special bonds between children and a horses. Older riders enjoy the trip down memory lane.

My Morgan Horse, Windfield Farewell, is featured on the cover and first chapter. He calms a nervous Girl Scout as she attempts to overcome her fear in order to earn her Horsemanship badge.

Dennis, a grade gelding who loves to halt, rewards an autistic 6 year old with a prompt response when asked to whoa. The boy, who had never smiled in his life, grins like a crescent moon causing the walkers to be overjoyed to tears.

And a double amputee Viet Nam veteran proves to himself that he is still a cowboy when on Knipper.

These are just a few of the horses featured. When marketing my book, other horse lovers wanted to tell me about their beloved horse. And so a series was born. The 5th will feature breeds from around the world and be released at the end of this year.

For print copies of any in the series, personally signed to you or a loved one, ($14.95 each) complete with sketches or photographs, contact me at sharonminer@yahoo.com - and I take Visa & Master Card. FREE SHIPPING!

For e-books, select them at Barnes & Noble or Amazon for just $2.99.

Visit these shops if near you - call ahead to see if they still have them on their shelf. http://findhorsebooks.blogspot.com/

Thanks to all my wonderful fans and shop supporters!
 

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Staples Teacher's Appreciation Day Aug. 11 New Tampa


I'll be participating in the Teacher's Appreciation Day at Staples on Saturday, August 11, 2012 from 9am until noon at the Staples located on 6260 Commerce Palms, New Tampa, FL 33647

My Puppies & Ponies booth will be set up and I'll be promoting literacy with a 20% SALE off any of my books. I write Beginner Reader dog books, the Beloved Horses series (collection of true stories about the special bonds between horses and their riders; for 5yrs through adult) and teen mystery novels. See my site at http://sharonminer.com/

Besides discounts on my books, I'll have handouts about my free school & library programs.

If you live in the area, please join us for this Teacher Appreciation event!

From the Staples site (http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/tad/index.html?cmSearchKeyword=teacher+appreciation+day):

Don’t miss these great perks at your local event.

  • FREE thank you gift bag* with bonus coupon to use at the event
  • Sneak peek at must-have new items for your classroom
  • Time to catch up with colleagues
Know a teacher? Make sure they take advantage of this great event.
*FREE gift bag available for first 100 teachers. While supplies last.

UPDATE!

It was wonderful talking to all the local teachers! The first 10 elementary teachers received a free copy of Woogie's new book: Woogie's Travels - Discovering America. See the book trailer at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLjT7e1ClmM&feature=context-cha

I offer free school visits and adjust my program to the audience's age level - from Pre K to High School.
See my site for details: www.SharonMiner.com


Sunday, July 15, 2012

Photos From Thrillerfest!








What a fantastic time I had in NYC at Thrillerfest! If you are a novelist, of any genre, I suggest you attend next year. The quality of speakers and the chance to pitch your novel to more than 50 literary agents makes it well worth the investment.

I plan to attend all four days next year (couldn't attend Sat this time), and volunteer even though I don't write thrillers! I pitched my middle grade historical fiction to eight very interested agents, so I better get to work on my final draft, especially after learning tips from the masters of the craft.

PHOTOS ABOVE:
Top:  Lee Child signs his book for me. He gave a presentation during Craftfest and also was interviewed.
2nd: One of the panels during Thrillerfest; The lady speaking is Amy Shojai, a writer of non-fiction dog books and a novel coming out later this year.
3rd: Kathleen Antrim (along with author Jon Land) gave excellent advice about pitching to agents; they even gave one on one chats with us - for more than two hours afterwards! So gracious, and inspiring.
4th: Austin Camacho I met many years ago, so it was great to catch up on news.
5th: Steve Berry is a wonderful speaker and writer.




PHOTOS ABOVE:
Top: Robert Dugoni and I have something in common - we both are the middle child of eleven! And we both can recite the sibs name very quickly! He was my favorite speaker because his content will help me with my final draft of my novel, "The Wildcat Orphan." The Dugoni family has Appaloosas and his daughter would like to have me include her horse in my next Beloved Horses!
2nd: R.L. Stine signed his book for my great-granddaughter, an aspiring writer in high school!
3rd: I bought several books by Shane Gericke. He's a great guy (missed his presentation as I left early) and helped me understand about the event before and during it.
Last: John Sanford is one of my favorite authors, even before I attended Thrillerfest!

The yearly event, held in NYC, is a conference hosted by International Thriller Writers and sponsors include Writer's Digest magazine. I won a contest held by WD, and so glad I attended!


Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Thrillerfest in NYC!













I won a contest from Writer's Digest magazine to attend one of the biggest writing conferences in NYC! I'm so excited to be attending and meeting best selling authors.

The masters will be teaching classes during Craftfest (Wed and Thu morn) - John Sandford, Steve Berry and Lee Child, just to name a few. There will be 30 workshops to choose from, but since three are held at the same time, I can sit in to the ones I want and even switch in between. There will also be presentations and a cocktail hour to attend, as well as the authors who teach the classes will be doing book signings

On Thursday afternoon, more than 50 agents will be available for attendees to pitch their manuscripts, for all genrres. I've researched and selected about a dozen for my American Oliver Twist novel, "The Wildcat Orphan." I've been working on it for about five years and finally finished it, so now is the time to pitch it!

Unlike my other books that are in a niche market and therefore I self publish, this one will have broader appeal. Here's my pitch; let me know what you think!

In 1897, George “Mac” McDill is a ten-year-old orphan who’s banished from his first foster home in New York and sent by train to Colorado. No one is there to meet him, so the town drunk takes him home. The horse-loving boy longs for a permanent family but realizes he must learn to control his temper if he is to be accepted. 

I was inspired to write this historical fiction story when I learned about my grandfather's childhood. He was an Orphan Train rider at the turn of the 19th Century, all because he lost his temper at his first foster home in New York. (He hit his violin teacher over the head with his fiddle!) The Orphan Train Program (coined many decades later) set up by the Children's Aid Society sent hundred of thousands of orphans and street children from the east to the Midwest and West to new homes. Many had better lives, but many were used for child labor. It was considered the beginning of foster care and ran for 75 years.


On Friday and Saturday, there will be sessions all day with panels of several authors discussing a variety of topics. Friday's Spotlight Guest is the renowned thriller author, Lee Child - one of my faves! I won't be able to stay for Saturday, but will soak up as much info as I can during my three days there.


To learn more about Thrillerfest, visit http://www.thrillerfest.com/



 

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Kidsfest in Delaware!









What a great day for youngsters at the annual KidsFest that benefits the Greater Milford Boys & Girls Club. The weather was perfect and the crowds were excited! The top photos show Isa, who won the raffle with my books, and a girl who had fun decorating the horseshoe.

Other vendors included Our Game Table, Providence Stable Pony Rides, Kids Toys by Ron Shields, Sand Art and Liquid Volcano drinks just to name a few. We watched the kids try the bungee swing and climb a rock wall. Such fun!

Chicks Saddlery in Harrington, DE hosts this event the second Saturday in June and the shop has a huge supply of saddles, other tack, gifts, books and kids horsey toys. Check them out online and in person!

My former student/instructor, Jessica and her fiance, Jason, came to help for the day. So great to see them again!

The Spoken Word Event

I'll be participating in the Spoken Word Event in Tampa on Sunday, June 24th from 4-6 pm at O'Brien's Irish Pub on 15435 N. Dale Mabry. Local authors from the Tampa Writers Alliance (TWA) will be reading short works from their books and also sell/sign them. The event is free to the public and info about TWA will be available. Join us for music, good food and this Meet & Greet the Author event!

Children's Program in New York


On June 7th, I visited the GHC Nursery School in Dobbs Ferry, New York and read both of Woogie's books to Justin (above) and his classmates with a Power Point display. I taught riding lessons to his mom when she was a camper at Lake Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania, and she has been a great supporter for my books! Thanks for the invitation Stephanie!

Justin was a wonderful helper setting up the tables and decorated his horseshoe craft very creatively. He even made one for his sister who turned one years old that day but was unable to attend. All the youngsters had fun with the craft project and then we enjoyed  pizza for lunch!

Many thanks to Steph and Justin!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Lupper in Lancaster!



On our way from Williamsburg, Va to Philadelphia, we stopped in Lancaster, Pa for a couple of days. Love the Amish atmosphere, food and horses!

We met up with some dear friends at Shady Maple Smorgasbord. Al and Lauren drove from the Poconos and we had a wonderful Lupper - Lunch/Supper - and caught up on news.

Lauren shared her story and photos about her Nakota horse that will be included in my 5th Beloved Horses book. Beloved Horses from Around the World is in production and will be released this fall. Stay tuned!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

American Horse Publications Seminar


What a wonderful seminar the American Horse Publications (AHP) held this past weekend in historic Williamsburg, Virginia! Great location, great food and the great company made this event both fun and educational. If you write about horses for any type of media, I highly recommend that you join this organization and reap the benefits.

The sessions covered a variety of topics to benefit equine writers of all types - for newspapers, magazines or books. The sessions provided opportunity to ask the pros questions, and during meals networking was rampant.

A side trip to the Williamsburg Stable was a delight - the carriages, tack and draft horses were impressive.

Many thanks to the sponsors for all the extras!

Visit AHP on facebook and at http://americanhorsepubs.org/


The next seminar will be on June 20-22, 2013, Colorado Springs Marriott, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Jamestown, Va Glass Blowers




When visiting Jamestowne, Virginia we were in awe of the glass blowers! They train for four years before qualifying.

The middle photo shows the finished glass piece that the artist in the back is working on. And to think all glass begins with sand as the major ingredient!

For more info, see http://www.nps.gov/jame/index.htm