Beloved Horses in Second Careers Contest!

My 4th book in the Beloved Horses series will be released this fall and I need help deciding on the cover - which horse should be featured?

The Beloved Horses series are illustrated collections of true horse stories and the other three books can be viewed at SharonMiner.com or Amazon.com with their Search Inside feature. Horse and animal lovers of all ages enjoy the uplifting, funny and amazing stories about the special bonds between horses and their riders.

I decided to hold a contest where anyone can vote for selected entries. The horse with the most votes will win!

Everyone who has voted will have their name placed in basket, with the name selected during a drawing - the winner will receive a free copy of the book upon its release.

The random drawing will be held during my visit to Gulf Beaches Public Library in Madeira Beach, FL on Tuesday, July 6th. I'll be there to read and entertain the children during the summer program at 2 PM, and at the end I'll have the youngest child pick a name from the basket.

By the middle of June, I will have photos of the featured horses posted on this blog, and voting will be done via the comments with that blog. I'll need a name, user name or some form of identifying the person for each comment. When that name is selected on July 6th, I'll post the name of the winner. That person will need to e-mail me their snail mail address so I can ship the book this fall.

Entries for this contest will also be accepted in person (such as at that July 6th event or any other time I meet people who mention the contest) or via e-mail - sharonminer@yahoo.com.

Click on "Follow this Blog" so you will be notified of updates to this contest!

Photos from Recent Events!

It was a pleasure to meet everyone at my recent events - young and old readers alike!

First photo is friends from Paradise Lake Campground in Spout Spring, Va during Children's Story Time held on Labor Day Weekend.

Next, are young visitors I met during my signing at Wolf Creek Tack Shop in Appomattox, Va.

The last photo was taken during my writing seminar at the Madison Heights Library just north of Lynchburg. Va.

Thanks for your support!

Don't forget to visit my site for news on the release of "Woogie's Travels - Looking For a Friend" available in October!

Upcoming Events - Join Me!

Customer Appreciation Day at Wolf Creek Tack & Feed
Sat. Aug. 30, 10 am - 2 pm
My Book Signing and Interviews for Horse Stories
Janelle Weast holds this annual event every year and I've been invited to participate! Located on Rt. 460 just east of Appomattox, Va. Wolf Creek carries supplies and feed for horses as well as hunting/fishing supplies. Call for details: 434-352-9653

Writing Workshop at Madison Heights Library
Wed. Sept 3, 6:30 - 8 pm
I'm speaking at this educational event for teens and adults.
Located on Rt. 29 business just north of Lynchburg, Va, this FREE event will help all writers with articles, manuscripts and school reports. Register at the library with Judy or e-mail: jspencer@acpl.us
Book signing afterwards.

The Keystone State Reading Association Writing Conference
Oct. 18 - 21 at Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, Pa
I'll be conducting seminars on Sun. & Mon. and signing books those days. Registration required. Visit: http://ksra.org/ and click on annual conference.

My new children's book, "Woogie's Travels," will be available in October. This picture book (with lots of fun photos!) features our Irish Terrier and his adventures as he looks for a friend while we travel in our RV. Great for a bedtime story or early reader. Check my site for its release.

On another note:
Read a good horse book lately? If so, e-mail me the title, author and a short review and I will post it on my Blog: http://horsebookreviews.blogspot.com/

E-mail me at: sharonminer@yahoo.com

Photos & Author Info From Hanover Book Festival

PHOTOS: From top to bottom: A young reader with me enjoyed coloring pages from "Woogie's Travels," an early reader book to be released in October. Visit my site at http://www.sharonminer.com/

Ann Babel, my table mate, with her children's book, "His Lamb I Am." It's available at http://www.authorhouse.com/.

Two other children's author across from us: Left - Tammy Belcher and her book, "Jasper." Visit http://truthtalking.net/ and Greta Ward with several cute children's books. Visit http://pinkiethecat.com/.

Jean Keating and her dog Puff stole the show! Visit this mystery writer's site at http://jeankeating.com/


I had a wonderful time at Hanover Book Festival yesterday held in Mechanicsville, Va. This annual event organized by the Hanover Writer's Club gave me the opportunity to meet numerous readers and authors. I sold several of my books and swapped several more with other authors.

I'm always looking for reviewers for my young adult and horse books (authors, teachers, parents, avid readers and even children) and I made several contacts while there. I also made connections with people who knew equestrians with horse stories to be included in the next edition of the Beloved Horses series. I give complimentary copies of my books to all the reviewers and submitters for that book upon its release. If interested, e-mail me at sharonminer@yahoo.com.

I want to personally thank Joanne Liggan, who chaired the event, for all her efforts to make it a successful and well organized day - Kudos to Joanne!



As an author of books published both with a traditional press and a Print On Demand company, I enjoyed sharing my experience with several writers. I explained how extremely pleased I am with Infinity Publishing and how they are more "author friendly" than many other P.O.D. publishers. Visit their site to learn more: http://www.infinitypublishing.com/ They have a referral program that financially benefits both you and I if you want to pursue publishing your book with them! They have an online book catalog at http://bbotw.com/ and I send any customers of my books there if they want to make a purchase with a credit card.

Here's a list of some of the other authors I met:
Thomas Banks - Children's Books - http://www.toleba.net/
Teresa Bettino - Children's books & more - Tbettino@msn.com
Beth Brown - "Haunted Battlefields" - http://www.virginiasmosthaunted.com/
Ellen Cartwright - suspense novel - http://www.trafford.com/
Richard Corwin - Short Story Collection - http://www.midnightgates.com/
Sandra Dean - "A Garden in My Heart" - www.wishingroom.com/authors/SandraDean
Joseph Guion - "Stolen Votes" - http://alltap.net/
Alicia Jones - "Blessings of Purpose" http://destiny11.com/
Naana Kyereboah - "Soul Name" - http://nabinava.com/
Joanne Liggan - "Air of Truth" http://tatepublishing.com/bookstore/
Kathleen Mix - Romance Novels & more - http://kathleenmix.com/
Elizabeth Nicholas - Time Travel novels - http://www.alibris.com/
Sarah Norkus - "Eleventh Summer" http://www.pleasantword.com/
Yvonne Ortega - "Hope For the Journey Through Cancer" http://yvonneortega.com/
Harvey Tate - "As the Wind Walks" - crucible2003@aol.com
Mary Williams - "The Girl on the Hill" www.wishingroom.com/authors/MaryWilliams
Willie Williams - "Sinkhole Justice" - http://www.authorhouse.com/
Saxon Wrenn - "An American Saga" - http://www.publishamerica.com/

My New Event Calendar

Welcome!

My wonderful and creative son, Josh, created my web site (http://www.sharonminer.com/) when my first horse book was released in 2004. He's a busy guy and rather than pester him with updates for my events, he's linked the Event Page to my Event Blog - Like Staples says, "That was easy!"

Anyway, it should be easier for him, now that I can update my own book signings, fundraisers, writing workshops and special visits to schools, libraries etc. I'll set it up quarterly but make changes in red as needed. Photos of the event, if any, will be added afterwards.

Any questions, or if you would like to invite me to your event, feel free to contact me by e-mail at sharonminer@yahoo.com

2008 JANUARY - MARCH

(I'm in sunny Florida!)

Jan 27 HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring 2 – 4 pm

Book Signing & Sales for Benefit Raffle for Make-A-Wish Foundation

Feb 3, 17 & 24 HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring 2 – 4 pm

Book Signing & Sales for Benefit Raffle for Make-A-Wish Foundation

Feb 9 Carmichael's Cafe, Ocala 6 - 8 pm

Book Signing & Raffle Sales

Feb 15 HITS Exhibitor Party Signing & Raffle Sales 6 – 7 pm

Mar 2 Hits "Kids Day" Signing & Raffle Drawing Noon – 4 pm

Above are photos from the fun event - and $1,145.00 was raised for Make-A-Wish Foundation! On the left are a few of the winners of the 10 Gift Bags featuring my "Beloved Sport Horses." Tracy Magness, in the black coat, is the leading Grand Prix rider at HITS Ocala 2007 and has won two Grand Prix classes so far this season. On the right is two trick horse trainers: Denise Hopkins with Cleve and Carole Fletcher with Hercules. Both entertained the families during Kids Day at HITS and both are in my book.

Mar 9 HITS "World of the Horse" Signing 12 – 3 pm

Mar 14 HITS Exhibitor Party by Team Barber Signing 6 – 8 pm

March 20 Denise Hopkins Open House Special Signing 6 - 8 pm

March 29 The Tack Shack Horsey Yard Sale, Ocala Signing 9 am - 4 pm