Roxanne Rustand's Blog, page 9

World War II Military Dogs in London

World War II Military Dogs in London, by guest blogger  Gail Kittleson

Research for my WWII novels led me to some pretty amazing canines this morning, among them a dog named Rip. This hero of the London bombings saved many victims buried in the rubble during the Blitz, when the German Luftwaffe determined to destroy Great Britain.

Rip, one of the “Magnificent Seven” animals receiving the Dickin Medal for Valor (the equivalent of the Victoria Cross), was a mongrel terrier. That fact, plus the high number of victims who owe their lives to him, stood out in this online article.

roxannerustand.com.

Scotland to New Orleans, but we still love Iowa!

How has your summer been?  I just don’t know where spring and summer have gone.  In the blink of an eye, we’re nearly at the end of July!  Travel and lots of family events have certainly filled my days.  I’ve been a bit lax here at the blog because of all these things, but I’ll now be better!

We were in the Highlands of Scotland for two weeks in mid-May and I loved every moment.  i want to go back right now!

I’m such an animal lover, and everywhere one looks there are people and their dogs out on “walkies”–and not so coincidentally, lots of West Highland Terriers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I loved seeing dogs on leashes in bookstores, coffeeshops and pubs, but it made me long to have our own dogs with us to enjoy that freedom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I love this sign–for visitors who don’t know English, the message is quite clear!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The love for dogs in Britian is clearly shown by the dog cemetery at Edinburgh Castle, which was placed on a beautiful promontory overlooking the city and goes back hundreds of years.

This year’s trip to Scotland, and last year’s trip to Ireland and England, have me thinking.  I’m going to start working on an anthology of light romantic stories set in each of these countries.

The first one will be set in Scotland.  I can’t wait to start writing it!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

In May, daughter Emily and I were in the Gulf area just before the Romantic In Times Convention in New Orleans. We ran into creatures of a different kind on a swamp boat tour!

She and her husband have just closed on their first house in Pass Christian (yesterday!) but I think they were almost more excited about finally being able to adopt a dog, which they will be getting today.  :)   After a long time in student housing and then two months in an apartment in Long Beach, it has been a long wait.  :)

I hope Emily will guest blog here sometime soon about their new doberman:  Zeke was in training as a Seeing Eye dog, but flunked as he was a bit too clumsy.  He knows twenty-five commands and sounds like an amazing dog.  It’s  all I can do to just to get our crazy-pants rescue Golden to heel—but we’ve started obedience classes, and I have high hopes!

 

And now…we are home.  I love summer in the beautiful Iowa countryside.  I enjoy traveling, but there’s nothing like being home in this lush, peaceful place–enjoying the horses, dogs, family and good friends…and the satisfaction of simple things, like getting our second cutting hay stored in the barn last weekend.

We went to a neighborhood potluck up at the neighbor’s farm afterward, and it was such a wonderful evening.

I’d love to hear about the highlights of your summer!

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Amanda Cabot’s Unexpected Encounter–Big Horns in the Rockies!

by guest blogger Amanda Cabot 

 The first time I heard of Rocky Mountain National Park was when a co-worker in Philadelphia described it as the crown jewel of the national park system.  A couple years later my husband and I visited it and discovered that, other than the reality of altitude sickness which affected both us and our car, it was indeed a jewel of a park.  Now, many years later, I’m fortunate enough to live only two hours away, which means that I can – and do – visit it a couple times a year.

There’s so much to love about the park.  The lakes, waterfalls, glaciers, tundra flowers, and of course those magnificent snow-capped mountains.  But what attracts me just as much as the spectacular scenery is the wildlife.

On our first visit we were hiking when a marmot decided to follow us down the path.  I’d never seen anything like him, and I have to admit that those large yellow teeth were more than a little intimidating.  You see, I wasn’t certain he was a vegetarian.  In retrospect, I suspect he was attracted by the chocolate chip cookies we were nibbling and that he thought if he came close enough, we might relent and feed him one.  Sorry, big fella, but we knew better than to do that.

Although we saw a number of small mammals on that first visit, we had no sightings of elk or the park’s iconic Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep.  Fortunately, that changed after we moved to Cheyenne and were able to visit more often.  We discovered that elk were common and that, in fact, herds of them wandered through the streets of nearby Estes Park, causing traffic jams that probably annoyed the residents but delighted visitors, including us.

Still, there were no big horn sheep.  And then, one afternoon when we were leaving the park, we saw a number of cars parked along the side of the highway with everyone staring at the nearby cliff.  It was a sure sign of a wildlife sighting and, yes, on top of one outcropping was a female big horn sheep.  Success!

After that, each time we drove that highway, we’d look for the sheep.  But they proved to be elusive, and I was beginning to think it would be a one-time sighting.  Then, one January morning when we were heading for the park to do some snowshoeing, we had what could only be described as a big horn sheep bonanza.  We’d just come out of the visitor’s center and there they were – a whole herd crossing the road.

Apparently unfazed by our car, they strolled down the middle of the road, barely glancing at us.

All except for this one, who gave us a look that practically said, “I’m king of the road.”

I agreed.

Here is a link for ordering Amanda’s new novella!   Sincerely Yours: A Novella Collection

Sincerely Yours

A Novella Collection

Amanda Cabot

Available now!

Four unexpected letters. Four intrepid women. Four lives changed forever.

Spanning a century and a continent, these romantic novellas will lead you on a journey through the landscape of love. Four young women find their lives altered after each receives a letter that sets her on a new path. From a Hudson River steamboat to a lush drawing room, from a carousel carver’s workshop to a remote hospital, you’ll be swept into the lives of women who are making their way in the world and finding love where they least expect it.

Moonlight Promise by Laurie Alice Eakes

Camilla Renfrew is a highborn English lady fleeing false accusations when she runs smack into love on a steamboat bound for the new Erie Canal. But can this unexpected attraction survive the treacherous journey?

Lessons in Love by Ann Shorey

Marigold Montgomery Bentley writes marriage advice for Kipler’s Home Weekly even though she is single. Everyone assumes from the initials that “M. M.” is a man. When the editor asks to meet Mr. Bentley, can Merrie come up with a ruse to keep her writing job?

One Little Word by Amanda Cabot

Lorraine Caldwell will lose her family fortune to a reckless cousin if she doesn’t marry quickly. When she learns her long lost brother is alive, she hopes she’s found the answer to her problems. What she finds instead is a mysterious carousel carver who turns her life upside down.

A Saving Grace by Jane Kirkpatrick

Grace Hathaway must rescue a dear friend from a remote and notorious clinic that promises healing but delivers only heartache. In a place laced with deceit, where lives hang in the balance, whom can she trust to help her?

About Amanda Cabot:

From the age of seven, Amanda Cabot dreamed of becoming a published author, but it was only when she set herself the goal of selling a book by her thirtieth birthday that the dream came true.  A former director of Information Technology, Amanda has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages.  She’s delighted to now be a fulltime writer of Christian historical romances.  Her Texas Dreams trilogy received critical acclaim; Christmas Roses was a CBA bestseller; and a number of her books have been finalists for national awards, including ACFW’s Carol award.

www.amandacabot.com

http://amandajoycabot.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Cabot/110238182354449?v=wall

The post Amanda Cabot’s Unexpected Encounter–Big Horns in the Rockies! appeared first on roxannerustand.com.

DiAnn Mills, German Shepherds and Buddy the Wonderdog!

by guest blogger DiAnn Mills

Taryn Young, my heroine in Firewall, finds a friend in a German shepherd. I’m not an detailed plotter, and when Taryn spotted the dog, so did I. He appears on a dark night in a precarious situation when she needs a friend. Her world is shattering around her, and she’s frightened. The dog became a dear friend, and she quickly named him Buddy. Throughout the story he exhibits loyalty and unconditional love. Often he lays his head on her lap when she’s discouraged and stays by her side when she’s in danger.

I fell in love with Buddy too. So I did more research on German shepherds. I learned they are listed in the top five most intelligent breeds of dog. They are fast learners, eager to develop new skills, and used extensively in K-9 units as bomb sniffers, drug sniffers, search and rescue, and various branches of the military. German Shepherds are suited as guard dogs. Although they can be aggressive, they can be trained to obey their owner. No wonder Taryn fell in love with this beautiful animal!

I posted the question to my Facebook friends about their experiences with German Shepherds. Some of their responses were the dog’s sweetness, protective nature, devotion to family, and loyalty. Others mentioned unconditional love and alertness.

One man told me how his German shepherd walked between his toddler and the street, never allowing the child to step into danger—The dog was not used as a babysitter, but the father observed this. The same gentleman told me about his dog playing hide and seek with his children. I loved his stories!

A woman confessed to loving her German shepherd to the point of attributing her fondness to that of a child. Another woman valued her dog’s keen sense of smell. She was involved in K-9 Nose Work.

I wanted to own German Shepherd until I realized I don’t have the yard size needed for the dog to exercise. This breed has tons of energy and must have a way to work it out. If I’m to have a dog of this caliber, I don’t want to be selfish and not provide for its needs. Maybe a home in the country is in my future.  But I can admire from a distance and envy all you who have these wonderful animals.

 

Click here to buy DiAnn’s new release on Amazon!    Firewall (FBI: Houston)

FIREWALL

DiAnn Mills

Tyndale

Release date:  June 2014

After a whirlwind romance, Taryn Young is preparing to board a plane at Houston International Airport, bound for a dream honeymoon, when a bomb decimates the terminal. Injured but still alive, she awakens to discover her husband is missing and they’re both considered prime suspects in the attack. Further, the FBI is convinced her husband isn’t who he appears to be.

Agent Grayson Hall’s number-one priority is to catch those responsible for the day’s act of terror. All evidence is pointing to Taryn and her new husband. But his instinct tells him her pleas of innocence are genuine. Is her naiveté just for show, or could she truly be another victim of a master scheme, possibly linked to the software she recently developed for her company?

With both their lives and reputations on the line, and the media outcry for justice increasing with each passing minute, Taryn and Grayson have no choice but to trust one another . . . and pray they can uncover the truth before they become two more casualties.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She currently has more than sixty books published. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2014 president  of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, dvanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers.

She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a craftsman mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

Visit her website at www.diannmills.com

and connect with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/DiAnnMills),

Twitter (@DiAnnMills),

Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/DiAnnMills),

and Goodreads  (www.goodreads.com/DiAnnMills).

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Winnie Griggs’ Louisiana Ranch & its Wild Animals!

Hi everyone.  Winnie Griggs here.  Though our family has owned many pets over the years – dogs, cats, turtles, fish, hamsters – we are, alas, currently pet-less.  So instead of talking to you about animals of the domesticated variety, I thought I’d share something else with you today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, let me explain that my husband is a cattle rancher.  Occasionally he ends up with an orphaned calf that must be bottle fed.  Here are a couple of pictures of one such baby – one where my husband is bottle-feeding him by hand, and another where he is using a ‘hands-free’ approach.

In addition to the cattle, one of my daughters has a horse named Prancer that is now living out his later years peacefully grazing in those same pastures.   We have even somehow acquired some donkeys.

Of course, not all the animals that use the pastures were invited in.  Over the years we’ve seen quite a bit of wildlife make appearances there.  And occasionally we have the presence of mind to photograph them.  So I thought I’d share some of those pictures with you today.

 

 

Here is an eagle who found a momentary perch in a tree there, and the baby fawn whose mother hid him among the tall grasses (my favorite picture).

 

 

 

Of course there are much less welcome ‘guests’ like this snake (shudder).  Needless to say, that is NOT me holding that stick!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And other critters show up that are just plain pests.  Possums and raccoons have learned how to get into the feed bins so hubby started setting out live traps.

He’s caught umpteen dozens of them that he carts off miles away and sets free. He even once caught an armadillo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And there are other animals as well, such as coyotes, foxes, wild hogs, snapping turtles etc. that we’ve seen but not photographed.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little peek into our own little wildlife preserve.  And I’d love to hear about any of your own encounters of a similar nature.

 

 

 

Here’s a link for Winnie’s wonderful new book! Lone Star Heiress (Love Inspired Historical\Texas Grooms (Love Inspired Historical))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONE STAR HEIRESS

Romantic Times Book Review (4.5 stars)  “…The final Texas Grooms story is a delight to read, and readers will be sad that it is the last book. Yet there’s promise that the author’s trips to Turnabout are not over.”

Rescuer Turned Husband? 

Plucky Ivy Feagan is headed to Turnabout, Texas, to claim an inheritance, not a widower’s heart. That all changes when strapping schoolteacher Mitch Parker rescues her in the wilderness. Straightlaced Mitch has never met a woman like Ivy—beautiful, adventurous and good-hearted—but he already lost love once and doesn’t dare try again.

When Turnabout’s gossips target Mitch and Ivy’s friendship, he proposes to save her reputation. But Ivy doesn’t want to marry for honor, and she doesn’t need to marry for money. Ivy will only agree to a proposal made for love’s sake—but will Mitch make his heart part of the marriage offer?

Texas Grooms: In search of their bride

My website:  www.winniegriggs.com

My facebook page:  www.facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author

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Writing Old Friends into a New Story by Lisa Belcastro

I can’t imagine a life without pets. I’ve loved animals since I was old enough to understand the difference between a toy cat and the real deal.  I’ve lived with cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits, fish, gerbils, guinea pigs, birds, and horses, though the horses lived in the barn – thank goodness. My life is better for sharing it with a variety of creatures, and since I can’t fathom a day without animals in it, my characters also share the pages with lovable critters.

In my upcoming release, Shenandoah Dreams, I couldn’t resist the chance to bring to back life, if only for the length of the story, a few of my former companions. Spike, the twenty-two pound cat with the sixth-sense and an appetite for grilled salmon, showed up on Melissa Smith’s doorstep six years earlier. In real life, Spike was a cat I adopted nearly thirty years ago. I was fresh out of college, working my first journalist job, and in need of a companion. I drove to the nearest animal shelter two towns over, and fell head over heels for a large white kitty.

My Spike was declawed, but he could hunt, climb trees and jump up on my horse’s back as well as any other farm feline. Both Spikes, mine and Melissa’s, were affectionate and voracious eaters, though I’ve never grilled salmon for any of my cats.

One of Spike’s best friends on our small farm in Virginia was my first dog, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Bandit. Those two would run and play together until they were both exhausted. Some nights I would be laughing so hard my stomach hurt as I watched them chase each other around the coffee table running what I called the “Corgi Circle.”

Bandit was my most special dog ever, maybe because he was my first, but most likely because he was a great dog. Though short in stature, Bandit was big in heart, spirit, and sense of adventure. I showed him in obedience, agility, and conformation classes. He won ribbons in them all, but what he really succeeded at was loving me. He was by my side day in and day out, and when my daughter was born, Bandit decided that guarding Kayla, playing with her, and always keeping her in his sight was his new job. Neither his joy, nor pride, ever faltered when Kayla dressed him up in pink skirts and baby doll clothes. Bandit was the dog of lifetime, and though we’ve had other dogs since, I doubt there will ever be another quite as special as Bandit.

When I began writing Shenandoah Dreams, I knew I was going to call Melissa’s cat Spike. Remembering what good friends Spike and Bandit had been, I wanted to somehow bring Bandit into the story too. The captain of my fictionalized Shenandoah has always sailed with his dogs, just as his real-life counterpart, Captain Robert Douglas, does aboard the modern-day Shenandoah that sails from Martha’s Vineyard. Captain Douglas has two Jack Russells that he brings onboard. (You can see pictures of them on my website.) In my story I changed the Jack Russells to Corgis. I ran a contest on my author Facebook page asking readers to help me name the dogs. Noah, is a red and white male, who is Bandit incarnate. Cassie, the black-headed tri, is based on my sweet Willow who delivered two litters from Bandit.

Visualizing the dogs and the children in the book interacting brought back wonderful memories of Bandit and Willow. Writing them into scenes they never lived during their lifetimes allowed me to experience my beloved puppies in a new setting, with new people, and gave me new impressions to remember them by. I’m so glad I could include three of my special friends in the final book in my Winds of Change trilogy.

What pets have you owned? Has one touched your heart more than others?

Here’s an Amazon link to buy:  SHENANDOAH DREAMS:  Shenandoah Dreams

SHENANDOAH DREAMS

by Lisa Belcastro

What if she met the man of her dreams…in another century? Tisbury, Massachusetts, Martha s Vineyard. It s just a dream, Melissa Smith whispers as she stares into the intense eyes of a man dressed in Colonial clothes, as though stepping out of an American Revolution movie set. A school chaperone with Holmes Hole Elementary, she d boarded the old schooner Shenandoah for a weeklong educational sail. But they are not visiting Plimoth Plantation, the Boston Tea Party Museum, or the Concord Bridge reenactment. They re sailing the waters around the island of Martha s Vineyard.

Yet, when she awakes in Cabin 8, the captain claims to be Isaiah Reed, who sailed the original Shenandoah in the eighteenth century. He cannot possibly be real, Melissa thinks. And traveling back in time is impossible. But days pass, and she s still in 1770. What if Isaiah, who is simply too handsome to be real, is real? What if the fire he ignites in her from barely a touch isn t in her imagination? Can a dream last for weeks on end? If so, how will she find her way home…to the twenty-first century? And can she bear to leave the one man who has captured her heart, when everything in her longs to stay? A Vineyard Romance Romance, history, adventure. Get swept into the exciting Winds of Change series.

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Howdy…and a happy springtime to you!

We’ve been traveling a lot this spring…and with being gone so much, I’ve been a little slow at posting myself.  I love having the blog visitors here too, but here’s an update from me!

Back in March, I posted about my elation over finding a golden retriever at the humane shelter (pictured here with one of the volunteers.)  Sage, 65# of pure muscle, exuberance, and unrestrained (uncontrollable!) joy had been turned in by his overwhelmed family.

When he came home with me, he hauled me around when on the leash–it was like being towed by a fourwheeler.  He jumped endlessly, mouthed, licked and gnawed every hand and arm he could reach, and also proved destructive.  While we were eating breakfast once morning, he chewed off the sleeve of my husband’s suit coat.  He also chewed the sleeve of a rain jacket, ate through several leashes, had a Very Bad Accident in the middle of our bed…well, you get the picture.

But…he is also the sweetest dog, laying at my feet when I’m at my computer, following me around the house, soaking up all of the hugs and attention he can get.

We are now about six weeks into our Sage experience.  And in fact, my husband and I have been traveling for the last two weeks, so our daughter Emily and her husband have been dealing with him (and our sweet border collie) alone.  And things are getting better!

Long walks on our country roads go better now, as Sage is used to his Haltie-collar (a restraint which involves a loose strap around his nose.)  He is jumping far, far less, and is no longer assuming humans are his chew toys.  Thanks to Emily’s husband, he and Elmo have been burning off extra energy at the dog park every day, when has really helped moderate Sage’s energy level at home (thank you, Matt!)  So after we get home from Jamaica tonight, I’m going to continue taking the boys to the dog park daily. 

I know Sage is going to be different dog by the time he’s two (he’s ten months old now) and he is already becoming a better citizen.  He’s still a silly pup, though–he loves to sit on things (like the dining room table, so he can look outside through the bay window)  and here he is out on our deck this morning,  Emily sent me the photo, and it made me laugh.  We have been keeping the patio door open to the deck so the dogs go out and survey the back yard, but apparently Sage didn’t want to get his tootsie wet. 

So..how about you?  Have you ever taken in a pet from a shelter, and how did that go?

Happy trails,

Roxanne

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Lucy the Lab…..and author Valerie Hansen

by guest blogger Valerie Hansen


My last K-9 cop story for Love Inspired Suspense featured a black lab (and I’ve just been contracted to do another K-9 book for 2015!). At the time I was writing EXPLOSIVE SECRETS, I  had an antique chocolate lab named Charlie Brown, but writing that book made me crave a black one, too. That’s how I got – and named - Lucy.

She was already over two years old by then. Unfortunately she’d been kenneled all her life, had no name, no training and very little loving experience with people. She was terrified of everything. Good old Charlie demonstrated trust and she was soon allowing me to touch her. Acceptance of others came slowly and she’s still timid around strangers, which is pretty much everyone in the world! The great blessing in all this is that there’s not a mean bone in her body so she never growls or snaps, and when she gets upset the first thing she does is run to me for protection.  So, she’s a good watch dog with a complex! I can live with that, particularly now that we’ve lost Charlie to cancer. Poor old guy did his best for over 16 years and never complained. Lucy and I both miss him. I’ll show you both dogs together and then just Lucy. Like me, she’s put on a little weight. We’re both looking forward to spring and summer when we can go outside to play more.

One more funny thing. On Sunday mornings, when I put on makeup, she never gets excited. Other times, when she sees me apply just lipstick, she runs in circles and jumps around, knowing there’s a very good chance I’ll let her ride to town with me. Makes me laugh every time. 

I’ll have a Direct to Consumer offer of a reissue of “Shadow of Turning” coming in April, then the first of 4 new books for 2014 arrives in May. FAMILY IN HIDING is part of the Witness Protection series. Here’s the cover. Now that I think about it, those kids would have adjusted to relocation better if I’d given them a family dog to take along!

FAMILY IN HIDING,
Love Inspired Suspense
Valerie Hansen
May 2014
ISBN 978-0-373-44594-3

(blurb) “Till death do us part. When her estranged husband Dylan’s inadvertent dealings with a crime ring brings danger to her doorstep, Grace McIntyre has no choice but to follow him into the witness protection program. To safeguard her children they must all go into hiding as one big happy family. Grace doesn’t know what’s worse – having to pretend she’s in love with the man who betrayed her trust or keeping ahead of the killers. In hiding, Dylan is all that stands between their safety and certain death. Now more than ever, he wants to be the man that Grace once loved. Keeping his family alive is his only hope – to be a hero and a husband.”

Also, in May or June, there will be a digital-only prequel offered online to lead into the Big Sky continuity series.
It should be announced on the Love Inspired part of Harlequin. I think it’s free!

In July, I have HER MONTANA COWBOY, book #1 in the Big Sky series for Love Inspired

August is A TRACE OF MEMORY, another of my Defenders books set in rural Arkansas and featuring the CASA program volunteers who protect children and speak for them in court.

And, in November, one more Defenders book. Whew! I’m still working on that one and will finish it on time. Yes, I will!!!!

Moving into 2015, there will be another K-9 cops series, as I mentioned above, and I’m delighted to be a part of it, too. They want me to write about a beagle this time. There is zero chance I’ll get another dog for every book I write. Well, almost zero.

roxannerustand.com.

Author Nike Chillemi….and her road to her first sale!

by guest author Nike Chillemi

Many moons ago, I posted on the Harlequin/Steeple Hill author board where I heard things like: head hopping was a no-no and I had to ask what head hopping was. After a year of trying to put together a manuscript, I sent it off to Emily Rodmell. She sent back a rejection letter indicating that I had writing ability but didn’t have a clue how to write fiction. Of course, she said it much more professionally and nicer than that. At that time Harlequin offered a free online writing course. I took advantage of every single lesson and I still use a modified version of their detailed Character Information Sheet. I read Gayle Roper’s Caught in the Act, Caught in the Middle, Caught in a Bind, Caught Red Handed series and realized how appealing a whodunit with humor could be. I ordered the entire Dropped Stitches series directly from Janet Tronstand for my childhood BFF who was then, and is still, battling ovarian cancer. Janet signed each one of them with an encouraging word. I have a great many Love Inspired Suspense novels on my shelves and one I particularly enjoyed, Roxanne, was your Hard Evidence, a prime example of how chilling it can be when a cold case heats up.

Early on, I knew I was going to forge my own path. I think it might’ve been Michael Hyatt who said, read the top writers in your genre. Well, somebody said it, and it sounded like real wisdom to me. So, I started reading. That’s when I came across the ‘Boo’ series by Rene Gutteridge, which is a laugh riot, as well as suspenseful. I read every one of them and was convinced humor would be part of my writing style.

The next step I’m presently taking in my writing adventure is to self-publish a contemporary murder mystery with romance, some laugh-out-loud humor, and high jinx. Both of those things, self-publishing and releasing a contemporary story, are new for me. HARMFUL INTENT introduces New York City private investigator Veronica “Ronnie” Ingels and Taylor County, Texas Deputy Sergeant Dawson Hughes. While in Abilene, trying to clear herself in the murder of her cheating husband, Ronnie learns to ride a mule, takes a yoga class, hires on as a waitress, and gets shot at. She’s taken with Dawson Hughes, but…ahem…how shall we put this? She’s not the most socially adept gal at the rodeo.

I don’t have a cover yet for HARMFUL INTENT. Ellen Sallas (Ellen C. Maze) is presently working on that. I can be reached at my blog: Nike Chillemi ~ Crime Fictionista http://nikechillemi.wordpress.com/

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/nike.chillemi

Twitter  https://twitter.com/NikeChillemi

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Horse Therapy, by author Connie Almony

Horse Therapy, by guest blogger Connie Almony

My sister is one of those crazy horse people. You know, kind of like Liz Taylor in National Velvet. She’s not a champion rider or anything like that, but she loves the animals and thinks they hold the key to healing many ills. In fact, she was the one who first told me about the various forms of therapies now being done using horses.

I was first introduced to this idea as a form of therapy for my son who has autism. Therapeutic riding (or hippotherapy) was recommended in order to help him with issues such as balance, fine motor skills, visual motor skills, bilateral control and cognition. Therapists incorporate the rhythmic motion of the horse to help stimulate more adequate sensory processing of the world around him.  It also has the added benefit of providing an opportunity for a relationship with an animal (sometimes less threatening than humans) and gave him self-confidence as he attained various riding goals. There was nothing like the sight of my son on a horse—regal! He looked like a king on his steed.

Since this time, my sister told me of other ways horses are used for healing. She’s even been trained in something called “equine-assisted psychotherapy.” I know—a mouthful! In this therapy, the horse is used, not to ride (necessarily), but as a diagnostic tool. Psychotherapists can actually assess relationships within a family, or group, by how the horse responds to them. Amazing!

So, it’s no wonder that when I considered incorporating therapies to help a veteran amputee for my novella, At the Edge of a Dark Forest, horses came to mind. And I’m so glad they did, because not only can horses be used to help an amputee improve his gait with new, prosthetic limbs (as is necessary for the main character), the relationship with a horse can improve his psyche.

Many veterans come home from war scarred with the effects of PTSD. They have seen the loss of human life on a scale the average person has not. Because of this, many will withdraw socially and engage in thoughts of suicide. A bond with a horse can be the bridge the veteran is not yet willing to take with another human being.

Therapists choose horses whose temperament will be a good fit for the veteran’s needs. They will spend time together in grooming, saddling and riding, giving the veteran a sense of relationship, responsibility and leisure activity. The rocking movement can even stimulate chemical reactions in the brain which provide a sense of well-being, much like rocking a baby.

My sister could tell you oh-so-much more about this topic, but I’ll spare you the details today. However, if you are interested to learn more about hippotherapy for veterans, click on the following links:

An article about the use of horses with veterans

Project Healing Horse—Youtube video.

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Connie Almony is trained as a mental health therapist and likes to mix a little fun with the serious stuff of life. She was a 2012 semi-finalist in the Genesis Contest for Women’s Fiction and was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Winter 2012 WOW Flash Fiction Contest. Her newest release, At the Edge of a Dark Forest, is a modern-day re-telling of Beauty and the Beast about a war-vet, amputee struggling with PTSD.

You can find Connie on the web, writing book reviews for Jesus Freak Hideout, and hosting the following blogs: InfiniteCharacters.com and LivingtheBodyofChrist.Blogspot.com.

You can also meet her on the following social media outlets:

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

HERE IS AN AMAZON LINK FOR CONNIE’S NEW BOOK!  At the Edge of a Dark Forest: A Fairwilde Reflection Novella (Fairwilde Reflections)

At the Edge of a Dark Forest

Connie Almony

Released February 2014

Cole Harrison, a war veteran, wears his disfigurement like a barrier to those who might love him, shielding them from the ugliness inside. He agrees to try and potentially invest in, a prototype prosthetic with the goal of saving a hopeless man’s dreams.

Carly Rose contracts to live with Cole and train him to use his new limbs, only to discover the darkness that wars against the man he could become.

At the Edge of a Dark Forest is a modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Only it is not her love that will make him whole.

 

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