The book’s blog has been reorganized a bit, to focus on the main topics of history and horses (and the trilogy!), since it’s gotten scattered. And, a new Historical Timeline has been added, which will follow the path of Meagan’s journey through history. I’m also planning to discuss some of the characters in the book, both human and horse. So I’d better get posting. Hope you have a great week!

The first book of the trilogy, Eclipsed by Shadow, was published in 2008 to a starred review in Library Journal and won several honors including first place in the Eric Hoffer Book Award for YA, and second in the Reader Views Literary Awards for Fantasy. It was exciting as a debut author to learn the ropes a bit, and daunting to see how much more there is to learn in this fast-changing environment. Most of all I’ve enjoyed getting to know readers and receiving their support–that has been the biggest thrill of this adventure beyond the actual writing.

Besides the release of the sequel to Eclipsed by Shadow, my goal for the new year is to expand my online presence to reach out to new (and old!) readers, and to become effective in communicating through social media. There’s a much-needed website upgrade in the near future, and an initiative to become more involved on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc.

I wish everyone a fantastic holiday season and a wonderful New Year!

I think I have the problem of Stephen Leacock’s rider who “flung himself from the room, flung himself upon his horse and rode madly off in all directions.” In posting about horses and history, as well as information about my book trilogy (the supposed reason for this whole enterprise, quiet as it’s kept) I’ve mixed a bowl of porridge.

And it’s going to get worse, I’m afraid. I made the attempt to run separate blogs, which translated into lots of techie fudging about without much writing, and got very bogged down. Bogged in a blog.

So I’m throwing it up into the air: any sense that is to be made of this space in the future will proceed from these thoughts…

a) Horses and human history are inextricably intertwined…

b) Progress in horsemanship mirrors progress in human society…

b) I suspect this is not a coincidence, and I’m curious about it.

Because of my curiosity, I came to write a work exploring horsemanship using factual history wrapped into a fiction adventure story, a trilogy, to which this blog is dedicated.

In between hot news flashes about the books of the trilogy, this blog is subject to the author’s ranging interests on horsemanship and history–neither of which topics are less than vast. I hope people will join me for the ride as I saddle up for the new season; yes I will probably use horse-puns and such. It’s hay-larious! (Okay, I won’t use that many.)

So Welcome, autumn in New England, as well to any fans who’ve met Meagan and Promise and found an intriguing bit of fun and even magic in their literary journey.  Maybe we’ll find some interesting truths in the wind of a gallop and the ancient rhythms of hoofbeats …

There’s to be a major upgrade to this blog and since the technicians only barely know what they’re doing, it might get ugly. Real ugly. Header under the left side-bar no pics ugly. I know because it just did that.

Update:  New template has been installed and updated.

There is a new web page up asking readers to help spread the word about “Eclipsed by Shadow.” It has that new webpage smell, and features three easy activities for getting the word out.

In our new connected world it really it is readers who have the power to elevate the books they care about. So anyone who has a few moment and has been holding back their feelings about the book … now is the time to speak out!

Also, there has been a major facelift to the book site on AuthorsDen.