I have good news, although it will impact on my blogging for a while, I’m afraid.
I was contacted last week by the commissioning editor of Crowood Press, current owners of the J.A. Allen imprint that publishes my equestrian books. She has come up with an idea for a new series of short(ish) books, ‘100 exercises for…’, and asked if I would like to write the Dressage book.
Naturally, I’ve said yes!
It’s to be 120 pages, and formatted to a pre-designed style, which should make it relatively simple to write – I have the knowledge in my head, I just have to transcribe it onto the page. I have to put together an outline and sample chapter before signing contracts, and I’m already well on the way with those. The contract, once signed, gives me a 10 month deadline.
Exciting!
However, it puts the pressure on for finishing the last novel in the Five Kingdoms series which I am determined to do before getting too far into a non-fiction project. THE PRINCE’S HEIR (#4 The Five Kingdoms) wraps up the story arc for this set of characters, and I fully intend to publish it before the end of the year. It currently stands at 75K words with all the story threads pulling together now for the grand finale. I just need time to get it finished.
This means I won’t be around so much in blogland for a bit. I have to prioritise, and the books come first. I will still write book reviews when I manage to find reading time, and pass on any info I come across that will help other authors, but for the moment expect more re-blogs and some silences.
I will still be around, I promise, just not as active.
Wish me luck!
deborahjay 
How exciting to get an invite, Deborah. And yes, finish your series too! Ha ha. Lots to do. Happy Writing!
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Thank you! And I’m squeezing in as much writing time as I can magic up!!!
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I am so happy for you, Deborah. Horses is your soul. Have fun with this book!
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Thanks Jacqui, my only sadness is the time it will take away from my fiction writing, which is far more enjoyable!
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We have a lot of horses in my neighborhood. I love seeing them on my walks. I have a brief scene with paleo-horses (Hipparion) in one of my books but I am looking for a place to include them in the next trilogy. There’s something restful about horses.
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Lol, that can be, but in my capacity as a trainer of competition horses, that holds true only at the end of the day when all the owners have gone home!
Your proto-horses would have been more the size of a dog; cute!
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Exciting news! Best of luck with your books!
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Thank you!
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Deb! I’m so happy for you girl! But oye, man, you have a tall order in front of you, but I know you can do it. It will be good mental exercise going between nonfiction and fantasy. I worked on two of my books in the same year and I actually found it good. When I went frazzled on one book, I jumped to the other. Only difference – nobody put pressure deadlines on me except myself, lol. Good luck my friend. I’ll keep my eye out for your ‘infrequent’ posts. Hugs xo
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Thanks Deb, and yes, I actually find it productive to jump between books, especially when my fiction is stalled. The non-fiction I write is so easy for me: the information is all in my head, I just have to transcribe it onto the page. I’m looking forward to the challenge although I’m never keen on deadlines when life has that capacity to get in the way, as you know only too well.
See you around, xx
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Happy writing my friend! ❤
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Congratulations Deb how exciting! You’ll be a busy bee. 🙂
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Thanks Marje! You know that maxim: “if you want something done, ask a busy person”? That’s me!
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Ha ha! Life is never dull if you are a writer, Deborah. Lol. x
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😀
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[…] work, finishing up the climax of The Five Kingdom’s series, writing the outline for my commissioned equestrian book, getting annual accounts done super early to see if I am eligible for the government’s final […]
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