I can't even express how excited I am about WILD COLT. My advance copy came just before the National SCBWI Conference in New York.  The publisher sent it in a box, carefully packaged with a congratulatory bottle of wine! How much fun is that?

I took the book with me to New York and shared it with my SCBWI friends. I'm Co-Regional Advisor for the MD/DE/WV region of SCBWI (The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and my fellow RAs seemed to be impressed with the book, too.

Schiffer Book Publishers outdid themselves on the book production, but then again, they did have amazing artwork to work with. Linda Kantjas' artwork captures the Chincoteague Ponies in their habitat with as much power and realism as the perfect photo album.

Thebook starts with these words:

"Still and warm 

Quiet night

Whooshing, sliding

Sudden bright

Wet and blinking 

Crooked ear

Whuffing, touching

Mama’s near"


Follow the foal on his journey.
Can you imagine the  rest of the story?

The book is due in stores in March.

:>)

Spring is the start of so many new things, new manuscripts, new foals to see on Chincoteague Island, new books to read book signings, and new life all around!

This spring I am excited about the picture book I have under contract with Schiffer Books. The illustrator, Linda Kantjas has been sharing her developing art work and it is truly amazing! Her ponies are based on the real herds that live on the island and her clean, realistic style blows me away!

The picture book is called "Wild Colt". It's written in cryptic rhyme. That means the story comes in bursts of rhyming information, not necessarily full sentences. It shows the life of a wild colt born in the wetlands of Assateague and depicts the wetlands creatures he meets, the storms that come, and the dark of night as he grows  tall in summer haze. The book takes the reader into Pony Penning and the day the colt is sold at auction.

Spring also means numerous book signings at reading days, strawberry festivals and summer library events. As I promote the latest book, "The True Story of Sea Feather," I have lined up some events where the real Sea Feather will join me, meeting the public as I sign his book. Look for those on the schedule of events for June and July!

Perhaps the most rewarding thing about spring is reading all the Feather Fund applications and choosing our pony award winners. I'm a member of the board of directors for this not for profit organization that helps children purchase Chincoteague Ponies annually on Chincoteague Island. The charity was created in memory of my friend, Carollynn Suplee, who bought a pony for a child almost every year she survived cancer, eight years! When she passed, we decided to keep her work alive. She was an angel in life and now she guides us, the angel behind the scenes.

Hope you are finding new books, new life and new adventures in your spring!

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