Monday, November 21, 2022

Huzzah for our very own Melanie Sue Bowles!

Imagine my delight when this showed up at the Shark Mail Room Saturday morning!

 


 As are we all, I am a devoted fan of MSB.

We've read her flash fiction entries, and her comments; we know she can wrangle words along with the horses at her sanctuary.


But even better was that the book itself was lovely. Well laid out, easy to read, correctly sized.

And the paper wasn't that cheap newsprint stuff you sometimes see in paperbacks (well, ok, hard covers too.)

I'm sorry you can't reach through the screen to feel this page!



But of course what you can do is get a copy for yourself, or for your nearest horse-mad young reader!

 


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28 comments:

  1. nightsmusic11/21/22, 7:34 AM

    Wonderful!! Congrats, Melanie! Well deserved. And I love that cover!

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  2. Sharyn Ekbergh11/21/22, 7:38 AM

    bought and donated to our local library!

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  3. Kregger11/21/22, 10:11 AM

    Way cool!

    Yay for one of our Reiders!

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  4. Cecilia Ortiz Luna11/21/22, 10:57 AM


    Wonderful book from a wonderful human being.

    You might want to visit her website Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary and check out how Mama Mel and husband Jim shelter and rehabilitate rescued horses.


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  5. Madeline Mora-Summonte11/21/22, 11:14 AM

    Congratulations, Melanie!

    And that cover is lovely.

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  6. LynnRodz11/21/22, 12:55 PM

    Congrats, Mel, so well deserved! Can't wait to receive mine (it takes longer to get here in France) and sending one to my niece in the States.

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  7. John Davis Frain11/21/22, 1:02 PM

    Yowza!!! Way to go, Melanie. Time to visit my favorite local indie bookstore, The Novel Neighbor.

    Congratulations. A perfect first step into the holidays.

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  8. S.D.King11/21/22, 1:04 PM

    WOW! WOW! WOW! Congrats!

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  9. Barbara Etlin11/21/22, 2:24 PM

    Congrats!

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  10. Melanie Sue Bowles11/21/22, 3:22 PM

    Well, WOW...! Hearing from you all is incredibly special, and very moving. Thank you. This story about Kip and Liberty Biscuit is truly from my heart. What a tremendous joy to see it out in the world. Janet, Thank you...

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  11. E.M. Goldsmith11/21/22, 3:46 PM

    Love this so much. So excited for Melanie

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  12. Theresa11/21/22, 4:40 PM

    This is so fabulous, Melanie, congratulations!

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  13. Donnaeve11/21/22, 4:45 PM

    We love you, Melanie! And Liberty Biscuit, too!

    Congratulations to you many times over! We know in your capable hands this story rises from the page with the magic of your writing! xoxo

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  14. AJ Blythe11/22/22, 12:45 AM

    Mama Mel, so thrilled your book is now holdable.

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  15. MaggieJ11/22/22, 1:18 AM

    Melanie, I'm so happy for you!

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  16. Kitty11/22/22, 6:54 AM

    Congratulations, Melanie!

    Question: Did you have any input into the design of the pages? I love the graphics in your book. When I write a story, I find that adding pictures, which I usually find online, help me with the story. So I was drawn to the design of your book.

    I'm buying your book and saving it for my granddaughter. She's 6 and wants to be a veterinarian.

    Congrats again.

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  17. Melanie Sue Bowles11/22/22, 9:20 AM

    Kitty - Thanks so much for your kind words. (Thank you to everyone!).

    Regarding your question: It is very rare for an author to have any input on the title, cover design or inside lay-out. The stories we write belong to us - but how the book is presented to the world - the quality and design - belongs to the publisher.

    I'm sure there are instances when a publisher may ask their author for input or encourage them to weigh in, but it's not typical. In my case, Trafalgar Square (who has been exceptional to work with) sent me a mock-up of the cover shortly before going to print. They simply said, "We hope you like it." I had absolutely no idea what title they'd come up with or how the cover would look. I was thrilled, needless to say, when I saw it all. Regarding the inside artwork, I knew nothing about that until my ARCs arrived. They never mentioned it or showed me anything. I opened the box, which is a difficult to describe feeling - a crazy combination of humble pride and a million other emotions, and as I paged through the book I was blown away by the crows and the peaches and those leaves.

    Thanks again everyone. Sorry this is long...

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  18. Kate Larkindale11/22/22, 12:00 PM

    Congratulations, Melanie! It looks amazing.

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  19. Kitty11/22/22, 12:13 PM

    Thank you, Melanie, for that info. The book and pages look incredible. I hope it does well.

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  20. Jennifer R. Donohue11/22/22, 1:44 PM

    Congratulations, Melanie! This is so very exciting.

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  21. Lisa Bodenheim11/22/22, 4:21 PM

    This is so exciting, Melanie, and such a beautiful book. Congrats!

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  22. Beth Carpenter11/22/22, 4:57 PM

    It's gorgeous! Congratulations, Melanie!

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  23. Colleen11/22/22, 8:38 PM

    Beautiful! Congratulations, Melanie!

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  24. Lennon Faris11/23/22, 2:45 PM

    Just finished it. Beautiful story. I feel like I just met my (tiny, young, more daring) sister in a story. Congrats, Melanie!!

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  25. Karen McCoy11/23/22, 3:02 PM

    Mucho congrats, Melanie! What a beautiful book!

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  26. Just Jan11/23/22, 7:20 PM

    Congratulations, Melanie! I just ordered 2 copies--1 for me, 1 to give away. Can't wait to see the finished product.

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  27. NLiu11/24/22, 1:59 AM

    Yay! Congratulations, Melanie!! What a lovely book. I think my daughter will love it (maybe me too - shhhhh).

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  28. Katja11/25/22, 8:41 AM

    Sorry for being late to the book party, Melanie.

    Congratulations to you 👏 🙌 ❤. Great achievement!!! 🥳

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