Miralee Ferrell | A Love Affair with Cowboys and Horses
January 15, 2016
How many adults dreamed about being a cowboy when they were kids? I think
especially those of us who are . . . ahem . . . over a certain age, were more
enamored of riding the range and fighting the bad guys, due to the prevalence of
western TV shows and movies during the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s.
While growing up, my little sister, Jenny, wanted to be a cowboy SO badly. She
had all the toys—the Johnny West set, the toy truck and horse trailer, the
cowboy hat, the whole nine yards. Me, I just wanted to own a ranch full of
horses. We lived in a small town with a couple of hillside acres, but our
parents weren’t horse savvy, and we weren’t either.
I remember my first foray into riding alone—I was about 14 and had the
opportunity to ride a neighbor’s semi-broke horse. Jet black, not too big, but
no saddle or lessons. I did great the first few days, until the horse decided to
take off at a canter around a corner. He went one way, I went the other, and the
resulting sprained wrist ended my wild cowboy days until years later.
I grew up, never getting my first horse until a year after I married. Two years
later, our daughter was born. I had no idea what a horse obsession looked like,
until that little girl came along. She rode with me when she was three, and rode
her own pony at five. Like me, she read every horse book she could get her hands
on, plastered her walls with horse posters, and collected Breyer horses—which
she still owns to this day.
We raised and owned horses through my daughter’s entire childhood, and I still
continue to trail ride with her when the weather allows. But another avenue to
showcase my love of all things horse and cowboy opened up when I hit my
fifties—a writing career. I have 16 books in print now, soon to be 18 with two
new releases March 1 (both about cowboys), and many of them feature either a
horse, a cowboy, or both.
It’s strange, because I started writing women’s contemporary fiction, with no
expectation of more. But a horse made its way into that first book, and I soon
found myself transitioning to historical romance, with a strong emphasis on the
old west—a setting conducive to cowboys and horses—and of course, lots of
action, tension, and romance.
That is, until my new adventure began, writing novels for horse-crazy kids, ages
8-13. I remember how much I wanted to read those kind of books at that age, and
not a lot were available. A friend suggested expanding my love for horses into
the middle-grade world, so that’s where I headed. I had no idea how much fun it
would be to pour my love of all things equine into books for kids. Now, four
books later and two more coming, I’m loving this journey.
How amazing that my personal love of the Old West, cowboys, and horses, would
find fulfillment in this newest journey of my life—and one that I’m having a
ball living out. My prayer is that kids and adults everywhere would gain the
same enjoyment, and that my stories would revive old memories from their
childhood as well.
Miralee is giving away two different books—HEART OF A COWBOY, a
collection of four novellas by four award-winning authors, Miralee Ferrell,
Susan Page Davis, Vickie McDonough, and Yvonne Lehman, releases March 1.
Another lucky winner will get the entire set of HORSES AND FRIENDS, a
four-book collection of middle-grade horse novels.
Miralee and her husband Allen have been married over 40 years. They live on
11 acres in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge in Washington State, where they
love to garden, play with their dogs, take walks, and spend time with family.
Miralee is a lay-counselor through the AACC, and speaks at women’s groups,
libraries, and churches. She has sixteen books in print, including the
best-selling Blowing on Dandelions and her award-winning western,
Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming. Two of Miralee’s books have won
contests, and Blowing on Dandelions was nominated for a Christy.
Miralee recently expanded to a new genre—a four-book middle-grade horse
series with a strong emphasis on friendship and family values.
Four award-winning authors offer a unique historical romance in this
collection.
HEARTS REUNITED By Miralee Ferrell Mercedes Taylor is determined to save her ranch after her father’s death,
but she won’t let anyone help—especially not her old friend Jesse Townsend who
deserted her so many years ago. The pain his family inflicted on hers goes too
deep for her pride to forgive.
After riding the trail for five years,
Jesse Townsend returns to his family property to find the girl he’d once loved
all grown up—and more prickly than he’s ever seen her. After his mare is
seriously injured, he has no choice but to call on Mercedes—the local animal
doctor—for help.
Add the attractive banker’s daughter who Jesse seems
smitten with, and trouble starts brewing. Can Mercedes and Jesse set aside the
old family feud and find their way back to the love that had only started to
blossom when Jesse left?
Thirteen-year old Kate and her friends came up with the perfect way to raise
money for her autistic younger brother and others to attend summer camp—a horse
scavenger hunt! As local businesses donate money and prizes, Kate keeps the
entry fees in her mom’s antique jewelry box.
But when the box and the
money disappear, Kate and her friends must unravel the clues, hold on to hope,
and solve the mystery along the Blue Ribbon Trail Ride.
To me, cowboys and horses (and dogs) are always great assets to romance novels. I am big fan of historical fiction. It is always nice to escape to a different time and place for a little while. (Amy Kincade 2:32am January 15, 2016)
Horses are what a lot of kids dream of owning. (Marissa Yip-Young 6:32am January 15, 2016)
I am from West Texas and Cowboy hats are common. There is something special about books and movies which have Cowboys and as Dale Evans would say, Cowgirls. (Leona Olson 9:10am January 15, 2016)
I remember the old Westerns, from watching them with my Dad when I was a little girl. All I could think about was owning a horse of my own, and being able to ride it. I don't recall having much in the way of reading material in the way of horse books, however, other than The Black Stallion. It's so wonderful that you're writing books for middle-grade students, so they can appreciate these glorious animals!! Congratulations on your latest book, which I'm sure will do well!! (Peggy Roberson 10:32am January 15, 2016)
I always wanted to be a cowboy but I am allergic. (Debra Guyette 10:44am January 15, 2016)
I love a story about cowboys and an open range...never road one but I love to read about them! (Bonnie Capuano 11:23am January 15, 2016)
Thanks, Ladies, for your great comments. I wish all of you could win a book, but if you don't I hope you'll consider buying a copy of Heart of a Cowboy for yourself, or one of the books in the Horses and Friends series for a kid in your life! (Miralee Ferrell 2:31pm January 15, 2016)
This is a great article. I am always fascinated by Western things. (Carol Edwards 5:58pm January 15, 2016)
I love reading about cowboys. Thank you for this article and giveaway. (Susan Johnson 6:26pm January 15, 2016)
I love horses... collect statues, have a calendar, etc. I was lucky as a kid that the camp I went to had horseback riding... fell in love with a horse named Jackpot! :) (Colleen Conklin 8:19pm January 15, 2016)
I have always liked books about cowboys too! (Lori Raines 9:20pm January 15, 2016)
LOVE Christian historical fiction! Looking forward to the new story! (Bonnie McKee 10:43pm January 15, 2016)
I really wanted a horse and to live on a ranch as a child. I never knew how harder it could be for cowboys until I started reading historical romance as an adult. (Lake Bottorff 2:26am January 16, 2016)
I love cowboys they loyal treat there animal like family. (Emily Stemp 9:25am January 16, 2016)
I enjoyed your captivating post. Living in a large city horses were a rarity until I experienced the wonderful RCMP Musical Ride when I was young. Cowboys are my heroes. I used to watch all the memorable cowboy tv programs in the 50's and felt these were so meaningful and unforgettable. (Sharon Berger 8:36pm January 16, 2016)
I love horses so much. (Alison Mckearney 9:13pm January 16, 2016)
I always loved reading about cowboys, ranching, the Old West, animals, and various other topics. I think my very first book was a Roy Rogers fiction. (Edward Arrington 10:09pm January 16, 2016)
Would love to read this book and love reading about cowboys! (Bonnie Capuano 1:48pm January 17, 2016)
I love horse stories! (Lisa Swigart 3:19pm January 17, 2016)
I LOVED Roy Rogers, Edward. One of my favorite oldies-- and I even got to see him at a parade when I was very young.
Sharon, I watched many of the same programs from the 50's and 60's...the reruns, since I was born in the 50's, LOL! Loved so many of them.
Lake, I agree--even with the books we have to read today, we probably still don't really understand how hard it was to live back then.
Thank you all for taking the time to read my article. I hope you'll pick up a copy of Heart of a Cowboy, since only one person can win. :-( Wish there could be more! :-) (Miralee Ferrell 7:14pm January 17, 2016)
I grew up on a farm with horses and cows and I loved it! Reading about cowboys is fun! (Kelly Powell 8:10pm January 17, 2016)
i love cowboys (Emily Stemp 9:52pm January 17, 2016)
I can never get too much of reading about cowboys. They are romantic in themselves. (Gladys Paradowski 1:45am January 18, 2016)
I lived on a ranch as a child,love horses and the country life though have not yet read your books they sound very interesting. Hope you have a great Valentines (Gloria Vigil 9:09am January 19, 2016)
Wow! You & your daughter have quite a horse thing going on. I love them too, but never had a chance to own one. My sister did & she enjoyed her horse, Midnight. Enjoyed your blog. Guess everyone should grow up wanting to be a cowboy, would be less trouble in this world. (Lois Imel 6:14pm January 19, 2016)
I love reading out ranches, cowboys, horses...just the whole country thing in general. It seems so much more romantic and chivalrous than the stuff I am used to seeing on the east coast. (Lily Shah 7:15pm January 19, 2016)
I love stores about cowboys, horses and the lifestyle! (Bonnie Capuano 11:57am January 20, 2016)
I love cowboys (Emily Stemp 1:28pm January 20, 2016)
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