Exciting news! I have been awarded a fellowship from the May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust. This will involve a month long visit to Canberra In August. What heaven, a month to focus on writing and visiting schools. I’m looking forward to meeting lots of Canberra school students, as well as having a chance to explore our capital city.

The first four titles of the Riding High series are now on sale in the United States. The books have been given fresh new hardcovers and Making the Grade will be known as Courage To Ride.

Also on sale in the USA are my Pony Patch books. They are in hardcover and the series has been retitled Pony Tales. Losing Norton has been retitled as Who Stole Norton, and Norton’s Blue ribbon is known as Norton’s First Show.

And an update on my horses at home…My daughter and I have been working on the two young horses, Jaspar and Cadence. Cadence went to her first show in November last year and behaved brilliantly. Both are learning how to wear a bridle and saddle, stop and turn, and both have been sat on. They have been very good and seem to enjoy all the attention. They have both had a ride in the horse float and have been taught to work on the lunge. Cadence has now progressed to working with long reins – Jaspar’s turn next.

The rest of the horses are having an easy life. No competitions, just an occasional trail ride, and they seem to enjoy going out. I hope all my Australian readers had a lovely summer holiday and have settled back into school life. Before we know it, it will be holiday time again, with Easter upon us.