It’s been ages since my last post here. Life is so busy and so fast the time slips by without me realising.

I was very sad last week to have to say goodbye to my lovely Spider, my beautiful Australian Stock Horse. He was only four years old but had developed a problem with his bones in his front legs when he was only two. We tried everything we could but he was quite lame and in pain so it was time to say goodbye. I will always remember him. He was the tiny, doddery foal who I fell in love with the very first time I laid eyes on him as a newborn. For the first day he could not get up on his feet without my help but he grew into a cheeky and lovable palomino who loved people.

On a brighter note, Cadence has now been started under saddle and is going well. She is very quiet and seems to enjoy the attention she gets when she is being ridden by either myself or my daughter, Josie. Jaspar is lagging behind but his turn will hopefully arrive soon. Doc is getting very little work now that Josie is off at university and Tuck is being ridden almost daily by Valentina, a young friend of mine who is visiting all the way from Italy. He and I have been out on a few navigation rides, which has been fun. The talented and beautiful Tredway Cruise, my other little Morgan horse, now has a new home around the corner from me with Chloe. He and Chloe are having a great time getting to know each other and I know they have a fantasic future together.

The Riding High novels are doing just that. Books five to eight of the series have just been sold to Capstone in America, where they join books one to four. Here in Australia with Black Dog Books, more exciting news about Riding High is in the wind…look here for future announcements!

In just a few weeks I will be off to visit Canberra on my May Gibb’s adventure. I will be meeting people from the Children’s Book Council of New South Wales and children from the local area. As well as catching up with lots of Canberrians, my plan is to work really hard on my next book, a young adult novel. At present I am busy preparing for my trip and making arrangements for all at home while I am away. A month away is a long time – while I am very excited to be going I am also going to miss my children and my animals.

I hope everyone is enjoying the best of what winter in Australia has to offer. If you happen to live in Canberra, maybe I will see you there!