CARLY KADE CREATIVE: FOR THE LOVE OF HORSE BOOKS
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Buy the Books
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Media Room
  • Contact
  • Bonus
  • Photo Gallery
  • Store
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Wisdom

Episode 80: On Hollywood Lessons Learned, Working with Illustrators & Gratitude with Evan Archerd (Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast)

6/17/2021

 
Evan Archerd Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast
Episode 80: Welcome to the Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast! In each episode, you’ll hear inspirational stories from horse book authors including writing advice and marketing tips to help you write your own horse book. If you are an author, aspire to be an author, or simply love horse books, then you are in the right place!

In this week's episode, you'll meet Evan Archerd. You'll learn ... 
  • How lessons learned working in Hollywood as a screenwriter and songwriter helped Evan with the writing of his book Anna and the Pink Pony.
  • What aspiring children’s book authors need to know about working with an illustrator.
  • How Evan turned a tragic event into a journey of gratitude and creativity after he and his daughter saved their herd of animals from a wildfire.
  • And MUCH more!

Watch Evan Archerd's Interview on YouTube!


Or listen to the audio only version.


About Evan Archerd

Evan began his career in Hollywood as a songwriter and film composer. His work in music for films eventually led to screenwriting -  first for CBS television, then Columbia and MGM motion pictures. Evan's latest screenplay, The Man Behind The Music, tells the story of Henry Lewy, the unsung giant among the music producers/engineers of the rock ‘n roll era. The documentary has gained acclaim in film festivals around the world.

The genesis of his book, Anna and the Pink Pony, was his family's first Shetland pony. Duke came home to their farm in Oregon to live out his days when he was 31 years old. Evan's daughter began a lifelong love affair with horses saddled on his small but sturdy back. His wee size hid a huge heart. 
​

Horses bring magic into the lives of children. Evan hopes a bit of that delight jumps off the page when you read his story.

Evan Archerd Interview Excerpt

Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast Carly Kade
Carly: Tell us about your book Anna and the Pink Pony.

Evan: We've kind of used some poetic license here, but the book is the mostly true story of the search for my daughter's first pony whose name was Duke. He was like a nine-hand shetland pony. He was wee little guy with the biggest heart. He lived to be 41 years old.

The book is called Anna and the Pink Pony, and Anna has stood in for my daughter in this book. When we were looking for a pony for Tessa, we looked high and low. Tessa's favorite story at the time was the story of a pink horse that nobody wanted to ride because he didn't look like any of the other horses, but then the horse show comes and the little girl's horse goes lame. There's no one else to ride at the horse show, so she rides the pink horse. They win the blue ribbon and everybody goes home happy. My daughter just loved the story. Of course, when it came time to find a pony for her, she wanted nothing to do with anything but a pink pony.

I tried to tell her that the story is wonderful, but there aren't any pink ponies in the real world. She would just look at me. Eventually, we found Duke and we bring him home. When we backed him out of the trailer, the Oregon sky had this beautiful light. He was a red roan with a lot of white hairs in his coat. Wen that little little pony body came back out of the trailer into the light,  he was pink. I don't mean just a little pink. He was pink! Tessa looked at me, and she said, "See, Daddy.!There really are pink ponies." At that moment, I knew I had to write this book.

Anna and the Pink Pony by Evan Archerd

Carly: Talk to us about your illustrator.

Evan: ​Hannah Stern illustrated Anna and the Pink Pony for me, and she knows horses. From the time she was a little girl, she had a pencil in her hand and dreams of illustrating stories. 

I think it's important for your audience to understand the dynamics of starting to work with an illustrator. The most important thing I could say to anyone out there looking for an illustrator is make an agreement with them, whereby they provide you with some sample work before you commit to actually doing the whole book. Be willing to pay pay them for a few sample illustrations, so that you have a sense of what this is really going to look like.

Hannah sent me some samples and I was blown away. I knew immediately that we were a perfect fit. In the search for an illustrator, don't settle.
Carly: You are a former Hollywood screenwriter and a songwriter. How did working in that industry prepare you to shift your creativity into writing a children's book?

Evan: The one thing that Hollywood taught me is that you just have to keep at it. People are going to tell you your work is no good. People are going to tell you that it's all been done before. People are going to tell you that there's too much competition. People will tell you that you should just give up and go get a job outside the entertainment business, but the reality is that not everything has been said before, written before. There are still great stories to be told. 

Someone once said, "The more I practice, the luckier I get." It's really true with writing. The more you keep at it, the more you hone your craft. The more you become a better writer, a little bit of good fortune is going to come your way at some point.
Carly: What's next for you?

Evan: I just started writing the second book in the Anna series. It tells the true story of our harrowing escape from the tragic fires that hit Southern Oregon last autumn and how we saved all of our farm animals. The working title is Anna and the Great Escape.

Connect with Evan Archerd

Picture
Website: https://www.theponypressbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePonyPressBooks
Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/theponypressbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/anna-and-the-pink-pony

New Author Interviews Each Week.

Carly Kade Podcast
Make sure you never miss a show by subscribing on YouTube or Apple Podcasts. This podcast is made possible by listeners like you. I appreciate your support! 

Want a free guide to secrets of horse book authors? Gallop over to https://www.carlykadecreative.com/wisdom.html and join the Equestrian Author Spotlight email list to have the author advice resource delivered instantly to your inbox.
Check out other Episodes

About Your Host Carly Kade

Carly Kade
Photo by Shelley Paulson Photography
​Carly Kade is an award-winning author, horse owner, creativity coach, and the host of the Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast. She helps fellow writers start, grow, and expand their author careers. Creative writing makes her spurs jingle!

Carly's In the Reins equestrian romance book series was written with horse lovers in mind, no matter which discipline they ride. The horses are as vital to moving the story forward as the human characters are.

These books are perfect for poolside reading, taking to the beach, or settling down with after a day of horseback riding.
In the Reins Carly Kade

Books by Carly Kade

Comments are closed.
    Carly Kade Creative

    Carly Kade Author

    Books by Carly Kade

    In the Reins Equestrian Romance Horse Book Series by Carly Kade
    In the Reins, Cowboy Away, Show Pen Promise Books by Carly Kade

    In The Reins is an EQUUS Film Festival Literary Award Winner
    In the Reins is an EQUUS Film Festival Official Literary Award Winner
    Author Carly Kade wins Feathered Quill Book Award for Equestrian Fiction In The Reins
    In the Reins earns TWO Feathered Quill Book Awards
    Cowboy Away Earns Carly Kade Second EQUUS Film Festival Literary Award
    Cowboy Away Earns Carly Kade Second EQUUS Film Festival Literary Award
    In the Reins by Carly is BookWorks Book of the Week
    In the Reins is the Self Publishers Association Book of the Week

    Book Trailer


    Author Info

    Carly Kade writes for anyone who loves horses, handsome cowboys and a great romance. Creative writing about horses makes her spurs jingle!  

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015



    ​Please note: This website may contain affiliate links. If you choose to buy any books featured, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate purchases help with the upkeep of the podcast. Thank you for your support in keeping this site running.

Feeling Social? Join The Herd!
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Buy the Books
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Media Room
  • Contact
  • Bonus
  • Photo Gallery
  • Store
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Wisdom