Recap! It's Been A Busy Summer for 'In The Reins'

As the long Labor Day weekend approaches, I am taking a moment to celebrate the outcomes of my self-published labor of love! Reflecting back, it has been such an amazing summer for In The Reins. ​I wanted to share some of the spectacular highlights of my author journey all in one place. ​

It isn't always easy being a self-published author with a sequel in the works! There's a lot of heavy lifting involved in getting a dream underway. I am responsible for running my own business and that includes so many different facets from time management (that's right actually finding the time to write!) to deadlines to running promotions to generating publicity to website development to creating marketing materials to attending events to running social media channels to writing a blog and so much more.

Sometimes my head feels like it might actually spin!

​In addition to all that goes along with owning my own business, I have a "real" job, a patient spouse waiting to spend time with me, two dogs and a horse always looking for my love.  I do what it takes to fit in my much needed barn time. In the saddle is where I get to finally hit refresh and have some me moments (although it feels as if it is never for as long as I'd like). Somehow though, I always make everything work and feel so fortunate to be able to have the life that I do. I am really proud of the creative life I'm inventing for myself too!  

There has been a very real magic coursing through all the people that have come together around my book. I am overflowing with gratitude for all the passionate people (especially the readers) who have come on this journey with me.  

​So in no particular order (because they were all incredibly awesome!) I'm listing my favorite moments ...

1. AZ Horse Connection Magazine

Happiness is being in the barn and having a fellow horse lover bring you the new Arizona Horse Connection Magazine featuring your book for horse lovers in its pages. Thank you to Arizona Horse Connection Magazine for including In The Reins in your June issue! 

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2. Scottsdale Health Magazine

It is pretty cool for a cowgirl author when she just finishes her workout and sees her book's write up in Scottsdale Health magazine in the lobby of her gym for the first time!

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3. Uptown Magazine

It was beyond my WILDEST DREAMS to be featured on the cover of Uptown Magazine! The publication told my story so beautifully in the feature article.  A special thank you to Gabby Richman, Editor-in-Chief, for seeing my story as cover worthy, to Mark Morgan Photography for sticking with me in the Arizona heat to take those perfect pictures, and to Stephanie Lough for turning her thoughtful interview into a beautiful story about my journey writing In The Reins.

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4. Maryland Equestrian Lifestyle Guide Interview & Review

It was so fun seeing my book featured on the Maryland Equestrian lifestyle site! One of my favorite parts from the review was, "I love a good equestrian romance with a hunky cowboy – who doesn’t? In The Reins, by new author Carly Kade, has it all: new beginnings, fun characters, beautiful horses, and plenty of enticing, steamy scenes at the stable!" I just about bounced out of my boots when I was asked to do an author interview for the site too!

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5. Brittney Joy Book Review

I was so excited when a spur jingling review of In The Reins came in from fellow horse book author Brittney Joy Books! At the time, I had just started reading Brittney's Red Rock Ranch series and was loving it so far! I highly recommend it! It is action packed with horses right from the start!

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6. Launched Equestrian Author Spotlight Blog Series

This summer, I introduced a new series on my blog. In the Equestrian Author Spotlight Series, I’m interviewing & then sharing the stories of fellow equestrian authors. If you are an author that writes about horses & would like to be spotlighted let me know. I’d be happy to include you! I am so excited about hosting Q&A sessions on my blog with wonderful equine authors who love all things horses & writing just like me. 

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7. Partnership with Galloping Graphics

Over the summer, I partnered up with Galloping Graphics, a creative company for the modern equestrian, on a super cool special project. Together, we worked on a series of custom graphics featuring the characters from In The Reins. I will be using the graphics to make some super neat promotional swag for the book to use at upcoming events! 

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8. Arizona in the Saddle Magazine

When your creative life touches real life! My hubby's boss brought a tear out from Arizona in the Saddle magazine into his work! I was so proud to learn that In The Reins was featured on page 13! 

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9. Horse Nation Book Review

When the review debuted, the Facebook post from Horse Nation said, "Horse Nation resident book reviewer Eileen Cody finds even her self-described anti-romance "jaded millennial ways" warming up to "In The Reins," a barn-set romance by Carly Kade featuring a cool-eyed cowboy and of course plenty of horses." I am pretty proud of the review from Horse Nation, a site designed to allow crazy horse people to indulge their obsessions within a community of like-minded crazy horse people!

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10. Booking Around Review & Author Interview

One of my favorite lines from this thoughtful young book reviewer was, "I highly recommend this book to all fellow equestrians, no matter your discipline! I ride english and jump and I still loved his western horsey themed novel. It has a great story line. I may primarily ride english but I have a cowgirl heart and this book definitely calls to it." 

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​11. Whiskey Tales: Western Lifestyle Blog Guest Post

I had so much fun penning a guest post for Whiskey Tales, a Western lifestyle blog. In the post, I chronicled inspirational moments from my horseback riding ‪trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming‬! The post was called, "Jackson Hole, Wyoming: The Perfect Cowgirl Getaway for a Cowboy Romance Author" 

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12. Horses & Heels Summer Reading Round Up

I love all things Horses & Heels. Gallop over & follow her blog for horse lovers. I was so excited and honored that In The Reins made her summer reading round up! Can you hear my spurs jingling? 

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​13. Dreamer Spotlight with Sydney Scrogham 

In this unique interview, I answered questions for Sydney Scrogham's Dreamer Spotlight Series where readers learned about the super powers I wish I had, a time when I almost gave up on writing In The Reins and my advice for anyone dreaming about penning a horse book!

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14. Feathered Quill Book Reviews

Loved the very last part of this stellar book review: "Quill says: If you love horse stories and are looking for a book to draw you into its pages and not let go until that last page is read, check out In The Reins - you won't be disappointed."

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15. Cassidy Magazine

Love that a magazine all about "living life the cowgirl way" covered my cowboy romance for horse lovers!

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16. EQUUS Film Festival Literary Selection

Stay tuned for my adventures in NYC. I'll be attempting some live broadcasts while appearing in the Literary Corner to meet and greet, sell books and conduct book signings at the EQUUS Film Festival in New York City this November!
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In The Reins is an official EQUUS Film Festival 2016 Literary Selection. The EQUUS Film Festival is the world’s premier showcase for domestic and International equestrian content feature films, documentaries, shorts, music videos, commercials, training, educational materials, art & literature. Many books featured at the festival have gone on to become movies! Wouldn't that be dreamy?

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In The Reins is the cowboy romance novel I wanted to see on the shelf!  What a journey it has been.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! 

​I appreciate everyone who has already bought a copy or helped spread the word on In The Reins.  It is these tiny beautiful gestures that help a dream get the kick start it needs. Thank you for giving mine its chance. Please support a dreamer and purchase your copy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, like my Carly Kade Creative FB page, or simply leave a little review behind when you are through.

I have more books featuring the characters from In The Reins bucking up a storm in my mind and starting to take shape on paper!  It’s going to be a great ride and I hope you continue it with me.  I appreciate your readership! 

A writer’s job is writing books, while a self-publisher’s job is selling books.  I do both! This is just the beginning!  ​I am a busy (and happy) cowgirl and author. Keep up with the latest In The Reins happenings, news and events when you visit my media room here: http://www.carlykadecreative.com/media-room.html