CARLY KADE CREATIVE: FOR THE LOVE OF HORSE BOOKS
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Year in Review: A Look Back Before Galloping Forward

1/9/2020

 
Author Carly Kade and her Horse
Happy New Year! May it be the most spur jingling yet.

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself" - Neil Gaiman
​
As we step into 2020, I think that quote says it all. I'm up to BIG things this year. I hope you are, too. 
Looking back, 2019 was another amazing year, and I wanted to share with my readers some of the spur jingling highlights of my author journey, as well as, let you know what to expect in the year to come.
As we gallop into the New Year, I am pausing in my pursuit of happiness to just be happy for a moment. I think it's so important to reflect on 2019's successes before settling in to tackle 2020's goals! So, in no particular order, because they were all amazing, here are my favorite moments of 2019, and where I plan to go in 2020.

Sissy Comes Home to Our New Horse Property!

The BEST DAY of the whole year! For the first time in my horse owning life, I have my horse in my own backyard!! Sissy is home. I've never been so happy. Here's the video of the BIG DAY when I brought my biggest fur baby home. Can you hear my spurs jingling?

The Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast Launch

In 2019, I decided to expand my Equestrian Author Spotlight monthly blog posts to a weekly podcast/YouTube video format because the Equestrian Author Spotlight series has gotten so much interest that I’m now backed up to over a year’s waiting list. I want to be able to share author interviews faster, and I know I can do that better through the new podcast/video format for the series. 
Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast Hosted by Carly Kade

The Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with equine authors who love all things horses and writing about them. 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! I'm your host Carly Kade.


Goodreads Reading Challenge Complete!

Carly Kade's 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge
Complete! I read 50 books in the Goodreads 2019 Reading Challenge. The challenge let's you set a goal of how many books you want to read at the beginning of each year, and Goodreads helps you keep track of your progress. It's really fun to not only meet your goal, but to look back at the books you've read over the course of the year.
Carly Kade Goodreads Challenge
Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations. Their mission is to help people find and share books they love. Some of the things you can do on Goodreads ...

  • See what books your friends are reading.
  • Track the books you're reading, have read, and want to read.
  • Check out your personalized book recommendations. Our recommendation engine analyzes 20 billion data points to give suggestions tailored to your literary tastes.
  • Find out if a book is a good fit for you from our community’s reviews.
  • And best of all, if you are an author you can create a profile and add your books!
My favorite books of the year!
A Great Escape: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
On Writing: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont
On Business: So Good They Can't Ignore You, Deep Work, and Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
See My 2019 Goodreads Reading List

FEI Stories: Why We Love Equestrian Romance

Author Carly Kade Equestrian Romance Feature for FEI
I was over the moon when Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) featured me on Valentine's Day in a swoon-worthy article on equestrian romance novels including In the Reins &  Cowboy Away.

“I think the equestrian fiction and equestrian romance genres are the books that young horse lovers grow into to feed that need to read about their passion for horses." - Carly Kade
Read the Article

Book 3: Show Pen Promise Released in 2019

It jingled my spurs to announce the paperback and ebook release of Show Pen Promise, the third book in the In the Reins horse book series. Gallop over to Amazon for your copy today: https://fave.co/2AeA5gS
​

Psst ... the Show Pen Promise audiobook will be released in 2020! Watch the book trailer featuring Amanda Lamb who is the voice of the In the Reins series on audiobook.

Being Shelley Paulson's Photo Assistant

Shelley Paulson and Carly Kade
Shelley Paulson & Carly Kade
My spurs are still jingling from galloping around Arizona with Shelley Paulson of Shelley Paulson Photography. Over the course of three days, I assisted Shelley on an equine photo shoot for Farnam Horse, found an amazing flannel shirt at Tractor Supply, and was able to have my very own photo session with the talented Shelley Paulson! Click the button below for a little recap of our adventures. 
My Equine Photography Adventures

Alta Mira Horsemanship: ​Catching Up With Carly Kade + In the Reins Book Review

Alta Mira Horsemanship Interview with Author Carly Kade
A BIG thank you to Alta Mira Horsemanship for the spur jingling book review + interview!

"Get lost in a world of horses, cowboys, and second chances. I loved the complexity of each of the characters ... I would recommend this to any equestrian who loves getting lost in a great story." - Alta Mira Horsemanship

Gallop over to her blog for the full review. Happy reading!
Read the Article

EQUUS Film Festival Tour Stop Sedona, AZ

In May, I attended the EQUUS Film Festival Tour Stop in Sedona, Arizona. I loved the film screenings and meet-and-greets with my readers! I had copies of my EQUUS Film Festival literary award-winning books In the Reins and Cowboy Away on hand plus the newest release in my equestrian romance trilogy Show Pen Promise. Here's a little video recap from the event!

Horse & Agriculture Magazine: Interview with Miriam Lucero about Show Pen Promise

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YEEHAW. Show Pen Promise was featured in the June/July Issue of Horse & Agriculture Magazine! It is such an honor to see my equestrian romance in the pages of the publication. A BIG thank you to Miriam Lucero for interviewing me about my book.
Read the Magazine Article

Cowboy Away: Brittney Joy Book Reviews

Cowboy Away Equestrian Romance Novel by Carly Kade
A big thank you to Brittney Joy Books for the spur jingling review of Cowboy Away. Gallop over to her horse book blog for the full review and learn about other terrific horsey reads.

Excerpt of Brittney Joy’s Review ...

Many of the horse books I read are categorized as young adult and I haven’t run across many equestrian series that are written for adults AND also truly dive into the horse world. Carly Kade is a lifelong equestrian who rides and shows her beautiful paint mare in western pleasure. She also features western pleasure and breed shows (Quarter Horse & Paint) in her series and I appreciate this setting! I grew-up showing in pleasure events and it’s fun to be back in that environment for a love story.
Read the Full Book Review

Discovering my name on a pair of spurs!!

Author Carly Kade's Spurs
When you’ve dreamed of having custom spurs since you were a little cowgirl, then you walk into a destination on the American Horse Publications Equine Enchantment Tour and see them there without actually having ordered them. Of course, I bought them straight away!

American Horse Publications Conference: A Spur Jingling Mini-Movie & Favorite Moments

In June, I attended the American Horse Publications Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico! Over the course of three days, I took a roping lesson (and roped my own face), found a pair of custom spurs with my name on them, and spent time learning from and networking with incredible equine creatives! Here's a recap from the High Desert Media Roundup featuring a mini-movie of my adventures. Go behind the scenes with me!

AHP Equine Author Meet-Up

Heather Wallace (The Timid Rider) and I moderated a meeting of the minds at the 2019 American Horse Publications conference for members who have published a book or ones who were interested in publishing a book. Go behind the scenes of the session to learn about tools, tips and insights on both traditional and independent publishing in the video by clicking here.
Picture
It was exciting to have such strong attendance at the Equine Author Meet-Up! Everyone kept saying that they wished we had even more time to chat. It makes my spurs jingle when authors unite. Thank you to all the American Horse Publications members who attended. Let's do it again this year!

Stable Style's Autumn Book Recommendations

Show Pen Promise by Carly Kade is a Stable Style Recommended Read
Fall is the perfect time to cuddle up with a cozy blanket and a good book on chilly day. Stable Style recommends novels to inspire you with horses of course. Show Pen Promise was a Stable Style Autumn Recommended Read!
Read the Recommendations

Roper & Ryder celebrated their first birthday!

WOOF! What would I do without my furry friends? I've put together a little video of Roper & Ryder as they have grown up. I hope their first year photo album gives you a giggle. Watch them gallop down the stairs, leap into my face, and have their very first Starbucks! #adoptdontshop

Horse & Agriculture Magazine Cover

Carly Kade on the cover of Horse & Agriculture Magazine
It is such an honor to see the December issue of Horse & Agriculture Magazine at my local Tractor Supply Co.! Thank you to Miriam Lucero for choosing Sissy and me for the December cover and to Shelley Paulson Photography for taking the beautiful photographs.
Read the Magazine Article

Sissy has a Sister! Meet Our New Horse.

Once we purchased our horse property, I started quietly looking for a horse for my husband. I wanted to find a horse that was similar in age to Sissy and one that would be safe enough for him to ride on the trails. We are so blessed that we can take the horses across the street and trail ride in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.

​I probably showed my husband hundreds of pictures, but he didn't like any of the horses until the day I popped Tanner in his face. He really liked her color, so I immediately called to make an appointment to see her. I told Adam not to fall in love with her because she was the first horse that we looked at for him, but I have to admit I had a feeling about her. Meet Tanner in this video!

Show Pen Promise Wins EQUUS Film & Arts Festival Best Western Romance

Show Pen Promise by Carly Kade Wins Best Western Romance at EQUUS Film Festival
The EQUUS Film & Arts Festival has named author Carly Kade as the 2019 Literary Award winner in the Best Western Romance category for her novel, Show Pen Promise. The award was presented at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky during the 7th annual EQUUS Film and Arts Festival.
 
The EQUUS Film and Arts Festival is the leading showcase for domestic and international equestrian content including feature films, shorts, documentaries, music videos, commercials, training, educational materials, art and literature. 
Read the Press Release

What's Next?

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 continue to be a great ride and I hope you keep riding along with me. This year, I'll be bringing you a new author interview each Wednesday on the podcast, the Show Pen Promise audiobook, and book four of the In the Reins series — right now I'm calling it JD's Story. I appreciate your readership! 

The In the Reins Series Book Four by Carly Kade

I'm ready to rock 2020!

There has been a very real magic coursing through all the people who have come together around my horse books. I am overflowing with gratitude for all the passionate people (especially the readers) who have been on this journey with me. I'm ready for 2020! And blasting out a new book. My spurs are jingling because I'm going to bring readers PART FOUR of the In the Reins series this year. Yeehaw!

Author Carly Kade

The In the Reins equestrian romance series are the kind of books I always longed to read! What a journey it has been creating these books for horse lovers. I hope you enjoy reading the books as much as I enjoyed writing them! 

​I appreciate everyone who has already bought a copy or helped spread the word on In the Reins, Cowboy Away, and Show Pen Promise. 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 am a busy (and happy) cowgirl and author. Keep up with the latest In The Reins happenings, news and events by visiting my media room here: http://www.carlykadecreative.com/media-room.html
In the Reins, Cowboy Away, Show Pen Promise Horse Books by Carly Kade

Join my Readers' Group

I'll only ever email you to let you know about a new book release, or if I'm running a discount or promotion that I think you'll like, or if I'm giving away any cool horsey stuff like signed copies of my books or horsey swag and goodies. We all like to win prizes, right?
Join Author Carly Kade's Readers' Group

About Carly Kade

Carly Kade Author of the In the Reins Horse Book Series
Carly Kade is an award-winning equestrian author and the host of the Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast. Creative writing makes her spurs jingle! She writes fiction about horses, horse shows, Western pleasure and a handsome cowboy or two. Her books are for people just like her — crazy about reading, horses and cute cowboys!  
​
In the Reins, the first in Carly's series of novels inspired by the equestrian lifestyle, has been an Amazon best seller for more than 10 weeks, is an EQUUS Film Festival Literary Award Winner for Best Western Fiction and has earned two Feathered Quill Book Awards in the Romance and Adult Book featuring Animals categories. The In the Reins equestrian romance series is available now in Audiobook, Paperback and eBook on Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks and Kobo.
In the Reins, Cowboy Away and Show Pen Promise Books by Carly Kade

Carly Kade Creative

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    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

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    Author Info

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

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