Beyond Romance: The Relief of Not Giving Up On A Dream -- #horses #writing #dreams @CharmedOzarks

By Mary Caelsto (Guest Blogger)

I discovered fantasy novels the way any horse-crazy pre-teen probably would have, by finding a book with a horse and a cute guy on the cover at K-Mart. I was working, so I was at least thirteen. I purchased the book, fell in love with the characters, the world, and the author.

At the time I was reading romance novels, and I knew I wanted to be a writer. By the time I was in high school the “what do you want to be when you grow up?” question was answered with “writing romance novels and working on a horse farm.” I earned half a degree in equine science, realized that at $5 an hour, I was the highest paid stable hand in America most likely, and sadly, wages like that weren’t going to allow me to move out of my parent’s house. I got a “real” job.

I never gave up on the dream of writing books.

In 2002 I became published with an erotic paranormal romance novel. Most of my published work was romance, though I also started publishing non-fiction.

The road got pretty rocky here, with caring for my mother and making some drastic decisions, but last year, I decided to focus not just on horse books for grown up horse crazy girls like myself, but also…yes, fantasy. I came back to the world of the Musimagium I created and began writing books that combined my other two passions: fantasy world based magic and music.

I didn’t give up, and though the journey has been rocky at times with a lot of doubt and fear, I am so thankful I made it. When I look out across the pasture in the morning at my horses, I smile. I’m relieved. Because I’m here, and I didn’t give up. It is not as scary as I thought it would be. And I am so blessed to have people who support me.

Things are still pretty tough. I’m rebuilding after my mother’s death almost a year ago, dealing with my own health issues and figuring out just where I want to be and how I can take care of things. I juggle a full-time job with my work editing, website assistance, and other author-related work. And yet, relief is freedom. Relief is knowledge that you are supported by the universe, that there are reasons to things and determination is rewarded. Relief is knowing that you can do it and feeling the weight lift from your shoulders.

Relief is not giving up on your dreams.

Spins are Wild Blurb

Lora's in the middle of a messy divorce with her bull rider ex-husband. Just because she left the WBR circuit and is making a name for herself as a trainer, now his buckle bunny of a girlfriend thinks she can take half of Lora's farm, her two best horses, and even her truck and trailer in the divorce and do the same thing. Lora is tired of propping up Billy and it is long past time he learned to cowboy up and take responsibility for his own life. She's swearing off men for good. Until her best friend introduces her to an up and coming D-series barrel racer with plans of his own.

Note: This women's fiction story contains romantic elements and the romantic plot grows stronger as the series continues.

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/westernstar1

About the Author

Mary Kit Caelsto never grew out of the phase of being a "horse crazy girl". Though she's now over 40, she's finally fulfilling her dream of writing equestrian books for others who haven't grown out of being "horse crazy". She lives in the Ozarks with her four very spoiled and very opinionated horses, as well as a large flock of poultry and enough cats to qualify her as a crazy cat lady. Her husband, though not an equestrian himself, understands and supports all her equestrian dreams.

She's convinced three of the best things in the world are the smell of a sun warmed horse, the smell of leather tack, and making sure to hug her horses every single day.

Picture of the author and “SuperDuck” taken 3/2019.

Hair color varies depending on mood.