Seven Tears Into the Sea
Phantom Stallion Series
Bio
Weblog
Q&A
Schedule
Media
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Sad News
Dear Readers,
BLM's Palomino Valley Wild Horse center -- the one on which I based Brynna Forster's wild horse center -- is closed because of the deaths of 130 captive wild horses.
More details as I hear them...
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 11:17 PM 0 comments
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Trackin' it down & SACRAMENTO
Dear Readers,
Wow,there are at least three release dates out on the Internet for RAIN FOREST ROSE!
Could be a regional issue, so call your local bookstore and ask for a DEFINITE day it's scheduled to arrive near you and please let me know what you learn!
Next Saturday at 1:00 I'll be at Fairy Tale Town in Sacramento, Ca., talking about horses & books for the Target Children's Book Celebration.
If you need details, email me or visit Fairytaletown.org.
-- Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 9:14 AM 0 comments
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Dear Readers,
I'm getting excited about RAIN FOREST ROSE coming out in just TEN DAYS, so I had to send you this photo I took on the real Wild Horse Island!
ALOHA,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 8:14 PM 0 comments
Friday, September 21, 2007
Kinda fun
Dear Readers,
I just ran across this review of HORSE CHARMER and liked it not only because it was written by a young reader and published in a major Washington, D.C. newspaper, but because you can click on a button and have the review read to you by a computerized voice!
If you want to give it a try, here's where you start:
http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070922/ENTERTAINMENT/109220016/1007
Happy weekend,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 11:16 PM 0 comments
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Man and Mustang
Dear Readers,
I'm back from Portland, Oregon and had a wonderful time hanging out in bookstores, meeting some of you :) and cycling along the Columbia River. No horseback riding this time, but I heard about some great horses from my readers.
I thought some of you might like to see this video : http://www.kotv.com/e-clips/news/?id=8586 about a training working with a Nevada mustang. If you go there, be sure to click on the story about teaching a wild horse to LIE DOWN, too. This man appears to be a gentle and understanding trainer.
Have fun. Meantime, I'll be trying to catch up with your emails!
Best,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 7:09 PM 0 comments
Saturday, September 15, 2007
PORTLAND 2
HI!
If any more readers of PHANTOM STALLION or SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA are planning to meet up with me in Portland and will need your parents to drive you, you can have them email me.
In fact, here's a note from me to them :)
Dear Parent,
I'll be in Portland next week and your eager reader hoped to persuade you to drive over to Powell's so that we can meet and I can sign her/his copies of my books.
I'll be in Portland M - W, but I'm not doing any official signings or presentations. I will be meeting with some staff at Powell's, however and will be staying near the story. If this sounds like something that might work out, please feel free to email me (I'm bringing my laptop along) and we can set something up. I miss teaching and love meeting my readers.
Best,
Terri Farley
Hope to see some of you!
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 1:47 PM 0 comments
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Cowboys & Chocolate
Happy International CHOCOLATE Day!
Really! It's good to have friends who know everything! And this is one holiday I definitely plan to celebrate.
If you'd like to go on a quick virtual vacation, how about a trip to the 71 Ranch in Deeth, Nevada? I was out there doing an article for NEVADA magazine, so I uploaded some photos to Facebook. You can check them out at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53171&l=e02d9&id=503685130
Enjoy the pictures while you nibble,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 7:57 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
More writing fun
Dear Readers,
I had a note from the Phantom Stallion Writing Club, which holds writing contests and book-centered activities like the Phantom Poetry and Change The Ending Of.... contests.
For more information check out http://www.pswritersclub.proboards54.com/index.cgi and have fun!
Happy trails,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 10:13 AM 0 comments
Saturday, September 08, 2007
PORTLAND
Dear Readers,
I'll be in OREGON for a very short visit next week. I don't plan to do a formal booksigning or anything, but if you happen to live near Portland & would like to drop by Powell's Books (I LOVE THAT STORE! If you haven't been there, you must go!!!) let me know. Email me at [email protected] and put PORTLAND in the subject line & I'll tell you when I'll be there.
Happy trails,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 4:47 PM 0 comments
Friday, September 07, 2007
Classroom!
Dear Readers,
Here's a great new contest -- a CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE story written by an entire class. If you're a teacher, check it out! If you're a student, you might print out this announcement & see if your teacher has time to work it in before the deadline!
http://www.rif.org/educators/activities/cyoa_contest.mspx
Have fun!
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 9:38 AM 0 comments
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Wordgirl!
Hi,
I'm excited to watch WORDGIRL tomorrow on PBS.
The main character reminds me of Darby in WHI.
If you don't know which channel to check, you might try this: http://www.pbs.org/parents/tvprograms/tvschedules/
just type in your zip code & it will tell you the station!
Have fun,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 3:06 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
SEER (Writing Tip #3)
Dear Readers,
Do you have a talent for gazing into the future and looking back on the past?
Try this for the story you're writing:
Draw a time line for your SETTING. Extend it before and after the span of your book.
I've never written a story which took place right where I live now, but if I did..
I'd consider the the old logging pond down the hill-- did loggers camp here? Did they have a little cabin or tents? Did it smell like campfire biscuits in the morning or did they tromp down to a camp cookhouse?
I'd think about the first train robbery in the West which happened on the tracks a half mile from here. A historian told me the robbers (one on a red horse named Cockadoodle) probably rode over my land before they split up a mile from where my house now sits, to confuse the Wells Fargo detectives pursuing them. Some of the gold they stole -- destined to pay Virginia City miners -- has never been found and I think about it whenever I dig in the garden.
The Donner Party camped in the apple grove I pass when I go walking with a friend. Did they wander as far as what's now my fenceline, hunting for deer that were still plentiful here, but would vanish in the snowstorm up the hill?
Before the Donners, Native American camped along the arm of the Truckee River where I take my dog to splash on hot days.
So all those things would go on my setting's past, and then there'd be the story -- if I was wrting a contemporary story...and what would happen here after my story ended?
Houses and businesses grow closer every day, water and trees disappear...but the time line is imaginary. It's my story and I might just create a happy ending for this little piece of earth.
Do this for your setting, whether it's real or exists in your imagination, and I bet your story will be better for it!
Have fun,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 8:04 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Book Reports & Love
Dear Readers,
A lot of you (and your parents) have written to me in the last few weeks asking the READING LEVEL of my books.
HarperCollins rates my books for 9 - 12 year olds, but I just got a note this morning from a bookseller which said : " ...some of your readers are older women in their 70's, who are chompin' at the bit for the next book. "
As a former reading teacher, I know readers will tackle stories way above what they score on a standardized test -- if the book is about something they LOVE, or something which fascinates them. And plenty of super readers enjoy books "below" their levels. That includes me! I read tons of books designated: Young Adult. Which I'm, uh, not, but WHO CARES? IMO -- many are among the best contemporary literature available.
However, if your teacher is a real stickler for having you read precisely at your reading level, I stumbled upon this site & you can look up the reading level of any of my Phantom Stallion books.
http://www.regentbook.com/resulta.asp?FromSearch=true&AllGrade=1&txtAuthor=Terri+Farley&OptSort=V1&submit=Search
Have fun reading!
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 3:44 PM 0 comments
Monday, September 03, 2007
I'm just sayin'...
Why would my cell phone company list the call of an IBEX on its downloadable ring tones, but not a horse's whinny or neigh or snort?
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 5:56 PM 0 comments
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Java Jive
Dear Readers,
I've loved the Coffee House Mystery series since it started -- funny & suspenseful --but I just visited the authors' website CoffeeHouseMystery.com and it's lots of fun, too.
How can you not like a site which says Espresso Lattes Muffins & Murder across the top? And it has character avatars, recipes and coffee news (both intrigue and scientific kinds...that you could use for school, I bet).
The books have titles like Through the Grinder and Latte Trouble and the newest book, DeCaffeinated Corpse placed #1 on the Independent Mystery Booksellers paperback list!
Speaking of that, if you're a mystery reader, you might check out their bestseller list and see if there's a title or two which snags your interest
http://www.mysterybooksellers.com/bestsellers.html
Have a great weekend,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 9:46 AM 0 comments
Sad News
Dear Readers,
BLM's Palomino Valley Wild Horse center -- the one on which I based Brynna Forster's wild horse center -- is closed because of the deaths of 130 captive wild horses.
More details as I hear them...
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 11:17 PM 0 comments
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Trackin' it down & SACRAMENTO
Dear Readers,
Wow,there are at least three release dates out on the Internet for RAIN FOREST ROSE!
Could be a regional issue, so call your local bookstore and ask for a DEFINITE day it's scheduled to arrive near you and please let me know what you learn!
Next Saturday at 1:00 I'll be at Fairy Tale Town in Sacramento, Ca., talking about horses & books for the Target Children's Book Celebration.
If you need details, email me or visit Fairytaletown.org.
-- Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 9:14 AM 0 comments
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Dear Readers,
I'm getting excited about RAIN FOREST ROSE coming out in just TEN DAYS, so I had to send you this photo I took on the real Wild Horse Island!
ALOHA,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 8:14 PM 0 comments
Friday, September 21, 2007
Kinda fun
Dear Readers,
I just ran across this review of HORSE CHARMER and liked it not only because it was written by a young reader and published in a major Washington, D.C. newspaper, but because you can click on a button and have the review read to you by a computerized voice!
If you want to give it a try, here's where you start:
http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070922/ENTERTAINMENT/109220016/1007
Happy weekend,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 11:16 PM 0 comments
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Man and Mustang
Dear Readers,
I'm back from Portland, Oregon and had a wonderful time hanging out in bookstores, meeting some of you :) and cycling along the Columbia River. No horseback riding this time, but I heard about some great horses from my readers.
I thought some of you might like to see this video : http://www.kotv.com/e-clips/news/?id=8586 about a training working with a Nevada mustang. If you go there, be sure to click on the story about teaching a wild horse to LIE DOWN, too. This man appears to be a gentle and understanding trainer.
Have fun. Meantime, I'll be trying to catch up with your emails!
Best,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 7:09 PM 0 comments
Saturday, September 15, 2007
PORTLAND 2
HI!
If any more readers of PHANTOM STALLION or SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA are planning to meet up with me in Portland and will need your parents to drive you, you can have them email me.
In fact, here's a note from me to them :)
Dear Parent,
I'll be in Portland next week and your eager reader hoped to persuade you to drive over to Powell's so that we can meet and I can sign her/his copies of my books.
I'll be in Portland M - W, but I'm not doing any official signings or presentations. I will be meeting with some staff at Powell's, however and will be staying near the story. If this sounds like something that might work out, please feel free to email me (I'm bringing my laptop along) and we can set something up. I miss teaching and love meeting my readers.
Best,
Terri Farley
Hope to see some of you!
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 1:47 PM 0 comments
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Cowboys & Chocolate
Happy International CHOCOLATE Day!
Really! It's good to have friends who know everything! And this is one holiday I definitely plan to celebrate.
If you'd like to go on a quick virtual vacation, how about a trip to the 71 Ranch in Deeth, Nevada? I was out there doing an article for NEVADA magazine, so I uploaded some photos to Facebook. You can check them out at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53171&l=e02d9&id=503685130
Enjoy the pictures while you nibble,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 7:57 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
More writing fun
Dear Readers,
I had a note from the Phantom Stallion Writing Club, which holds writing contests and book-centered activities like the Phantom Poetry and Change The Ending Of.... contests.
For more information check out http://www.pswritersclub.proboards54.com/index.cgi and have fun!
Happy trails,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 10:13 AM 0 comments
Saturday, September 08, 2007
PORTLAND
Dear Readers,
I'll be in OREGON for a very short visit next week. I don't plan to do a formal booksigning or anything, but if you happen to live near Portland & would like to drop by Powell's Books (I LOVE THAT STORE! If you haven't been there, you must go!!!) let me know. Email me at [email protected] and put PORTLAND in the subject line & I'll tell you when I'll be there.
Happy trails,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 4:47 PM 0 comments
Friday, September 07, 2007
Classroom!
Dear Readers,
Here's a great new contest -- a CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE story written by an entire class. If you're a teacher, check it out! If you're a student, you might print out this announcement & see if your teacher has time to work it in before the deadline!
http://www.rif.org/educators/activities/cyoa_contest.mspx
Have fun!
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 9:38 AM 0 comments
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Wordgirl!
Hi,
I'm excited to watch WORDGIRL tomorrow on PBS.
The main character reminds me of Darby in WHI.
If you don't know which channel to check, you might try this: http://www.pbs.org/parents/tvprograms/tvschedules/
just type in your zip code & it will tell you the station!
Have fun,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 3:06 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
SEER (Writing Tip #3)
Dear Readers,
Do you have a talent for gazing into the future and looking back on the past?
Try this for the story you're writing:
Draw a time line for your SETTING. Extend it before and after the span of your book.
I've never written a story which took place right where I live now, but if I did..
I'd consider the the old logging pond down the hill-- did loggers camp here? Did they have a little cabin or tents? Did it smell like campfire biscuits in the morning or did they tromp down to a camp cookhouse?
I'd think about the first train robbery in the West which happened on the tracks a half mile from here. A historian told me the robbers (one on a red horse named Cockadoodle) probably rode over my land before they split up a mile from where my house now sits, to confuse the Wells Fargo detectives pursuing them. Some of the gold they stole -- destined to pay Virginia City miners -- has never been found and I think about it whenever I dig in the garden.
The Donner Party camped in the apple grove I pass when I go walking with a friend. Did they wander as far as what's now my fenceline, hunting for deer that were still plentiful here, but would vanish in the snowstorm up the hill?
Before the Donners, Native American camped along the arm of the Truckee River where I take my dog to splash on hot days.
So all those things would go on my setting's past, and then there'd be the story -- if I was wrting a contemporary story...and what would happen here after my story ended?
Houses and businesses grow closer every day, water and trees disappear...but the time line is imaginary. It's my story and I might just create a happy ending for this little piece of earth.
Do this for your setting, whether it's real or exists in your imagination, and I bet your story will be better for it!
Have fun,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 8:04 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Book Reports & Love
Dear Readers,
A lot of you (and your parents) have written to me in the last few weeks asking the READING LEVEL of my books.
HarperCollins rates my books for 9 - 12 year olds, but I just got a note this morning from a bookseller which said : " ...some of your readers are older women in their 70's, who are chompin' at the bit for the next book. "
As a former reading teacher, I know readers will tackle stories way above what they score on a standardized test -- if the book is about something they LOVE, or something which fascinates them. And plenty of super readers enjoy books "below" their levels. That includes me! I read tons of books designated: Young Adult. Which I'm, uh, not, but WHO CARES? IMO -- many are among the best contemporary literature available.
However, if your teacher is a real stickler for having you read precisely at your reading level, I stumbled upon this site & you can look up the reading level of any of my Phantom Stallion books.
http://www.regentbook.com/resulta.asp?FromSearch=true&AllGrade=1&txtAuthor=Terri+Farley&OptSort=V1&submit=Search
Have fun reading!
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 3:44 PM 0 comments
Monday, September 03, 2007
I'm just sayin'...
Why would my cell phone company list the call of an IBEX on its downloadable ring tones, but not a horse's whinny or neigh or snort?
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 5:56 PM 0 comments
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Java Jive
Dear Readers,
I've loved the Coffee House Mystery series since it started -- funny & suspenseful --but I just visited the authors' website CoffeeHouseMystery.com and it's lots of fun, too.
How can you not like a site which says Espresso Lattes Muffins & Murder across the top? And it has character avatars, recipes and coffee news (both intrigue and scientific kinds...that you could use for school, I bet).
The books have titles like Through the Grinder and Latte Trouble and the newest book, DeCaffeinated Corpse placed #1 on the Independent Mystery Booksellers paperback list!
Speaking of that, if you're a mystery reader, you might check out their bestseller list and see if there's a title or two which snags your interest
http://www.mysterybooksellers.com/bestsellers.html
Have a great weekend,
Terri
Permalink to this blog post
Posted by Terri Farley @ 9:46 AM 0 comments