October 28, 2017, is a day that changed my life. It became a year that stretched me, grew me, and made me a better person. That morning, I became the 23rd President of Women Writing the West or WWW. I joined WWW in 2012 at the urging of new friends and fellow authors, Janet Chester…
He’s 14 years old and ready to head to the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) in Las Vegas, NV, competing for the title in junior bull riding. Native American student-athlete Garrett Mason has been on the back of a horse since he was a baby. The eighth-grader began riding sheep at age three in rodeos…
Raised in Omak, WA, on the Colville Reservation is my Change of Heart cover model, nineteen-year-old Shayna (pronounced Shania) Ann Palmanteer. She is currently a student at the Inchelium Language House on the reservation––a young woman on a path to self-discovery. Not long ago, I found myself on a journey to find a model for…
~*~*~Cover Reveal~*~*~ Here it is!! The Change of Heart cover… Preorder Change of Heart And for the cover, all I needed was one traditional Plateau Indian basket hat. How hard can that be right? A couple of months ago, I went in search of the right cover for Change of Heart. After getting my rights…
Happy Labor Day Weekend! As the end of August turns the corner and September springs forward with clear skies, I breathe in a lungful of fresh air. Forest fires and filled our valleys and hills with thick smoke. I’ve ridden a handful of times, missing the quiet rides in the woods. My time to reflect…
For the fourth year in a row, Eagle Boy and Scotty Abrahamson have earned the “King of the Hill” title. “He’s one of the greatest horses I’ve ever rode,” Abrahamson told the Tribal Tribune. “He wants to win this just as much as I do.” Eagle Boy placed second on Thursday, first on Friday, and…
In 1933 two dreamers and Okanogan County stockmen, Leo Moomaw and Tim Bernard, envisioned starting a rodeo that became the Omak Stampede. The duo had started a rodeo string in 1932 and desired to expand their vision. A rodeo seemed to be the ticket to keep the small, western town kicking, considering it was settled…
Taz is durable and confident His big eyes bright He soars down the hill, sure-footed, The crowd cheers with delight He powers through the rivers Like a steam engine climbing a hill His legs carry him with the speed of a gazelle He gives onlookers an arm-tingling thrill Taz is durable…
When researching Girl Warrior, I had interviewed plenty of male jockeys. I needed to find a female to interview because my main character was female. I needed a woman’s perspective but didn’t know who. Didn’t know one female jockey’s name, only they existed. So I began asking family and friends and finally found a name:…
When looking down from the top of the hill, horses and spectators look like dots, the water invites a quick swim on a hot day, and the sky is as blue as azure. In the staging area horses dance, their eyes and ears alert. Their hard muscles ripple in anticipation. Some rider-horse teams are quiet…
The idea of Charnaye’s art project came to me because I had met the late George Flett at a craft fair on the Colville Reservation. We ended up trading books for art! That was such an honor. What a remarkable and talented man. It was that day I fell in love with ledger art. Since…
May is the time to honor mothers and veterans. My father, Lewis Sutton, was never in active combat but served in the army at Fort Lewis in Washington State for two years. I thank him and all of those who dare to keep our country safe. My mother, Jean Sutton, is a wonderful woman who…
All fictitious stories, short or long, have five elements in common. Without one of these five foundations, your story will fall flat, like a house built on sand. It’s important to know and use these so your story will make the reader satisfied, wanting to read more. ~ Character ~Setting ~Conflict ~Plot ~Solution When writing…
Every story begins with an idea. Where do Ideas come from? Where do I begin with a short story or novel? Ask “What If?” questions. What if your hero (main character) hopped a horse, taking only his/her bow, and when your hero stepped off the train he/she went back in time, forward into the…
His fingers glide up and down the guitar’s neck, his voice as smooth as jazz. “Music is medicine to my soul,” says Colville Tribal Member, Tony Louie. “It’s how I learned to cope with everyday life.” At twenty-six, Tony’s making an impact on and off the reservation. His interest in music didn’t really come about…
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