An important feature of my writing is research.  Luckily, I have cousins who are ranchers, horse trainers, and owners.  They are the same cousins who rode with me, swam in lakes, and hunted for arrowheads on the hills of the DD ranch near Skellytown, Texas.  We led a charmed life, and I am fortunate they are my living ranch encyclopedias.  I have asked for their advice while writing the stories of the Cardwells and their ranching experiences. 

 

The first order of business before I write is to fill notebooks with information about horse breeds, their temperament, roles in the herd, and on and on.  One of the most fascinating research adventures was to find information about barn cats and boss mares. A barn cat is a primary addition to the third book in the series, Bari and the Barn Cat.