The Book of Mules and Sadie Mae

Yesterday I launched The Book of Mules with an event that was the most fun I’ve ever had doing a book signing. I owe it all to Shannon Hoffman’s mule, Sadie Mae. Sadie greeted folks at the front of The Coffee Hound Bookshop in downtown Louisburg, NC. She endured picture-taking, petting and even gave one visitor a ride, for four hours. Needless to say, Sadie, whose photo is on the cover of The Book of Mules, was a huge hit with everyone, from the youngest to the oldest.

Since writing The Book of Mules I have found that people in the south all have a mule story. Some remember working in the tobacco fields along side mules that could tell time. When it was time to quit and go home there was no stopping the mule from doing just that, or so I was told by a lady who stopped to visit Sadie and buy a book. A gentleman who was just dropping by for coffee shared with me his knowledge of a nearby town that was a mule metropolis in the heyday of mules. Creedmore, North Carolina was a huge mule-trading center in the turn of the twentieth century.

Sadie got a few cookies to reward her hours of patience. She took one look at the books she delivered to The Coffee Hound, but once she determined they were not eatable she lost interest. Shannon shared a little about Sadie’s history. Sadie once worked as a pack mule out west. She now lives with Shannon’s other mule, Seven, a donkey named Chester and a mustang. Shannon told us Sadie was very good on trails and tolerates “borrowed” riders.

My artist friend, Tiger Faircloth, did some sketches of Sadie and several people snapped photos. Children who visited Sadie were shown how to feed a mule treats and Sadie enjoyed several more cookies. Once the day came to an end, and it was dark, Sadie was relieved to hop back in her trailer. We all said our goodbyes and thanked Sadie and Shannon for a fine afternoon of fun and learning more about mules.

My thanks go to Shannon and Sadie, and all the folks who shared their mule stories and bought copies of The Book of Mules. Stay turned for my next event which will be in late January.

If you missed out on yesterday's event you can buy the book any place that sells books. If they do not have it in stock, please ask that they order if from The Lyons Press. The ISBN is 978-1-59921-283-8 and if you are local there ae signed copies left at The Coffee Hound Book Shop. Call Millie at 919-496-6030 to order one.

Got My Comp Copies of The Book of Mules

My comp copies of The Book of Mules were delivered by the Fed Ex guy yesterday just in time – I was backing out of my driveway when he came up the lane.

“The Book of Mules, what that all about?” Ronald asked as he came up the walk laden with two big heavy boxes.

“Well, I am a writer, I wrote The Book of Mules and those are my comp copies. You want to see them?” I invited as he brought the boxes into the living room. I cut the tape open with my car key, which was still in my hand.

“Yes!” Ronald said. He thumbed through the pages and began to tell me about mules he’d known in his life. He told me in his home county, when he was growing up, folks used mules for tobacco farming.

I invited Ronald to my book signing. He delivers packages to The Coffee Hound Bookshop, where I’ll be launching The Book of Mules. Sadie Mae, whose photograph is on the book cover, will be coming to this book signing. I am excited. I know she’ll be a big hit.

So, Ronald the FedEx guy was first to see my new release. Later, I took a copy downtown to show Millie Cannon, owner of The Coffee Hound. We discussed how new books smell good.

My next trip was that evening to deliver books and sale sheets to Shannon Hoffman, owner of Sadie Mae and two other mules whose photographs I took. Shannon was an immense help to me in my research in writing The Book of Mules. She loaned me her entire library of mule books, gave of her time so I could take pictures of her mules, and provided encouragement and friendship. I don’t know how I could have met my deadline without her.

Contrary to popular belief, writers do not make very much money. It’s the perks that keep us going. I suppose we writers are rather egocentric because we love knowing people read what we write. My perks also include the friends I’ve made through interviews and photography sessions, book store owners, editors, fellow writers and, of course, my readers. Money is good; don’t get me wrong. But, if it were not for these people I have met in the process writing would be just another job, a very lonely job.

I am fortunate to have a writing niche -- horses. Horses have been a major part of my life for over thirty years. Now that I am entering my “golden” years I no longer run a barn or ride, so my writing help keep me involved in the horse industry vicariously. It is like having grand children that I can love and then hand back over to their Mamas; I can meet all these really neat equines, but I don’t have to shovel their poop and lift their hay bales.

The Book of Mules is my third non-fiction book, but the first one to feature my photos in full color. The design team did a wonderful job putting it all together so it is a very attractive book. It helps to have the one and only, beautiful Sadie Mae on the cover. Sadie captured my heart from day one when I went to Shannon’s farm to photograph her mules. I hope Shiloh and Seven’s feelings were not hurt that I used the most film on Sadie. I have been promised a mule ride, and these old bones might ache a while after, but I am looking forward to it.

You can buy your copy of The Book of Mules anywhere books are sold. If they haven’t stocked it yet give them the following information and they can order it. You can also order it online from www.lyonspress.com or one of the online bookstores like Amazon.com.

The Book of Mules
Publisher – The Lyons Press
ISBN 978-1-59921-283-8
Retail $22.95

And while you are ordering you might also want to consider my other two titles with The Lyons Press: The Book of Draft Horses and The Book of Miniature Horses.