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Hey, favorite ones!

I have been deep in the creative trenches the past week, which means I've been neglecting some of my other writerly tasks, like the crucial posting of cute horse pictures on Facebook, updating Instagram, or coming up with some great stuff to share in this email.

While I'm editing one book, plotting another, and writing a third (why did I do this to myself?!) I've also been making time to read, play with my kids, and snuggle my animals, but that hasn't left much time to spend online.

I hope you don't mind, because the most important thing I can do for you is to, well, write books. Right?

A few weeks ago, our pasture fences were damaged in a storm. That meant that Big Red Horse, a fifteen-year-old gelding, and Little Red Horse, a nine-year-old mare, were locked into the smaller pens attached to their stalls in the barn, rather than being able to roam their pastures.

Most people with two horses would probably keep them in the same pen. But that isn't possible with my special snowflakes.

Little Red Horse doesn't have great social skills, it has to be said. She has annoyed every pasture mate she's ever had, but Big Red Horse's tolerance for her quirks is especially low. If there's no fence between them, he chases her mercilessly, bites and kicks when she wanders into range, and is a general a-hole.

A few weeks ago, our neighbors fenced their property, which is adjacent to Little Red Horse's pasture, and now their two horses are pastured there.

Little Red Horse finally has friends. Or, the next best thing: horses that she can sniff noses with over the fence without worrying she's being lured into a sneak attack.

When our fence was repaired over the weekend, I let our horses into their pastures for the first time in a while, and Little Red Horse immediately jetted off to visit the neighbors.

Big Red Horse watched her go with wide eyes, then proceeded to throw a fit, calling to her and pacing the fenceline of his own pasture.

All afternoon, Little Red Horse hung out on the far side of the property, and Bit Red Horse's protests eventually dwindled to the occasional, piteous whinny.

At dinner time, they came into their stalls, which are divided by a five-foot gate. As they filed inside, Little Red Horse, sweet, lovable idiot that she is, swung her head over the gate to greet Big Red Horse.

He'd spent all day pining for her, but as soon as she was in range, he struck at her like a cobra, trying to bite her. She barely dodged his teeth.

I keep hoping that what I'm seeing is the first half of a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers tale between these two, but I'm not sure how much longer my optimism will hold out.

What I'm reading

I just began listening to the newest audiobook from one of my favorite authors. I'd been saving it up because the sooner I start a book, the sooner it's over, and while I love to reread favorites, there's nothing like experiencing a wonderful story for the very first time.

I waited as long as I could to start Saint, which might be my favorite Sierra Simone work yet. If you've read it and want to gush, let me know. 😍

What I'm writing

Well, y'all are a bad influence, and I officially have a new project in the works. Last week I asked you for your wise counsel about whether to ignore the shiny new story idea that won't leave me alone, or to give in, and the overwhelming majority of you all revealed yourself to be enablers!

However, because I have three other books that I won't let fall behind schedule, I've dubbed the new project my Sunday Book. That means I will only allow myself to work on it one day per week--on Sundays, if you hadn't put that together. ;)

What are you reading? What are you daydreaming about? Why do my horses hate each other? If you would like to answer any of these questions, you can reply right to this email. I read each and every message.

xo,

Rachel

read the first chapter of As the Tallgrass Grows

dive into the Wild Ones series

find me in more places

Website | Rachel's Party Barn on Facebook | Instagram | Discord

my books

Long Winter | Signs of Spring | Burning Season | As the Tallgrass Grows | When the River Rises

Jaywalking | Sleepwalker