dancinghorse: (kolbrainbow)
[personal profile] dancinghorse
Last call for fall classes! Link to class descriptions is here.

Signups to this point have been minimal despite extensive signal boosting (for which, thanks to all who have so kindly spread the word). I will be conducting the class for those who have signed up for it so far, but unless I get at least another four participants, the format will be different than I had originally planned. I'll be contacting participants in a few days with further details.

It does seem that I will have to find another way to keep the horses fed. With so many writers hanging out the editing and teaching shingle as advances shrink and contracts slow down or stop coming, the market appears to be saturated. We are at a scary juncture here, with the boarders gone (one was ready to go home after rehab, the other took off last week while I was away; I returned to an empty stall and a note on the table). They had paid the bulk of the hay bill. The ebook revolution has not been the bonanza for me that it has for others: it covers utilities every month, but that's as far as it goes. I do not have the funds to buy ads that supposedly will increase sales. Another Kickstarter can't happen until I get the last one done and fulfilled--which it will be by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, the horses keep eating. I'm not sure where the next load of hay is coming from, and they'll need it next week. (Yes, I've been hiding under the bed. It's been a rough month.)

I still have openings for editing and mentoring--will be happy to take referrals. There are also openings available for Camp Lipizzan, which I tend to call Horse Camp for Writers, but what it actually is is a week with the White Herd. There's yoga, there's riding and groundwork, there's quiet and peace and a chance to rest and be pampered, whatever your level of horse skills. You don't have to be a writer, either. Horsepeople come for the horse-retreat aspects.

I have in the past offered sponsorships for the horses. I'm thinking I might revive that, and turn it into a monthly newsletter or blogthing. Backers-only news, updates, pictures of "your" sponsored horse or horses, bits of things from the farm. Not sure if that should be a formal setup a la Patreon or a more informal, one-on-one arrangement. I'm open to suggestion.

I have also offered commissioned stories--have written a fair few, in fact, over the years. Email me at capriole at that gmail thing if you'd like to talk about a story for yourself or friends or family. I love doing these, and recipients seem to love getting them.

I've seen crowdfunding campaigns with authors doing a monthly short story. I wonder if this would work for me. While I was in toxic block, I couldn't commit to any such thing, but that's finally gone (and that part of me feels wonderful).

I hate to borrow, because paying back becomes this ongoing awful thing while the hay bills keep coming. I need something that I can do that will give value, and feed the horses, and keep the place going in the next few weeks or months while I figure out the longer term. I'm running out of energy to keep hustling, and I'm running out of options for keeping this place afloat.

I have no idea what will happen to the horses if I have to let them go. Tia might find a home as a broodmare, she's still of an age for that. Pandora would have a place to go, at least, and I would put Capria down; she's nearing the end of her body's ability to cope. The rest are a hard sell in this economy.

Ideas would be most welcome. I'm so tired and stretched so thin that I know I'm not seeing the forest for all the tangled thickets of panicky trees. The woo side of things says the farm will continue, the horses will stay, I'm just missing something blindingly obvious. But I persist in being, well, blinded.

Wish you could help, but just as broke as I am? There is one thing you can do. If you've read my books, post honest reviews especially at Amazon. Reviewomancy has gone a bit whackers lately as authors become more desperate and careers slip closer to the edge, but it does appear that the more reviews you get, the more likely the book is to bump one of those all-important "If You Liked X, You Might Like Y" algorithms. You can also encourage your library to buy books from Book View Cafe via Overdrive or an assortment of other distribution networks--they usually buy a selection of mine, and the proceeds eventually trickle down to me.

Every little bit helps.

Date: 2014-09-24 10:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sartorias.livejournal.com
Will talk to Rachel about scheduling a Camp.

Date: 2014-09-25 09:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
Yay! And thank you. It's always a joy to have you guys at Camp.

Date: 2014-09-28 02:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rachelmanija.livejournal.com
Sherwood and I will definitely do another camp. I've fiddled with my schedule so I'm (usually) only in the office two days a week. (12 hour days, though.)

Date: 2014-09-24 10:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] silverstarhorse.livejournal.com
I will definitely head over to leave reviews by the week's end. Kinda' brain fogged at the moment...

FWIW sending bright, shiny light from my little herd here.

Looking forward to class, whatever the format.



Date: 2014-09-25 09:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
Thanks so much! Will email next week with details--waiting to see if I get any more signups.

Date: 2014-09-25 12:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] miintikwa.livejournal.com
I think I've written reviews over on GoodReads. I'll check, and if I'm remembering right, I'll copy them to Amazon. If not, I'll see if I can jog my memory for reviews.

In the meantime, I'm pimping! I hope it helps.

I may contact you about a layaway program for the Horse Camp. I can't afford it at the moment thanks to husbeast losing his 2nd job, but I am bound and determined I'm GOING to get there someday, dammit. -.-

Date: 2014-09-25 09:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
Many many thanks. Layaway is possible. Email and we'll talk.

I'm sorry about C's second job. That's a bummer all around.

Date: 2014-09-25 06:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] galeni.livejournal.com
Crazy ideas you've probably ready considered:

Horse riding for disabled kids
Therapy riding for rehab?
Returning veteran rehab?

Hospitals or veteran centres or rehab specialists after car accidents or maybe private schools -- playing up the Dancing White Horses of Disney and General Patton?


My post concussion syndrome is proving difficult to shake off or I might be able to do more to help.

Date: 2014-09-25 05:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] raithen.livejournal.com
Post Concussion syndrome sucks. I've had some luck with naturopathic and homeopathic support, neuraltherapy, and straight post-trauma therapy (cftre.org is the method my therapist uses, but there are other good ones). Mostly good luck and be gentle with yourself.

Judy, as always, blessings.

Date: 2014-09-25 06:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] galeni.livejournal.com
Thank you, Raithen. I'm working on it. Google gave me a new list of things to try this morning. (Epsom salt foot baths?! Or full baths.)

Best wishes.

Date: 2014-09-25 09:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
Thanks so much. Just knowing you're there and thinking good thoughts is a great help.

Sending my own good thoughts for your return to full health.

Date: 2014-09-26 05:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] galeni.livejournal.com
Thank you. I'm improving, just lots slower than I would like.

Date: 2014-09-26 06:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] raithen.livejournal.com
patience. I have learned (the very very hard way) that post concussion syndrome (and concussions themselves) take far longer than one would like to resolve. But there are also gifts in the journey, for those who are open to them.

Date: 2014-09-25 08:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] stephanieburgis.livejournal.com
*HUGS* So, so much empathy. Ever since 2011, I've been scared about money all the time and desperately trying to figure out ways to pull in enough money for my family. I wish I had advice to offer, but since I don't, I'm sending huge supportive vibes and faith in you.

I know that one sale isn't going to make an enormous difference to you, but reading your entry reminded me that a lot of your novels are available as ebooks now, too, so I just snagged a copy of Lord of Two Lands for my Kindle. I can't count how many times I've re-read it - it really is my favorite historical fantasy novel ever, and one of the biggest reasons that I started writing historical fantasy in the first place! - and although I've got two different paper editions floating around the house, I definitely need an e-version for comfort reading anytime I need it. :)

Date: 2014-09-25 09:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
It makes a huge difference. Thank you so very much for this and for the lovely things you said over on twitter.

Date: 2014-09-25 12:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] marthawells.livejournal.com
*hugs* I signal boosted the post about classes on Twitter and Facebook last night.

Date: 2014-09-25 09:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
Many, many thanks. I'll be pimping your books as I go, too. Writers need to support each other.

Date: 2014-09-25 02:52 pm (UTC)
aerinha: (Serena_Headshot_action)
From: [personal profile] aerinha
I want - I need! - classes and horse camp, but it's not going to happen right now; I'm taking on a second job just to pay household bills and pay for my daughter's many activities. BUT I will save up and be there when I can.
In the meantime, I'll get my butt in gear and make a point of reviewing everything I've read, both on Amazon and on Goodreads. Apologies for not having done so already!

Some of the ideas above re: other types of camps or retreats are good ones, if you could bear them. The yoga-with-horses camp, too, would probably be a winner if you got it a little more exposure, through regional publications, horse and yoga bulletin boards (online), etc.

I have faith in the woo-woo and I'm pulling for you.

Date: 2014-09-25 09:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
Reviews would be awesome, thank you. Faith in the woo is a great help. Yoga seems to be a direction I'm pulled in. The breakfast backup person teaches it, and has started to show signs (even to my gunshy self) of being a strong influence for good around the farm.

Date: 2014-09-25 03:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] puffbird.livejournal.com
I am so sorry to hear this! I wish I could help in a substantial financial fashion, but in lieu of that, I will see about signal-boosting, and I'll be thinking good thoughts your way.

Date: 2014-09-25 09:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
Thanks so much. Signal-boosting is a tremendous help. Good thoughts likewise.

Date: 2014-09-25 11:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] green-knight.livejournal.com
Sending best vibes. Will e-mail tomorrow; keeping all appendages crossed.

Date: 2014-09-26 08:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
Thank you so much!

An income idea

Date: 2014-09-26 08:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sara a mueller (from livejournal.com)
Though I'm not sure if it's practical for you, my parents have a small Arabian breeding ranch in Texas and had the same problem of 'where does the hay come from'. My mother learned that if she buys shavings in large bulk, she can sell the bales to her neighbors and local small feed stores at a profit. Since she's ordering the shavings for herself as well, it falls under her farm business license. And fwiw, she's ordering newspaper 'shavings', which don't happen to be easily available locally. It has supported their horses for several years.

Re: An income idea

Date: 2014-09-27 08:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
That is interesting, thank you. Thinking out of the box like that is what I need.

Date: 2014-09-27 03:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ranunculus.livejournal.com
Wish you lived closer. I've had no tenants at my barn for months now and have extra hay (I buy in bulk).

Date: 2014-09-27 08:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
We need that transporter and we need it Now!

Paying the hay bill

Date: 2014-09-29 07:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alison farrin (from livejournal.com)
What about overnight accommodations for folks travelling through with horses. At $25-$30 per horse, one 3-horse stopover pays the hay bill for a horse for the month. Especially if you are right off I-10, advertizing on the on-line horse motel directories might net you some easy income.
Are you rural enough to offer people trail riding weekends - B&B accommodations for them and their horses and a trail map or pre-loaded GPS with places to ride?

Re: Paying the hay bill

Date: 2014-10-08 10:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dancinghorse.livejournal.com
That's an interesting idea. Thanks!
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