dancinghorse | Beta Testing

Wow, what a response! I'm touched and delighted (and quite excited) by the amount of positive feedback I've had on my brainstorming ideas.

Now, however, it's time to take this thing into real time. I got socked with a huge bill today that I was totally not expecting, and let us just say that publishers take their sweet time paying and at this time of year in particular, We Are Not Having Fun.

Those writing mentorships would make great gifts. Really. I take PayPal. Email to set it up; my email is in my User Info. Put "Mentoring" in the subject line and I'll check the spam file regularly justincase.

Also I have another idea for raising the money, for which see below.

But first, I would like to beta-test both Option A (Horse Camp for Writers) and Option B (Lipizzan Weekend) within the next two months. Email to sign up. Details behind the cut.

Option A can be the larger group. I am thinking a maximum of 6 for the beta test (aiming for 8 when we go public)--2 on-site "boarders," 4 "day campers" who are either local or stay in nearby hotels. The rate per person for the real thing will be $350 for three days for boarders and $250 for day campers. Both rates will include meals (the justly famous DHF Clinic Buffet in all its glory), classes, horse time, educational materials, and selected field trips. Lesson with Teacher will be $40 extra--mainly because I only have one lesson horse and she can only do two lessons in a day, so everyone else will have to audit and take notes (and heckle). I'm getting Pandora ready to join the roster (she is ideal, with her size--Capria can't carry more than 200lbs unless the rider is very balanced) but she needs a little more de-rustifying first.

At any rate, for the beta test, we'll take $100 off the rate ($250/150) in return for helping to develop a curriculum that really works. Among other things, you will help me put together a manual for future horse campers, of which you will all receive a copy, of course. $100 deposit secures you a slot. Dates to be determined. I'm thinking in the region of February 15th-22nd, after Gem Show (so there will be hotel rooms available). There should be horse shows to take a field trip to in that period, and if we take it out far enough, there's the Rodeo.

Option B, the Lipizzan Weekend, will be limited to 3 participants per session, all of whom will stay on the farm. Reduced rate of $300 for the beta test gets you three days on the farm with meals, airport pickup and delivery unless you elect to drive in, educational sessions about the Lipizzan, assisting with training and handling of the herd, a copy of the ongoing "Lipizzan Q&A," and a lesson taught SRS-style by Teacher, on, of course, a Lipizzan--and we'll give you a picture to prove it. If you want your lesson videotaped, we can arrange that. This is open as to date--you book it, we do it. Open weekends would be at the beginning and end of February and any time in March. We can do two or more of these if we have a lot of interest, and I am open to arranging your three days during the week if that's what you need. Again, $100 per person secures you a slot. This would be a very good mini-vacation at less than half the cost of the same amount of time at a resort at that time of year, and we can have as many or as few activities as you like. If you want to spend the whole time under the Party Tree sketching Lipizzans, we can live with that. :)

The weather in Tucson in February and March is about as good as it gets. We could have winter rains, but in general it's clear and sunny with temps ranging from 60 to 80F in the day and in the 40s and 50s at night, with an occasional tip into the 30s. This year we're in drought so the wildflowers may not be much, but you never know--and there's beautiful desert scenery no matter what. By late March we should be getting into cactus-flower season, which is lovely in its own right. There's no better time to escape winter, and with this you get hot and cold running Lipizzans. :)

(Should add that if you are allergic to cats or dogs, you'll want to take the day-camper version of Option A.)

And finally, I'm offering a great set of holiday gifts: copies of various Judith Tarr titles that have either gone out of print or are no longer easily available. Email with requests. All copies will be signed. If you want me to inscribe them to anyone in particular, specify in your email. Details, again, behind the cut. Special features: ALAMUT hardcover, $35 shipped (also available in trade paper and mass market for lower prices), DAGGER AND THE CROSS ditto. The second is the sequel to the first, and they're both prequels to "The Hound and the Falcon"--if you read and loved those, you have to have these. Sale price $60 for the set. They come with beautiful Tom Canty covers. Also featured: ARS MAGICA mass market, $15 shipped. And while I cannot guarantee it, I may be able to offer A WIND IN CAIRO mass market--though that is very, very, very rare and it's a case of make me an offer and I'll see if I can find you a copy. Additional titles also available ($35 hc, $25tp, $15 mm); quantities may be limited. If you have a request, let me know. If you haven't read anything by me before but would like to try, email with the sort of thing you or your gift-ee like and I'll choose one or two for you (two for $60hc, $40tp, $20mm--shipping included in all prices).

Happy Holiday Hysteria!