My High Reaches Nubian goat herd keeps getting smaller. Although this is intentional, it isn’t easy. One way of coping is writing about goats.
Last June marked fifty-one years Nubian dairy goats have been a part of my life. Losing them will put a big hole in it as they are my milk source, my manure and mulch source, my friends.
Writing About Goats Isn’t New
My first book, “Goat Games”, was about goats. More books with goats in them followed: “Dora’s Story”; “Capri Capers”; “Hopes, Dreams and Reality”; and “For Love of Goats”.
When I wrote these, goats were in them because they fit well. I was writing about something I was familiar with. It’s different now.
Now, when I am writing about goats, I am remembering them. It keeps them in my life, even as they fade from my barn.
Opal and Agate: Partners in Adventure
Both Opal and Agate are real goats. Only Opal is still in my herd. Their fictional counterparts are more than they have been. They are stand ins for the many kids that have been a part of my High Reaches herd over the years.
Kids are kids, whether they have four legs or two. Goat kids are cute – just check out some of the many videos and pictures online. That makes them good subjects for picture books.
Best Intentions
I started the year with six books to work on. None of them are done and the year is racing to a conclusion. Life got in the way as it likes to do.
“Ducks Love Hats” happened. I am working my way through the publishing steps with it now.
Ship Eighteen from The Carduan Chronicles was going well. I had plans to move on to Life’s Rules and finish that draft. Instead, there is a major problem with the Ship Eighteen draft. Correcting it will take careful planning and a major rewrite.
Sketches for the first Opal and Agate book are in my sketchpad. I hope I can get more of them done soon. I will, if life doesn’t get in my way again too soon.
