THE PERFECT HORSE free to download 21st - 25th December

With just a few days to go before Christmas Day, don't forget to download your copy of THE PERFECT HORSE - available FREE from today up to, and including, 25th December.

Happy reading and happy Christmas!

Pony Book Authors at Faversham Literary Festival 2019

I am looking forward to appearing at the 2019 Faversham Literary Festival with fellow pony book author Amanda Wills on Saturday 23 February at The Guildhall, from 3–3.45pm. We will talking about all things writing and ponies and it is a free event, although booking is required.

Find out more here: 
http://www.favershamliteraryfestival.org/live/index.php/component/k2/item/142-jane-ayres-and-amanda-wills

NEW! Directory for horse loving readers!

Please check out this fantastic FREE new resource for horse lovers and those who love to read and write about horses. There will be a directory of books and authors plus regular updates and news!

http://horsebackreads.com/hello-world/

WIN a copy of The Spooky Pony Mystery and other stories NOW!!!

To win a copy of my Halloween book The Spooky Pony Mystery and other stories, get on over to PONY magazine's Facebook page to take part! https://www.facebook.com/ponymag

You have until SATURDAY to enter!

Related post https://janeayres.blogspot.com/2018/10/5-star-review-for-spooky-pony-mystery.html

Interview by bestselling pony book author Amanda Wills

You can catch me today over at the blog of Amanda Wills, bestselling author of the hugely popular Riverdale Pony series. 

I so enjoyed our chat! Click here to read the interview:
https://www.amandawills.co.uk/single-post/2018/10/13/Shining-the-spotlight-on-pony-book-author-Jane-Ayres


Related post: https://janeayres.blogspot.com/2018/10/5-star-review-for-spooky-pony-mystery.html

STOP PRESS: The Spooky Pony Mystery is Star Book for Pony Mad Book Lovers!

I am delighted that The Spooky Pony Mystery and other stories is currently the Star Book for the Pony Mad Book Lovers website. Check this brilliant website for pony lovers here: http://www.ponymadbooklovers.co.uk/

Related post: https://janeayres.blogspot.com/2018/10/5-star-review-for-spooky-pony-mystery.html

The Horse who Dreamed of Home in paperback!

More than 2 years after it appeared in the English language as a kindle book, I am delighted that The Horse who Dreamed of Home is finally out in paperback! A heartwarming read suitable for all ages, it has romance, drama and, of course, horses!

Just £5.99, it is available in all Amazon territories, but the UK link is here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Horse-who-Dreamed-Home/dp/1723705624/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

And if you want to know the story behind the story, check out this post http://janeayres.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-horse-who-dreamed-of-home-out-16.html

TRICK RIDERS now available in paperback!!!

YAY! Two years after it came out in e-book format, my equestrian vaulting adventure TRICK RIDERS is now available as a paperback!  You can buy from Amazon, or if you would like a a signed copy with a special message as a gift, then just email me.  

Related post: https://janeayres.blogspot.com/2016/07/trick-riders-out-today.html

The Mystery of the Spooky Pony

My novel for 8-12 year olds - The Mystery of the Spooky Pony - is available in Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish from Stabenfeldt.  (but not yet in the English language).

It's a fun story set around Halloween with a supernatural element. And lots of ponies!

Valentine Horse

The shops are displaying Valentine Day cards and gifts, so if you are a horse loving romantic, why not check out VALENTINE HORSE? Available as kindle or paperback, this is a fast paced read that will appeal to older children, teens, young adults, and adults.

Buy links: ebook http://www.amazon.co.uk/Valentine-Horse-Jane-Ayres-ebook/dp/B00IEOF8LU
http://www.amazon.com/Valentine-Horse-Jane-Ayres-ebook/dp/B00IEOF8LU
Print edition £4.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Valentine-Horse-Jane-Ayres/dp/1505774349

Related posts: http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Valentine%20Horse

Horse in my Heart rated epic read!

I was really thrilled to find that the brilliant Nayu's Reading Corner has rated my emotional drama The Horse in my Heart 10E.

The Horse in My Heart by Jane Ayres

Young Adult

10E/10E

(Tissues most definitely needed!)

Nayu explains on her site:

Reviews are rated out of 10, 1 being the lowest and 10E being the highest. The E part = epic read, higher than a standard 10, for books I hug (really!) & want everyone to read. 

I can't begin to describe how wonderful it feels for an author to know that someone enjoyed their work so much - truly grateful! Thank you, Nayu!

STOP PRESS: Nayu also rated Coming Home a 10E:
(A heartbreaking read about two well loved cats who get separated from their owner and each other...)

More info: http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.co.uk

Related posts: http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/The%20Horse%20in%20my%20Heart

NagMag reviews Matty & the Moonlight Horse!

Matty and the Moonlight Horse had a lovely book review in the October issue of the excellent equestrian NagMag.  Thanks guys! Hope it leads to more sales as 100% of my author royalties for the Matty trilogy are donated to Redwings Horse Sanctuary.  The e-book is available to buy in all Amazon territories.

You can find the magazine here (the review is on page 10):
http://files.site-fusion.co.uk/webfusion121088/file/nagmagoct15pdfforwebsite.pdf

Buy the book here: 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Matty-Moonlight-Horse-Adventures-ebook/dp/B00942U36G/

Related posts:
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/interview-with-gemma-carnell.html 
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/5-star-reviews-for-matty-and-moonlight.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/matty-horse-and-pony-adventures-on.html

Horsey paperbacks!

For readers who prefer the feel of paper rather than reading a digital screen like a kindle or ipad, you can now buy 5 of my pony novels in print versions!  These are Beware of the Horse, The Perfect Horse, Valentine Horse, The Horse in my Heart and Joyrider.  All at just £4.99.  Perhaps it's too early to be thinking about Christmas (!) but these would make great stocking fillers for pony mad teens and nostalgic older horsey lovers!  Just saying.....(end of sales pitch!)

Buy links:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Horse-my-Heart-Jane-Ayres/dp/1505773881
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Valentine-Horse-Jane-Ayres/dp/1505774349
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joyrider-Jane-Ayres/dp/1505773512
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Horse-Jane-Ayres/dp/1505774594
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1505427495

Sneak preview of covers for Gemma Pony Book Series!

Further to my post about clearing out cupboards and getting on with the 4 kindle books that need formatting, I have been working my little butski off and managed to get 2 of the books done.  Phew!  Two more to go.  As always, I experienced a few hiccups and it is always interesting to see how different the format looks on each kindle reader - working better on the basic kindle and the Paperwhite than the kindle Fire. 

Anyhow, my ambitious plan was to launch all 4 titles in my Gemma Pony Book series for children and teens SIMULTANEOUSLY.  I have a tendency to make things difficult for myself....

So here is a sneak preview of the first draft covers (they have been tweaked since then) from my brilliant designer Klaus Hartleben.  Hopefully I will get the final edits done for Books 3 and 4 before the end of the Bank Holiday weekend.  

And once my cupboards are emptied, I shall no doubt fill them up again fast!

Related post: http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/writing-dreams.html

Cuddly Pony Party!

What I like about social media is the way you can make connections and learn about the amazing things that other people are doing out in the big wide world. I came across Cuddly Pony Party on Facebook via a childhood horsey friend, and I absolutely love the idea. and wanted to know more.  So I contacted Karen Perry, an equine and canine therapist who started it all and asked her some questions.  If only Cuddly Pony Parties existed when I was growing up! 

Tell us about Cuddly Pony Party - where did you get the idea, and how did you make the idea a reality?

We moved to our dream property, an old brick 1950's house, not very inspiring in itself, but the view from the bathroom window took our breath away; five acres and a dreamy orchard. I knew Daisy had to grow up with ponies! She was 6 months old when we moved in, my imagination went into overdrive, and Cuddly Pony Party was born!!  I've worked within the equine industry since 1982 as a groom, manager and instructor, and have run my own equine therapy business since 1995. Cuddly Pony Party is a family run business.  My mum, chief assistant, is a retired primary school teacher and my dad, also a retired school teacher, is our photographer. And my 6 year old daughter Daisy helps care for the ponies at home and at the parties! We bring the ponies to children's parties, where they can groom, cuddle and fuss the ponies. They can brush their beautiful blonde manes and tails, and decorate them with sparkles and glitter and ribbons! Then they can each have a ride on their favourite pony, supervised at all times by experienced handlers. The birthday boy or girl will receive a birthday card and rosette from the ponies!

Did you encounter any challenges?

Getting insurance was the biggest challenge. Most insurance companies said, “Ponies? Children? Parties? On your bike!” Thankfully, I persisted, and eventually found a company who took the risk.

Also, finding ponies who looked cuddly and adorable but had the right temperament. Not all ponies love children......! Twinkle was first to arrive and was totally well behaved when I tried her. Got her home and she trampled chickens and dogs who dared venture into her field and bit Daisy! Luckily, we persevered, and now she is THE most amazing pony and Daisy’s best friend! Bubbles we found in a riding school near Peterborough. We liked him as he whinnied to everyone and was used to kids and dogs all over him. He did come with bad riding school habits, he has to stop for many toilet breaks, and he hates going away from the other ponies, but he fits in really well here and adores being adored! He is always the first to speak to me when I open the back door in the morning!

Can you tell us about the ponies?

The tiny guys, Nutkin and Scrumpy, have only been here 18 months. I bought them unseen from their lovely breeder in Berkshire. They arrived on a racehorse wagon in the dark and sleet two days after Christmas. We shuffled them into their field, only to find they had escaped by the morning! Tango, our Belgian Shepherd, was delighted; he seriously thought I had bought him a sheep for Christmas,(Scrumpy was small, white and fluffy) and he herded them back into the field and has stalked them ever since! It has taken them a while to grow into their role as Cuddly Ponies, although Nutkin was always over friendly and sitting on our laps! She was the first to enter the house and join us for breakfast! Scrumpy was wild and scared for the first year, and I despaired of ever finding a role for him, but he clicked this year and at Belton Horse Trials he met the public like an old pro, kissing small girls and falling asleep whilst having his mane plaited! We couldn’t do without him now, and yes, he has been in the house too.......!

Have you always been a pony lover?

I have always been pony mad from an early age. My parents are unhorsey and we lived in a suburb of Nottingham, so having a pony was never an option. I couldn't even have regular riding lessons until I was 12! To get through this pony-less existence, I used to write madly, bashing away at on old typewriter, in a totally different world! On paper I could be Lucinda or Henrietta, who lived in the country with any number of horses and dogs around me. I must have written 8 or 10 "books" like this, but I hated people to read them; it was as though they were prying into my private thoughts. I am lucky enough now to be living my dreams for real!

Has social media helped with your marketing?

Word of mouth is always the best form of advertising but Facebook has been amazing. I am a technophobe, so I have been slow to catch on! I try to update the ponies’ Facebook page once or twice a week and I know I have a lot of young Cuddly Pony fans who regularly check out what the ponies are up to and where we are going to be next. It’s a wonderful way to keep in touch and advertise what we are doing. I also have a fantastic web site which one of my equine therapy clients designed for me, with purple stars tumbling down the page. They magically turn to snow in the winter months! I have yet to discover Twitter.......!

And when it comes to books, who/what do you like to read?

I am an avid reader, although I seriously struggle for time these days! Even now my favourite books have an equestrian link somewhere! You can’t beat a good book for decent escapism, and thankfully I never want to escape too far from horse and pony chaos! All my life my favourite author has been KM Peyton, who wrote the fabulous Flambards trilogy. She was instrumental in my childhood escapism, as some of her books about horseless children seemed to totally be made for me. Even now, her books like Fly By Night and The Team are brilliant reads.

I also love Fiona Walker, author of great big horsey and doggy romps, ideal for holidays! And I am hugely enjoying, for the second time, working through the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, a very funny crime writer. Laugh a minute and not a horse in sight, who would've thought it?

Links for Cuddly Pony Party

https://www.facebook.com/CuddlyPonyParty

http://www.cuddlyponyparty.co.uk/

Bio

I’m Karen Perry, somewhere in my forties, equine and canine therapist by day, carazy pony lady at weekends!! Live in a 1950's building site with 5 acres in the beautiful Vale of Belvoir! Dependents - Daisy, my gorgeous 6 year old daughter, not only the inspiration for the Cuddly Pony Venture, but also a huge part of it! She is up at 6.30am with me to help work the ponies, she rides and shows Twinkle and she is brilliant helping the children at parties! Also Tango, our faithful Belgian Shepherd. Nearly 12 now but always our shadow, eager to help lunge ponies, hoping one day we will buy him his own sheep......!

Signed Paperback Pony Books Available!

Just a reminder that I have a very limited quantity of some of my signed print paperbacks for sale. Most of these titles will be difficult to source in the UK.

The books below are sold at £5 each plus p & p:

An exciting mystery of dangerous horses, dark secrets and the supernatural

Only 2 copies left.

Kat is a rebellious teenager and Pagan is an unhappy horse: both have been branded as trouble because of their bad behaviour. When girl and horse meet, it seems as if they are made for each other.  Or so Kat believes - but a haunting presence from the past casts a dark shadow over their future together.....

8 copies left.

A runaway horse, a creepy clifftop mansion and a secretive, enigmatic boy - who can Holly trust if she wants to keep the horse safe from the danger that threatens them both? 

Only 2 copies left.

For full details of how to order, please go to:
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-following-e-book-titles-can-be.html

Backlist signed paperbacks for sale

New for 2013!

I've been doing a bit of administrative housekeeping and have a very limited quantity of some of my backlist titles in paperback that I have decided to sell. I can sign these with a personal message as required. Most of these titles will be difficult to source in the UK.

For full details of how to order, please go to my new blog page
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-following-e-book-titles-can-be.html

5 Star Reviews for Matty and the Moonlight Horse

Reviews are hard to get and lifeblood for a writer, so imagine how thrilled I was to read the latest review on Amazon for Matty and the Moonlight Horse, which says, 

"In this book, Jane Ayres has created a pony novel which manages to combine the best of both traditional and modern pony stories. It will appeal to a wide range of readers, both youngsters and oldies re-visiting their horsy youth. A definite cut above the average teen pony story!"

Read the whole review here - and please buy the book, which has just been reduced in price for a limited period, as all royalties go to the Redwings Horse Sanctuary. Thanks!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B00942U36G/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1


Related posts:
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/guest-post-eleanor-mcfarlane-and-chester.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/interview-with-gemma-carnell.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/matty-horse-and-pony-adventures-on.html

Books, Mud and Compost. And Horses

The lovely Jane Badger Books blog called Books, Mud and Compost. And Horses has featured my Matty Books, which is wonderful!

The link is here http://booksandmud.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/help-redwings-horse-sanctuary.html but check out all the brilliant blog posts.  If you love horses and pony books you will love this site. 

There is also a guest post from me called Ponies, Names and Happy Endings, which talks about my childhood and teens and my relationship with horses as an adult.  It starts like this:

Ponies, names, and happy endings by Jane Ayres

These days, I seem to forget so many things. The house is littered with post-it notes because if I don’t write it down, it will get forgotten.  So why is it that I can remember the names of most of the ponies I rode?   


Read the full post here http://booksandmud.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/guest-blogger-jane-ayres.html

Related posts:
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/guest-post-eleanor-mcfarlane-and-chester.html

Matty Stories Price Reduction for Christmas

STOP PRESS: ALL 3 Matty books are now available at the reduced price of £2.98 until 2013 to encourage pre-Christmas sales.  

ALL OF MY ROYALTIES ARE BEING DONATED TO THE FABULOUS REDWINGS HORSE SANCTUARY.