Sarah Hickner's Blog

September 24, 2025

Finding the Good in a Bad Book Table

Most of us have been there. You spend hours preparing for an event, invest in inventory, block off your calendar, and line up help at home to cover responsibilities.

At the end of the day, you pack up nearly all the books you had set out in hopeful anticipation—frustrated, dejected, and probably with less cash than when you started (unless you thought ahead and brought your own food and drinks).

Did you watch piles of shoppers walk past your table and wonder what was so wrong with yours?

Did potential readers even show up at the event?

Before you spiral into the pit of despair and self-loathing, consider this saying that gets thrown around in my other business: “Nothing comes back void.” Or, if you want to go Biblical with it, remember Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

God even works in those disappointing book tables. Here are the good things I’ve learned to look for.

If there were crowds of people ready to spend money, and they weren’t stopping at your table, this is an opportunity for growth.

Was it the wrong audience? Did you bring a sci-fi book to a rom-com book fair?Did your setup get dwarfed by those around you? One time, I had a table between two stores that built walls for their booths. It felt like being in a human-sized dog crate for a week, and we practically had to grab people to notice us.Do you need to be more active to draw people in? In my course, I talk a lot about techniques for attracting potential readers. It might push you outside your comfort zone, but in a busy, overstimulating atmosphere, you’ve got to find a way to stand out.

Of course, sometimes there just aren’t any shoppers. It’s hard to make a sale to the bugs crawling on the sidewalk, and sometimes it feels like they’re the only living creatures around—aside from other vendors. That happened to me this week, which is what inspired this blog post.

I skipped church and my son’s baseball tournament, woke up early, spent hours preparing and loading, drove to the event early to get a good spot, got set up… and then, crickets.

I think there were more vendors in attendance than shoppers during the five-hour event. Between buying a friend’s book and lunch for my daughter and me, I actually spent more than I made. So where’s the good in a day like that?

Relationships.

It’s an opportunity to build and grow them. One of the hardest parts of working for yourself is the lack of community. Yet here I was, surrounded by about 40 other authors and business owners. We chatted, watched each other’s tables during breaks, shared information about local events, and swapped notes on upcoming conferences.

I don’t regret attending the event—I only regret not planning ahead and bringing lunch. It was still worth the afternoon for the connections made. Nothing comes back void. God works it for good.

I also learned more about what makes an event successful. Unless significant marketing dollars go into attracting shoppers, it’s usually best to set up at places that already have consistent foot traffic. There are exceptions, of course, but so far this has been my biggest takeaway from my book table experiences.

Low-sales events can be disappointing, but if life gives us lemons, we may as well add sugar and water and make lemonade.

If you want to learn more about how to make your book events a success, be sure to check out my course, How to Sell More Books from a Table. I can’t bring shoppers to an event, but I can share tips and techniques to draw them to your table.

Check out the course!

If you liked this, you might also enjoy these blog posts about selling books in person:

Where to Find Readers: 3 In-Person Selling Opportunities for Authors

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Published on September 24, 2025 14:30

September 18, 2025

“All the Things That Come Between Us” now available as an audiobook

audiobook cover of all the things that come between us. it shows the title with flowers This fun romantic comedy about marriage, friendship, and a horse, is now available for listeners everywhere!

Here are the links of different places to listen:

Spotify

Everand (Scribd)

Kobo and walmart

Chirp

Apple

Audible

To request the audiobook at your library, you will need the audio ISBN, which is: 978-1-967990-02-3

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Published on September 18, 2025 16:22

September 5, 2025

Where to Find Readers: 3 In-Person Selling Opportunities for Authors

Selling books in person is one of the quickest ways to make cash, move inventory, and—most importantly—build relationships with readers. Ads and emails are great, but they take time and repetition. A five-minute face-to-face conversation builds trust faster than weeks of digital marketing. And trust leads to referrals, reviews, and readers who happily click “buy” when your next book comes out.

There are opportunities to sell books in person year-round, but the months leading up to the holidays—when fall festivals and holiday markets pop up everywhere—are especially fruitful.

So where do you find these events, and what do you do when it feels like there aren’t any? Here are three tried-and-true options:

1. Festivals & Markets

As I write this in September, a quick check of Facebook events in my area shows opportunities nearly every weekend through the end of the year. And remember: the event doesn’t have to be book-focused for you to fit in. Readers are everywhere! In fact, being the only author tabling can make you a standout.

How to find them:

Facebook events: Use the events tab, filter by date and distance, and dig into the listings. Vendor info isn’t always obvious, so don’t be afraid to message organizers directly.

Event venues: Large facilities (like the Dulles Expo Center near me) often host markets almost every weekend.

Farmers’ markets: Many welcome artisans as well as farmers. If you don’t want to commit weekly, ask about one-off dates or consider sharing a booth with friends.

Networking: Once you attend one event, you’ll start making author friends who invite you to others. Smile, connect, post on social, and you’ll quickly grow your opportunities.

2. Book Festivals

Want to be surrounded by book lovers who already self-identify as readers? Book festivals are your dream. Picture cheesy bookish shirts, the word bibliophile on mugs, and rows of people eager to browse.

How to find them:

Search Google for “book festival” + your state or genre.

Look for annual city or state events, as well as niche gatherings (romance cons, homeschool conferences, etc.).

Consider geography: my books tie into Kentucky, so I table at events in the Bluegrass State. Your book may have similar regional or audience connections.

While there may only be one or two close by each year, festivals happen worldwide. If you’re up for traveling, they’re a great way to introduce your book to new markets.

3. Create Your Own Event

Sometimes the best opportunity is the one you make yourself.

Ideas to try:

Bookstore signing: Walk in and ask. If you’re traveling, research ahead and reach out to local stores. A simple phone call and email follow-up often does the trick.

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Non-traditional locations: I’ve sold books at a French boutique, a mobile tack shop at a horse show, and in front of a church during a parade. Anywhere with foot traffic is worth considering—just be sure to get permission.

Pop-up events: Partner with other authors or small businesses and host your own market. This November, I’m running a holiday pop-up shop for local authors. It’s a win-win: readers meet authors in their community, and we sell books during prime gift-buying season.

Final Word

Opportunities to sell your books in person are everywhere—it just takes a little research, creativity, and hustle.

If you feel overwhelmed, or you’d love a virtual hand-hold through the process, check out my course: How to Sell More Books From a Table. It’s just $20 and walks you through everything—what to bring, how to set up, what to wear, and even how to grow your email list while you’re there.

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Published on September 05, 2025 09:33

March 27, 2025

I’ve Spent the Morning in Tears (but it’s a good thing)

Two women smile for a photo with the Churchill Downs paddock area in the background

I’ve Spent The Morning in Tears, but it’s a good thing. Beautiful really. And I feel like I might implode if I don’t tell you the story.

Let me start with some background. My friend Caitlin has been the driving force behind most of my horse activities for about fifteen years now. My horses have lived at her barn, and when she wanted to go somewhere she’d shoot me a text and ask if I wanted to go. This means whatever trainer Caitlin rides with is who I ride with, though with far less consistency on my end.

 

For a couple of years – before I had my first baby and for a little while after, we rode with Cathy (her name has been changed since I didn’t ask permission to share the story). Cathy was known for her gruff demeanor and making riders cry, but for the most part, I appreciated her straightforwardness and the challenges she gave me. 

Eventually, we changed to another trainer and I haven’t seen or spoken with Cathy in probably a decade.

Last night, I was selling my books at an annual event for equine professionals. Our area is ripe with equestrians, and people poured into the winery to see their horse friends and support local businesses. Our spot was in a hallway, and all evening, people walked by, often turning to go into the other room without even seeing us. I watched a lady walk in and turn, and I realized it was my old trainer, Cathy.



authors Sarah Hickner and Katrina Bills pose with friend Amanda behind a table of books at an expo event

“Cathy!” I called over the hum of conversation and she turned looking for the person who called her name. Her eyes landed on me and I smiled and waved her over. “I don’t know if you remember me,” I said, truly convinced that I had been such a small blip in her world that I needed to reintroduce myself. “I used to come for lessons with Caitlin sometimes.”

Cathy eyed my table, taking in all the books and then she looked me in the eye and smiled, “I actually think of you regularly. Sometimes I tell people this story, and I think about it all the time. It might embarrass you if I share it.”

The anticipation and shock of her words brought a huge smile to my face. “You have to tell me now!” 

“Ok,” she said and then proceeded to set up the background of the story. “We were at this show…” My mind started spinning. I had only taken one trainer to a horse show in the last twenty years and it was her. Taking trainers to shows is the norm in our industry, but beyond my paygrade most of the time. But there had been one show when my son JJ was a baby. It was the perfect storm of money in my bank account thanks to my hard work in Mary Kay, Silas’s back not yet hurt, and a homeschool girl watching JJ in exchange for lessons so I could ride.

girl rides horse jumping a jump

Cathy was already going to be there with clients, so with Caitlin’s encouragement, I sent in my entry forms. Cathy kept going with the story, “Things weren’t looking good on Friday, so when I showed up Saturday, I was a little worried about you. But Saturday morning, you looked at me and said, “I prayed over it, and it’s going to be fine.”

I laughed and said, “That does sound like something I’d say!” Inside I reeled.

I replayed that day in my mind, and to be honest, I don’t remember saying those words. What I do remember is the struggle of being a new mom and how closely I walked with the Lord in that time. I remember around that same time a very close friend saying in a mocking tone, “God sure does talk to you a lot.” (she walked away from our friendship soon after).

I remember Cathy looking at me that morning at the show like she thought my riding that day was a big mistake. She offered to ride instead (it’s normal for trainers to ride client’s horses for the first outing of a show), and I declined. Silas and I went into the ring and jumped a solid course (although I almost fell off at the very end when we landed the final jump and Silas went left when I thought we’d go right). The amount of shows I’ve ridden in since then isn’t nearly as many as I hoped or expected, and occasionally I pull up the videos of that day and reminisce.

Cathy went on to share that she’s spent many thousands of dollars on sports psychology coaching, but at the end of the day, she learned everything she needed from that moment with me. I prayed, I trusted, and while it may not have brought home a blue, it was a great round. The event obviously impacted her. 

Last night, I’m not sure I sold enough to pay the wholesale cost of the books and the table fee, so it’s tempting to say the evening wasn’t “great.” But, that moment with Cathy shook me. After praying and crying a lot, I think I understand why.

For most of my adult life, I have felt like I am doing my best, and it’s never quite enough. Maybe you can relate.

My house is never quite picked up enough.

My business is never bringing in quite enough.

I never ride my horse consistently enough.

I’m never quite present enough with my kids.

I don’t communicate enough with my spouse.

My books aren’t selling enough 

And don’t get me started on tax prep and bookkeeping.

The list can go on and on, but I’d rather not spiral.

Instead, I focus on this truth. HE IS ENOUGH.

 Last night, God gave me the gift of a glimpse of what He can do with my “not enough.” He let me see one of the ripples in the pond from simple truth I likely spoke with pink cheeks and a racing heart over a decade ago. Truth Cathy still carries with her.

What a gift. What a relief. What hope. What rest.

We were never meant to be enough, because He is. 

 

author, Sarah Hickner, poses with her horse Silas. Another blog post by Sarah Hickner – author, mom, wife, and child of God.

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Published on March 27, 2025 19:14

January 6, 2025

A New Orleans New Years Eve to Remember

Joey and Sarah ring in the new years with a Happy new year top hat and clinking champaigne glasses An Incredible Night

I’m still working out my words for the new year. Normally a New Year celebration looks like a bonfire at my in-laws and watching the balls drop on TV in cities across America. 

This year my friends and I rang in 2025 in a jazz club in New Orleans. 

It was an incredible night – easily my favorite New Year’s Eve. After midnight we headed to Bourbon Street – an obligatory stop when you’re out in The Big Easy. A couple of the guys in our group wanted a drink, so we stopped in a bar and warmed up by the fire. Bourbon Street was still insane when we walked out around 1:15. At my husband’s suggestion (who hates crowds) we left and got late-night pizza a few blocks away. 

 

The pizza parlor was oddly quiet – a line stretched to the door, but there was a spirit of contentment. Patrons dug into their pizza, chatting with friends as if it was two o’clock in the afternoon. Strangers smiled to each other, offering their tables to the next people when they finished with a parting “Happy New Year!”

A TV screen live-streamed the action of Bourbon Street -still going strong as we cleaned up our trash around 2 a.m. and headed to the hotel. 

While we walked, we talked about what an incredible night it was and how safe we’d felt. There were cops every ten feet. It was clear the city was working to keep its New Year’s revelers safe. We neared the hotel, and cop cars were speeding down Poydras. They crowded the street in front of Harrah’s where someone had supposedly been shot. 

We ducked into the safety of our hotel and went to bed to the sound of sirens, assuming it was typical city noises and drama from across the street.

A few hours later we rolled out of bed to the news.

Incredible Indeed

According to the dictionary, the word incredible means impossible to believe. Normally we use the word for good things – a book that I thoroughly enjoyed and I can’t stop thinking about is incredible. A speech that moves me to the point of making change is incredible. New Year’s Eve was incredible – impossible to believe – a really great night with friends. A devastating night for so many. 

The what if’s keep rolling through my mind. What if my husband loved crowds and we’d hung around Bourbon Street? What if the driver came an hour earlier and one block over where we stood? Was he trying to come down Jackson Square at midnight during the Fleur de Lis drop? What if the IED’s had gone off? What if what if what if?

Did we walk past an IED? Is the white truck I saw gunning it to make a green light regardless of pedestrians all around the same one that took the lives of so many?

Were the victims some of the people we enjoyed a jazz show with? Did the girl who served me a cafe au lait, chatting like we were friends, get off work and head to Bourbon? Did I brush shoulders with people who never made it home?

Where is God in this? A wooden sign says

This isn’t talked about often, but the presence of good and evil is undeniable. In my book, Finding Gideon, I often mentioned the feeling of spiritual warfare around me. The Bible talks about the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms in Ephesians 6:12.

The culture of New Orleans often celebrates Voodoo and the undead, and every time I visit I feel a sense of evil and unease. Shockingly, the night of the attacks was the only time I’ve been in New Orleans and felt peace. What if angels were storming The Big Easy? 

As I grapple with the events of New Year’s Eve, one thing is clear – a lot of the plans meant for evil were foiled. Some plans meant for evil still happened, and innocent lives were lost. The crime was terrible, but to my knowledge, not a single IED was detonated. The events of January 1st were devastating, but it could have been so so much worse. 

I remember reading Kate Bowler’s book, Everything Happens for a Reason (and other lies I’ve loved), when she battles with one of life’s hardest questions. Why do some people – kind, God-fearing, law-abiding people- die from cancer and others don’t? Why are some saved in a natural disaster or killing spree and others aren’t? Why do I walk away from an evening in New Orleans feeling protected and loved when others are being grieved over?

I don’t know.

I know that as a Christian, I believe sin entered the world with Adam and Eve, and with sin came pain, evil, toil, and so much more.  I believe in the hope of eternal life in a world free of sin and pain someday, thanks to Jesus who came to wipe away our sin. I believe God is good and sovereign even when it doesn’t feel like it. This is the truth I cling to.

Today, I praise God for protection, and I pray for the survivors and the families and friends of those we lost. Pray with me.

Soli Deo gloria

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Published on January 06, 2025 16:03

October 7, 2024

New Release: A Thoroughbred Life Horse Coloring Book

A line drawing coloring page of a young Thoroughbred colt frolicking next to his mother who grazes A line drawing coloring page of a racehorse galloping down the track with a rider on his back. A line drawing color page of a girl riding a retired racehorse and attempting to rope a jogging cow.

This week I am celebrating the release of A Thoroughbred LIfe Horse Coloring Book! If you’ve read my book, Finding Gideon, you know I have a love for all things racehorses. Ever since my short stint of exercising them on the track, I’ve been devoted to giving these horses a fresh start at a new life once their racing days are over. As I was preparing to attend the annual Thoroughbred Makeover event in Lexington, Kentucky, I decided to create a coloring book celebrating the Thoroughbred and it’s versatility.

line drawing color page of a girl sitting on top of a Thoroughbred prepared for a fox hunt. A Hound is next to her and a fox laughs in the background

The color pages were drawn based on actual racehorses, and most of them have their Jockey Club name and their barn name written in the corner. It also features a small story, taking the artist from the first days of a Thoroughbred’s life to the many things it can do as a second career.

 The coloring books are currently available on Amazon

I will also have some available at the Thoroughbred Makeover, so hop on into the Kentucky Horse Park and come see us, October 9-13!

Thank you to everyone who shared their Thoroughbreds with me to help make this book a reality. 

This project was so fun, and one I’ll cherish.

 

Click on this button to be taken to Amazon where you can purchase A Thoroughbred Life Hore Coloring Book

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Published on October 07, 2024 08:26

July 19, 2024

Our Annual Ride for a Cause is Back!

Her fight is my fight is written on a banner across a cartoon image of two horses and riders. The riders are holding hands high in victory Her fight is my fight!

Our annual Mary Kay Foundation Charity Trail Ride is fast approaching! This year we are celebrating our thirteenth year of hosting a horse-related event to raise money for cancers that affect women and domestic violence victims. Most people consider 13 “unlucky”, but it was Mary Kay Ash’s favorite number and one that we like to celebrate extra in our pink world.

We know that lucky year thirteen will be our best yet, and we will be able to donate more money than ever to these important causes.

 

How it started

Thirteen years ago I had an idea to hold a fun horse show to raise money for the foundation. When I found out that another local sales director, Katrina Bills, also loved horses, I knew I’d found a partner. We did fun shows for a few years before I was worn out from the logistics of it, and Katrina convinced me to switch our event to a trail ride. We’ve never looked back!

The Trail Ride

Camp Highroad in Middleburg, Virginia has been our host ever since, and they have been wonderful to work with. We always have the event on Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day. Whatever you like to call it, it’s a Monday in October when most people are off work and school.  The ride is approximately 5 miles through mixed terrain of wooded trails, carriage paths, and fields.

People love it because it is barefoot friendly to our shoeless horses and a great event for young horses. If you’re training for endurance and need more than five miles, just be one of the earliest to arrive and you can do the trail twice!

two riders leaving for the mkf trail ride  The Community and Growth

The ride attracts participants from the local area and as far as Pennsylvania. Support from the community helps us raise extra money. This year, realtor Jennifer Rossi is providing lunch for all the riders. We also have an incredible raffle which is headed up by our friend Amanda Slyper. 

Last year Amanda upgraded our event with a professional photographer, a pony painter, a local coffee trailer (that was in a horse trailer!), and made our raffle SO good that almost every participant bought tickets.  We also have a spirit award for the horse and rider pair with the best pink and/or purple outfit.

If you would like to participate in this year’s 13th Annual MKF Trail Ride, just go to our registration page here.

If you would like to donate to our raffle or sponsor a part of the event, please contact Amanda Slyper at acoopermk@gmail.com or text her 703-963-8593

Raffle items in the past have included things like: Tickets to the Washington International Horse Show, lessons from local trainers, stays at Airbnbs, equine and human massages, gift cards to local establishments, horse treats and equipment, and so much more.

Sponsorships help cover the cost of the event so we can give even more money to the foundation. 

To learn more about the Mary Kay Foundation, please click on this link: The Mary Kay Foundation

 

The coordinators of the MKF Charity Trail Ride pose for a photo lady dressed in pink sits on a proud palomino horse 3 Riders sit on their horses four riders wearing pink and posing with their horses Thank you to everyone who has played even a tiny party in the past twelve years of this event. Whether you’ve participated as a rider, bought raffle tickets, gifted to our raffle, sponsored, or even just told a friend, we appreciate you. <3

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Published on July 19, 2024 11:09

July 9, 2024

Meet my author friend Tiffany Noelle Chacon

Tiffany Noelle Chacon headshot Meet my friend Tiffany

I was first introduced to Tiffany Noelle Chacon when I was scoping the Amazon rankings and her books were always at or near the top! Plus, her covers were just gorgeous. 

I’ll admit, at first I was a little jealous. But when I needed another author to share a table at a big event, I reached out. 

Tiffany and I immediately became friends and I binged her entire series and couldn’t put it down. So good. I love her and her books so much, that I wanted you to know about them too! We did a little interview so you could get to know her.

Get her free ebook What’s the most unusual place where you’ve found inspiration for a story?

Years ago, a friend told me about when Immigration (ICE) raided the showgrounds of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington. I remember thinking it would be a crazy story to write. So when I decided to write an equestrian novel, I used this as inspiration—adding the fictional detail of a girl saving a guy from getting swept up in the raid…with a kiss. (I’M STILL SWOONING OVER THAT SCENE)

 

How do you handle writer’s block? Do you have any go-to strategies?

For me, one of the best ways to combat writer’s block is having a solid outline to start. After that, I write whatever I feel inspired to write—even if it’s not in sequential order! I often listen to music, go for walks or take a break from the computer and write in my notebook whenever I feel ’stuck.’ Also, being a homeschooling mom who doesn’t get a lot of alone time to write, the added pressure when I DO get writing time helps me to be productive! 

 

What’s the most interesting fact you’ve discovered during your research for a book?

I had to do a lot of research on spinal cord injuries because one of my main characters in my series has a C5 incomplete spinal cord injury and is a wheelchair user. I discovered a lot about SCIs and wheelchair users that surprised me—things they’re able to do (or not do) that was fascinating. There’s such a wide range of abilities, recoveries and complications with SCIs. It actually gave me a lot of creative freedom with that part of my character because the results are so wide-ranging. I read an interesting article in my research about how some wheelchair users might use the restroom—and it resulted in a (kind of) humorous scene between the two sisters in my book.

 

What do you hope readers take away from your books?

I hope that readers find a lot of hope in my stories—that all you need is a little faith in yourself (even if it’s borrowed from someone else!) and that no one is too broken to be loved. 

 

Can you give us a sneak peek into what you’re working on next?

I’m working on a brand new sweet & clean sports romance series. This month I’m starting a fun teaser promotion where I’m revealing the first sport I’m covering in the series (I’ll give you a hint: it’s not an equestrian sport this time!) and doing a cover reveal. Readers will have a chance to win some fun prizes as well as get early access to a brand new novella in the series. You can head to my Instagram page to be part of the fun! Here’s the link: https://www.instagram.com/authortiffanynoellechacon/

I can’t say enough about her Equestrian Dreams series. It is a really fun clean romance, yet it goes so much deeper than that as the family deals with a spinal cord injury. Tiffany brought the story to life so well, that I wondered if she would be in a wheelchair herself when I met her. 

Thank you to Tiffany Noelle Chacon for your incredible stories and for taking the time to answer some questions for us <3

Equestrian Dreams across the top with four book covers from the Equestrian Dreams series

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Published on July 09, 2024 07:45

April 24, 2024

April Updates from the LiveRideLearn newsletter!

Face palms, FREE books, fun pictures, and …I can’t think of an f word for this…meet ups.

Have you ever put off something important because other things seemed more urgent? True confessions, I have a habit of putting my bookkeeping off until taxes are due. Then I scramble and spend 2-3 days doing it all at once.

Therefore, I didn't think much about putting it off this year. After all, this strategy has worked well enough for the last 16 years in my Mary Kay business! *cue head shake* In 2023 I started teaching horse riding lessons, am training a horse, and have been investing and working really hard to get Finding Gideon completed and out to the world. And I'm still a Mary Kay girl! It was a lot, and I'm way behind on all my April goals and to-dos. *face palm*

My new motto is, now that I'm 40 I need to act like it. Money Mondays commenced this morning!

Here are some fun pics from Equine Affaire this month!

author Sarah Hickner poses with a reader at the Ohio Equine Affair Author Sarah Hickner posing with her table of books at the Ohio Equine Affaire. Equestrian authors Susan Friedland, Sarah Welk Baynum, and Sarah Hickner pose for a photo together at the Ohio Equine Affair

I finally got to hang out with my equine author besties Susan Friedland (Marguerite, Misty, & Me) and Sarah Welk Baynum (The Impelled Series) again! We live in different states, so it was a blast to get to see them at the Ohio Equine Affair. On my first day, while I was setting up, a girl wondered up and said, “Finding Gideon! I’m reading that right now!” I had to scrape my jaw off the floor and then asked for a photo together <3

This Saturday, April 28, is Independent Bookstore Day! Bookstores across the country will be having special events. I was invited to sign at 2 local stores! But alas, I can only be in one place at a time. I treated it like a prom date and said yes to the first one who asked. You can come see me at Birch Tree Books in Leesburg, VA from 12-3pm <3 (This is 2024 for future readers).

Birch Tree Books & Foliage in Leesburg, VA Independent Bookstore Day April 28, 2024 A beautiful old horse with young eyes

Ok, one more really fun announcement. I’m the PRESIDENT of the Reston Letter Book Club!!! The Reston Letter is an adorable little paper in my town, and we are doing a book club where local readers get to read & meet local authors! If you’re in or around Reston and interested in our book club, fill out this form so you get all the info. Our first book is Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews.

Before we get to the free books, I had to include our monthly horse pic. This month I’m featuring Beau, a very seasoned Morgan I’ve been teaching lessons on for about a year now. He lives in Great Falls and loves having a job. I’m grateful for horses like him who take such good care of young riders.

Ok are you ready for those FREEBIES??!!! I joined a promotion of authors giving away books, novellas, and short stories. The theme is Sweet & Clean romance and WOW am I excited to download a TON of these myself!!! Click here or on the image to be taken to the page with ALL THE FREE EBOOKS.​ (This ends April 30, 2024)

Sweet April Freebies

Now that taxes are done, I’m working on a few things. Plaidhorse Magazine has a writing contest going, so I’ve been brainstorming story ideas. I’ve been letting the manuscript rest for my next book, and am chomping at the bit to get back at it! This next book is a romcom called All the Things That Come Between Us about a married couple who has drifted apart, falling back in love.

And last, I’m working on an article to sell to a magazine. Last week while on a trail ride with my daughter and riding student, there was a lot of complaining happening. General kid stuff – why can’t we go faster? Why can’t we ride longer? I tried to tell the kids how lucky they were to even get to pet a pony, much less ride one. As we came down the hill toward the road, a white van stopped and rolled down the window. The driver had the biggest smile and waved at us. Next thing I know, the van door opens and it’s packed with a young family, all leaning over to see the horses.

It was such an incredible moment for the kids to get to see firsthand what I was talking about. We smiled and told them the names of our mounts, and I prayed Danny would continue to behave. It was clear that family felt so blessed to see a horse. They didn’t ask to get out or pet them. They just wanted to wave and chat.

Sometimes we take our lives for granted. How often have we wanted more when so many people would be over the moon for what we already have?

God is so good, but it’s hard to recognize it sometimes when we’re constantly wishing for more, better, faster, etc.

Soli Deo gloria,

Sarah Hickner

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Published on April 24, 2024 05:45

March 25, 2024

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Published on March 25, 2024 13:22