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Limited Edition Hard Cover Book *
Horsin' Around
Don's
"Horsin' Around" is a syndicated weekly newspaper column, continuous
since 1971. It has been published in several states, and in Horse
of Course, a magazine of the 1970s, with national circulation.
Originally
about horses and horse people, the feature has evolved. It now deals
with people, humor, current events, pets, seasonal topics, country
living, nostalgia, and the human condition. Once, Don mentioned
an original crock-pot recipe of his own, ("Easy Barbecue"), and
was nominated "Cook of the Week" by the readers of one of his subscribing
newspapers.
There
have been two anthology books of selections from the column: Horsin'
Around in 1975, and Horsin' Around Again,
1981. Both are out of print, and occasionally found as collector's
items on the Internet.
Dancing
Goat Press is proud to announce publication of the third collection:
Still Horsin' Around, published in June 2002. This
compilation includes 84 of Don's favorite "Horsin' Around"
articles from the 1990s and early 2000s. Major groupings of his
writing printed in this book include:
- Silly
Stuff, and Serious
- Animals
and Country Livin'
- Nostalgia
Ain't What It Was
- Travelin'
- The
Human Condition
- Things
of the Spirit
Still
Horsin' Around--Intro
In
1971, we were raising kids and horses, and I was beginning to write
an occasional article for the horse magazines. I really had no ambitions
to become a writer. I was asked by a friend, Merle Bird, editor
of the small weekly Emporia Times, to write a weekly column
about activities of the local and regional horse-oriented organizations.
I wasn’t very enthusiastic about it. I doubted that there was enough
material to keep it going, but agreed to give it a try.
That
was 30 years, nearly 1600 weekly columns ago. The Emporia Times
was defunct within a year or so, for which I claim no credit. But,
by that time, a couple of other papers were carrying the feature,
“Horsin’ Around.” In the winter months, with horse activity pretty
scarce, I’d write about something else. Now the feature has evolved
(no offense to Creationists intended) into a general interest column.
Some nostalgia, humor, country living, a little bit of everything.
It’s currently published in three states, and varies in distribution
as we lose a subscribing paper or gain a couple more.
In
1975, an anthology of a hundred “Horsin’ Around” columns was published
in book form. The publisher took bankruptcy about 90 days later.
Again, I take no responsibility. Only about 1,000 copies were ever
circulated. Those are now high-dollar collector items. In 1981,
another collection of assorted articles, Horsin’ Around Again
was moderately successful. But again, these volumes are now sought
on the internet by collectors, at outrageous prices.
Meanwhile,
I had started to write historical novels about the American West,
now nearly forty books in number. Writing is now my full-time job.
Well, except for our cattle operation. Readers of the Spanish Bit
Saga and of the weekly columns have asked “When will you do another
“Horsin’ Around” book?” Okay, maybe it’s time.
Still
Horsin’ Around is a collection of columns, mostly from the
decade of the ‘90s. As before, not actually a horse book. But then,
horsin’ around doesn’t necessarily have to involve horses, does
it?
A
number of people have told me that they keep one of the Horsin’
Around books in the bathroom. They’re in there just about long
enough to read a page or two. Maybe three. Whatever works, I guess...
Hope
you enjoy.
Read Excerpt online at amazon.com
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