Cat's To Do List

Buy hot chocolate (the good kind)
   (yes, it is hot outside, but what is life without hot chocolate?)

Search house and remove all of Hank the beagle's sticks
    (will the record of seven hidden sticks in one week be beaten?)

Ask new roomie Darcy to stop chewing gum so loudly
     (love the new roomie part, but the gum chewing is driving me nuts!)

Get Jon to switch feed shifts with me on Tuesday
     (date night with Brent, make Jon an offer of two of his AM shifts for my Tues. PM shift?)

Talk with Sally Blue to see what is going on with Gigi
     (can a horse like Sally even be psychic?)

Why does Gigi trot in place when ground driving?
     (do NOT lose more sleep over this question. Gigi is a yearling filly and is entitled to be quirky)

Find a new restaurant to take Agnes to when she visits on Thursday
     (be sure wait staff at new restaurant does not hang out with wait staff at old restaurant)
     (remember that Agnes is still the best owner any trainer could have)

Prepare for riding lesson with Keith Carson
     (how did I get so lucky, such a hunk for a neighbor?)
     (still can't believe he chose me to be his instructor!!!)
     (until he learns to keep his heels down I get to touch his ankle!)
     (my crush is platonic, really, it is.)

We Won!

Hi everyone, Cat here. I still can't fully believe it, but The Magnum Equation, the second book that our friend Lisa Wysocky has written about our adventures, was named Best Equine-related Book at the American Horse Publications Awards!

What an honor that is! So much so that my friends around the barn got pretty tired of me saying "I can't believe it!" over and over––and over. I eventually came down from Cloud 9, though, and asked them what they would have said.

Gigi (yearling filly): I won! Yippee,  I won, I WON!! ME!

Gigi is, obviously, still at that self-centered stage. Sigh.

Jon (barn manager): Why wouldn't the book win? Cat has been through a lot and she deserves this.

Hank (beagle mix): Yee-haw! What's the prize? Is it a stick? I could use a good stick. I chewed up my last one. Do you think Cat will let me bring the stick into the house? I love a good stick. Oh, what if the prize is two sticks! I'd better find Cat. I need a good stick.

Darcy (teenager with a trust fund): I'm like, wow! So this is for real then? Like the best book? That is wicked cool.

Petey (Darcy's Appaloosa gelding): Can I hold the award? I could hold it in my mouth. I wouldn't slobber on it much. I bet Cat would think I looked very handsome holding the award and she'd scratch me right there between my front legs. Yes, right there. Ooohhh, I can feel it now. Cat? Where's the award?

Agnes (Sally Blue's human mom): We love The Magnum Equation, yes we do! We love The Magnum Equation, how about you?

Agnes is seventy, but has never recovered from her high school cheer leading days.

Sally Blue (possibly psychic Appaloosa mare): I told Cat The Magnum Equation was going to win, but, as usual, she didn't understand. Frustrating, but then humans are so primitive in their communications. She is a good person, though, Cat is.

Bubba (neighboring juvenile delinquent): A book? About Cat? Did she get any money for it? I wonder what she did with the money. Not that I would take it. Not from Cat.

Bob and the other horses were too busy eating or sleeping to comment. My boyfriend Brent, and his brother, Martin, were fishing and I had no interest in talking to Bubba's dad, Hill Henley. I am sure that my neighbor Carole Carson would have had something interesting to say, but she is out on tour with her slew of kids and her hunky husband, country music superstar Keith Carson. The good news is I get to start giving Keith riding lessons for a secret project just as soon as he gets back from this leg of the tour!

As for the American Horse Publications award, huge thanks to that organization and to the judges for honoring us.  I still can't believe it!

Cat

Woof!

Cold, cold damp weather lately. Love it!!!! Lots of mud and way cool smells! Especially in the barn. Wow! And the pastures. And the creek bank, too, but don't tell Cat or Jon that I go down there. They are afraid I will fall in the river. Silly. Beagles are good swimmers. Mostly.

Fan mail. Thank you!!!!! I'm actually getting some. Especially after The Magnum Equation came out. People wondering when I will get my own book. Or, books. Flattered. Thanks. Sounds like fun, but  I will let Cat find the bad guys for now. I like being her support system. Maybe later alligator.

I bet you didn't know Beagles could type. Or know even know what a blog is. I don't understand it all myself. I just think the words and here they are. Amazing. At least to me.

I'm not supposed to tell, but Cat has news, news, NEWS! She isn't ready to share it yet, even though it involves all of us. I know what it is, though. I've got a secret and it is big! Huge! Exciting! I've actually been howling the news to the treetops, but I guess not many people understand the true meaning of hound dog howls. Shame, that.

Cat will tell soon, though. Stay tuned.

––From Hank the Fabulous Wonder Dog

A Brand New Adventure!

Our friend Lisa Wysocky just chronicled our latest in a new book called The Magnum Equation. I have to say that I am not completely comfortable in having one of my deep, dark secrets out on the open. I’m such a private guy, but if Cat thinks it’s okay, then I guess it is. Surprisingly, she’s very okay with my little surprise. I wasn’t sure that she would be.

I love working for Cat and I love the horses, but the predicaments that woman gets herself into, well, she’s making me old before my time. I don’t understand why Cat has to be the one to stumble over the dead bodies, or why she feels compelled to poke her nose into things that aren’t any of her business, but apparently that is just who she is. Women.

Anyway, our little adventure takes place at a championship all-breed horse show in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I don’t want to give away too many of the details, but in addition to one of my secrets coming out into the open, you’ll meet two of Cat’s dearest friends, and maybe come to understand why I don’t like one of them as much as she does.

Of course, Agnes is there, blue hair and all, and her cartwheel is a highlight of the story. In my opinion. Darcy is a big part of the adventure, too. Cat thinks that girl has grown up some in the past few months, but I don’t see it. Not yet at least. Hank the howling dog; and horses Petey, Bob, and Gigi came with us to the show, too, along with a few new equine friends.

I can’t forget Sally Blue. Agnes again says if we all just paid attention to that mare that Cat wouldn’t get so wrapped up in foul play. She may be right. Agnes swears the mare is psychic and I am beginning to think she is right. But, I’ll let you determine that part for yourself.

The kindle version of The Magnum Equation has been released. Paperback and other ebook formats publish September 24. Let us know what you think. I’d give you our email address, but realistically, we’re slow to answer here at the barn. Instead, email Lisa Wysocky. You can find her at lisainfo@comcast.net. Be sure to tell her I said hi.

Jon Gardner

Stable Manager, Cat Enright Stables

ME (by Gigi)

Me, me, ME! I have a HUGE part in Lisa Wysocky's next book about us, The Magnum Equation. Something happens with ME that moves the story along. I am so excited. Want to share but Jon and Cat told me very sternly that I can't. The look on their faces was very DIRE so I won't tell. Okay, so I told Hank, but he's a dog and doesn't speak people as well as he does HORSE. And besides he didn't listen to ME. No one EVER listens to ME.

But just wait until you read The Magnum Equation. You will read all about ME. Okay, Cat and MY horse friend Sally Blue (who I know is psychic no matter what other people say), and Hank, and Jon, and Darcy, Carole, Brent, and all MY other friends are in the book, too.

Oops. I have to GO! Jon says there is an ice storm coming in and he doesn't want ME to slip on the ice. He takes such good care of ME. I feel LOVED! I hope you feel loved, too because I love you. I love EVERYONE! Except Petey. Sometimes that horse isn't very nice to me. The only time he is ever grumpy is when I am around. Go figure. Speaking of GO, I have to do just that.


BYE,

Gigi (the most special and wonderful yearling filly in the entire Universe)

New Cat Enright Book Coming Soon!

Okay, I'm going to give. We've had a lot of interest in the second adventure that is being written about us. Like, I'm not supposed to tell but I think I can sneak a little info out without Cat finding out (so don't tell her).

First of all most of us are back, but not all of us. Then I think I can say that the book is set at an all-breed horse show on a university campus in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In addition to a hair-raising adventure you will find out something that might be interesting to you about Jon (it certainly was to me!), but what that is I have to keep mum about. Oh, and like, the cover of the book? It's red.

That's about all I can say, other than you will also meet several new horses and I am no longer living at home. Geez. I have to stop or I will give the whole thing away.

All I know about the publication date is "2013." Don't have a clue as to what that means.

Hope all of you are doing great this fall, I know I am!

Darcy

Four Awards!

Well, I see that Cat has dropped the ball in announcing all of our news but you must forgive her. It's been a very hot, busy summer and she's been trying to keep all of the horses cool. First, I am so proud to announce that the book that was written about us, The Opium Equation, has now won FOUR book awards! Who knew we were such interesting people? Well, lots of people find my husband interesting, but the rest of us are pretty ordinary.

Back to the news! The Opium Equation is:
The winner of a silver medal for fiction from The Moms Choice Awards®
A silver medalist in the book category of the American Horse Publications awards
A silver medalist in the mystery category of the Independent Book Publisher’s Association’s Benjamin Franklin Awards (IBPA)
A finalist in the mystery category in the National Indie Excellence Awards

That's really exciting to all of us here on River Road! Also, I hear that our friend Lisa Wysocky is in the middle of documenting another of Cat's adventures, one that just wrapped up a few days ago. It's an exciting time at a horse show in Tennessee and most of the people in The Opium Equation will be back, but maybe not in the same way that you imagine. Can't say too much right now, other than that the next book is tentatively titled The Magnum Equation. Lisa showed us a mock up of a cover. Very dramatic!

Until next time,

Carole

Validation

Who knew my life was so interesting? The Opium Equation, the book that was just written about us, is up for a SECOND award! This one is from American Horse Publications, which is exceptional in my mind because I know some of the journalists and publications who belong that that great organization.

This is all so much validation for me. You might not realize it from reading the book, but I suffer from a teensy amount of low self esteem. All that breaking into my neighbor's houses is just a front. And my mouth, it's just my Irish temper getting the best of me. Inside I am still a motherless little girl lost in doubt. So these awards are especially nice. Nice too for the horsewoman who wrote about us, Lisa Wysocky. You should check her out, she's pretty cool.

In other news, we are headed to a bunch of horse shows. Bob, Gigi, Petey, and Sally Blue, along with a few new horses will travel in the trailer, while Jon, Agnes, Darcy, Hank, and I get the cab of the truck. Even with front and back seats it gets pretty crowded, especially when Agnes swivels around to hang her head out the window so she can wave her pom poms at passing cars. I keep telling her she's going to get us all arrested, but that's another story.

Until next time,

Cat Enright
Owner/trainer, Cat Enright Stables, Ashland City, Tenessee

We Won a Mom's Choice Award!!

I am so stoked! The book that was written about us, The Opium Equation, has won a silver medal from the Mom's Choice Awards®!. This is far better than going to Verna's Mae's for dinner with Cat. No offense Cat, I'm just saying. Even though the book is mostly about you, the award is way cooler than you are.

Carole, Agnes, Jon, Robert and everyone else is so excited too. We are especially excited because the Mom's Choice Awards® only go to products that are exceptional and it is a huge honor to be recognized by them. Jon is even backing off on being mad at Cat for taking time away from the horses to solve the mystery. Who knew an award would bring harmony back to the barn?

Anyway, Agnes wants to throw a party for Cat. She even found pom poms, which, as you might know, caused her some consternation in the book. So I have to run. Don't tell Cat, though. We all want to make it a huge surprise. I'll report back later and let you know how it went!

Darcy, world's best youth kid

From Hank (the beagle)

It’s cold today. Cold, cold, cold! But it’s sunny, too, so the birds are out. I love birds. Chasing them, I mean. It’s the best fun. You should try it sometime. For real. It’s fun! I love fun. I also love Cat and Jon and Darcy and Petey and Sally and Bubba. Gigi not so much. She scares me. Too unpredictable. But everyone else, I love! Do you love lots of people, too?

Guess what? Our book is now an ebook! I’m not even sure what that is but please tell everyone. Cat told me and I try to imagine it, but it is beyond me. I trust her, though, when she tells me that it is a really good thing. I love Cat.

Cat also told me that in a reader survey of The Opium Equation that lots and lots of people wanted to learn more about me. ME! So happy. I love people. Have you taken the survey yet? Please do. But you have to read the book first. Have to, have to, have to. Because I’m in it. Me!

Oops. Cat is calling. Have to run. I love to run extra fast when she calls. She is my best-est friend. I love her. And I love you, too!

Mud! (From Jon)

Wow, we have had rain and more rain here in Tennessee this winter. In fact, the entire property is one big slimy mass of mud. Have been rotating turnout in the indoor arena but I can't wait until the paddocks are dry enough to turn the horses out more regularly.

We have a few new horses in the barn, one of which shows a ton of promise, but I'll let Cat tell you about him. We also have an ebook! The Opium Equation, the book that was written about one of Cat's adventures is now in Kindle format. Hope you check it out.

Agnes has been around a lot lately. She is driving me crazy. On the other hand, we haven't seen enough of Darcy. She has a BOYFRIEND. I haven't seen enough of him to form an opinion. But rest assured. I will.

Happy Holidays from Cat

It has been a whirlwind year for all of us here at Cat Enright Stables. A murder, a kidnapping, lots of horse shows, several new national and world championships, and a book called The Opium Equation was even written about us!

This is the only time of year I take for down time, but it’s not really all that down. My barn manager, Jon, always takes off the last two weeks of December and the first week of January. I have no idea where he goes or who (if anyone) he sees during this time. I asked him once but he just gave me that look that means “don’t go there” so I never pushed it. Someday, maybe, he’ll tell, not that it’s any of my business, but still, we work together the other 49 weeks of the year. His vacation plans shouldn’t be a a huge secret.

Long story short, without Jon I am the only one feeding, turning horses out, cleaning stalls, doctoring scrapes, ordering supplies, and everything else involved with horse care. But you know what? I love it. I love the solitude of not talking to anyone else. I love the closeness I feel with the horses being the only human in the barn, and I especially love my post-lunch naps.

My boyfriend and I aren’t to the “sharing family time during the holidays” stage yet, but I am sure we will see each other at some point.

Farm news: I can’t wait for our yearling filly, Gigi, to turn two. Maybe then she’ll grow up some! Our young juvenile delinquent neighbor, Bubba, has taken up the trumpet and my other neighbor, Carole (wife of that very hunky country music star) tells me they can hear his “practices” all the way over to their house. My wonderful beagle mix, Hank, has found he loves running in figure eights. Not sure what that is all about. And despite what my lovely and brainy student Darcy might tell you, I typed and posted this all by myself!

Happy Holidays to all.

Cat

From Agnes

Oh my, a blog! Who knew such a thing ever existed! Cat told me about it. And Darcy helped me get these words to you. So much fun!

Guess what? Sally won another championship - I am so excited! She is just the best horse ever. I gave her a special treat, a bottle of Diet Coke. Plastic bottle, of course. Sally loves Diet Coke! But don't tell Cat. She has this no treat policy that no one else in the barn enforces. Well, Jon does most of the time, but he has been encouraged to look the other way from time to time.

And, thanks to all of you, Sally is famous now. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We are getting incredible reviews on the book that was written about us, The Opium Equation. Even the Library Journal wrote good things about us. And Horse South magazine! It is all so exciting!

Did you know that Sally's official color is Pantone Blue? Pierre, my hair stylist, had the worst time turning my hair into that exact shade. The dear boy finally achieved perfection, though. Getting the tint right in my glasses was much easier. I stop short, however of actually wearing that shade of blue in my clothing. Wouldn't want to go too far and have my admiration for Sally not taken seriously.

But I have to go now. I'm taking my dear husband Ira's ashes to his family's annual reunion. The reunion is being held in a hotel conference room, otherwise I'd have Cat load up the trailer and bring Sally. The hotel has a "no horses" policy. Poo. Someday I'll ignore all the silly rules we have in this world we live in. Now that will be fun!

From Cat

We've been so busy I haven't had time to post anything here. . . . Okay, Darcy pointed out that it had been a long time since I'd made an attempt to post. I am not the most computer literate person around. Anyway, we here at Cat Enright Stables are thrilled that our book, The Opium Equation, is doing so well. Odd to think so many people are interested in us!

It is a rainy morning here in our little corner of the world. Listening to Horses in the Morning while I type. Love Glenn and Jen and the rest of the crew on that show! But back to busy. Right now we're home for a few rare days between shows. I am going out to dinner and a movie with my boyfriend tonight. A real date night! Usually our dates consist of him bringing take-out Chinese food to the barn while we clean stalls or drag the arena.

News: Bubba has found an interest in leather working. We have to keep the tack room locked now to be sure he doesn't "tool" markings onto one of our show saddles. I appreciate the interest, just not the  enthusiasm. Gigi has hit a growth spurt; she's at that awkward "teenage" stage, all out of proportion with her butt up higher than her withers. And Sally? Sally has started repeatedly swinging her head and neck left and right. I have no idea what it means, but Agnes is sure it is important.

Until next time!

From Sally

Gigi is an idiot. I'm just saying. But that's beside the point. All of us horses here at Cat Enright Stables are so excited that the book that has been written about us will be available in a few days. Zowie! This is (almost) as exciting as my winning the world championship last fall.

Some humans think I "know" things, that I can sense the future. Maybe that's true, or, maybe it is just that we horses are smarter than humans. In any case, I predict that if you read The Opium Equation, that you will LOVE it. After all, I am a big part of the story.

In the meantime, I need my beauty sleep. No matter what anyone says, it is very tiring for a horse to type more than a few sentences. Later, y'all.

Sally Blue (the true heroine of the story)

From Gigi

Today was exciting. I got to see Doc Tucker! I love Doc Tucker! He looked in my mouth. He said I have pretty teeth! I love my teeth. I hope every horse gets to see Doc Tucker. But other horse’s teeth aren’t as pretty as mine. My teeth are the best, best, best! Doc said he’d be back in the fall to check on Sally and Bob. And me!

Now I get to go out and play. I love my paddock! Hank the beagle sometimes visits me. I love Hank! He brings me sticks. Then I run around and try to pick them up in my mouth as I whiz past. Jon doesn’t want me to play with sticks. He takes them away. He says sticks might hurt me. Sometimes I don’t love Jon.

Gigi (the yearling with the beautiful teeth!)

From Jon

It's been a hot summer. Really hot. Hard to keep the horses cool. Especially when we are on the road or at a show. Going through lots of electrolytes. Cherry flavored. Mix it into the horse's water and its like Gatorade. Keeps them hydrated.

Cat has been after me for weeks to get this blog post up. The heat, though. It affects everything. Our yearling filly Gigi has been most affected. She's definitely a diva, that one. Doesn't want to eat when it is hot. Found if we refrigerate her grain so it is cool, then she'll eat. What I'll do to keep a horse happy. :-) Getting lots of wins at the shows though, Gigi is. The other horses, too. And the riders. It's been a good summer. Just hot.

Only downer is that Cat and I are still a little distant. She got involved in a murder investigation last Spring. Didn't communicate with me as well as she could have. I care, you know. She's my boss, but we need to talk. Geez. Can't believe I actually wrote that. But we do. Need to talk. Cat, if you read this, call me. I know you have my number so let's lay this on the table and move on.

Oh, and you HAVE to tell Agnes to stop bugging me about being president of the Sally Blue fan club. Not interested. Don't have time. Besides, why does a horse need her own fan club? Some people (Agnes) have too much time on their hands.

Jon Gardner, barn manager
Cat Enright Stables

Welcome!

I hear that a recent adventure of mine, The Opium Equation, will be published in September. I am really pumped about this! So are a few of my clients, including Agnes Temple, whom you will meet in the book. Other people who feature strongly in the story, such as Hill Henley and Opal Dupree, are not so excited about having their dirty laundry aired out in the open for the entire world to read about. But you know what? I don’t care. My recent encounters with them changed my life so profoundly that I will never be the same person I was before. Some people really should be hung out to dry with their own laundry.

September 13 is the official launch date, however, you will have a chance to meet me a little earlier. My friend (and author) Lisa Wysocky will be at the Killer Nashville mystery conference August 26-28, and the big book launch will take place Saturday, September 10 at 2:00 p.m. at Mysteries & More in Nashville.

Until then my friends and I here at Cat Enright Stables will keep you updated on any new developments.

I can’t wait to meet each and every one of you!

Cat Enright

From Darcy

I have to say that Cat is like the most backwards person there is in the entire world when it comes to computer stuff. The previous blog was signed by her, but the fact is she dictated it to me and I posted it. No matter. Payback will happen in due time and when it does, I guarantee it will be a lot of fun! Cat is like way too serious sometimes and Jon, well, he’s all down to business, too. Someone has to stir things up around here. It might as well be me.

Cat doesn’t know that I am leaking a little bit of The Opium Equation to you in advance, so don’t tell her it was me. It will be our little secret. She’ll never know because she will never get on to check this blog. Besides, it’s just the cast of characters and that will help you learn a little about those of us who DO blog here. Think of it as a public service. Here you go.

Darcy Whitcomb (extraordinary youth kid)


Cast of Main Characters

Cat Enright:  A horse trainer near Nashville, Tennessee. She is twenty-nine, single, impulsive, vulnerable, a tiny bit rude, and the owner of a small stable.

Bubba Henley:  Budding juvenile delinquent and ten-year-old son of a neighboring trainer. Cat worries when no one can find him.

Hill Henley:  Bubba’s no-account father and fourth generation Tennessee Walking Horse trainer.

Glenda Dupree:  Retired movie star and neighbor of both Cat and the Henley’s. She’s the kind of person everyone loves to hate.

Adam Dupree:  Glenda’s nephew. He is a failed actor, a songwriter wanna-be, and likes Cat very much.

Opal Dupree:  Glenda’s aged mother. Opal knows a terrible and ancient secret that may help Cat, but her mind wanders.

Fairbanks:  The ancestral antebellum home of the Henley family, now owned by Glenda Dupree.

Col. Sam Henley:  Long dead Civil War era builder of Fairbanks, and Hill’s great, great grandfather.

Agnes Temple: Ditsy woman of a certain age with electric blue hair. She owns two horses in Cat’s barn.

Hank:  Cat’s incorrigible Beagle-mix puppy.

Martin Giles: Local cop. Young, but smart.

Jon Gardner:  Cat’s stable manager and right hand. No one, Cat included, knows exactly where he’s from, which is the way he likes it.

Darcy Whitcomb:  Seventeen-year-old daughter of a prominent dot com entrepreneur. She’s a little spoiled, but Cat loves her like family.

Carole Carson:  Riding student neighbor of Cat’s, and the wife of country music super star, Keith Carson.

Keith Carson:  A neighbor and country music super star. Keith is out touring and has only a very small part in this story, which is too bad as he’s really quite a hunk.

Robert Griggs:  Quiet hospital nurse and a riding student.

Frog:  A trouble-making punk friend of Bubba’s.

Brent Giles: Martin’s older brother. A small animal veterinarian from Clarksville.

Buffy Thorndyke:  Young reporter with blue blood in her veins and air in her head.

Sheriff “Big Jim” Burns: An election is looming and the sheriff wants an arrest. Any arrest.

Sally Blue: Young, possibly psychic, red roan Appaloosa mare owned by Agnes Temple. Sally is very loyal to Cat.

Peter’s Pride: Tall, older black gelding owned by Darcy Whitmore. Petey is a calming influence on Darcy, but he also likes to play.

Hillbilly Bob: Bay, aged gelding owned by a local orthopedic surgeon. Cat swaps training fees for treatment of broken bones and has won several championships on Bob.

Glamour Girl: Dingbat yearling filly. Gorgeous, but brainless.