Welcome
author and rider DK Raymer!
DK
released her new audiobook Lily’s
Song earlier this year. Lily is a companion horse, an Arabian mare who “shares
her stall with a goat named Walter and a cat named Boo. Together they observe
life on the busy farm, a life that she cannot participate in. Lily has every
comfort at Nelson Farm but she does not have a person to call her own, and she
is beginning to wonder if she ever will. When a new chiropractor arrives from
Boston, Massachusetts to treat the owner's champion reining horse, Lily
discovers that Dr. McCullen has a daughter. Eleven-year-old Micah feels just as
out of place at Nelson Farm as Lily does. She has never been to a farm, has
never seen a real horse, and is reeling from the sudden loss of her father. Is
this sad girl the person Lily has been waiting for? Can a broken mare help
Micah heal? Lily's Song is
a celebration of life, of friends found in the most unlikely places, and a
tribute to the healing power of love.” (Shared from Lily’s
Song ©2016 D.K. Raymer.)
GM:
When was your first encounter with a horse?
DKR:
I was a city kid, so my exposure to real horses was extremely limited. I’ve
loved horses for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I read about them, drew
pictures of them, daydreamed about owning one, and watched every TV show that
had a horse in it. I recall going to a Christmas parade when I was four years
old. That’s where I saw my first horse. An influential attorney lived nearby,
and he raised palomino show horses. He and his wife toured the U.S., appearing
in parades with their horses decked out in full silver-embellished tack. They
were simply stunning. The Palomino Parade Horses from Campbell Farm in Coesse,
Indiana, gave me a love and appreciation for horses that I carry to this day.
GM:
Is Lily fashioned after a horse that you have known or know?
DKR:
Actually, Lily was inspired by two horses. A couple of years ago, when I decided I wanted
to write horse stories for young readers, I knew I wanted to feature horses
that are often overlooked. They may not be the most beautiful, or the youngest,
or the best-trained. They may not be able to carry a rider, but they are
horses, nonetheless, and every horse has a story. So, one evening I was
browsing rescue sites, reading the listings for available horses. I stumbled
across the profile of a beautiful Arabian mare named Helen. She was blind. Her
picture stuck with me, and that’s when Lily’s story began to form. In fact, Lily’s
Song is dedicated to that mare.
A
few weeks later, I had the opportunity to work with a phenomenal business coach
who uses a team of Equine Coaches in her business. It’s quite a unique concept.
Several of her horses are rescues. For our groundwork exercises, I was paired
with a flashy American Paint horse named Fame, who had recently lost the vision
in his left eye. He was transitioning from a career as a working cow horse, to a
new career working with people. What I learned from Fame rounded out Lily’s
character.
GM:
Walter the goat and Boo the cat are endearing characters. How did DKR: they
come about in your brainstorming process?
That’s
a great question! I would love to tell you they took weeks to create, but
that’s not what happened. When I began to write about Lily, a Nubian goat and a
big Maine Coon Cat showed up, fully formed, from the first sentence. Sometimes
that happens when you write fiction. I knew these three were going to be
inseparable throughout the story. All I had to do was name them.
GM:
What are you currently writing?
DKR:
I’m having great fun writing a new book called, Remi and Bella Need a New Home. This story takes place in Florida,
and features a beloved aging pony who suddenly finds himself homeless. Three
girls, (best friends) learn of Remi’s plight, and set out to find a new home
for Remi and his canine companion. In the process, they make a profound impact
on their school, and their community. I wanted this story to feature young
heroines with no horse experience at all, who still find a way to change the
life of one small pony. I hope to have this book finished by November.
GM:
Describe your writing process and your daily routine...
DKR:
I’m very organized, so that helps me juggle multiple projects. During the week,
I coach writers and other creatives who want help with marketing, or need instruction
about the writing process – fiction, non-fiction, scriptwriting, etc. I also
work in the field of patient advocacy, so I am developing non-fiction material
for that audience, too. I write fiction in the evenings and on weekends. Helps
me unwind and stay centered. I love long fiction, and writing the new horse
books have been a wonderful experience.
When
I write a book, I always produce the e-book version first because the
formatting is very straightforward. Once that is complete, I begin work on an
audiobook version. That includes auditioning Narrators/Producers, cover design,
and approval of chapters as they’re complete. (Lily’s Song, and my other
audiobooks, are available on Audible, Amazon and iTunes.) Producing an audiobook
takes several weeks in-studio, so while that is in production, I format the
story once again for trade paperback. My books are available as Kindle eBooks,
trade paperback and audio.
I
concentrate on writing one book at a time, but regularly add to development files
for additional projects. Once one book is complete, I move onto the next based
on which is the most fully developed. Currently, I have more than 2 dozen
projects in some stage of development.
GM:
Do you have advice for novice writers?
DKR:
I have been a writer for most of my life, published both traditionally and
independently. I have also worked in the film and TV industry developing
projects for a family audience. I can tell you with certainty that there has
never been a better time to be a writer. The gatekeepers are gone. You don’t
have to wait to be chosen anymore. You now have the ability to connect directly
with readers and carve your own place in the universe.
Read
everything. Hone your craft. Build great stories and a body of work you are
proud of. Learn about marketing, promotion and building community. You can’t do
it all at once; nobody can. Get organized. Ask for help where you need it.
Ignore the haters. Cultivate relationships with people who will help you grow
and flourish. Remember that your career, like your books, are a work in
progress. Most of all, love the process and your readers.
GM:
What’s the key to writing a book that children will read again and again?
DKR:
If there was a surefire trick to attracting and keeping readers, everybody
would be using it. Of course, there isn’t, but there are some things you can do
to help you connect with potential readers. So, here’s my short answer: The
story must have heart. The characters must be engaging. (You don’t have to like
what they do, but you do need to care enough about them to see what happens
next.) And the setting must be well-drawn. If you can nail all three points,
you will have created a world readers will want to return to.
GM:
As a rider, what does horsemanship mean to you?
DKR:
Horsemanship is more to me than technical ability or skill. True horsemanship
separates people who just ride horses (albeit very well), from people who truly
know and respect their equine partners. Horsemanship involves teamwork,
connection, mindset, generosity, a desire to constantly learn, and the
willingness to set an example for other riders and horse owners. Horsemanship,
to me, is a reflection of the same noble qualities that horses themselves
possess.
Author Bio
DK
Raymer grew up reading the books of Marguerite Henry, Sam Savitt, Wesley Dennis
and Anna Sewell. If a horse was anywhere in the story, she read it. Her library
shelf still contains her favorite childhood horse books. When she was thirteen,
DK finally got a horse of her own, a retired roping horse named Flicka. The
gentle black mare stood 16.2 hands tall and was DK’s best friend through her
teen years.
As
an adult, DK worked for a New York entertainment producer, writing and
developing family-friendly projects for film and TV. Today, DK writes books for
adults, and horse stories for a new generation of young readers who share her
love of horses, especially those who don’t yet have a horse of their own. DK
also coach’s writers and other creatives, and works nationally as a Patient
Safety Advocate.
DK
lives in Missouri with her family. She and her husband share their home with
two quirky little dogs named Petey and Jax. At present she does not have her
own horse, but hopes to remedy that soon.
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