Coffee Clutch with Dutch Henry: "A special day for my novel- "We'll Have The Summer"

Thursday, March 14, 2013

"A special day for my novel- "We'll Have The Summer"

Howdy Folks,

Two years ago this week, Camel Press published my novel "We'll Have The Summer," and what an adventure it has been!

On Amazon today my novel received its 90th review, 81 of them 5-stars! It has been so much fun, doing book signings, answering emails, meeting and making new friends. That has been the best part; making so many new friends.

I wanted to write a story of an uncommon, enduring love so powerful it could overcome life's challenges. I believe in the power of love and the spirit of the horse, those two forces came together to help me tell the story. All I did was fill in the details.

We'll Have the Summer connected with people in ways I never imagined when I wrote it. I've received touching emails from folks whose lives have been changed by cancer and how Mary facing her challenge with courage and determination helped them. How Mary and Sam's love comforted them. And from folks who knew and loved horses like Comanche, Chester and the Mustangs. Other folks have told me they could relate to young Barbara and her mother, as they've lived it too. So many folks have thanked me for, "keeping it real." Sometimes the emails bring tears to my eyes. Thank you all so much for not only reading my story, but for taking the time to recommend it to friends, sending me letters and emails, and writing reviews.

I'd like to share the email I received last night from Terri Peterson that caused me to write this post …

Dear Dutch Henry,

I'm an avid reader… reading every night to sort of ease the stress out of my life and "escape." When I was growing up, horses were a big part of it from grade school on. Now, in my 50's, I have gotten back into horses after 30 years of being without them.

I loved this book for so many reasons. The characters were all so very real and believable... some I instantly fell in love with and others I took an immediate dislike to. I could relate to Barbara, having been that stubborn teenager, I could relate to Linda, having made poor choices in husbands in the past, AND I could relate to Mary, who was also, in a way re-living her dream one last time, with her horse Comanche, while feeling the effects of not only old age, but also her illness. The love between Mary and Sam is one most people can only hope to have.

Then there are the horses...and I could clearly picture each one with their unique personality.

I was in tears at the end of the book but still, I didn't want it to end. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, whether you are a horse lover, or not... it is such a heartfelt love story, and with a setting that really appealed to me.

Thank you Dutch Henry for sharing that story with us... I am crossing my fingers for a sequel!

Terri Peterson

Thank you Terri and everyone for loving my story! And a great big thank you to all my friends who helped make this happen.

If you'd like to purchase an autographed copy email me at dutchhenry@hughes.net

To order on Amazon (and check out all the reviews) click here.... http://www.amazon.com/Well-have-Summer-Dutch-Henry/dp/1603818375/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299981240&sr=8-1

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

2 comments:

PatriciaMarch 14, 2013 at 12:02 PM
Wow! Your book in on my Kindle but I haven't read it yet. This post prompts me to make it the next one I read. What a wonderful review, Dutch. You've obviously written a book that touches people's hearts and that's one of the reasons we write, right? How cool.
Patti
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Welcome to the Coffee Clutch

Welcome to the Coffee Clutch, a happy place to visit. I write uplifting stories about a wide variety of subjects from horses to birds and nature, to love and family and friends. Sometimes I'll post excerpts from stories I've written for Equine Publications. Sometimes I'll post about writing itself. Coffee Clutch got its name because I often write while enjoying my morning coffee in the barn with my mare Kessy, and all our critters. Join us here for fun conversation and stories I promise will make you feel good.

It's For The Horses

This is not a book about riding, or training horses. It is a book on my thoughts, ideas and suggestions on how folks might find the joy in doing things for the horse, with the horses’ point of view as the leading guide. My hope is to help as many people as possible learn to hear the horse, feel their spirit, and in that way help horses everywhere. Over the years I’ve met and worked with remarkable people and horses who taught me about their feelings, their joys, their sadness, and their spirit. As a horse advocate everything I do is from the horse’s perspective, including this little book. Every story, idea, suggestion and thought on these pages will be to suggest and share thoughts and ideas on how to maximize a relationship between horse and human—from the horse’s point of view.

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The Tom Named by Horse Saga continues. Three years after the death of Tall Dog, Tom Named By Horse and Soft Cloud have turned the little soddy, the lands granted them by Red Cloud, and the lean-to barn into a thriving horse ranch, fulfilling Tom’s dream. The Plains Indians Wars, or Red Cloud’s war, is mostly behind them, and the lands have had their transformation as Red Cloud’s vision had warned years earlier. Trailing horses from the ranch to Denver city has become an annual event for Tom, Buck and the rest, and this is the story of that trail. In the spirit of a good old John Wayne movie, vengeance, cattle and horse thieves, a dirty sheriff and corrupt mayor, and a wedding make this year’s drive a ride you’ll want to tag along on.