"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

"For a Friend"

Howdy Folks,

Today's Coffee Clutch is dedicated to Pamela Nuckols who went to heaven on Friday. She was one of the original Coffee Clutchers, enjoying our visits before we started the blog, when I posted our chats on Facebook. I think she was the first to sign on to follow our blog. She was one of the first to call it the Coffee Clutch. Pam loved our chats about nature, she loved bird watching, butterflies and flowers. She loved leaving comments, told us it made her feel as though she were walking and chatting with us under the trees, watching and listening to birds. She loved nature and so missed being able to stroll through it. So she walked with us.

As with so many of our Facebook friends, I didn't know Pam before we met over the electronic fence. We were introduced by her cousin Carol Bernstien, and I thank Carol for that. Don't you just love how Facebook can spread friendship worldwide with ease? I'm not a tech savvy fellow, but I do thank my agent, Dawn Dawdle for pushing me into this part of the techy world. I would be lost now without all our friends who have become family, on Facebook and here on the Coffee Clutch blog.

Pam was a cheerleader, never complaining, always writing and reading about things she loved.

For you Pam …

Sleet tapped out a slow melody on the barn's tin roof, the trees hung heavy, bowing under the weight of their morning ice blanket. Juncos gathered under protective ice laden bows refueling for the day on cracked corn, singing their one note "twang."  One by one and two by two Morning Doves joined the Juncos at the scratch. Two male Cardinals sat high on a limb, their brilliant red coats shimmering as they called, "tick –tick." I wondered if they were complaining about the freezing rain. A pair of squirrels crept cautiously to join the breakfast buffet. A single Chickadee waited patiently on the old stump for a chance to join them. Mr. Blue Jay was not so patient.

A train's long whistle sounded in the distance, I poured my first cup and saluted the heavens. The chickens settled in the barn, and we all gathered with Kessy. Well, Saturday, the chickens and I did. This being a, "not perfect weather day," Tigger and Miss Kitty stayed in the house. Kessy munched her hay as we sat beside her and chickens rummaged the bedding beneath and around her. Snug and dry in the barn, sleet tapping the tin, it was another perfect Coffee Clutch morning. God Bless you, Pam, all of us know you'll be forever a Coffee Clutcher.

Gitty Up

Dutch Henry

"10,000 Page Hits"

Howdy Folks,

We started our Coffee Clutch blog just 4 months ago to visit with friends and chat about horses, love, writing, friends, family, bird watching, beautiful mornings and other happy things. Yesterday we went over 10,000 page hits! Now Ravishin' Robbie and I are not even sure just what a page hit is, we assume it means a friend dropped by to say howdy and by golly we thank you so much for being part of Coffee Clutch!

Kessy, Saturday and me writing a story

As we go on I'll do my very best to write happy, informational, encouraging and fun stories, thoughts and musings 4 -5 days a week. It takes time to write my blogs, I work hard to get them just right. I feel if you're willing to spend your valuable time reading them, I must do my best to make it worthwhile and beneficial to you. It is my sincere hope our Coffee Clutch visits add a little something to your day.

Some posts take over 2 hours to write, proof, edit. Average about an hour. I know I miss some editing issues every day, and for that I really, really do apologize, but I reckon my blog can serve as a testament to the old adage, "One cannot edit one's own work." They say it's because your mind sees on the page, or Word Doc, what you intend to be there, not what you actually wrote! … My "Feature Friday" posts take on average 5-8 hours to research, contact, write and edit. These posts I send to the subject for review, so really I work on them for a few days during the week. But this I do, "To Help Them Help."

My not-quite-right editing also owes its failings to the fact I really only started writing in 2006, and at that time I knew oh so little. (Not that I know so much now) ... I often tell folks when I wrote my first novel I didn't know there was a difference between, "then" and "than." Grammar? I thought that was a cracker! Understand though, I grew up in a household that spoke Pennsylvania Dutch ... So enough excuses.

From deep within my heart, I humbly thank each and every one of you who take time from your busy schedules to drop in on our Coffee Clutch and spend a few moments with us. I will do my best to make it time well spent!

Ps- Please invite all your friends to join us here on the Coffee Clutch.

Gitty Up

Dutch Henry