The “Danika and Yatimah from Egypt to the Outback” launch was fantastic. Some 200 people were at the AHSA awards dinner so to share this special occasion with them was marvellous. Yvonne Barlow was enormous fun and entertained us with our favouite songs. Fun to dance too and fun to sing along. Our party was amongst the few who jumped onto the dance floor and made the night doubly memorable.
I must take this opportunity to thank everyone concerned. For this reason I am including my thank you speech from the night of the launch.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank the Arabian Horse Society for their support launching Voices in the Wind last year at Equitana and now Danika and Yatimah.
Thanks also to Greg for his kind words and to all of my friends, family. My thanks to all my Arabian breeding colleagues who are here tonight it’s wonderful to have you share this moment with me. A big thank you to Willa Frayser in the USA for her adorable artwork and glorious cover. (explained how we me connected on Facebook)And a final thank you to all the people around the world who continue to support me in this publishing journey. If I thought breeding Arabian horses was difficult its nothing compared to learning about book publishing.  There didn’t seem to be the pressure with this little book – it was simply fun bringing Danika and Yatimah to life.

The book began as several short stories written for an online magazine but I loved this family so much that I couldn’t stop writing about them. The book has lots of Australian history and highlights the relationship between Danika and her beautiful purebred Arabian mare Yatimah. It can’t be a bad thing to use the Danika and Yatimah books as a means of putting a positive message about Arabian horses across to children.

These days kids are inundated by gruesomeness and when I was researching Voices in the Wind I read that the Number of murders seen on TV by the time an average child finishes primary school: 8,000
Number of violent acts seen on TV by age 18: 200,000.  So instead of focuing on the grusomeness I decided to write how goals and dreams are Powerful and can often turn the impossible to Possible!

Summing up, my Danika and Yatimah books will hopefully not only highlight the merits of the Arabian breed to horse loving children but teach them about good character , life values and responsibility. I believe so strongly in the power of our Dreams – because when you Believe You can Achieve!

Thank you ladies and gentlemen.”

There was a little elaborating from time to time but you at least have some idea what was said.

I caught up with many of my readers though I probably missed others. For me it was a perfect few days, amazing horses while catching up with old and new friends. Congratulations to all the competitors, in my eyes you are all winners, the horses, the people , the atmosphere is palpable and exciting. It offers me never ending inspiration for upcoming novels.
Finally a HUGE Congratulations to the AHSA, Vink Publishing, Michael Vink, Sharon Meyers and Coralie Gordon and contributors on the outstanding new The Arabian Horse in Australia and New Zealand Volume 7. It’s a wonderful and informative showcase and reference of the Arabian horse in Australia and New Zealand.