In the first two months of its availability between July 1 and Aug 3, 2011, my children's picture book, The Mutt & the Mustang has sold more than 700 copies! and picked up by a third distributor who represents western-themed gifts rather than books. As there are only 300 books left from the first printing of 1000, I have ordered a second printing of 1000 to make sure there will be enough books to fill Christmas orders.
Ft. Collins daily newspaper, The Coloradoan had the following review:
"The Mutt & the Mustang by Judy Archibald and illustrated by Patricia Greenberg has it all for a children's book. The artful illustrations accompanied by photographs of the real horse and dog, Raven and Kody, respectively are visual delights. Add to that a pleasant story of a friendship between a dog and a horse which includes the underlying inspiration that everyone is special in their own way and you have the makings of a beautiful child's book with a timeless message."
The Valley Equestrian News features The Mutt & the Mustang - the True Tale of a Dog-Riding Horse in their Aug/Sept. 2011 issue with a photo of Kody riding "his" horse plus a cover of the book.
Valley Horse News out of Las Vegas will be featuring The Mutt & the Mustang in an upcoming issue and The American Dog Magazine plans to review it in their fall, 2011 issue.
A successful book signing at the Loveland, CO Barnes & Noble where without any publicity and on a week day, sold 17 books. Twenty books sold at the Estes Park Historical Museum's booth at the recent Heritage Festival - however, this was a much harder way to sell books than signings in book stores as it was way too hot and noisy.. MacDonalds Book Shop in Estes Park has sold more than 130 copies!!
Boomer Cafe posted how I came to write The Mutt & Mustang on their website with the following comment: "One thing we love to read here is a success story. Maybe it's financial success, maybe it's emotional success. Either way, we like this story from Judy Archibald, whose dog and pony show literally inspired a new career."
I am having so much fun sharing stories about my little dog Kody, Raven my mustang, Cheyenne my German Shepherd and her pal Rio the paint horse with the public that I can honestly say though I recently "lost" my job as director/curator of the annual Colo. Governor's Art Show where for ten years I produced highly successful shows I don't miss it .... (well maybe I miss working with the artists but I don't miss the politics.)
Monday, August 29, 2011
The Art of August
August has been filled with art and artists.
The first part of August all of my time and energy went into producing the annual Artists' Charitable Fund auction which raises money for this non profit which provides financial assistance to artists in medical crisis.
For the nine years I have been responsible for this outdoor auction in Loveland, CO I am impressed with how generous the artists are - such as Joshua Tobey who donated a beautiful bronze sculpture of a antelope to painter Nancy Guzik's lovely portrait Silver & Gold - more than 60 original paintings and sculptures were auctioned off - which raised more than $36,000 --- once again everyone who attended had a ball eating and drinking under the stars while sculptor George Lundeen as auctioneer kept everyone in stitches.
Later in the month, the Rocky Mountain Plein Air painters were in Estes Park for a couple of weeks - I, with Lynda Vogel, director of the Cultural Arts Council had juried the artists who came from several different states, Canada and Germany into the show so it was great fun getting to meet them. As in previous years I hosted all the artists at my ranch for an outdoor picnic -- Ten artists arrived early so as to paint the views from the horse arena - and also made paintings of my horses Rio and Raven - Then thirty artists arrived for the picnic - lots of fun, which my dogs Cheyenne and Kody enjoyed being part of. The horses enjoyed the extra attention also.
A week of attending artist parties, breakfast and the opening reception where awards were given out....now that the artists have gone home, Estes seems quiet - but their works will remain in the CACEP Gallery until Oct. 2, 2011.
The first part of August all of my time and energy went into producing the annual Artists' Charitable Fund auction which raises money for this non profit which provides financial assistance to artists in medical crisis.
For the nine years I have been responsible for this outdoor auction in Loveland, CO I am impressed with how generous the artists are - such as Joshua Tobey who donated a beautiful bronze sculpture of a antelope to painter Nancy Guzik's lovely portrait Silver & Gold - more than 60 original paintings and sculptures were auctioned off - which raised more than $36,000 --- once again everyone who attended had a ball eating and drinking under the stars while sculptor George Lundeen as auctioneer kept everyone in stitches.
Later in the month, the Rocky Mountain Plein Air painters were in Estes Park for a couple of weeks - I, with Lynda Vogel, director of the Cultural Arts Council had juried the artists who came from several different states, Canada and Germany into the show so it was great fun getting to meet them. As in previous years I hosted all the artists at my ranch for an outdoor picnic -- Ten artists arrived early so as to paint the views from the horse arena - and also made paintings of my horses Rio and Raven - Then thirty artists arrived for the picnic - lots of fun, which my dogs Cheyenne and Kody enjoyed being part of. The horses enjoyed the extra attention also.
A week of attending artist parties, breakfast and the opening reception where awards were given out....now that the artists have gone home, Estes seems quiet - but their works will remain in the CACEP Gallery until Oct. 2, 2011.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wiley Coyote visits
This morning while walking my German shepherd Cheyenne and my poodle mix Kody (on leashes) to the corral to feed the horses we ran into three coyotes! One of the coyotes stood his ground in the arena watching us. First let me make it clear I love coyotes - but not when my hundred-pound German shepherd is barking furiously and dragging us toward them. Instead of looping leashes around an arena post like I usually do while I'm feeding hay I dragged the dogs back to the house and returned to the arena alone where the curious coyote was waiting for me. Coyote watched me do my chores then loped off into the brush.
My horses, Rio and Raven and the one I board, Java think coyotes are just other German shepherds so they don't pay any attention to them. We need the coyotes to pass through once in a while as my acreage has once again become a metroplis of ground squirrels. I've figured out a non leathal way to make ground squirrels move on -- pour very used smelly kitty litter down their holes - which I do if they dig in the arena or pastures where the horses hang out. Otherwise, I really don't mind the ground squirrels - it's fun to watch them chase and groom each other and fill their cheeks with grass and hay as they harvest their winter bounty. When temperatures drop and snow covers the ground , as if by magic all the ground squirrels disappear into their burrows not to be seen again until spring when their noses start budding out of the ground like weeds and wild iris.
My horses, Rio and Raven and the one I board, Java think coyotes are just other German shepherds so they don't pay any attention to them. We need the coyotes to pass through once in a while as my acreage has once again become a metroplis of ground squirrels. I've figured out a non leathal way to make ground squirrels move on -- pour very used smelly kitty litter down their holes - which I do if they dig in the arena or pastures where the horses hang out. Otherwise, I really don't mind the ground squirrels - it's fun to watch them chase and groom each other and fill their cheeks with grass and hay as they harvest their winter bounty. When temperatures drop and snow covers the ground , as if by magic all the ground squirrels disappear into their burrows not to be seen again until spring when their noses start budding out of the ground like weeds and wild iris.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Crazy day of lows and highs
What a day! Woke up to find Java, the horse I'm boarding for a friend stuck beneath a wood rail fence. He must have laid down then his head and neck slid under the fence leaving his body on the other side - pinning him to the ground. When I found him, he wasn't moving so I thought he was dead or dying. I ran to my neighbor, Dan for help. Dan sawed the thick rail fence apart and Java stood up - except for cuts, bruises and a wound above one eye he is okay - which is amazing because I have no idea how long he was pinned.
The vet gave him antibiotics but pronounced him ok - what a relief.
Immediately after rescuing Java I went to MacDonalds Book Shop for a book signing of The Mutt & the Mustang children's picture book. Pat Greenberg, the illustrator was also there with me - While we were signing, the store ended up selling more than 45 books! Which they said was fantastic as the most they have sold at previous book signings has been 10 to 12! I told Paula, the owner that I will come back to talk about my book at different times throughout the summer as the book sells itself when people are shown the beautiful illustrations inside and the page of photographs that show the real dog Kody riding "his" horse.
The local newspapers had given the book excellent coverage but we mainly sold to tourists - The Mutt book is going to Tenn, New Jersey, New York and tons of other places. I'm having a ball meeting new people who love the Mutt and the Mustang.
The vet gave him antibiotics but pronounced him ok - what a relief.
Immediately after rescuing Java I went to MacDonalds Book Shop for a book signing of The Mutt & the Mustang children's picture book. Pat Greenberg, the illustrator was also there with me - While we were signing, the store ended up selling more than 45 books! Which they said was fantastic as the most they have sold at previous book signings has been 10 to 12! I told Paula, the owner that I will come back to talk about my book at different times throughout the summer as the book sells itself when people are shown the beautiful illustrations inside and the page of photographs that show the real dog Kody riding "his" horse.
The local newspapers had given the book excellent coverage but we mainly sold to tourists - The Mutt book is going to Tenn, New Jersey, New York and tons of other places. I'm having a ball meeting new people who love the Mutt and the Mustang.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Marketing The Mutt & the Mustang - and Artists' Charitable Fund
Writing my children's picture book, The Mutt & the Mustang was easier than marketing it! However, I'm making good progress. Though this picture book has only been available since the end of June, it is currently in nearly thirty stores plus two distributors have started repping it. Plus, a corporation that buys for several national and state parks has ordered it for park gift shops. Best of all, The American Dog magazine will be featuring it in their fall 2011 issue.
MacDonalds Book Shop is hosting a book signing for the illustrator and myself this Saturday --- Last Friday I enjoyed reading The Mutt & the Mustang to 70 kids at the YMCA who all wished to have a horse riding dog like Kody. The kids especially loved the page of photographs at the end of the book which shows Kody riding "his" horse.
In addition to marketing The Mutt & the Mustang I'm coordinating the annual art auction for The Artists' Charitable Fund, which provides financial assistance to artists in medical crisis. This auction, which is our only fundraiser takes place August 13 in Loveland. Last year, the auction raised $42,000 -- a record I hope we can break this year. So far, getting some great original paintings donated by artists, including Sallie K. Smith, Tamara Simmons, James Biggers and Cathy Goodale. A long way to go - as the auction needs between 60 and 100 pieces to be successful.
Artists are asked to donate for so many causes that I hate to ask them for the auction - but at least The Artists' Charitable Fund, which was started 20 years ago by several sculptors is there to help artists. The Fund has purchased a wheelchair for a sculptor, paid for dental work and eye surgery for painters and a portion of hospital bills for many artists under going cancer treatments.
You've heard of a bee in a bonnet - well, yesterday I had a bee in my blouse. When I was growing up I remember seeing a ton of bees, crickets and butterflies but for the last few years I've rarely seen any - thanks to so many cities and neighborhoods spraying to kill mosquitos and beetles. I made sure the little bee in my blouse flew safely away.
MacDonalds Book Shop is hosting a book signing for the illustrator and myself this Saturday --- Last Friday I enjoyed reading The Mutt & the Mustang to 70 kids at the YMCA who all wished to have a horse riding dog like Kody. The kids especially loved the page of photographs at the end of the book which shows Kody riding "his" horse.
In addition to marketing The Mutt & the Mustang I'm coordinating the annual art auction for The Artists' Charitable Fund, which provides financial assistance to artists in medical crisis. This auction, which is our only fundraiser takes place August 13 in Loveland. Last year, the auction raised $42,000 -- a record I hope we can break this year. So far, getting some great original paintings donated by artists, including Sallie K. Smith, Tamara Simmons, James Biggers and Cathy Goodale. A long way to go - as the auction needs between 60 and 100 pieces to be successful.
Artists are asked to donate for so many causes that I hate to ask them for the auction - but at least The Artists' Charitable Fund, which was started 20 years ago by several sculptors is there to help artists. The Fund has purchased a wheelchair for a sculptor, paid for dental work and eye surgery for painters and a portion of hospital bills for many artists under going cancer treatments.
You've heard of a bee in a bonnet - well, yesterday I had a bee in my blouse. When I was growing up I remember seeing a ton of bees, crickets and butterflies but for the last few years I've rarely seen any - thanks to so many cities and neighborhoods spraying to kill mosquitos and beetles. I made sure the little bee in my blouse flew safely away.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Marketing The Mutt & the Mustang picture book
Marketing my new children's picture book, The Mutt & the Mustang has been keeping me very busy - so far I have gotten it in 22 stores - from museum gift shops to dude ranches to horse rescues to western stores and book stores plus a distributor contacted me about repping it as a corporation who buys for several national and state park gift stores wants to buy it through them. I hardly make anything per a book after the distributor takes a percent on top of the store's percent (and makes me pay for postage to ship the books to them) but its a way of getting my books out there.
Besides, it will be wonderful to have my picture books in national park gift stores.
My book is in stores in Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, South Dakota and one horse rescue in California.
Next, I need to start working on getting it in stores in other states.....The book has only been out less than two weeks so I should give myself some slack but if it's going to succeed I have to work my butt off.
I'm starting to think writing it was the easiest part.
Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to have Mutt books available at a fundraiser at the Elkhorn Lodge for a non profit group that hopes to preserve the Elkhorn - the oldest lodge in Colorado -and its 68 acres which a developer has talked the town into helping them go after state funds to turn the site into commercial space - including condos, parking lots, retail shops and a ski run!!!
Estes Park is NOT a ski town - the high altitude sun melts the snow so if they do put in a ski run I've heard they are going to have to take water from the river to make snow --- an environmental waste! Plus real skiers are going to continue to go to the ski towns on the other side of the Continental Divide where they get tons of snow that stays on the slopes all winter long - not a small run in Estes.
Tourists are drawn to Estes Park because it adjoins Rocky Mtn National Park where they can view elk, deer, big horn sheep and coyotes- not to see more condos, retail shops and children's playgrounds. ....but as usual dollars speak louder than deer, elk and bear and other wildlife that use part of the Elkhorn acreage ---city fathers are forever after more sales tax and property tax dollars so they can spend it on such "needed" projects as $2 million plus to redo a city park that isn't a block big --- I had tears in my eyes when they cut down several beautiful 100-year old pine trees in the park then replanted small trees --- boy the town sure needed that.
Anyway, it should be fun showing my picture book about my little dog who rides "his" horse every day to folks coming to the Elkhorn to listen western music, explore the old cabins, eat chuckwagon fare and ride horses.
Besides, it will be wonderful to have my picture books in national park gift stores.
My book is in stores in Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, South Dakota and one horse rescue in California.
Next, I need to start working on getting it in stores in other states.....The book has only been out less than two weeks so I should give myself some slack but if it's going to succeed I have to work my butt off.
I'm starting to think writing it was the easiest part.
Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to have Mutt books available at a fundraiser at the Elkhorn Lodge for a non profit group that hopes to preserve the Elkhorn - the oldest lodge in Colorado -and its 68 acres which a developer has talked the town into helping them go after state funds to turn the site into commercial space - including condos, parking lots, retail shops and a ski run!!!
Estes Park is NOT a ski town - the high altitude sun melts the snow so if they do put in a ski run I've heard they are going to have to take water from the river to make snow --- an environmental waste! Plus real skiers are going to continue to go to the ski towns on the other side of the Continental Divide where they get tons of snow that stays on the slopes all winter long - not a small run in Estes.
Tourists are drawn to Estes Park because it adjoins Rocky Mtn National Park where they can view elk, deer, big horn sheep and coyotes- not to see more condos, retail shops and children's playgrounds. ....but as usual dollars speak louder than deer, elk and bear and other wildlife that use part of the Elkhorn acreage ---city fathers are forever after more sales tax and property tax dollars so they can spend it on such "needed" projects as $2 million plus to redo a city park that isn't a block big --- I had tears in my eyes when they cut down several beautiful 100-year old pine trees in the park then replanted small trees --- boy the town sure needed that.
Anyway, it should be fun showing my picture book about my little dog who rides "his" horse every day to folks coming to the Elkhorn to listen western music, explore the old cabins, eat chuckwagon fare and ride horses.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Mutt & the Mustang picture books arrive
So excited to have my children's picture book, The Mutt & the Mustang finally arrive ---
They arrived at 1:00 and by 3:00 that same day I had delivered them to several stores in Estes Park! - In shops as diverse as the famous Stanley Hotel gift shop, to Gateway - a beautiful store at the Fall River entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, MacDonalds Book Shop, Colorado Homestead, Estes Park Historial Museum gift shop, and two dude ranches. How exciting to finally have my picture book in stores.
Tonight had my first book signing at the Loveland Museum Gallery opening of a horse art exhibit. Pat, the Mutt book illustrator went with me --- The street in front of the museum was closed so live horses and a trick roper could perform along with three artists - and us, two old broads selling picture books. As you can imagine, most kids ignored us for the horses and the trick roper.
Those folks who stopped at our booth loved the book -- highlight of the night - Jillian, a seven year old girl who after talking her grandmother into buying a copy chose to ignore the trick roper and live horses to sit on a chair and read The Mutt & the Mustang from cover to cover. When I asked her how she liked it, she hugged the book and said, "I love it."
Other highlights - a 16 year old boy buying a copy of The Mutt & the Mustang with his own money -who would have thought a teenager would buy a picture book? and a man in his 70s buying a copy for himself. All in all, tho we didn't sell many books we had fun and loved the positive reaction to the book.
Got home to find two new Mutt books chewed up! There went tonight's profits. I had the books in a canvas tote on a high table - Skye, my Siamese mix loves to push things off the table - so she and the dogs must have been in cahoots --- she pushed the books to the floor where the dogs chewed them up ---I suspect Kody - tho both dogs are old for such puppy antics- Kody turned 11 this month and Cheyenne is 5 - what got into them?
Oh well, I'm just happy Kody is still spry enough to act like a puppy and ride a horse. Today, Kody got two rides - one in the arena and another one from the house to the barn. I'll know he is an old dog when the time comes (if ever) that he no longer wants to ride "his" horse. Maybe he was mad at me for not taking him to the signing of the Mutt book - as after all, he is the star. Wearing his scarf and cowboy hat, Kody would probably have brought a lot more kids to our booth!
They arrived at 1:00 and by 3:00 that same day I had delivered them to several stores in Estes Park! - In shops as diverse as the famous Stanley Hotel gift shop, to Gateway - a beautiful store at the Fall River entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, MacDonalds Book Shop, Colorado Homestead, Estes Park Historial Museum gift shop, and two dude ranches. How exciting to finally have my picture book in stores.
Tonight had my first book signing at the Loveland Museum Gallery opening of a horse art exhibit. Pat, the Mutt book illustrator went with me --- The street in front of the museum was closed so live horses and a trick roper could perform along with three artists - and us, two old broads selling picture books. As you can imagine, most kids ignored us for the horses and the trick roper.
Those folks who stopped at our booth loved the book -- highlight of the night - Jillian, a seven year old girl who after talking her grandmother into buying a copy chose to ignore the trick roper and live horses to sit on a chair and read The Mutt & the Mustang from cover to cover. When I asked her how she liked it, she hugged the book and said, "I love it."
Other highlights - a 16 year old boy buying a copy of The Mutt & the Mustang with his own money -who would have thought a teenager would buy a picture book? and a man in his 70s buying a copy for himself. All in all, tho we didn't sell many books we had fun and loved the positive reaction to the book.
Got home to find two new Mutt books chewed up! There went tonight's profits. I had the books in a canvas tote on a high table - Skye, my Siamese mix loves to push things off the table - so she and the dogs must have been in cahoots --- she pushed the books to the floor where the dogs chewed them up ---I suspect Kody - tho both dogs are old for such puppy antics- Kody turned 11 this month and Cheyenne is 5 - what got into them?
Oh well, I'm just happy Kody is still spry enough to act like a puppy and ride a horse. Today, Kody got two rides - one in the arena and another one from the house to the barn. I'll know he is an old dog when the time comes (if ever) that he no longer wants to ride "his" horse. Maybe he was mad at me for not taking him to the signing of the Mutt book - as after all, he is the star. Wearing his scarf and cowboy hat, Kody would probably have brought a lot more kids to our booth!
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