The Califon Book Shop at 72 Main St. in Califon is hosting a multi-author horse and dog book signing, “Of Horses and Hounds,” from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 29. The session will showcase the work of six authors, as well as paintings by animal portrait artist Andrea Gianchiglia of Califon.
Children are encouraged to attend the signing, as there will be numerous juvenile titles available.
Horse book authors include Lisa Holderby of Middletown, Lucy Friedland of Martinsville and Loren Spiotta-DiMare of Tewksbury.
Working through the government’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse Adoption Program, Lisa Holderby adopted, Soleil a wild mustang through an on-line adoption auction. While Holderby has owned other horses, the bond she has developed with Soleil is like no other. Their special relationship is captured in Holderby’s young adult novel, Soleil: A Mustang’s Story.
The author fictionalized the story by adding a young female character to make the book more appealing to young adults. However, 60 percent of the story is based on actual experiences with Soleil.
Several years later Holderby penned a sequel, Soleil’s Journey Home. In this volume, Soleil is taken back to where she was captured. The fictionalized characters ride through the back country of the Rockies in search of Soleil’s herd.
In a surprising moment, Soleil breaks free and joins the wild mustangs. Through dangerous terrain and unpredictable weather, the small group searches for the beloved Soleil.
Fifteen year-old Lucy Friendland wrote and self-published a hardcover picture book, Take A Tall Walk With Me ,based on the experience of her brother, Adam, with physical therapy at Mane Stream, a therapeutic riding center in Tewksbury.
With Adam by her side and contributing ideas, Friendland penned the story. She hired an illustrator, designer and printer to bring the book to life. Proceeds from the sales of Take A Tall Walk with Me benefit Mane Stream.
Quarter Horse owner Loren Spiotta-DiMare has been writing animal books for adults and children for 40 years, with seven horse books to her credit. Beyond The Finish Line: Stories of Ex-Racehorses, is a coffee table book highlighting 22 New Jersey equestrians who have adopted Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds off the track and retrained them for other disciplines and activities.
Men & Horses and The Women Who Love Them is a collection of stories by women writers and riders. The author’s juvenile titles include a picture book, Madeline‘s Miracle and a series, Horses That Help with The American Humane Association.
A disabled pony able to walk only on three legs, Madeline is taken in by Mylestone Equine Rescue in Pohatcong. Hearing of Madeline’s plight, area children raise funds for surgery and a brace to restore the pony’s mobility. Horses That Help highlights horses with special jobs: Police Horses, draft horses, performing horses and therapy horses. Spiotta-DiMare is working on a collection of stories about wild Mustang adoptions.
For more information about the event, call the store at 908-832-6686 or visit: www.califonbookshop.com
