It’s been a wild few months working with the wonderful people at Santa Fe Writers Project to get Horse Show shiny for publication day, which I’m thrilled to say will be April 9th, 2024!
I promise to share a pre-order link here as soon as I get one. These things take time, as I’ve been learning…!
First, there was the cover design process. SFWP is known for producing eye-catching story collections, so I was surprised by the free rein I was given when brainstorming for the cover. Designer Gwen Grafft was patient and meticulous in translating my vague ideas about “vibes” into a really special cover. It’s got letterpress! Horse diving! A sense of spectacle, history, and danger!
I’m basically obsessed, and it’s taking every ounce of willpower I have to hide it from you all until the right time comes. But come it shall!
Once the cover was nailed down, the manuscript went into edits, proofreading, layout and more edits, which are still happening. In the meantime, I got to ask all my favorite fictioneers if they’d like a galley to read and/or blurb or place atop a stack gathering dust in the corner of their office and forget about. Said galleys hit the mail earlier this week, and according to all the awesome writers who have gotten theirs so far, summer reading is a “go!”
I also had to get this professional author photo taken, even though the selfie I’ve been using makes me look like Wednesday Addams, which is honestly on brand.
Apart from all that, I’m just out here in Missouri reading, writing, obsessing over my heirloom tomato vines, and riding Teddy when it’s not so hot out we both call it quits.
More news as I have it!
Jess Bowers 