Saturday, May 7, 2016

Exploring the Wonders of Africa

Botswana Safari Companion: Photo Safari Companion (Safari Companions)Botswana Safari Companion: Photo Safari Companion by Alain Pons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoy all the great shots you won’t get because you don’t have the patience or opportunity to capture the light on the animals of Botswana. Thanks to these experts who do provide directions on how to get those lovely images you don’t have to. They take you to Okavango Delta, heralded as one of most fantastic wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and the Chobe reserve where herds of elephants line up at watering holes. This little book provides a good overview of what to expect in Botswana a country that limits the amount of tourists and tour companies to operate in its borders. It has whet my wanderlust and made me even more eager to explore the wonders of Africa.Lost Angel Walkabout: One Traveler's Tales


View all my reviews

Monday, May 2, 2016

Coming Full Circle with Riding Star Susan Hutchison

As promised here is my interview with riding Super Star Susan Hutchison. She is the rider I had in my mind’s eye while writing the Grand Prix jumping scenes in the The Cowgirl Jumped Over the Moon. Susie melds with her mounts and flows with their movement giving them the freedom to enjoy what they are doing and to win. I saw her ride Samsung Woodstock the horse who took her to the World Equestrian Games in 1994. She is still going strong and was inducted into the Jumper Hall of Fame in 2015. I am proud to have my conversation with Susie featured in The California Riding Magazine.

ASusie Hutchison. Photo: Wendy Gleason / Malibu5StarNaturals.com





It is very gratifying to see my book listed with two other great reads in the book review section of the California Riding Magazine. Writing the story has brought me full circle and back into the horse world in ways I could never have imagined. I wrote the story standing up at my breakfast bar. It took my mind off the extreme sciatica I was experiencing due to an injury to my back that forced me to give up riding. My protagonist has an accident on course that forces her to re-think her life and determine if the riding world is worth the sacrifice and discipline necessary to be a winner.

Review in California Riding Magazine                 
                                                                      Amazon
“Linda Ballou captures the energy, excitement and adrenalin rush of the Grand Prix jumping world that has kept me in the game all these years.” Susan Hutchison


Adventure-travel writer, Linda Ballou, shares Great Outdoor days in L.A, as well as a host of travel articles on her site, along with information about her travel memoir, Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales, her historical novel Wai-nani, A Voice from Old Hawai’i and her latest action-adventure novel The Cowgirl Jumped over the Moon  available on Amazon or www.lindaballouauthorcom