That’s rodeo—now and forever.
Anywhere there’s a pen, a horse, a bull and a cowboy (or girl), 
from one edge of the globe to the other. ‘Specially in Texas!
Young, old, and every age in between, rodeo’s in the blood.
While the sport originated as light-hearted competition and entertainment between ranch hands on their days off, today’s rodeos have evolved from entertainment to professional events. And, if the luck of the draw favors you 
with good horses, rank bulls, and a whole bunch-a-skills, you can make money, meet lots of great folks, and have a heck-of-a-good time in the process.
Astrodome-type rodeos are cleaned up and cement-ized. Dust is kept to a minimum for all you citified folks. There’s not a chance of gettin’ the flick of a horse’s tail in your face or gettin’ your boots dirty. But for an up-close and
exciting opportunity, local youth rodeos and ropin’s are the perfect opportunity to enjoy the thrill of watching the skills and courage of these young people—some less than six years old—in their war of wits against the stock and fellow competitors.
Upon arriving in Texas, over thirty years ago, I had no clue what rodeo was about, and categorized it with the circus. Boy was I wrong.
Taking a writing course, I was supposed to observe a child I didn’t know and write about them. My business partner was a barrel racer and so was her daughter—my learning curve soared and that rodeo spirit shot through me like a hefty dose of B12. 
I love rodeo and the spirit of competition and care it engenders in the youngsters for their livestock and everyone involved in this should-be-Olympic sport. 
Today begins the 20-day-countdown to Prism Book Group’s August 21st release of my first western adventure entitled, ROPED.
“Thirteen-year-old Crissy Crosby chases a dream to live up to her parents’ rodeo legacy. But the rodeo championship is two months away and problems beyond her ability to solve stack and teeter like a game of Tumbling-Towers.
Prejudice, anger, and dark secrets simmer in a pot of family feuds destined to boil over in a tragic nightmare at the rodeo.
Will Crissy develop courage and faith to overcome the consequences of her temper? Will her dreams of buckles and titles become reality? Or will the character-building adversities of her life quash her dreams forever?”
Hope you stay tuned for the next few weeks as my blog’s tempo changes, and we explore rodeo. During release week there will be prizes awarded (which I will be unveiling soon) along with instructions of how to register for the drawings.
Next week’s blog: Eight Seconds and Fifteen Hundred Pounds of Hell—And The Bull Riders Who Survive!
MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES 