ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP............stories from ranch women By Gail L. Jenner

As an introduction to the anthology, ANKLE  HIGH  AND  KNEE  DEEP, I’m posting the Introduction here. It was part of the pitch I gave to the editor at Two Dot/Globe Pequot 4 years ago. She loved the concept and worked with me through the development of what would be included or discarded with energy and tenacity. I’m so grateful to my editor. The pitching process took a couple of months, UNTIL I settled on the title of the book – ANKLE  HIGH AND  KNEE  DEEP.   Funny, the power in a title; when I wrote my editor and suggested it, she immediately wrote back: “That’s it! We got it now!”

The title came from an old-time expression --- when you are knee deep in s--- and everything around you is falling apart, you might just end up ankle high in it, too!! 

“Farming seems easy when your plow is a pencil and you are a thousand miles from the corn field.”  ~  Dwight Eisenhower  

INTRODUCTION.......or Lessons Learned....

            Life is all about the learning, and the “family farm” is a great schoolhouse. Ankle  High  and  Knee  Deep represents what 40+ rural/farm women have learned while standing in or stepping out of mud, manure, and other “offal.” It is a collection of entertaining and inspirational essays that offers a unique perspective on love, marriage, parenting, relationships, loss, and other universal issues. These women’s connection to the land and to the people and animals in their lives is documented here.   
    

Concepts that the general public has now adopted, words like sustainability and renewable/ recyclable, come to us directly from the life of a farmer or rancher. Working within a landscape that can change with the seasons or alongside the forces of nature that demand commitment and sacrifice develops deep character; interestingly, the word “character” comes from the Greek word meaning “to chisel.” That describes perfectly what living and working in an often harsh physical environment does to the human soul.

            Several of the best lessons I’ve learned have come from forty-two plus years spent on our fifth-generation ranch:
           

            *Sometimes the mud and muck gets ankle deep, but it can always be washed off.

            *You’ve got to plant the seeds before there’s anything worth harvesting.

            *Waiting is time well spent. After winter comes spring, and after spring rains comes the summer harvest.

            *Never think anything is not worth saving; sometimes it’s just the odd piece of baling wire that keeps things from falling apart.

            *Don’t be in a hurry; that’s when you run through fences or get stuck in ditches.

            *Always watch out for the soft places:  Anything that looks that good has got to be dangerous.

            *Don’t ignore the rotten apples. They can destroy the entire barrelful if overlooked.

            *Don’t be afraid of hard work and sweat. There’s nothing finer than a shower or warm fire after a day well spent.

            *Love your job. It’s what you do, all day, every day.

            *Just because a skunk is cute doesn’t mean he won’t stink!

            *Don’t look back: that’s when you

find yourself belly up in a low spot.

            *Don’t hold onto trouble; you’ve got to spread the manure around in order to make it effective fertilizer.

            *Do things right the first time so you don’t have to do them twice.

            *Be willing to invest – not only money – but sweat and time. In the end you’ll have something worth keeping.

            *Out of the garbage heap grow the seeds you ignored.

            *Good fences make good neighbors; know what people’s boundaries are and learn to respect them.

            *To have a good garden, you’ve got to live in it; weeds take over quickly.

            *Weaning time can’t be ignored; there’s a right time to let go.

            *Most of the time there’s no choice:  Success requires frequent sacrifice and persistence.    

            Though not a faith-based book, this collection of essays does underscore traditional values while providing an oftimes humorous look at life spent at the wrong end of a tractor, cow, or horse. Many reflect the lessons learned from a life centered around work, work, and more work. Trivial moments become significant moments of transition – revealing that maybe the destination isn’t as important as the road that leads there. 

           

            Maybe that’s why farmers eventually become philosophers.

ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP is a great read! If you haven't checked it out, please log onto amazon or check out your local bookstore and ask for it!? This was such a fabulous "journey" -- collecting the voices of western farm and ranch women, some of whom claim they are NOT writers ;-)   

Gail L. Jenner, a past history and English teacher, began writing at age 9. Inspired by so many writers, one of her greatest thrills is having WON a WILLA Literary Award for Best Softcover Fiction from Women Writing the West, for ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS, re-released by Prairie Rose Publications in 2013. I'm so grateful PRP took it on and gave it new life! It's a story that took 10 years to research/write/rewrite.... 

 For more, visit: www.gailjenner.com OR: http://www.amazon.com/Gail-Fiorini-Jenner/e/B005GHR47O Her newest releases from Prairie Rose Publications include PRETTIEST LITTLE HORSE THIEF, JULY'S BRIDE and JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS ! These stories have also been included in the PRP anthologies, PRESENT FOR A COWBOY, LASSOING A BRIDE and COWBOY KISSES. 

THE WESTERN COWGIRL -- MYTH, LEGEND, HISTORY by Gail L. Jenner

           As children, we often impersonate heroes. For many of us of the 1950s-60s generation, that probably included cowboys and Indians, or, possibly, cowgirls. Although not raised on a ranch, I loved Annie Oakley and I recall my very special Annie Oakley outfit that I got one year—and that I ruined when I foolishly ate a big ripe olive off of our olive tree (not knowing that they are bitter and contain a black bitter juice that STAINS!). 

Unbelievably, while checking on ebay for one like it, I found it,  the 

exact outfit--going for $225! Surely my parents didn't pay more than

a few dollars for it...

            No one in my family thought it out of character when I actually married my fourth-generation cowboy rancher fourteen years later. In short order I became a rancher’s wife and cattlewoman. I still work with my husband as often as I can, I ride (even tried my hand at barrel racing for fun, but mostly help work/move cows or ride in the mountains), I wear jeans and boots and have even taken up training my own horse, along with writing and teaching school, raising children (and chickens, too, over the years), raising a large garden, and cooking for "the guys" almost daily. I have become a ranching woman in the last 44 years, and nothing could pry me away from my life here in this rugged mountain valley.  But, though I would love to call myself a cowgirl, the label has to be reserved for the most dashing of Western women, the real cowgirls. 

I live around many of them—some who have ranched independently their entire lives—women, like Jessie, who, at 92, still spends all day outside with her cows, or Nancy—who took over the family ranch as a young woman and has remained at the helm for more than 25 years. Nothing deters these often quiet but resolute women.

             

But cowgirls have been with us for generations, and a number of women have held registered brands in Texas since the late 1700s. In 1795, a list of ranchers “legitimately engaged in the business of raising cattle,” included ten women. According to records, these ten held title “to more than one if five of the early cattle spreads.”

            One Spanish Doña, Doña Rosa Hinojosa de Ballí, inherited 55,000 acres of land in  in 1790.  She raised cattle, horses, sheep and goats and grew her ranch to over one million acres. Another, Doña Maria del Carmen Calvillo, inherited her ranch in 1814, and was said “to have cut a fine figure as she flew across her lands on her white stallion!” Moreover, she was “a superb rider and markswoman...noted for her flowing black hair, her scandalous male attire and her financial success.”

            Other early cattlewomen included pioneer women like Ann Burke who emigrated from Ireland with her husband to ranch in Texas. Sadly, her husband died on the voyage, but Ann—who delivered her first child one hour after landing on the Texas coast—went forward with their dream, raising cattle and horses on their large land grant.

            Mary Ann "Molly" Goodnight, married to Charles, helped establish the famous JA Ranch and rode the trail to Dodge City twice. Molly also owned her own herds, in addition to those she co-owned with her husband. She became known as the Mother of the Panhandle.

           

 Interestingly, it was the western frontier that first established the rights of married women to own land or earn their own income.  In 1849 in California, lawmakers hoped that by improving property laws, they could attract more women to the rough and tumble mining regions.  Of course, along with improved property laws, there followed fairly “loose” divorce laws so that a number of women—after arriving as brides—divorced and went on to become their own bosses and entrepreneurs.  In Helena, Montana, in the 1860s -70s, it is said that for every three marriages granted, there was one divorce.

             

The lure of owning land, therefore, was ample reason for many women to travel west and take up homesteads or acquire land grants, even to the chagrin of many men who thought the Homestead Act far "too equitable!" Across the Midwest, single, divorced, even married women pursued their dream for owning and working their own land.  Without being "feminists," they established a reputation as competent and respected landowners.

            Throughout the West, cattlewomen and cowgirls continued to take up the rope and saddle. Most were girls raised on the family ranches who often inherited their holdings. Between 1875 and 1900, in fact, approximately 250,000 ran their own farms and ranches while millions worked alongside husbands or fathers on their multigenerational spreads. Even Buffalo Bill Cody wrote, in 1899: “What we want to do is give our women even more liberty than they have. Let them do any kind of work that they see fit, and if they do it as well as men, give them the same pay.”

            Annie Oakley, the cowgirl star of the Old West, who actually appeared as “ladylike” off the stage—and never as a floozy—nevertheless, embodied the first national image of the sharp-shooting cowgirl.

Her skills of marksmanship rivaled any man's, and she was revered during her day and seen as a western icon; that image was not mythological or contrived, even if it was staged. Her fame brought recognition to what many western women were capable of.

         

Cowgirls also became part of the rodeo circuit. Daredevil cowgirls, like Vera McGinnis, rode standing on her horse, at a hard gallop in a race called The Drunken Ride, at the Pendleton Roundup in Oregon. Kitty Canutt became the "Champion Lady rider of the World" on a horse called "Winermucca" in Rawling, WY, in 1919. There were even female rodeo bulldoggers.  About Fox Hastings--born Eloise Fox-- who ran away from home at age 14 to ride bucking stock, it was written (in 1929): "To the rodeo crowd she is Fox Hastings, cowgirl extraordinary. To neighbors, she is Mrs. Mike Hastings, a good cook and tidy housekeeper." 

       

 As writers of the western tradition, we should be sure and not reduce the cowgirl to myth. Complex and multifaceted, they were women of unique qualities and character. And for urban readers, it's important to recognize that though these historical figures are legendary,  the cowgirl is as real today as she was 150 years ago; she is a powerful and important part of our Western cultural inheritance. 

Gail L. Jenner is the author ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS, recently re-released by Prairie Rose Publications.


She has also coauthored five nonfiction regional histories and has contributed to a number of anthologies, including ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP (GlobePequot/Two Dot), also Prairie Rose's LASSOING A BRIDE, PRESENT FOR A COWBOY, and COWBOY KISSES. She writes for NPR/JPR's historical series and for JEFFERSON BACKROADS, a monthly regional publication. She is also a co-partner in the family's "all female" online business, JENNER FAMILY BEEF.

As a ranching wife, Gail is an active CattleWoman and works hard to share a better understanding of life on a ranch. She has presented at various conferences on issues and challenges faced by agriculturalists in this modern world. Most of all, she loves the life that she shares with her cowboy husband, her children, and her grandchildren--who now represent the 6th generation on this family-owned operation. She and her husband live in the original family homestead, a house built c. 1870.......And she's still bemoaning the loss of her Annie Oakley outfit!

EVERY WRITER NEEDS TO BECOME A SPEAKER........Yikes! By GAIL L. JENNER

We’ve all heard it said – and if you haven’t, you need to – that every writer needs to learn to be a speaker.  REALLY???  Yes.   

And - yes - this is scary for many of us. Indeed, the fear of speaking in public is reportedly the second greatest fear, second only to the fear of flying! 

In order to be a successful speaker, however, there are several things that need to be addressed. And according to the experts, the most important things include: audience; content; setting; and delivery.

Is it possible to overcome the fear that accompanies that first -- or second -- or thirtieth speaking engagement?

Yes! Absolutely.

The first element to consider after accepting a speaking engagement is audience, knowing to whom you’re speaking and why. Is it a library reading or speech for Rotary or Lions – or perhaps a school power-point, workshop presentation, or book club presentation? 

Establishing who the audience is and what their needs are or what your goals are clearly leads you to the next elements in a powerful presentation. But do not underestimate this initial step: without understanding who the audience is you may not prepare properly.

After analyzing who your audience will be, it’s time to analyze or select your content. Content is, of course, what you select to include in your speech or presentation. For writers of historical romances or westerns, it might mean pulling out aspects of your story or aspects of the setting or history, or even the compelling conflict and/or romance! 

Finding obscure historical facts that relate to your story’s time period might be just what triggers greater interest in your story overall. I recall that when speaking to a college class about writing historicals, I shared some rare and humorous events that were tied to my story about BlackBart—but which had not been included in the novel. That made for a great hook and it was easy to move into Black Bart's fascinating life story and the novel I’d written as a result. It also led to a wonderful Q & A afterward.
 

Content could also include a summary of your story – or the background that led to your story. Or perhaps the characterizations you developed: why you selected the characters you did or how you came up with the names of your characters. Even naming characters can be a fascinating aspect of characterization; I know I spend a substantial amount of time naming my hero and heroine. No doubt most writers do… and readers find this intriguing as well.

The setting for your presentation can improve your delivery by providing elements of interest. I’ve used vintage photos, even poster-size, to elicit a response or question from the audience (following my initial talk, or randomly throughout). I’ve not used videos, per se, but have used power-point presentations (brief ones) as a lead-in to my talks or as a follow up. I’ve used questions or anecdotes as lead-ins, too. The use of a power-point presentation and/or posters and photos have proved successful in eliciting great follow-up questions, especially when speaking to groups of students or groups like Rotary and Native Daughters.

The use of costumes is intriguing, and although I have not done a lot of dressing in vintage costume, the few times I have, I’ve enjoyed it immensely—and so has the audience. But it may not always be appropriate. In truth, however, appearance is something by which a speaker is often judged. It’s been said you should dress as well as the ‘best-dressed’ person attending your presentation. And if coming in costume fits your venue, go for it! When I speak to farm groups or cattlewomen’s organizations, you can be sure that I appear in my best ‘western’ gear, which, for me, is a comfortable arena as a rancher’s wife and fits in well with my historical/western ‘bent.’

Certainly the overall setting and/or location can lend itself to a powerful presentation. On the other hand, a poor setting can be limiting and/or distracting for both you as a speaker or the audience. I’ve presented in small areas that lacked space or appeal, so it meant I had to make the most of MYSELF as the feature…

For me, the hardest part of planning a presentation is the delivery. I do not consider myself a natural speaker, although I’m a veteran teacher! I finally understood that while teaching, the emphasis is always on the student, so I rarely feel intimidated. But speaking to groups, especially to groups of other writers or teachers, the focus shifts obviously to me, and that IS intimidating!  But as time has gone on, I’ve grown more comfortable in working up a lively delivery. Learning how to pause, how to gesture, how to elaborate and/or exaggerate an emotion or content has become a challenge I enjoy undertaking.

Obviously VOICE is hugely important; a monotone delivery is boring. A presentation where the speaker relies only on a written speech is also horribly boring. Intonation and variety in your delivery is imperative. Humor is always a positive, but it needs to be natural – not forced or pretentious – and certainly not derogatory or demeaning.

That being said, as a writer/speaker, selecting the right venue is important. You may actually not want to accept every opportunity to speak. Some audiences may not be the right ones if the proposed subject area is one that doesn’t entice or excite YOU. I have learned to focus on those groups and/or venues that offer the best chance to showcase myself and/or my material.

Finally, in preparing to speak, I’ve learned a couple simple “tricks!” One?  It’s best not to eat just before speaking; eating can make your system sluggish.  Another? Sucking on a lemon 10 or 15 minutes ahead of time can actually help alleviate that awful dry mouth syndrome (I learned that from an acting friend!). 

 

Or drinking a little lemon-water can help. There's nothing worse than having your mouth become dry and sticky. 

Some people also like to keep a small glass of water nearby. I often do.  Incidentally, don’t get too warm; as in teaching, keeping the environment on the cooler side helps keep everyone more alert. Believe me, I never allowed my classroom to be too warm, especially on testing days!

Another lesson from my teaching days? Do not pass out any “handouts” until after you speak or else your audience will be distracted by what’s written. Between papers being folded or handed around, the audience will pay far less attention if there is something in their hands. And, of course, cell phones need to be quieted and even your pockets should be empty. Again, I’ve seen many teachers make the mistake of clicking pens or jingling keys while standing in front of students. All of these small things can be a terrible distraction.

I think the last item to remember is that even if it’s a small crowd, always treat those who have come to listen to you as if they are the most important people in the world. Never assume that a small crowd is less important than a large one. The interaction can surprise you, even if you look around and see 4 people waiting to hear you speak. Hopefully that doesn't occur, but do not be dismayed.  In the end, if you are engaged and enthusiastic, select the appropriate content and prepare the setting and your delivery to the best of your ability, speaking engagements can be fun, rewarding, and profitable. 

*  *  *  *  *

Gail L. Jenner is the author of two historical novels, including the WILLA Award-winning ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS, re-released by Prairie Rose Publications in December 2013. She has coauthored 6 nonfiction books, the most recent, ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP,  has been listed as #3 and #10 in amazon.com's Top 100 books on Country/Rural living for 5 months. Two of her short stories have also been included in two Prairie Rose Publications' anthologies: Lassoing A Bride; and the upcoming Christmas anthology, Present for a Cowboy.

A former history and English teacher, she is the wife of a fourth generation cattle rancher. She is a Past President of Women Writing the West and a member of Western Writers of America. Her writing has placed in a number of contests, including the William Faulkner Short Story Contest, the Jack London Novel Contest, the PNWA Screenplay Contest, two Writers' Digest contests, and many others.  She has been a speaker and presenter at a wide variety of conferences, and for many different kinds of groups and venues, and she still battles butterflies and dry mouth!

A GLIMPSE OF LIFE & DEATH ON THE RANCH.......By Gail L. Jenner

Life is hard on a ranch, especially when calving season comes along. With close to 1000 head of cows, the season can be 24-hour duty when first calf heifers begin calving. Late nights, long days, cold weather all play into the drama that takes place each year. Although we calve in the fall, we do live in a mountain valley and sometimes the snow comes early....even if it's only a skiff, it can be discouraging.

For anyone who hasn't experienced life on a ranch, perhaps the memoir shared here will provide a glimpse into the struggle to protect and/or save the lives that depend on us each and every day. Nothing about taking care of livestock is taken for granted; would that more people realize the deep bond that connects man/woman and beast!

Sometimes it's a hard drama, especially when a heifer has trouble. The following (true) event occurred in the early years of our marriage, before I had experienced the frustrating and disappointing loss of a calf or even a young mother cow. The loss is not one anyone accepts easily.

I wrote about this episode a few weeks after it happened -- perhaps as my way of processing and letting go -- and revised it several years later, so I am thrilled to see this story finally "find its home" in the anthology recently released by TwoDot/Globe, entitled ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP. It's one of the four I submitted.

If I might add, as editor and collector of the anthology/ volume, I was thrilled that the editors/publishers at TwoDot/Globe Pequot also loved the piece.

Birth

Gail L. Jenner

“Oh, Doug, is it going to be all right?”

“I don’t know. It don’t want to come. Maybe the calf is turned.” My husband pulled off his long-sleeved shirt and dipped his hands into the bucket of soapy water before turning to her. His hands entered easily, but the cow resisted when he pushed his arms in up to the elbows. “Come on, Mama.”

As the cow strained against the nylon halter I held taut, I swallowed the bile that burned my throat. At the same time, a series of groans rose up out of her throat, then her legs, shaking uncontrollably, gave up beneath her swollen body. She dropped to the straw with an ominous thud.

“Is the calf turned the right way?” My words, barely spoken, tinkled like coins in the empty barn. I dropped the end of the halter. This cow wasn’t going anywhere.

Doug hesitated, brows drawn together, tongue moving across chapped lips. “The head’s okay, but one leg don’t seem to be.”

“But will it live?”

He grunted, trying to wipe his chin against his shoulder. “Not unless we get it out soon.” He withdrew his hands and stood for a moment. He glanced up at me. “We'll have to pull it.”

With bloodied fingers, he picked up the length of chain he'd dragged out of the pickup earlier. The links of the mechanical stretcher clanked noisily.

I frowned as he circled and fastened one end of the chain around a small pair of hooves barely protruding from the young cow’s enraged cavity. Still down and panting, she twisted her head back until that the white sockets of her eyes bulged.

I held my protest. I knew Doug was doing all he could.

“When I start to pull,” he ordered, handing me one end of the chain, “make sure it don't slip off.”

The hard links rattled as Doug pulled on the lever – once, twice; the sound sent chills down my back, reminding me of fingernails scraping against a chalkboard.

Doug yanked on the pulley again. “Hold it steady!”

The chain grew taut, but the calf didn't budge. The cow’s belly ballooned with another contraction and she gasped.

I shrank back as she bawled again. “Oh, poor Mama,” I whispered. Why was life such a struggle?

Disgusted, Doug dropped the pulley contraption and shoved his hands back through the slimy opening, leaning forward to negotiate a better hold on the buried calf. Pearls of sweat trailed down his lean cheeks and they shimmered in the lopsided beams of amber light provided by his old pickup’s headlights.

He scowled as he probed and prodded, pushed and pulled.

Night finally edged in, the darkness filling the barn like spilled ink. Dinner hour long forgotten, I could not have moved away from the young mother even if I’d wanted to.  I was still new to marriage and this ranching life, and I hadn’t realized how tenuous life could be.

“Hey!” Doug interrupted my thoughts. “Give me that hammer and chisel.”

“Oh,” I groaned, reaching for the tools he had brought – just in case. Then I turned away, unable to watch. Only in impossible situations did a farmer or vet choose to split a young cow’s pelvis.

Hopefully it would heal.

“I have to,” Doug whispered. I nodded, touched by his attempt to ease my discomfort.

The hammer hit dully; the job was done. Throwing the tools aside, he moved swiftly. He reached for the calf's hooves and tugged. Like a soft ripe banana, the bloody body of the bald-faced calf oozed out onto the damp straw.

Dropping to his knees, my husband wiped the afterbirth from the calf's nose and tongue, but the tongue dangled like a fat pink tube sock, and its eyes stared blankly into the empty night.

Taking a quick, deep breath, Doug pressed his mouth over the calf’s. Sealing both nostrils, he blew breath after breath into the limp body.

I waited, tears slipping unnoticed down my cheeks.

Time passed cruelly.

Finally Doug leaned back and frowned. His eyes reflected my fear. “Too late. Too damn late.”

No! I took a step forward. You have to live. You can’t die. I held my breath. I felt Doug exhale slowly, but he avoided my glance.

And the cow, exhausted, lay, panting, her head flopped over in the straw as if she'd turned away from the awful sight.

Doug dragged the calf aside, his own face dark with unspoken disappointment. Then he returned to the cow.

He rested one palm lightly on her hip, but she didn't move as he inspected her and cleaned her off; neither did she flinch when he gave her an injection of antibiotic from the small black bag he always carried with him.

But I couldn’t stop the tears. Turning slowly, I looked out at the stars scattered like fool’s gold across the black dome of sky. Life. Death.

I turned back to the young cow.

Doug was massaging her back and shoulders, mindless of the cold air against his wet, stained arms and hands, compassion written across his weather-stained features. “I'm sorry, old gal,” he whispered. 

Slowly he coaxed her to her feet and pulled off the halter. She trembled, but seemed to gather her strength in the next moments.

It was then his glance trapped mine.

I winced.

The cow bawled.

He smiled tentatively. There would be another birth, his eyes said.

Perhaps another death, I wanted to retort.

Perhaps. But always, life prevails.

I hope you have enjoyed this excerpt from the recent release, ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP.

For more on ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP, check it out on amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0762792116/#_swftext_Swf

THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN YOUR CAREER -- OOOPS, SPENDING MONEY! By Gail L. Jenner

Many writers bemoan the fact that they have to invest -- OOOPS, spend money (!) on their careers -- well before selling a ms. or seeing any results from sales. I was fortunate to have been raised by parents who understood the importance of preparation and schooling and who taught me that to have anything worthwhile, it takes time and sacrifice AND, quite often, money.

That understanding has served me well. First, as a teacher, but for the last many years, as a writer. Most writers recognize the need for computers and technology without a second thought. Unfortunately, for many, the cost of attending conferences or courses, building a platform by speaking and appearing at locations without pay, even donating articles, books and resources while having to spend on other resources, adds up so quickly that they pull back. That hesitation, however, can slow the course of their career and writing opportunities tremendously.

Thankfully, I married a man who, though not a "reader", also supported my growing obsession and said, "Go for it!" Though I had been writing and selling articles and stories for several years, teaching English and history full time while being a very busy rancher's wife and mother of three, etc., meant I was burning my candle at two ends. I think a lot of writers do that, especially in the beginning. But my husband said, "If you really want to write, don't be afraid to quit teaching full time, if that's what you need to do." So I did....

The next step, spending money in the process of writing, came next. My father -- who had passed away by then -- had always said, "Never, NEVER, be afraid to invest in YOURSELF." My mother and family kept reminding me of that. My twin sister and mother even insisted we load up my sister's old pickup truck, and four of our children, and head up to Montana where I was wanting to go for primary research into the history of the Marias Massacre, the background for the novel I was pursuing (ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS, which then WON a WILLA Literary Award)! We looked like something out of the Grapes of Wrath :-)   Packed into her 1969 pickup, in August -- with no air conditioning -- we headed north! With four little boys, it was quite an adventure.

But I realized through that endeavor that getting to those locations where you need to SEE, hear, or feel your STORY, is critical. I even suspect that part of the reason the novel went on to win a WILLA Award, from Women Writing the West, was because I had spent so much energy and time researching primary documents and visiting sites that were integral to the story. Hopefully it made the story much more authentic because I was not sitting at home trying to imagine the locations Red Eagle and Liza Ralston struggled against but walking over ground they would have walked....perhaps that's why PRP was also willing to re-release the novel in December 2013 (thank you, Cheryl and Livia)!

After that trip, I also began to see the need to attend more writing conferences and courses. I had already found Women Writing the West and when the conference came to Sacramento, I jumped on board. What a great group! I have since attended at least ten Women Writing the West conferences, and even did a stint as President and WILLA Chair.

Besides meeting the awesome women who people the organization, through WWW, I met the editor for Arcadia Publishing and immediately began a relationship with them, having now sold them four titles. Two of those titles have gone into second printing and the last one my coauthor and I did for them (POSTCARDS FROM THE STATE OF JEFFERSON) was actually one that Arcadia pitched to US! At WWW, I also met the publisher who accepted the ms. for HISTORIC INNS & EATERIES IN THE STATE OF JEFFERSON (Old America Publishing), AND two conferences ago, I met the editor from Globe Pequot who accepted the pitch for ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP, just released. ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP is now ranked #57,000 on amazon.com.

I also met the agent I worked with (only for a short time) at a writers' conference. Although the relationship didn't work out, I began to build the confidence that helped me approach other agents and editors at conferences.

I have since attended RWA conferences, PNWA conferences, a Willamette Writers conference, even smaller local and regional conferences. I dragged my husband to L.A. and attended a four-day Screenwriting course because I wanted to jump into that genre, and I traveled to Portland (320 miles north) for six weeks to attend a screenwriting course. Some of my writing friends shook their heads at how willing I was to travel long distances to learn more or seek out new opportunities. Of course, living in a remote, rural area -- I had little choice but to travel!

I began to speak to small writing groups and offered myself to schools in the area, even traveling a couple hours each way, to speak and share; sometimes I sold a book or two, but often sold nothing. I joined a list of historical writers and began writing for our local NPR/JPR station and its quite famous historical essay series (I still contribute 3 small essays each month!). I accepted a "job" as a writer for a new regional publication, JEFFERSON BACKROADS; in exchange for my writing a long piece each month, I "receive" free ads and publicity. This year, I'll be attending the Western Writers of America conference in Sacramento and can't wait to meet writers who have attained such great success as many of them have done!

Another expense that seems to "pay off" includes contests (although I'm quite selective). I've entered many different contests and have placed in a number of them, even winning the cost of registration, presentation at the banquet provided the finalists and winners, and a private pitch session for one of my scripts, through Pacific Northwest Writers Association (PNWA).

Clearly, I consider the cost of attending conferences as a necessary investment in building my career. It provides so many opportunities for meeting and networking that the investment of time and money comes back many times over. I look back and think to myself, "Wow! Had I shrunk from spending the money out of fear or feeling the pinch, I'd have missed so much!" So, if you've hesitated until now, just "Go for it!" Search the internet, find local, regional, or national conferences, or courses you know will expand your horizons, and jump in!

For more about my books, visit my website: www.gailjenner.com
OR http://prairierosepublications.yolasite.com/gail-l-jenner.php
For more about the WILLA Literary Award guidelines/application, visit: http://womenwritingthewest.org/pdffiles/2014_WILLA_guidelines_application.pdf

ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP..... Now on Sale! By Gail L. Jenner

ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP has officially been released!  I’m so thrilled….and so proud of the 40+ women who participated in this venture, some of whom I've never even met but who jumped in when I queried them.  It was a book I've envisioned for many years and features both well-known and unknown writers, including a few who declared, “I can’t write!” We even have stories from two 90 or near 90 year old women, whose lives are such a testimony of grit and determination...

But our collected stories are here -- and already the book is listed #25 on the Top 100+ titles of books related to RURAL LIFE on www.amazon.com -- and it’s only been available for a couple of weeks.

As a way of introducing the anthology to readers here, I’m posting the Introduction to the book. It was part of the pitch I gave to the editor at Two Dot/Globe Pequot more than 2 years ago at a Women Writing the West conference.  She loved the concept and worked with me throughout the development of what would be/should be included or discarded with energy and tenacity. Three revisions later, we were ready to go to print.  And I LOVE the cover; the Art Dept. picked the perfect image for this volume!

I’m so grateful to Erin Turner, our editor at Globe/Pequot.  The actual pitching process took a couple of months, UNTIL I settled on the title of the book – ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP.  Funny, the power in a title!!  When I wrote Erin and suggested it, she immediately wrote back: “That’s it! We've got it now!”

Here's the opening to the anthology, which features stories and photographs from farm and ranch women all over the West (and a couple from further east!)....

 INTRODUCTION

By Gail L. Jenner

“Farming seems easy when your plow is a pencil and you are a thousand miles from the corn field.”  ~  Dwight Eisenhower  

            Life is all about the learning, and the “family farm” is a great schoolhouse. AnkleHigh and Knee Deep represents what 40+ rural/farm women have learned while standing in or stepping out of mud, manure, and other “offal.” It is a collection of entertaining and inspirational essays that offers a unique perspective on love, marriage, parenting, relationships, loss, and other universal issues. These women’s connection to the land and to the people and animals in their lives is documented here.            
           

            Concepts that the general public has now adopted, words like sustainability and renewable/recyclable, come to us directly from the life of a farmer or rancher. Working within a landscape that can change with the seasons or alongside the forces of nature that demand commitment and sacrifice develops deep character; interestingly, the word “character” comes from the Greek word meaning “to chisel.” That describes perfectly what living and working in an often harsh physical environment does to the human soul.

            Several of the best lessons I’ve learned have come from forty-two plus years spent on our fifth-generation ranch:
           

            *Sometimes the mud and muck gets ankle deep, but it can always be washed off.

            *You’ve got to plant the seeds before there’s anything worth harvesting.

            *Waiting is time well spent. After winter comes spring, and after spring rains comes the summer harvest.

            *Never think anything is not worth saving; sometimes it’s just the odd piece of baling wire that keeps things from falling apart.

            *Don’t be in a hurry; that’s when you run through fences or get stuck in ditches.

            *Always watch out for the soft places:  Anything that looks that good has got to be dangerous.

            *Don’t ignore the rotten apples. They can destroy the entire barrelful if overlooked.

            *Don’t be afraid of hard work and sweat. There’s nothing finer than a shower or warm fire after a day well spent.

            *Love your job. It’s what you do, all day, every day.

            *Just because a skunk is cute doesn’t mean he won’t stink!

            *Don’t look back: that’s when you find yourself belly up in a low spot.

            *Don’t hold onto trouble; you’ve got to spread the manure around in order to make it effective fertilizer.

            *Do things right the first time so you don’t have to do them twice.

            *Be willing to invest – not only money – but sweat and time. In the end you’ll have something worth keeping.

            *Out of the garbage heap grow the seeds you ignored.

            *Good fences make good neighbors; know what people’s boundaries are and learn to respect them.

            *To have a good garden, you’ve got to live in it; weeds take over quickly.

            *Weaning time can’t be ignored; there’s a right time to let go.

            *Most of the time there’s no choice:  Success requires frequent sacrifice and persistence.   

            Though not a faith-based book, this collection of essays does underscore traditional values while providing an oftimes humorous look at life spent at the wrong end of a tractor, cow, or horse. Many reflect the lessons learned from a life centered around work, work, and more work. Trivial moments become significant moments of transition – revealing that maybe the destination isn’t as important as the road that leads there. 
           

            Maybe that’s why farmers eventually become philosophers.

For those who love to read inspirational or humorous/insightful stories or memoir....for those who love to take a step into another world, Ankle High and Knee Deep is just that.  Is it too much to add that we would love to have a few reviews for those who do find time to order ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP  ... AND thank you for letting me brag!

For more about my books, both nonfiction or historical fiction, check out my website at www.gailjenner.com

or http://prairierosepublications.yolasite.com/gail-l-jenner.php