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Behind the Scenes: My horseback riding ties into writing Once up a time, I was a teenager who fell in love with the world from the back of a horse. My after-school hours were spent with DeeDee, our sweet Arabian mare who tolerated my inexperience with saintly patience and delighted in learning new tricks.
Nothing felt more liberating than gripping the reins, leaning forward, and flying across a field with the wind in my face. That feeling—freedom, partnership, trust—became part of who I am, and inevitably, it found its way into my books. Here’s how horses and horseback riding shaped my writing, my characters, and more than a few dramatic chase scenes. 🐎 My Riding Beginnings: DeeDee the Patient & Playful Arabian DeeDee was my first real introduction to horse partnership. She was gentle, curious, and endlessly forgiving as I learned:
That mix of beauty and unpredictability is something I still weave into every horse scene I write. 🐎 Riding Through College, Medical School, and Beyond My love of riding didn’t stop when life got busy. In college, a friend’s family owned horses and graciously let me ride. Later, the owner of the paramedic company I worked for kept several horses and also opened their pastures to me. Even in medical school, I somehow lucked into friends who welcomed me into their barns. These experiences gave me exposure to different horses, personalities, and challenges: #Henry – The Clumsiest Horse I’ve Ever Met Henry tripped constantly. Once, he stumbled so spectacularly that we both ended up in the mud in an undignified heap. We were fine—just muddy and laughing—but it’s a reminder that even sure-footed animals have their off days. #Baby – The Spooky Speedster Baby had a reputation for meanness, and it took four months of steady groundwork before I finally rode her outside the corral. The victory was short-lived: a flock of birds burst from the trees, Baby bolted for the barn, and when I tried to rein her in, she bucked up a 45-degree incline. I flew over her head and landed flat on my back. Shaking, sore, and adrenaline-filled, I climbed back on to ride her around the corral once--because you always get back on. And then I never rode Baby again. Those experiences—sweet, funny, terrifying, empowering—shaped the way I write riders and horses alike: with respect for the animal, awareness of danger, and appreciation for the exhilaration. 🐎 Where You’ll Find Horseback Riding in My Books If you love horseback scenes as much as I do, you’ll spot them galloping through several of my stories—sometimes dramatic, sometimes romantic, sometimes downright cinematic. Black Gold Lillian makes a brave, desperate dash on horseback to escape oil thieves in Kenya. It’s one of the most adrenaline-fueled moments in the book, blending fear, freedom, and raw survival as she rides for her life. Sharp File Santino delivers a spectacular riding sequence inspired by The Man From Snowy River—one of my all-time favorite movies. It’s bold, daring, and a little swoon-worthy, showcasing both his horsemanship and heroic streak. Sky Fall (Shadow Guardians, Book 3) Sky rides into the final showdown with Hel atop her loyal horse Thunder across Iceland’s wild landscape. Their bond—built from trust to battle—makes this moment powerful, emotional, and mythic. Gray Horizon Jonathan (Lillian’s brother) pulls off a high-speed horseback escape through Paris, very much in the spirit of True Lies(yes, that scene). It’s cinematic, chaotic, and one of my favorite action moments. Rosalyn’s Run (a Shadow Guardians novella) In one of my favorite twists, Rosalyn is literally a shape-shifting horse, rescuing Apollo from the clutches of Hel herself. It’s magical, fierce, and probably the most literal example of “horse girl energy” I’ve ever written. Winds of Destiny, Olympian Awakenings And then there’s Tyler, our resident shapeshifter… who becomes a horse for Layla to ride. But that’s not all he becomes. Let’s just say his talents go well beyond the stable… 😉 You’ll have to read the series to find out. From Kenyan plains to Icelandic battlefields to Parisian chaos and mythic transformations, horses keep showing up in my stories because they represent everything I love in fiction: freedom, danger, loyalty, beauty, and the thrill of running headlong into the unknown. And honestly? I don’t think I’ll ever stop writing them in.
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Passport to Plotlines Behind-the-Scenes Travel Peru is a land where history breathes through stone walls and mountain fog. Before medical school, I traveled there on a medical mission—treating patients in villages outside Cusco, working in a humid lowland jungle community, and eventually making the breathtaking pilgrimage through the mountains to Machu Picchu. Later came the shimmering blue waters of Lake Titicaca, where legends cling as tightly as the thin mountain air. It was impossible to stand among such ancient wonder and not feel the whisper of stories waiting to be told. Those whispers became Sharp File, where bodyguard Santino and determined archaeologist Ava Sharp race to uncover lost Inca ruins—while running from enemies who would kill for treasure, vengeance, and secrets buried beneath centuries of stone. Cusco — A City Holding the Past in Its Bones Cusco feels like stepping into living history. Cobblestone streets trace the paths of ancient foundations, Spanish colonial architecture rests atop Inca stonework, and markets burst with color and culture. While treating patients in the highlands, the air was thin, crisp, and full of possibility—as though every mountain peak kept watch over forgotten truths. In the novel, Ava passes part of her expedition here, pouring over ancient maps and local legends. But beneath the tourist energy and the hum of modern life lies tension: eyes watching, rivals shadowing her steps, and Santino poised to intervene when danger closes in on them. Into the Jungle — Where Secrets Thrive From the mountains, I ventured into the lowland jungle, where humidity clings to your skin and every rustle hints at unseen life. Green stretches endlessly, vines twisting like the stories villagers shared—tales of spirits guarding sacred land. The sense of mystery is thick enough to feel. Ava and Santino push deep into similar jungle terrain, hunting ruins that have been lost to time and tangled roots. But ancient puzzles aren’t the only danger. There are those who would trade academic rivalry for bullets, and mercenaries who care more about relics' black-market value than history’s dignity. Danger slithers as silently as a viper through underbrush. Machu Picchu — Majesty Above the Clouds Reaching Machu Picchu was unforgettable. The steep climb, the swirling mist lifting like a curtain, and suddenly—there it was. Carved stone terraces, dramatic peaks rising around like jagged guardians, and a stillness that felt holy. It's a place that convinces you there must be more mysteries hidden in the mountains. Ava feels that same electric awe, though her path is more perilous. Where tourists marvel, she hunts for clues etched into ancient stone. Where I found serenity, she finds danger—shadowy figures trailing her and Santino staying just one heartbeat ahead of disaster. The mountain doesn’t just hold history—it tests who deserves it. Ava seeks truth and legacy; Santino seeks to protect her—even from ghosts of their pasts that won’t stay buried. As they climb, dig, run, and fight for survival, romance sparks in stolen glances and whispered confessions—just as deadly threats close in. Some ruins should be found. Some secrets should stay hidden. And some hearts refuse to be lost—even in the wildest, most dangerous corners of the world. Pack your gear. The Andes are calling. 🏔️❤️🔎  |
CB SametWriter. Dreamer. World-weaver. Archives
March 2026
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