Hello, Ramm Readers! I thought I\u2019d do something a little different for this blog post and share an
\nexcerpt from my young adult novel, Not Our Summer, which released in 2021 with Running
\nPress Teens. Every book I write has horses in some capacity (or in this case, mules!), so here\u2019s a
\nshort scene that I thought you might enjoy.<\/p>\n
(Excerpt from Chapter 4)<\/p>\n
By the time we\u2019re sitting on our mules at the trailhead, I feel as if I might have a panic attack
\nmyself. I\u2019ve never been a fan of heights, but the Grand Canyon is a sight unlike anything I\u2019ve
\never seen. The chasm is both stunningly beautiful and utterly terrifying at the same time. I\u2019ve
\nhonestly never seen anything so enormous and I can\u2019t help but think about the fact that I could
\nactually die today. If Mom were here, I\u2019m not sure she\u2019d be okay with this. She already lost her
\nson, after all. When I risk a glance at K.J., I find she\u2019s peering toward the canyon\u2019s edge with
\nmore of a look of anticipation.
\nI\u2019m a freakin\u2019 midfielder, I remind myself. The best on my team. I\u2019ve had girls twice my
\nsize coming at me on the field. I can do this.
\nMy pep talk is only a temporary fix, though. When the leader of our ride, a thirty-
\nsomething cowboy named Dusty, shouts for everyone to follow him, I\u2019m right back where I was.
\nMy heart hammers as the mules fall in line, their hooves clip-clopping on the rocky ground. We
\nbegin our perilous descent, and my hand clutches the horn on my saddle like my life depends on
\nit. It very well could, actually. Though the great void to my right is impossible to ignore, I force
\nmyself to stay focused on the space between Geronimo\u2019s floppy ears. If he has any idea that our
\nlives are in mortal danger, he shows no sign of it.
\nA ways ahead of me, K.J. yells, \u201cYeehaw!\u201d as she rounds the first bend in the switchback
\ntrail. I can\u2019t even dwell on her dorkiness because soon enough I\u2019m at the same turn. I suck in a<\/p>\n
sharp breath as Geronimo\u2019s head hangs over open space for a gut-wrenching moment, but he
\nmakes the turn easily enough and lumbers on.
\nJust breathe, I tell myself, and that\u2019s all I can really do. Not that I\u2019d been looking forward
\nto this trip at all, but it\u2019s worse than I\u2019d anticipated. Why anyone would actually choose to do
\nthis is beyond me, and with each step Geronimo takes down the trail, my stomach clenches
\ntighter. I keep hoping things will get easier or I\u2019ll get used to the scenery, but after a half hour or
\nso, it becomes clear that isn\u2019t going to happen. By now, my whole body is betraying me. My
\nback feels like it could give out at any second, and the muscles in my right hand ache from
\ngripping the saddle horn so tightly. Honestly, I think my hand might be permanently molded into
\nthat shape by the time we make it to the bottom. This is the absolute worst thing ever.
\nEvery time K.J. rounds another bend in the zigzagging trail and passes back by me, she\u2019s
\nbeaming, which sends a jolt of anger spiraling through my system. How is she enjoying this? I
\ndon\u2019t get it at all. Occasionally, she glances up at me, but I force my eyes elsewhere. Then, an
\nidea pops into my head. When she comes into view again, I try to smile and wave like I\u2019m
\nhaving the time of my life. Only my body refuses to cooperate and a little squeal escapes my
\nmouth as I attempt to pry my fingers from the saddle horn. By the time I regain my composure,
\nshe\u2019s already moved on, probably having a good laugh at my expense.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019d like to purchase a copy of Not Our Summer, you can find it nearly anywhere books are
\nsold, including Amazon:<\/p>\n