Interview with Rose Miller

Sharon:

I am pleased to do an interview with Rose Miller author of "Mules, Mules and More Mules: The Adventures and Misadventures of a First Time Mule Owner."

Where did you grow up and did that influence your decision to write?

Rose:

I grew up on a farm in northern Pennsylvania where we had many animals of various kinds. My sister and I dressed chickens in doll clothes and turned a cow into an Indian pony.

Sharon:

My sister and I dressed our dog up. I guess chickens wouldn't be that much different.

Why did you write a horse book?

Rose:

My life is pretty much centered on horses and now mules. I showed, bred, trained, judged horses for almost 35 years, then retired and became interested in trail riding mules. I love to read about animals, especially equines, so it was natural to want to write about them.

Sharon:

What genres do you read?

Rose:

Non-fiction animal books of all kinds, some instructional, but most just for enjoyment.

Sharon:

Who are ome of your favorite authors?

Mark Rashid, Dr. Robert Miller D.V.M., Laura Hillenbrand’s Seabiscuit

Sharon:

When did you become fascinated/involved with horses?

At 4, I informed my city dwelling parents that we should move to a farm and raise horses. They didn’t see the humor in that, but eventually we did move to a farm. No horses for quite awhile, but lots of cows, chickens and lambs.

Sharon:

Your books are inspired by your own horses, correct?

Rose:

Yes, both my horse book: “The Horse That Wouldn’t Trot” about Tennessee Walking Horses and now the mule book is non-fiction and about my equines

Sharon:

Did your parents understand you love of horses?

Rose:

Not at first, but eventually they supported me. At 15 I got my first horse, a small draft horse that I taught to be a “riding horse.”

Sharon:

Does your spouse share your passion for horses?

Absolutely not! But he does support me in all my equine endeavors. At first it was the money necessary to get started on our present farm in Indiana, then weekends away from home with our girls who also love horses, going to horse shows, missed or very late meals and some horse related injuries, (many of which I did not share with him!)

Sharon:

Do you write as a profession or for fun?

Rose:

I would like it to be “professional” in that it would be nice to earn an income from my books, but to be honest, it is mostly for fun, and trying to share horse experiences with others who may not have the opportunities that I have had with horses /mules.

Sharon:

What is your favorite horse activity?

Rose:

It used to be showing, now it is trail riding in a sedate manner on my beloved mules.

Sharon:

An important questions for your fans will you be writing more books?

Rose:

Yes, I have (1)a dog book about my Schnauzers: a Giant and a Miniature, and (2) my beginnings on the farm in Pennsylvania, our cows and other animals, and then about many of the cats, dogs, geese, peacocks and cows on our present Indiana farm in various stages of development on my computer.

Sharon:

Rose with all those animals to care for, trail riding and writing I would say you are one busy woman and I thnk you for taking the time to do this interview.