Rodeo Dreams

Rodeo Dreams

by Catherine Madera

Here’s what 15-year-old Cindy Crowe knows for sure: high school sucks, fathers (earthly and heavenly) are a major disappointment, and perfect rich ex-BFF’s get all the breaks. Her truest friends have head to toe body hair and live in a barn.

With determination and horse power from an adopted mustang named Arion, Cindy pursues a dream of barrel racing fame. If only she can keep from being distracted by disappointment, rhinestoned rodeo queens, and a certain cute bull rider.

Ultimately, Cindy discovers that any dream worth having has the power to break your heart…and change your life forever.

Catherine Madera began writing poetry and essays as a teenager. Though she does not hold a degree, Catherine attended Walla Walla College in Eastern Washington where she majored in communications/journalism. Her first bylines appeared in the school newspaper, The Collegian. Her first magazine credit was an essay published in 2000 by Victoria magazine.

In 2004, Catherine was chosen one of 15 women nationwide, out of thousands, to attend an all expense paid workshop in New York for Guideposts magazine. She currently writes, both personal and ghosted stories, on assignment for Guideposts. Her work has also appeared in their sister publication, Positive Thinking, and Angels on Earth.

In addition to Guideposts, Catherine has published in the anthologies Chicken Soup for the Soul and Chocolate for the Soul. She also enjoys writing articles for equine publications and has contributed to Equus, Arabian Horse Magazine, and Horse of Kings. She is currently working on Rhinestones, a sequel to, Rodeo Dreams.

Catherine lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband Mark, their two children, and a menagerie of animals.