The Gentle Pen - Barrel Racer Hazel

plowmanpublishing
Jun 11, 2025
3 min read

The Agony and the Artistry: Bringing Barrel Racer Hazel to

Life

If you’ve ever tried to draw a galloping horse mid-turn around a barrel, while a determined little farm girl hangs on for dear life with a ponytail flying behind her, you’ll understand why I may never fully unclench my drawing hand again.

Barrel Racer Hazel is nearly here. And I want to tell you what it’s really been like—writing it, illustrating it, and living it. Because behind this spicy little farm girl and her loyal (but temporarily depressed) horse Buttercup… is an equally stubborn author-illustrator with a love for stories, coffee, and very little understanding of the word "rest."

Hazel and Buttercup: A Story Born from the Soil

Hazel isn’t your average little girl. She’s been raised on a farm, which means she knows that hard work starts before sunrise and doesn’t end until after the evening chores are done. She dreams of barrel racing—her heart set on riding Buttercup straight into rodeo glory.

But real life isn’t just blue ribbons and braid-friendly breezes.

Buttercup, her beloved horse, becomes depressed. And not just mopey—full-on hay-snubbing, sad-eyed, won’t-run-a-step depressed. And this book? It’s all about what a little girl does when her dreams seem just out of reach. It’s about resilience, resourcefulness, and love that doesn’t give up. It’s also about… poop. Yes, you heard that right.

**From the Sh*t Pile to the Winner’s Circle**

This book celebrates the cycle of the farm. Because before you even get to the rodeo, you’ve got to:

clean stalls,
compost muck into a garden,
grow the food,
harvest the carrots,
and lovingly feed them to a horse that’s feeling a little down in the dumps (pun intended).

Add to that:

vet checkups,
farrier visits (do you know how tricky hooves are to draw??),
and endless hours of training.

Hazel does it all—and so did I. On paper, that is.

The Illustration Station (aka My Kitchen Table)

This is where it gets personal.

The art in this book is mixed media—a blend of hand-painted acrylic and watercolour textures, pencil sketches, and a lot of accidental coffee splashes. I spent hundreds of hours getting Hazel’s ponytail right, Buttercup’s expressions accurate, and the landscapes believable. From barn to barrel, every page was a dance of joy, frustration, and paint-stained fingers.

There were nights I worked until 2 a.m., painting only to throw out my painting and start again the next day because I just wasn't feeling it! I now know more about horse anatomy than most people without hooves. And let me tell you, drawing a horse in motion— for a children's book - a well-trained, emotionally complex horse, mind you—is not for the faint of heart.

But oh, the joy of seeing it finished. Can hardly wait to feel the pride of flipping through the pages and seeing Hazel gallop through them like she always belonged there. Soon, this book will be hitting the shelves everywhere!

Author and Illustrator? More Like Farmhand and Acrobat

Doing both roles means juggling the story arc with the colour palette. It means editing words in the morning and shading hooves by night. It means rewriting dialogue while waiting for the paper to dry. And it means pouring your whole heart into every brushstroke—because you know the story deserves it.

So, Why Did I Do It?

Because I believe in Hazel, I believe in little girls who work hard and dream big. I believe in the healing power of love for people and horses. And I believe that children’s books should show that real heroes don’t always wear capes—sometimes they wear muddy boots and carry a bucket of feed.

Barrel Racer Hazel is more than just a story. It’s a celebration of determination, teamwork, and the bond between a girl and her horse. And yes, it came with a few tears, a lot of edits, and the occasional out-loud argument with my scanner. But it was worth every second.

Coming Soon to Your Barn, Bookshelf, or Both

Keep an eye out for Barrel Racer Hazel, which will be launching soon. And when you read it, know that every page was created with love, laughter, and the occasional swearing over ink smudges.

Because books, like barrel races, are a wild ride—and Hazel and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Gently Yours,

Liv McLean