"The Gentle Pen" - Book Release - Barrel Racer Hazel

"Barrel Racer Hazel" Gallops Into the World Today — And My Heart is Racing!

Today is one of those unforgettable moments in an author’s life — my latest children’s book, Barrel Racer Hazel, is officially released into the wild! I can hardly wait to hold a printed copy in my hands. The excitement is real.

This story is so close to my heart — and not just because I poured hours (and hours... and hours!) into the hand-painted, mixed-medium illustrations. It’s because Hazel’s story is, in many ways, my own.

I lived on my grandparents’ farm in Bruce County when I was Hazel's age. We had an old workhorse — sturdy, slow, and probably more interested in oats than rodeos — but I loved that horse like nothing else. Many other horses were brought onto the property, and I had contact with all. As I got older, I experienced my share of what it feels like to be a broncobuster! I have no count for all the times I was thrown onto the earth from a saddle, breath knocked out of me, as a new horse learned the ropes. While I never took home a ribbon for riding, I did win first prize for my pumpkin at the Bruce County Fall Fair in the 1960s! Yes, I had quite the green thumb. ( I preferred gardening to all the work in a barn - not to mention the physical abuse of being tossed here, there and everywhere!) Like Hazel, I learned that hard work, love for animals, and dirt under your fingernails can take you far, and there truly is no greater learning experience than that of one from the farm.

Barrel Racer Hazel is a storybook for kids aged 6 to 12 who love horses, farm life, and tales celebrating determination, heart, and problem-solving. Hazel is a spicy little girl who knows her horses, especially her beloved Buttercup. But when Buttercup becomes depressed and training is put on hold, Hazel doesn’t give up. She uses her creativity, empathy, and farm-kid smarts to get Buttercup back on her hooves and ready for the rodeo.

There’s so much in this book:

• The rhythm of life on a working farm — from the manure pile to the garden, and the garden to the horse’s mouth.

• The care and commitment it takes to raise and train a horse — visits from the farrier and vet, good food, exercise, and love.

• And the joy of seeing all that effort pay off — when a girl and her horse take a ribbon and win more than just applause.

I hope readers see Barrel Racer Hazel as more than just a horse story. It’s a story of resilience, patience, and the unspoken bond between kids and animals. And maybe a few young readers will feel seen — those who don’t quite fit but shine in their own special way.

You can grab your copy now at livmclean.com or head over to Amazon.com, where the book is ready to ride home with you! Barrel Racer Hazel will also be available soon on Kobo, and (fingers crossed!) we may be galloping into Barnes & Noble too.

If you have a child, grandchild, student, or pony-lover in your life, this story will fit beautifully into your collection. It’s wholesome, honest, and full of heart, just like the farm kids we once were.

Thanks for cheering me (and Hazel!) on. Visit livmclean.com to see more heartwarming books in the collection — and don’t forget to leave a review if this story makes your heart gallop too.

Yay, Hazel!

A Gentle Gallop!!

Liv McLean