Girls Can Be Cowboys Too!

Book excerpt: GIRLS CAN BE COWBOYS TOO! is a "Chicken Soup" collection of diverse, uplifting, educational and just plain fun stories about women, their animals and the land. All but two are west of the Mississippi River and only a handful are real "Cowboys." One of my gals told me that real ranch women do not like the word "Cowgirls" as that imparts the thoughts of bling, fancy boots and prissy stuff. These gals are the real deal and work as hard as any man doing what they love...and did you know that cowboying is a verb? These ladies do it as well as any man. Meet Kim McElroy, the inspiration for the book, Cynthia Rigden, a born Arizonian rancher and sculptress, Cheryl, Darice, and Eve who all rode The Tevis Cup, Leslie, Michelle, and Carol who are part of the Yavapai Search and Rescue dog team, Mary Matli, a real cowboy, Marti and her pet Jersey cow, Kimberly who rides her steers, Carole Waggoner, a rancher who tried to save her cows from a wildfire, Jane, the lovely horse gal who graces the cover, and Amanda, the wife of Eric Marsh, wildland firefighter who lost his life along with eighteen other brave souls fighting a local wildfire. These are just a few of the fascinating women you will meet in Girls Can be Cowboys Too! Girls Can be Cowboys Too! is a collection of delightful stories about western women that made me laugh out loud or brought me to tears. From raising babies (children, horses, mules, cattle, and dogs) to training, riding endurance races, and equine therapy, these women have done it all. Heidi Thomas, Western Author, "Cowgirl Up! A History of Rodeo Women" (and more)