I got a fun announcement from Kristi, who owns Jewels Moonlit Treasure (Trissy). If you remember, this is the filly you guys named last year in 2025. Trissy is a yearling now, and Kristi entered a photo of her precious horse in the American Paint Horse Association photo contest (reminds me of our recent photo contest, right?) Here is the picture she entered. She won 5th place and Kristi got a prize of $50! She is so excited.
She entered Trissy in this contest: https://apha.com/youth/contests/art-photo-contest/?utm_source=copilot.com (You have to be a junior APHA member to participate.)
Here is the winning email announcement Kristi received:
Congratulations to all of our participants in the APHA Make Your Mark: Art & Photo Contest!
On behalf of the American Paint Horse Association, thank you to everyone who submitted their incredible artwork and photography. We were truly impressed by the creativity, talent, and passion displayed in every entry. Our judges had a difficult task selecting the winners because of the outstanding quality of the submissions.
And here are the winners from 1st place to 5th place. Which would you have chosen? I understand the difficulty. Clearly, the judges like the interesting “paint”(?) markings of first place, but I think photos with people in them with their horses is more pleasing. I would have chosen a different order. What about you? I would love to know how many entries there were. For a national association like the APHA, I can imagine hundreds and hundreds of entries. So, congratulations, Kristi and Trissy for making the cut!
I think Trissy definitely should’ve got first! Then the 2nd and the 3rd 💕
I totally agree and it’s not just because she’s my granddaughter I just thought her picture with a kid and a horse and a very cute pose would have gone higher up. Oh well I’m sure lots of you guys think the same thing when my judges pick stories and photos lol
Great job, Kristi! Trissy is a true treasure. Seeing this makes my birthday tomorrow even better!
Oh, happy birthday!!
Thx! I’m turning 12 and more obsessed with horses by the years.
Are you getting a horse for your birthday?
I honestly would’ve put Trissy and Kristi’s picture first! It’s so cute. Then probably the 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 4th. 🙂
I agree…
Congratulations to Kristi and Trissy!!!!!
it is much better than 1st and 4th! Anyway, Congrats on 5th!
These pictures are AMAZING!!! I for sure would’ve put 3rd in 1st!!!! Good job Trissy!!!! That’s a big accomplishment!!
congrats Trissy!!!
Congratulations, Trissy!
Trissy is a very pretty horse!
Congratulations Trissy and Kristi!!!!! That photo is absolutely adorable!!! They have been my first place cute by far!! SOOOOOOOOOOO excited for you!!!!! Trissy is gorgeous!
Ash H.
Trissy is absolutely beautiful!
Hey, Mrs. M have you thought of basing another series on one of Andi’s twin’s? {Preferably Charlotte}
Selah T.
Not at this time…. I wouldn’t be able to figure out who the audience would be. And why would we choose Charlotte and not the other one? Lol because they ended up as just being newborns and how is it that they already have personalities? laughing
I’m up to my eyebrows in the Jenny series right now maybe when things slow down I could do something as in sub-publish it myself My publisher would never go for it The Circle C series are pretty much closed at this point
Oh, Selah, great idea! You should do that, Mrs. Marlow! I know a lot of people would buy it!
And what would these stories be about all of you Great brainstormers who are giving me ideas but are wanting me to write the books lol?
Main Character- Lottie Prescott
Other Characters- Jared, Lilly, Riley, Andi,
Setting- Memory Creek Ranch, Fresno, woods.
Problem- Lottie doesn’t want to go to San Francisco! She is going to run to Fresno, but is kidnapped and taken to the woods. She must get home!
Plot events-
*Lottie overhears plans to send her to Miss Whitakers academy
*Lottie runs away to Fresno, using her saved up money.
*Lottie is kidnapped and taken to the woods, where she is nearly worked to death.
Solution- Lottie runs back home!
Very nice!
Now…
Write the story!
Is that a challenge?
You bet!
They would both be main characters, lily love dressing up and dancing, like Melinda, and Lottie is more like Andi, it would be kinda starring lily, because Mrs Marlow already wrote about “tomboys” Andrea and Jenny. I am DEFINITELY going to write a fan fiction about Lilly, but not Miss Whittaker’s Acadamy, ‘cause Mrs. Marlow already wrote about that. Maybe at Mitch and Libby’s engagement gala…..nah, they would be to young, I want them to be 12-14. The Christmas ball? Or maybe having to get dresses made? Or going on an excursion somewhere? With Melinda? I will get to writing! How many words am I allowed to have for a Fan Fiction? -Sofia
Up to 3,000, but if it’s longer, you can break it into parts like a serial, and each part be up to 3,000 words. 😊
Sounds good! I was planning on 2,500 to 4,500 words, so I might split it. Shall I send both in 1 email?
Sure that’s fine
You count the words? I just write and hope it’s in the limit.
You need to make sure you use a word counter because I do not count the words but if I get the word document and it shows that it’s over and that would be kind of sad. If you’re working on word it automatically can do a word count for you otherwise you can copy and paste your word count into an online word counter for free
I was thinking the same thing! with Lottie and Lily being like Andi and Melinda.
@ ThatOneAndiFan, I just copy pasted my contest story into word counter, it is completely free, and I am glad I did because Tears & Joy was 1,031 words long! So I changed all the ‘and’ to ‘&’ and that helped a lot (useful tip for writers near the word limit😉) I also had to make my description of the attic, Andrea’s church and priest, and the memory of her 6th birthday, shorter. So DEFINENTLY copy paste to word counter. Also, a question for Mrs. Marlow, If a contest story is over the word limit just by a bit, for instance, my 1,031 words, would you disqualify it? Thanks! -Sofia
31 words is too far over the word count and will be returned or rejected. I’ve been trusting you guys to take care of this issue. 1,010 or less I won’t flag.
I figured so, that is why I use word count!😀But, because you just announced the august contest, this story will have to be postponed, because I am too busy trying to decide who gave Andi the note😁! Maybe Johnny? Or she is at Mrs. Whittaker’s Acadamy? I think I am going to keep her in Fresno.
Thx, Sofia!
You’re welcome, I am always glad to help out fellow writers!
I was thinking the same thing as Sofia. Lottie is like Andi and Lily is like Melinda. But I would prefer to write about Lottie.
Nice! Great minds think alike LOL!! Although I would prefer to write about Lily, a more “girly” girl! Just ‘cause I could relate to that more than a “tomboy”.