I am quite tickled to announce that the short story, Gus, is now live on Amazon worldwide in both print and e-book format. It is a wonderful bedtime read for kids who love unicorns. I published the story in an easy to read play format so that it can be told with or without voices or the kids can get together with their friends and act it out. I have performed this story in numerous school readings and it has always been a success. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CV49YR6/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525448808&sr=1-8&keywords=laura+hesse

Gus, Unicorn Daze: Book One – a preview – only Available on Amazon (May 4, 2018)

Copyright Laura Hesse 2018 All rights reserved.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to the McNab family and their delightful corn maze in Yellowpoint on Vancouver Island without whom this story would never have been written.

May all your mounts be swift and your mountains an easy climb.

My thanks,

Laura L. Hesse

 Note to Reader

This story is written in a screenplay/play type of format. It can be read as it is or it can be read out loud as a bedtime story, with or without voices, or acted out as a play.

The tale of Gus, the Unicorn, and Jessie, the kid that always got left behind, was a favorite of the kids during my school readings. One class of eight year-olds asked if they could participate in the reading. I was thrilled. The kids had a blast reading their parts out to the class and got quite into the characters.

I will also be doing a live reading of this story shortly, so please visit www.RunningLProductions.com and simply hit the ‘follow me’ button or subscribe to my newsletter to learn about upcoming new releases of books and videos. You can also follow me on Facebook. Videos and new release information will be posted there as well.

Chapter One

Eight year-old Jessie Farrell lived in a two storey gabled house at the end of a dead end street where toys and bicycles littered the yards. The tree lined street on which her house sat was alive with fall color. The houses were decorated for Halloween. Pumpkins grinned at people passing by from front porches. Black cut-out witches hung inside windows. White sheeted ghosts hung from tree branches.

There was a rusty squeak as the garage door suddenly flew open at the Farrell house. Mr Farrell pulled the family van out of the garage. He stopped in the center of the drive and slid open the side door so that his family, Thomas, Eddie, Sarah, Amy, and his wife, Mrs. Farrell, carrying a wailing baby, Emma, could climb into the van. The kids all jostled for seats.

Jessie followed along behind them, dragging her feet. She had wanted to go see a movie, not venture out into a muddy corn maze, but once again, her tiny voice was ignored.

MR FARREL

One, two, three, four, and baby makes five…where’s six?

MRS FARRELL

Come on, Jess, hurry it up.

We’re going to the corn maze, end of story.

Jessie was about to answer, but her mother and father switched their attention to Thomas and Eddie who were laughing and poking Sarah in the sides, trying to make her pee her pants.

SARAH

Stop it, you guys.

MR FARRELL

Boys, that’s enough!

EDDIE

Whhhhaaat?

MRS FARRELL

Thomas, kitchen duty for two weeks.

Eddie, bathroom duty for a week.

The boys knew better than to argue.

MR FARRELL

(To his wife)

Need some help, hon?

Mrs Farrell rolled her eyes at her husband, and then bounced the baby up and down on her lap.

MRS FARRELL

Thanks, honey, but Thomas can help me.

Thomas took the baby from his mother and strapped her into the car seat. The baby gurgled and smiled up at her big brother.

Jessie stood outside the van looking in as her brothers and sisters goofed around. No one seemed to notice her.

Mrs Farrell slid the van door shut with a thud, and then slipped into the front passenger seat. She closed the door and gave her husband a thumbs-up sign.

Mr Farrell pulled out of the driveway.

Jessie stood helplessly, arms at her side, her mouth open in a silent “O”. How could her mother have not noticed she wasn’t in the van? Yet again, her family had forgotten her.

The van screeched to a halt. It backed up. The side door slid open.

THOMAS

Jess? What are you doing? Come on, get in.

Jessie looked inside the van. There was no place to sit. Tears brimmed in Jessie’s eyes.

EDDIE

(squishing little Amy against the window)

Come on, sis, you can sit beside me.

AMY

Hey!

Jessie wiped away her tears and climbed into the van.

Thomas slammed the sliding door shut, and the family was off on their adventure.

I am so thrilled. Valentino, the last book in the Holiday Series, is now available worldwide on Amazon. It took me two years of research to complete this novel and what a joy it was. I was also never so happy as to type, The End, in all my life. lol

Thank you to all who joined me on this journey.

To read a preview, click here.

I was so thrilled when I was asked if I would do an interview with Tom Dever for The Script Lab in LA. The interview concerned my success at this year’s New Media Film Festival with the pilot script for Gumboots. I am going to be starting to write the follow up story, The Dastardly Mister Deeds, shortly. Here is the link to the interview: https://thescriptlab.com/features/main/8712-new-media-festival-finalist-laura-hesse-interview/

Going to break out the wine tonight. Just completed the first draft of Valentino. It has been a two year labour of love. Woot! Woot!

Check it out.

When I saw this cover, I just had to purchase it from the artist, Autumn Sky. It screamed Betty Bruce and Gertrude. Gosh, I love that pig. As soon as I complete Valentino within the next 3 weeks, I will be starting work on the second book in the Gumboot & Gumshoes Series – The Dastardly Mr Deeds.

Go, Gertrude!

Thanks to all those who left reviews on Audible on the new audio book of A Filly Called Easter, narrated by Leslie Howard:

I am so thrilled. A Filly Called Easter was released today on Audible!

Woot! Woot!

Get yours now for FREE by signing up for Audible or on your monthly subscription.

I have to thank all of the following people who have taken the time to leave reviews on my novels on Amazon. As I am an independent publisher and don’t have the money to spend on advertising like the big guns. Reviews translate into my bread and butter, literally. If you have read a copy of any of my books, I would really appreciate if you left an honest review on Amazon or Apple or Kobo or Goodreads…you get it. 🙂 Hugs to all>

	Kindle Customer reviewed One Frosty Christmas (Black Beauty meets A Christmas Carol) (The Holiday Series Book 1) Heart felt story. February 13, 2018 Cute story. My daughter could not put it down. Has some exciting and scary parts. View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com
2.	Don Kidwell reviewed One Frosty Christmas (Black Beauty meets A Christmas Carol) (The Holiday Series Book 1) 1 of 1 people found the following helpful “Stealing is wrong, Hannah Storey…but if you won’t go see Joseph, Bob, or write to Santa, I’ll help you anyway.” December 19, 2017 1) Why I chose this book : Lengthier book that remained near the top of 100 best seller children’s Christmas books so thought I’d give it a read 2) Any course language present : None I noted 3) Type of book : Adventure story surrounding a horse and a girl whom came to care for it 4) Formatting/Editing : Just a few miscues like a word out of order “Why they were being so mean?” (should be ‘were they”)…Read More View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com
3.	Jeff Burns reviewed Peter Pan Wears Steel Toes (family adventure for all ages) Excellent read November 19, 2017 Surpprisingly excellent read . Was not expecting the funny and real life adventures packed in every chapter . Recommend for all outdoorsy folk . View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com
4.	P. Drape reviewed A Filly Called Easter (Holiday) Great story for any horse loving girl. May 14, 2017 Loved the story. I know my granddaughter will as well. View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com
5.	Frog reviewed The Holiday Series: The Complete Riverbend Trilogy: One Frosty Christmas, The Great Pumpkin… Four Stars December 31, 2016 It’s a great teenager story! need more of them! View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com
6.	Sandy Rickaway reviewed A Filly Called Easter – Family Easter adventure novel for horse lovers (Christian, Easter,… Five Stars March 5, 2016 I enjoyed it very much, cause I love horse stories. View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com
7.	T. J. Girard reviewed Magical Manga Fairy Coloring Book 0 of 1 people found the following helpful UNBELIEVEABLE HORRIBLE! September 9, 2014 Terribly drawn pictures. I could draw better and I can’t draw. DO NOT BUY THIS!!! View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com
8.	Jenn reviewed The Great Pumpkin Ride (Holiday) Jenn July 10, 2013 Our grand daughter loved this series (a trio of stories) by Laura Hesse….. I would recommend these books for the 12-14 age group. Especially girls. View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com
9.	Christine Deeterr reviewed A Filly Called Easter – Family Easter adventure novel for horse lovers (Christian, Easter,… A filly called Easter November 11, 2012 My horse crazy granddaughter and I both loved this story. Good to find stories for teens on subjects other than vampires, ghosts, and killings. View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com
10.	darrin reviewed The Great Pumpkin Ride (Holiday) 1 of 1 people found the following helpful the great pumkin ride January 31, 2006 great book for all who love horses and have great imaginations when halloween roles around, how our mind can play tricks on you on hollows eve. great read View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com
11.	Boszenna Nowiki reviewed The Great Pumpkin Ride (Holiday) 2 of 2 people found the following helpful Motivational story. December 30, 2005 A charming, motivational story with a lot of information from the world of horses. The story seems so true that it could actually happen. This is a beautiful and lovely book about children and horses. I will be buying copies for my sister and my friends too. This is an excellent book!!!!! View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com
12.	Tina Smith reviewed One Frosty Christmas (Holiday) 2 of 2 people found the following helpful Excellent book!!!!! December 25, 2005 I bought “One Frosty Christmas” for my granddaughter. I read it first. I injoyed this book, it touched my heart. This book is about a Hannah, teased by the local kids for being a city girl and an amputee. She feels alone and isolated like the old pony she sees on the way to school every day. She vows to save the pony nicknamed “Frostbite” from frizing to death or being sent to slaughter. This was a great read, from the start…Read More View on Amazon.com Add a comment View this book’s reviews on Amazon.com

Had a great time putting together a book trailer for Independence. Independence is a stand alone novel and the 4th book in The Holiday Series. A special thank you to all the wonderful photographers at Pexel. You guys rock! Check it out at: https://youtu.be/7Xbn0tqxO1Y