I have contemporary and sports romance author, Stacy Hoff, on my blog today! She and a “handsome dancer” are here to share her latest release, JOCKEYING FOR YOU. 😉 Check out her super fun post! 😀

Linda invited me to interview one of the characters in my new release, JOCKEYING FOR YOU. Although JOCKEYING is my fourth novel, I have never done a character interview before. So, for my first ever attempt at journalism, I decided to have a “chat’ with one of the main characters – who happens to be a horse. Luckily, for the brief time during this interview, the horse was able to speak English.

Stacy Hoff: Folks, please meet Handsome Dancer, a thoroughbred stallion with a bit of an attitude problem.

Handsome Dancer: Hey, that’s not fair! I don’t have an attitude problem. It’s everyone around me who is a nay-sayer.

Stacy Hoff: Neigh-sayer? Is that a pun?

Handsome Dancer: I guess so. It was inadvertent. I don’t joke around much; I’m a very serious guy.

Stacy Hoff: Serious about what?

Handsome Dancer: I have my heart set on winning the Belmont Stakes. But the humans in my life don’t have a clue how to get me to reach my true potential – or theirs.

Stacy Hoff: You must find that frustrating.

Handsome Dancer: You have no idea! I’ve got the drive, the talent, and the genealogy, all in my favor. Still, most humans have marked me off as a “loser.”

Stacy Hoff: Wow. That’s a harsh assessment. Why would they write you off like that?

Handsome Dancer: Because I’ve been depressed lately. I either sulk around the track, or throw jockeys off me.

Stacy Hoff: I can’t imagine the jockeys enjoy that. How’s it working out for you?

Handsome Dancer: It’s not good for me either. The racing association has threatened to take away my “gate card.” Without this, I’ll be sent back to racing school, instead of where I want to go, which is Belmont Park.

Stacy Hoff: Sounds like a serious problem. Anything the humans can do to help you? Maybe ease your depression somehow?

Handsome Dancer: Well, my new trainer, Ryder Hannon, seems real nice. She’s given me some farm friends to play with, so I don’t feel alone anymore. She’s real patient with me, too. It’s like she understands I’ve been longing for companionship. Now that I have friends, I’m finally thinking about getting back on track. Literally and figuratively.

Stacy Hoff: Have you started racing yet?

Handsome Dancer: Not yet, but my practice sessions with Ryder have me going at such fast speeds, I’m no more than a blur to the spectators. Ryder is the only person I’ll let ride me. Unfortunately for my Belmont goals, she’s a trainer, not a jockey. Well, she used to be a jockey, but she’s not any more. She says she fell off a horse once, so she won’t race again.

Stacy Hoff: Do you think she’ll ever be a jockey again? Your jockey, perhaps?

Handsome Dancer: Hard to say. I guess she and I both have a hurdles to overcome.

Stacy Hoff: There are no hurdles in thoroughbred horseracing. Only English riding events like “show jumping” use hurdles.

Handsome Dancer: Yeesh, I know that. I already said I’m not a pun-ny guy. I’m a racer, not a jokester.

Stacy Hoff: Duly noted. Thanks so much for your time, Handsome Dancer. I hope both you and Ryder Hannon make it to the Belmont Stakes one day.

Handsome Dancer: Thank you for your time, Stacy. If you don’t mind, please pass me a bag of carrots on your way out.

Stacy Hoff: Sure thing!

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