For the Freedom of the Mustangs: D'Ann Lindun's Novel and her Activism - J. Kenner

For the Freedom of the Mustangs: D'Ann Lindun's Novel and her Activism

The days of wild horses are dwindling because of the use of corrals. D’Ann Lindun joins me on the blog today to talk about her passion for mustangs and their wide open spaces!


They DO Shoot Horses

Have your passions changed through the years? Or have they stayed basically the same? I have been passionate about horses my entire life. I began riding when I was three years old and don’t see myself without a horse and riding, no matter how old I get. For a time, I belonged to a trail riding club with several members in their 70s and 80s. So I don’t think I’m completely unrealistic.

American-black-mustang-horse-Wallpaper

From the time I was small, I have always been enthralled with wild mustangs. I loved reading about them, imagining them galloping free across this great country their ancestors helped settle.

The first time I saw a wild horse, a mustang, was about ten years ago while on a trip to Arizona. I live close to a refuge here, but have never seen the wild horses that live on it. During that trip to Arizona, we first spotted the band of mares and colts among the towering saguaro and Cholla cactus of the Tonto National Forest. I was amazed animals could live in that rugged environment.

Unfortunately, the wild horses have not always been undisturbed. Depicted in the Marilyn Monroe film, The Misfits, the mustangs have been rounded up and sent to slaughter. Thanks to Velma Johnson or Wild Horse Annie, Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed in 1971, prohibiting the round up and sale of mustangs on Federal land.

Unfortunately, this law isn’t upheld and nnowadays, the overabundance of horses are held in holding pens. Corrals. No freedom for the once wild and proud animals. Due to an overturn in the law, many will go to slaughter. To European and Asian dinner plates.

I am passionate that this does not happen.

So is my character Martin Castillo in Wild Horses. He’s willing to die to protect them. Are you that passionate about something? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.


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Her family ranch outside of Payson, Arizona, is the last place Castaña Castillo thought she’d ever see again. But when her mustang activist brother goes missing, Castaña returns home to lead the search. Years of bad blood between local law enforcement and the Castillo men lead Castaña to believe the local cops won’t put out much effort to locate her brother. Especially since they think he murdered two federal wildlife agents.

Disgraced FBI agent Jake Breton needs to bring in Martin Castillo to redeem himself and resurrect his career. Falling in love with someone related to the suspect is the last thing he can afford to do. The last time he followed his heart, and not his head, it nearly cost him his life.

Danger, adventure, and death push Jake and Castaña together. Will they learn to trust each other and leave their pasts behind?


Falling in love with romance novels the summer before sixth grade, D’Ann Lindun never thought about writing one until many years later when she took a how-to class at her local college. She was hooked! She began writing and never looked back. Romance appeals to her because there’s just something so satisfying about writing a book guaranteed to have a happy ending. D’Ann’s particular favorites usually feature cowboys and the women who love them. This is probably because she draws inspiration from the area where she lives, Western Colorado, her husband of twenty-nine years and their daughter. Composites of their small farm, herd of horses, five Australian shepherds, a Queensland heeler, nine ducks and cats of every shape and color often show up in her stories!

She loves to hear from readers! You can contact her through Email, her Website, or Facebook.


Thanks to D’Ann for telling us about the condition of these great animals. Do you all have similar causes you are dedicated to?

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25 Comments

D'Ann Lindun

Thank you, Daryl. I wish I had some kind of power, so I could help them.

Reply
Sheri Fredricks

What’s happening to the wild horses is horrifying. Big money is pushing them out and mainstream media is silent. Thank you for bringing this to everyone’s attention!

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D'Ann Lindun

It’s disgusting. People need to wake up and see what’s happening before it’s too late.

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Leslie P. Garcia

Horses are a passion of mine. I grew up on Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley, and developed a passion for thoroughbreds and Arabians early on, but mustangs represent the same mind set and way of life as those cowboys we all want to read, write, and dream about. I think what’s going on with that vestige of original America is shameful.

Love that you’re still an active equestrian, and hope eventually to get back to it myself.

As a teenager in a dysfunctional family, I had 25 horses and ponies. Not being of age, when my father moved us to Texas, I had to supervise their sale. Only 4 made the trip from GA to TX, and I got kicked out soon after for falling in love with a ‘wetback’–an illegal alien from Mexico.
For years, I had nightmares that I would be walking out in a pasture looking for my horses, but knowing (this is sad) that if I found them, they would have died from my neglect.

Anyhow–loved your post, D’Ann, and thanks for having her, J.K.!

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Jacqueline Seewald

Hi, D’Ann,

I can’t imagine killing mustangs, but I know it’s happened. Obviously, you are deeply passionate and it shows in your writing. My passions are my husband, children, grandchildren and writing–in that order.

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Nikki Lynn Barrett

Your passion definitely shines through in your books, D’Ann, and I think when an author creates a story using that passion, it really heightens the emotions. As for my passions- I’m very passionate about music.

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Melissa Keir

What an important post! Thank you for sharing! We do need to protect them. I’m passionate about children and how they should be cared for. I guess that’s why I went into teaching, but that also ties my hands because some children deserve so much more than I can give and I can’t change what happens at home.

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lizaoconnor

Well, reading your book, which I expect to finish tonight, makes me want to pack up and head west to become a guerilla warfare fighter for the mustang. I think I’d be quite fearsome. And after I’m arrested and put in a federal prison for the rest of my life, you’ll have to send ebooks and pen and paper so I can write novels which you can come and smuggle out and get published for me.

What’s that Jess?

Oh my dog Jess, says its a terrible idea and to take her hiking instead.

Reply

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