Q Where did you go to college?
A I achieved my BA degree at Eastern University and my MFA degree at Rosemont College School of Graduate and Professional Studies

Q What did you study in college?
A My BA degree is in history and my MFA degree is in creative writing

Q What is your cultural heritage?
A English, Swiss, German, & Polish

Q Do you have a hero?
A My husband Nathan, my parents, and CPT (Ret) Dawn Halfaker WMR

Q Who are your favorite writers?
A Homer, Dante, Tolkien, Steinbeck, Emily Bronte, Margaret Mitchell, Alice Walker, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Kristina O' Donnelly & Madeleine L'Engle

Q What are your favorite books?
A The Iliad by Homer, The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, Parcival by Wolfram Von Eschenbach, Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Walking on Water by Madeleine L'Engle, The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andromakhe by Kristina O' Donnelly, The Faraway Horses by Buck Brannaman with William Reynolds, Believe by Buck Brannaman and William Reynolds, Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hildenbrand, and The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

Q Are there any characters from books and/or movies who highly interest you?
A Hector, Andromache, and Hekabe (The Iliad), Scarlet O' Hara (Gone With The Wind), Shug Avery (The Color Purple), Morgaine (The Mists of Avalon), Aragon/Strider, Arwen, Eomer, and Sam, (Lord of the Rings), Padme Amidala (Star Wars), & Spock (Star Trek)

Q Do you support any causes?
A Wounded Warrior Project, Abaco Barbs, and the Humane Society of the United States

Q What are your hobbies?
A Dance, horses, tea rooms, and travel

Q What kind of dance are you interested in?
A Ballroom dance especially tango and belly dance

Q What are your favorite animals?
A Horses, cats, & dolphins

Q Where did your love of horses originate?
A I grew up in rural Pennsylvania on a small horse farm. I started riding at age four with my Grandpa.

Q Which riding discipline do you prefer?
A I grew up riding English and Western. Western is my favorite...These days I prefer relaxing trail rides.

Q Have you ever suffered an injury as a result of falling from your horse?
A I have fallen a few times in my life. Once I sprained my ankle and another time I broke two ribs. I'm thankful that my injuries were not worse. I do not take chances on a horse. I choose to ride calm horses that are well trained. I'm not out to prove anything or to show off.

Q Do you have a favorite race horse?
A Phar Lap, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Ruffian, and Smarty Jones

Q How many states have you lived in?
A Pennsylvania and Georgia

Q Where are your favorite places?
A Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
Savannah, Georgia
Oahu, Hawaii
Salem, Massachusetts
Co. Kerry, Ireland
Salzburg, Austria
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Q What irritates you most about yourself?
A I often worry too much about the small stuff and I underestimate myself at times.

Q What really picks you up after a bad day?
A Hugs and kisses from my husband, spending time with our horses, talking with true friends, bubble baths, pedicures, sometimes a glass or two of Hefe-Weizen beer, Baileys Irish cream or a margarita with 1800.

Q What makes you cry?
A My love for my country. I’m sincerely an American patriot.

Q What kind of things disgusts you?
A Ignorance towards handicapped people, animal cruelty & individuals who have no respect for the United States military.

Q What is your favorite time of year?
A Summer nights

Q Are you religious?
A I'm a Christian - Episcopalian. After years of searching for my spiritual path I have found my Faith in Christ. Although I will always respect and continue to learn about many religions and spiritual traditions I know with absolute certainty my heart and soul are home in the light and love of Christ.

Q Are there any famous people who inspire you?
A Mother Teresa, Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, Johnny Cash, and Madonna

Q Who are your favorite painters?
A John William Waterhouse, Thomas Kinkade, Patrick Ching, Kaziah Hancock, and Karen Brenner

Q Do you collect anything?
A Breyer horses! I have collected them since I was a child

Q What are your favorite shows of all time?
A Sex and the City, Xena, Sopranos, & The Unit

Q What are your favorite movies?
AThe Quiet Man, Lord Of The Rings Trilogy,Star Wars, Star Trek, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, The Man from Snowy River, Return to Snowy River, Gone With The Wind, The Notebook, Phar Lap, SeaBiscuit, Walk the Line, Scent of a Woman, Titanic, Braveheart, The Color Purple, Forrest Gump, Dances with Wolves, The Prince of Tides, Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, & The Black Stallion

Q Who are your favorite actors and actresses?
A Actors: Al Pacino, Eric Bana, and John Wayne Actresses: Monica Bellucci, Natalie Portman, and Meg Ryan

Q Who are your favorite music artists?
A Loreena McKennitt, Johnny Cash, Madonna, Jewel, Sarah Mclachlan, Tori Amos, Linkin Park, Godsmack, Nickelback, Alice In Chains, Enya, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks

Q What are your favorite foods?
A Italian, Mexican, & Japanese. Also I love chocolate!!

Q What do you hope for most in the world today?
A It is my personal hope that human beings will find a way to understand and respect each other. I also hope we will learn to be good stewards to the earth and all living beings.

Q Are there any quotes that inspire you? If so, would you share them?
A Yes:

Imperfection is beauty. Madness is genius. It is better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.
~ Marilyn Monroe

The imagination is more important than knowledge.
~ Albert Einstein

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.
~ Helen Keller

In order to be truthful, you must embrace your total being. A person who exhibits both positive and negative qualities, strengths and weaknesses is not flawed, but complete.
~ Rumi

Don't let your hearts grow numb. Stay alert. It is your soul which matters.
~ Albert Schweitzer

Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.
~ John Wayne

I'll walk where my own nature would be leading; it vexes me to choose another guide.
~ Emily Bronte

Kill the snake of doubt in your soul, crush the worms of fear in your heart and mountains will move out of your way.
~ Kate Seredy

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.
~ Mother Teresa