WILD Bunch Mesa - the Home of the WILD Bunch

The WILD Bunch is a WILD group of friends and fans of the WILD Mystery Series.

A WILD Beat Report from WILD Wrangler Cheryl Thompson
Can't tell ya how excited I was to be asked to be featured on Sandi's' web site ! I found out about Sandi Ault from the WERC website while checking out the wolves in Winchester,Idaho. I saw the connection to Sandi's site and decided to investigate and boy am I glad I did. I joined the Wild Bunch and I've had the pleasure of "Wrangling" for Sandi at 2 Boulder,Co events. Very interesting and it's great to know Sandi and talk about her books and so much other "stuff". I was excited to tell Sandi my news that I took the tests and am now a Certified Therapeutic Riding instructor for riders of all ages and disabilities in the Louisville/Boulder,Co area. Sandi seemed genuinely happy for me and what a good feeling. She asked me to tell about my journey, so here goes..... In 1992, after 25 years of marriage, I found myself divorced, alone and scared and starting to become a "hermitess?(female hermit !). My best friend dragged me to her barn where she volunteered with physically disabled people who rode horses. This is when I found my passion! I became an avid volunteer, then volunteer co-coordinator for Rocky Mountain Riding Therapy Center. During the following years, I became an intern and helped teach classes, while under the very watchful eyes of instructors Linda and Anja. I learned all the ins and outs of being "barn crew, gofer, side walker, lead walker, hoof picker".......well, you get the idea. One spring for a few months, we found ourselves without an instructor for Saturday classes and that meant the riders couldn't come  to ride.  This meant no exercise or socialization at the barn for that whole time. I called the parents /caregivers and asked them to hang in there with us and they agreed. That's when I decided I could do something about that situation myself. So, I tried to cram years of learning and experience into 3 months, and we all know how that usually turns out. I didn't pass and was sorely discouraged.  BUT, we hired a new teacher, so the pressure was off. I went about my merry way being the volunteer person I wanted to be. Then at the end of 2008, I was teaching a class and one of the student's mother asked me "why aren't you doing this all the time, you're so good at it?" How could I not rethink trying again? The rider and her mom gave me a card with reasons why I should be teaching and some seed money to get started. Thanks Bella and Lisa! So began the riding lessons with 2 different instructors-both with wonderful teaching abilities (thanks Pam & TJ and Rachel & Royalty), doing lesson plans for all the different rider abilities, teaching classes from 9-1 pm on Saturdays, taking computer (my worst nightmare) tests and finally passing my teaching and riding tests. I had turned 61 years old in February 09 and in July 09 I got my certificate!!!!  I jumped up and down, I cried, I screamed I called so many people, all who had supported me both mentally, spiritually and financially during the year long process. I am still elated that I did this for myself. I have been able to substitute for instructors so our classes weren't cancelled and that is my goal. When I retire, I'm hoping to start a program for soldiers with disabilities with a friend, so something to think about for my near future. I'd like to tell you also, that if you haven't read Sandi's' new book "Wild Penance" you have to!!!!! I love it and the understanding about where Jamaica comes from. I'm half way through and trying to pace myself so it's not over too soon! I have stood on that bridge !!! and trust me........well, you just have to read the book!! Thanks Sandi and LeeAnn for including me. A WILD Wrangler for LIFE,  Cheryl Thompson, Arvada,Colorado	Here's a pic of me & Mac, one of our RMRT horses (he's practically mine!) Been with the center for years - Cheryl

We can't say enough thanks to these WILD and Wonderful Folks!
Sandi with Bookseller Susie Wilmer At Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins, CO	How can we say enough thanks to the WILD Wranglers and WILD Bunch members who have made our celebrations to date such a WILD success? Here's a list of WILD Bunch Rock Stars who have worked hard to help make the latest WILD PENANCE parties fun, delish, and successful. o   Big thanks to Susie Wilmer and the staff at Old Firehouse Books, who have one of the nicest bookstores we've ever seen. They hosted the Fort Collins party for WILD PENANCE and showed us a grand time! Look for photos from this event on our WILD Mystery Tour Album page. o   More big thanks to Cheryl Thompson, (see her WILD Beat Report above), two-time WILD Wrangler for the Boulder event, who brought yummy goodies and missed the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics to keep Sandi company (along with Boulder Ranger Lynette Anderson) on an evening when Boulder seemed almost like a ghost town! o   She's a WILD Angel: Sigrid Long, who wrangled all Sandi's friends and fans in Taos and practically catered the WILD party at Moby Dickens, in spite of feeling under the weather. Sigrid brought so much joy and excitement to the event, as well as yummy goodies and decorations, a table, flowers, and more. What a woman! Sigrid, we missed you at the Adobe Bar afterward and hope you're feeling better! Check out Sigrid's and Rodrigo's shop, Natural Accents, online, or when you're in Taos. o   You might recognize the name of this WILD Bunch Rock Star: Kat Pruitt, who, along with her husband Pat, knocked herself out to get the word out in Taos about the celebration at Moby Dickens. Kat and Pat brought munchies too, helped with the extra set-up items that Sigrid hadn't already done, and wrangled a whole new posse of fans to the event, resulting in a packed house with standing room only. And more: Kat and Pat wouldn't hear of Sandi staying at a hotel in Taos: they offered their digs to Sandi and her traveling companion for two nights! Best biscuits and gravy in the Southwest, not to mention the company and the four-leggeds. A million WILD thanks to this WILD couple! Kat has done a WILD Guest Blog on the WILD Bunch Mesa in recent months, and is an author in her own right with a children's book (Si Sí, The Circus Cat) ready for publication soon. o   Sheri Jones, long-time friend of Sandi's, who brought balloons and the best cookies in the world to the event, not to mention telling everyone she knew and bringing friends and making the party more fun than ever. Sheri works at the Stephen Kilborn Pottery Shop, one of Sandi's favorite places to find treasures. o    All the gang from Sandi's workshops at the Tony Hillerman Writers Conferences, especially Richard Turner, Rob Kresge, Pat Wood, Sarah Schwartz,  Bill Hershey, and Barbara Heming. These folks WILDed up our Albuquerque party with WILD pizzazz. And John Hofsis and his dad at Treasure House Books and Gifts made the crowds feel warm and welcome. o   Gillian Driscoll, Sandi's WILD traveling companion for the New Mexico leg of the tour, who gets the prize for the most WILD miles traveled. Gill not only flew to Phoenix to attend the launch party in Scottsdale, but then served as caterer (from coolers and bags in the backseat) and navigator (double-checking against the GPS), phone caller, official scarf knitter, and enchanted company for Sandi while on the driving tour leg for New Mexico. This is one WILD Woman who knows how to make traveling fun!
Click On Picture to See Larger Size Sandi Wearing Chaps and a Six-Gun and Holster

A million thanks to these WILD BUNCH MEMBERS who helped make the WILD PENANCE Launch Party a WILD Success!   WILD Women will go to almost any length for a good time! We applaud these WILD Women for making the journey from faraway places to attend the WILD PENANCE Launch Party at the Poisoned Pen. For travel above and beyond the call of the WILD, Janet Ascher (pen name: Jan Frost Holmes) came all the way from Tuscon to attend! And Monica Davis, a veteran WILD Wrangler, trekked south from Sedona to party with the WILD Bunch. But most miles traveled surely goes to writer, communicator, speaker and trainer Gillian Driscoll, who flew all the way from Loveland, Colorado to be a part of the WILD Party! Thanks to all these wonderful WILD Women for their support! A WILD howl-out to Serena and Gary Holder for gathering the WILD gang for the party, including WILD Wanda all the way from Boise, Idaho! (And that also includes Mitzi, her mom, and Bob—Wildest Bunch you ever did see!) Serena put the word out across the wire about the party, and she arranged a special dinner beforehand for the AZ WILD Bunch.  And she didn't stop there—No! Serena brought a bouquet of big balloons and scrumptious goodies for the fans to eat at the party. And Gary, a former member of the Forest Service, always shares astutely because of his vast experience and expertise in the WILD Country! Hurray for the Holders. Ahoooooo! We love 'em! Still more kudos for WILD Bunch Members in AZ! Jo-Ann Mullen, a writer in her own right, put the word out far and wide and brought a posse of friends to the WILD PENANCE Launch. Jo-Ann joined the gang for the pre-party dinner as well, and brought sweet treats for the party. Thanks for all your support, Jo-Ann! Add a big howl-out to Scottsdale gallery owner, Bill Bishop, who escorted a beautiful wolf named Diva to the party. Now that's a WILD party companion! Thanks so much, Bill, for making sure the WILD was represented at the WILD PENANCE Launch Party!     And the biggest thanks to Sher Hurlburt who made sure we got some WILD kids to the event! Sher worked hard to spread the word about the WILD PENANCE Launch Party and showed up (in spite of some pretty significant goings-on in her own world) to show Sandi support. Is WILD sisterhood a beautiful thing, or what? Applause, applause to the skilled staff at the Poisoned Pen, who made the whole event a HUGE success. Thanks to all of you for your hard work! Click on any of these thumbnails to see larger size images of the WILD Launch Bunch. And not for the Launch Party, but for the WILD Mountain Get Down for WILD PENANCE at the Estes Valley Library, we want to howl out loud about the hard work of mystery author, cowboy poet, park ranger and western singer and bassist Gary Miller, who put together the author's panel for the second event on the WILD PENANCE Tour. Only a multi-talented guy like Gary who knows writing as well as he does could have pushed this project through with such panache. Thanks, Gary! We're looking forward to your launch party soon!

Would you like to write a guest blog for the WILD Bunch Mesa Page? Or a review of one of the WILD Mysteries? Want to comment on an author event with Sandi Ault or a WILD Writers Workshop in which you participated? Contact us at wildbunch@sandiault.com, and we'll set you up!

WORD from the WILD: Fans of the WILD Mystery Series Weigh In on the stories, the workshops, the WILD Mystery World, Wolves, and More! Here's a small sampling of excerpts from our WILD Email Inbox.
Sandi, I recently read the book, Wild Indigo and I just want to say thank you for mentioning the plight of Native American languages.  And, when I read the name of your cat, it brought a smile to my face. Tammy DeCoteau AAIA Native Language Program	CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE IN ITS OWN WINDOW Sandi & husband Tracy at WILLA Awards in LA	Sandi:  Congratulations on the new book.  I am so happy they are doing well.  Happy Holidays. John Blankenship Executive Director Wolf Haven International
"Hi Sandi -  I've signed up for your newsletter and the webpage looks wonderful.  Hopefully this response still goes through.  I agree that research keeps writing alive.  I've been writing mysteries, and although I'm not published I have one manuscript under review with [a major publisher].  One of the things I love about your books is how the setting becomes a character of its own.  I tire of mysteries set in cities and long for wilderness stories, probably because I live in the woods.  So your books feed that need by giving me a 'character' of fresh air.  Thanks again for taking the time to reply so graciously, and I'm looking forward to the new story." Lisa S	Dear Sandi, if I may call you so: I'm an old Italian teacher, and I was given your book, Wild Indigo, by a dear American friend. I loved it! I was in New Mexico many years ago, and i was fascinated by the country, the Pueblo people and their traditions and art. Your book brought me back into that wonderful country. Thank you. I loved the wolf. A question: what is your kitty Wasichu? Much love to you and Colorado, and all the West, from a small town near France, called Cuneo, the Wedge. Maria Teresa D	CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE IN ITS OWN WINDOW Sandi & photographer Don Strel at Hillerman Ceremony in Santa Fe
Hi Sandi, I stumbled upon Wild Inferno the other day.  It was in a discount store (overstock, I guess) and I just love to read, so......well, here I am. I'm now determined to read every one of your books until one or the other of us runs out of steam. My husband and I are snowbirds.  We spend winters in Peoria Arizona and summers at our permanent residence in Sandy Oregon, where wildlife corridors run right alongside neighborhoods.  We share our little town with coyotes and cougars and bears, oh my.  And as I'm sure you know, it won't be long before the Idaho wolves who recently crossed our eastern borders start showing up west of the Cascades.  I think they're sweet, shy, beautiful creatures.  And although I can no longer hear their song, I remember what their "gossip sessions" sounded like across the Alaskan mountains where I spent some time back in the 80s.  I used to lie in bed at night and listen to them until they sang me to sleep. As for the Native people; well, I'm definitely part something.  My adoptive family never would come clean about exactly what, and now everyone who might have told me is dead.  Since that pretty much makes me a free soul, I'm okay with it.  But still...I'm thirsty for information, any information, about the folks who really belong to this land.  And I just love the way you write about them. Well, I just wanted to say hi.  Looking forward to Wild Indigo. Bev R	CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE IN ITS OWN WINDOW Sandi with actor Wes Studi & author Michael McGarrity in Santa Fe You look absolutely fantastic, Sandi!!" - Serena H  Hello: would it be possible to give me an idea when your next book is coming out?  And from a writing standpoint, how difficult is it for you to maintain a series without getting bored with the characters, or tempted to spin off in a new direction?  You keep each book alive and fresh and that seems like it would be a hard level to maintain. - LS	Dear Sandi, This week I joined Facebook, thought it would be fun.Looks like Your Career is going Great, I am so Proud of You and Tracy too. Enjoying seeing your Pic on this Facebook page. Hope You are Happy with all of Your Success. Lots of Love, J & D Great to see you in Santa Fe!! Your new book is so fabulous! - W Hello Sandi I have read both books, Wild Indigo and Wild Inferno - the second book I have read it twice and I am still confused over who the person was referred to in 'Save the Grandmother" .  I  found both books in our local library in Bella Coola.  I got very interested in the references to the lunar standstill and the 18.6 years occurances.  So I researched a bit on the internet and located someone in southwestern New Mexico and purchased his book titled Moon Tracks to learn more about this interesting subject.  I find it hard to believe that he did not seem to know about you!! I can't seem to find enough books to read about the four corners area and of the native culture. You and your wolves are wonderful Bill
CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE IN ITS OWN WINDOW Sandi at the Great Big Pile of Bones	Hi— Just wanted to tell you:  my friend, Mary, and I greatly enjoy your stories.  We live in the Washington, DC metro area and have been to the American Indian museum several times.  Visits at the museum and your stories fill in some of the missing puzzle pieces about the lives and culture in a part of the country we haven’t been to – yet! Thank you and we are looking forward to Wild Penance. Lee T	Met you today at Los Angeles International Airport during a TSA bag check Hello Mrs. Ault, I got a chance to read and listen to the excerpt from your book "Wild Sorrow," and to roam your website. I plan to start with a purchase of your first book "Wild Indigo". Congratulations on your recent awards for your writing, from my brief foray into your writing style, I can see that you deserve the accolades. Your writing makes it possible for the reader to in-vision the desert and mountainous environments of your stories and the characters which exists within in them. I enjoyed my first contact with your style of writing and I look forward to reading more. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you Mrs. Ault! Peace and great prosperity to you and your family, and to Mountain, Tiwa and Buckskin. Very best regards, Jeff L (SyFy Novice Writer)
Dear Sandi Ault, I am a Southwest field archaeologist and somehow happened upon your books while browsing Amazon.com. I bought and read Wild Inferno and have ordered your other books. Wild Inferno was a very enjoyable read; I was especially pleased with the detail you applied to the Southern Ute and Puebloan peoples. I love Mountain!    If I can be so bold as to make a couple of suggestions, resulting from Wild Inferno ?? - FBI Crane finds a small ceramic bear thought perhaps to be a fetish (page 153 of the Berkley paperback). Jamaica Wild asks FBI Crane if the item might have been missed on the original excavation of the site where it was found. Crane replies that "... we can do a clay analysis and carbon dating ..."  Radiocarbon dating can only be done on organics, things that were once alive. Even if the ceramic bear had shell as temper, there would not be enough of it to test. In the case of ceramics, dating is almost always done either by stylistic analysis or by association to other datable objects.  In several places: broken pottery is referred to as "sherds," as in potsherds. The word "shards" is generally used when describing broken glass. Small things but still, when nosy archaeologists read your books, they tend to nitpick! However, consider me a loyal and appreciative professional archaeologist. Tom Tom L Archaeology SUNY Dutchess Community College CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE IN ITS OWN WINDOW Photo by Dimi Neria/Fading Sky Photography ClICK ON PICTURE TO SEE IN ITS OWN WINDOW Sandi and husband Tracy in Los Angeles	Sandi, First, I want to say that I've read a couple of your Jamaica  Wild books and enjoyed them immensely. Mostly I just enjoy a well written mystery story but in your case I enjoy reading about New Mexico. I purchased a home in NM a few years back and expect to retire there some time soon... This is actually the first time I've ever written an author...thanks for writing about this .... Regards, Sharon S
	CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE IN ITS OWN WINDOW Sandi and Tiwa by Dimi Neria/Fading Sky Photography I just finished your wild sorrow. Loved it, and I am going to read the first two books of the series. Found this book at my local library and am now hooked on the series. Hope that there will be more. Sincerely, Dawn C Ms Ault I'm enjoying your books, I just started reading your series and will be finished with Wild Indigo today and moving on to the next book in line. I really started getting back into reading again this year. At age 53 its time to slow down and take in the beauty of great authors as yourself. I have a goal of a book a month but since I like to find local authors from Colorado from where I was born and raised and because of authors like yourself I will finish with 35 for 2009. Keep them coming and I'm looking forward to your fourth book. Keep me posted on your book signings and again Thank you for your contribution to the world of great authors Daniel L	Hi Sandi, I wanted to let you know how much I've enjoyed reading your books.  I got them from my library and since I enjoyed them so much I plan on buying them too. I first heard about you through the WERC website.  I learned about WERC when I googled the Sawtooth Pack.  About 2 years ago I became completely fascinated with wolves.  I love animals and we have three beautiful dogs.  I'm also interested in Native American culture and sprituality and was reading about animal totems.  I bought the DVDs and book by Jim and Jamie Dutcher along with several other books about wolves.  I donate to the WERC and the Dutcher's Living With Wolves too.  If you're on the WERC website and If you click on the donor map, my name is there under New Jersey.  I'm not sure of the exact number of donations I've made to them this year, but it is more than four.  I'd have to look it up.   I also support Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice and the Center for Biological Diversity just to name a few of the organizations.  I live in South Jersey about 15 minutes from the Pennsylvania border and Philadelphia.  Here in NJ there's wolf preserve called the Lakota Wolf Preserve (www.lakotawolf.com)  I sponsor a beautiful wolf named Nightsong.  Actually, it's time to sponsor her again for the next year. I'm ashamed to admit that I have not been to the preserve yet.  It's about 2 1/2 hours from where I live.  Even though I live in South Jersey I commute to New York City for work.  On the weekends I don't especially want to make another 2 hour trip.  I do hope to visit Nightsong this fall (my favorite season).  I'm also embarassed to admit that I've never actually seen a wolf in person! Who knew that at the age of 55 that I would become a wolf advocate?  Not that I'm a wolf expert but I think a few people have been surpirsed about my knowlege of wolves.  Most of what people know about wolves are just myths.   One friend said she never gave them much thought.  She was truly interested in what I had to say. A friend introduced me to Facebook, something that I always thought was ridiculous.  I've actually enjoyed it.  I post about wolves and I'm sure that some of my friends cringe when they see the postings.  Of course, I also post trivial things too.   I don't care what they think, I will not back down on my advocacy for wolves and all wildlife.  I also have Motoki and Piyip along the Owyhee Pack as my Facebook friends. Please look for me on Facebook.  I've actually been meaning to do a post about your books and I'm sure some of my friends are mystery lovers too!  I'm looking forward to the next Wild mystery. I loved your tribute to the Sawtooth Pack on the WERC website.  I would ike to visit the WERC one day.  I had asked Chris Anderson several months ago if there were any pictures of the memorial to the Sawtooth Pack.  I believe he also asked Jeremy (?) and they did not have any.  By the way, I think Tiwa is absolutey beautiful!  I hope to hear from you! Regards, Tony D