A nonfiction book covering the ins and outs of Mules — horse donkey hybrids — has been augmented to include stories by farmers describing their real-life experiences farming with mules and mule teams. The Book of Mules: An Introduction to the Original Hybrid by North Carolina author Donna Campbell Smith is now available via Amazon.
Originally intended to introduce mules to first-time owners, the book includes interviews with mule owners and experts from across the United States, and some from other countries.. The addition of farming stories adds an appeal for everyone, including experienced owners.
In The Book of Mules: An Introduction to the Original Hybrid includes:
- the origin and history of the mule
- types of mules
- how to care for mules
- health issues
- raising mules
- training principles
Says author Smith: “While a good deal of what’s true of horses is true of mules, a good deal is different.”
First published 11 years ago, the new edition includes Mule tales, capturing true farming stories spanning decades; stories that might otherwise have been lost, from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. Said Smith: “…people had farmed and worked with mules back in the days before tractors were the norm. Some stories are funny, and some bitter-sweet. Their stories are an important part of American’s heritage.”
Check out the new The Book of Mules: An Introduction to the Original Hybrid on Amazon.com.
Donna Campbell Smith is a published author of three children’s books and frequently visits schools to conduct writing workshops and talk to students about the subject matter of her books. She has an AAS degree in equine technology from Martin Community College where she also took extended classes in art and composition. She has worked in the horse industry as a trainer, instructor and breeder for almost thirty years before retiring to write. Her books Pale as the Moon, An Independent Spirit, and Bear Song have not only been popular entertaining reading for young people, but are used in many schools as supplemental reading for students learning about colonial history. Her books include a teacher’s guide.
Donna has authored three other nonfiction books: The Book of Miniature Horses, The Book of Draft Horses, and The Book of Donkeys, published by The Lyons Press. In addition she is a freelance journalist and photographer whose work has been appeared in many print and online publications. Find out more about her books via her Amazon author page at amazon.com/author/DonnaCampbellSmith.
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