AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Deanie Humphrys-Dunne

Baby Deanie

Tell me about your love of horses. When did it begin for you?

My parents owned a riding school called

Sweetbrier.  They moved there when I was a 

baby so as long as I can remember, I wanted to ride well and compete in horse shows. I started riding at about four years old before I could walk very well.

I was born prematurely. At first, doctors said I would be slow at meeting certain milestones. I talked in complete sentences at one-year-old, but when I wasn’t walking at nearly four, my dad took me to a specialist. The doctor said I’d never walk. As you can imagine, my dad was not pleased. He was a determined person who never accepted something he thought he could change. 

Therefore, my dad picked me up and stormed out of the office. My dad told me not to worry about what the doctor said because it was wrong.  Daddy said he’d teach me to ride and I’d be fine. It was the decision that changed my life because I learned to walk and began working toward my dream of becoming an equestrian champion. Incidentally, I always referred to my dad, as “Daddy” because nothing else fit. We had a special bond.

What is your handicap? What specific struggles did you have early on that made it difficult to fulfill your dream?

I was born with cerebral palsy. It means part of my brain was damaged when I was born. In my case, it only affects my legs, not my arms or speech. At first, it was a struggle to take one step without falling. I don’t believe most parents would have considered riding horses when walking was a considerable challenge in the beginning. When I started learning to walk, I could only walk a step without falling, but gradually, my balance improved.

I loved being with the horses so I used to navigate the stairs by sitting down. Then I crawled to the barn, which was probably 500 feet away. 

Sweetbrier House

When I started to ride, I fell off many times because the muscles in my legs got tired and I’d slide off. But over time, things improved.

How did others support you (or not) in your dream? Besides your family, did you have friends who encouraged you to continue?

I was bullied at school often. Only one girl in my class even spoke to me. She is the little girl Mary, I mention early in the book, My Life at Sweetbrier. When I was a teenager, I taught horseback riding at Sweetbrier. Many of our students encouraged me and cheered for me whenever I competed in shows.

Peach and Deanie at Mrs. Foster's farm
Photo by Bob Moseder

Was there ever a moment when you thought, "I just can't do it anymore"? And if so, what or who encouraged you to continue?

There were times when I felt discouraged and frustrated. But the family motto was “The Humphrys don’t give up” so surrendering my dream was never an option. My parents always said certain things would take longer, but I could do anything if I persevered. I had faith that someday I’d reach my goal if I kept working on it.

My Life at Sweetbrier is written in a conversational style so although it’s my story, the objective is to show other children may also beat the odds through perseverance.

Thank you so much for interviewing me today, Kathryn.

You're welcome. Where can readers find your book?

Website

Amazon

Goodreads

Barnes and Noble

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY

Dream On...

I love dreams, at least the good ones. I love soaking in the potential of my latest book, my next writing class, my next mentoring session.

Dreams are important.

But even with dreams, work is required.

I don't know about you, but I'd like to think that my greatest dreams come because I've put some footwork and real heart into the matter. I don't just expect the 'dream' to come to me, rather what I expect is the dream to manifest itself because I've put all I have into it.

If not for the work as well as the dream, most of our wishes for the future would be as real as doughnuts falling from the sky - our favorite, chocolate cake.

There's no such thing?

You've got it.

I'd like to think that after all the hours of writing and editing and yes, even marketing, something magical begins to happen. Like, I get better, I produce something worth reading, that I grow.

And that's when dreaming really counts.

Kathryn

What You Hope For in Writing

What you hope for in writing goes beyond a dream or wish.

It has to.

I remember thinking years ago that I wanted to be a published writer. But it took work.

I talked with other wishful thinkers who wanted to be authors but they never wrote - anything. You probably know them.

"I have always wanted to write a book," they always said, but their desires remained a wish.



I remember thinking years ago that I wanted my own publishing company. In my head I thought, "Well, I'm going to need a building, some help, plenty of paper and materials, and the withal to do such a huge task."

Years later, when the publishing industry changed (authors no longer had to purchase 1,000 copies at a time in order to get their book in print) I realized something else.

I could publish my own books and I could set up shop right in my very own home.

Even later, I realized that, with my years of learning the craft of writing, that I could mentor others in their desires to write and get published.

What you hope for in writing has to be more than a pipe dream.

Your dream has to be concrete. It has to be written down or drawn out on paper. You have to see it every day. You have to believe it and then work towards your reality.

There is no other way.

Kathryn

Favorite Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today I thought it quite appropriate to share with you some of my favorite quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

I remember the day I sat in one of my college classes and I viewed the "I Have a Dream" speech. I was inspired! I felt as if life presented so many great opportunities; my part was overcoming the barriers that hampered my dreams.

Photo by Vince Alongi, courtesy of Flickr

As a writer, I hope you see the wisdom and vision in the "Dream" speech. I hope you realize what we, as writers, can accomplish through Faith, Freedom and Hope. Let's grab hold of the American dream and run with it!

"Faith is making the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence."

"Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think."

And finally...

Photo by Tony Fischer Photography, courtesy of Flicker

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

Listening

In my book, "Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones," Ms. Virginia Bean learns about listening. It's the first stone she receives.

Photo by Cambridge Cat, courtesy of Flickr

Listening is important. I find that when I want to go one direction, the timing may not be right, and by listening to my heart as well as listening to God I know that the dream is still out there but that I need to wait for it.

In writing, your dream may be to publish "last week". But in reality you know that it may take you 5-10 years. In the meantime you take writing classes, involve yourself in a writing critique group, read, and WRITE. You know that writing is the most forward thinking way for your dream to come to fruition.

Photo by: Moyan Brenn, courtesy of Flickr

Listening to that inner voice will tell you what you need to write, when you need to write it, how long it should be, what characters should be included, etc. Listening to God will keep you on track.

I didn't think my publishing company would happen this year, but I was on track and it was time. I am excited about this new direction. I know that it is the right time.

My hope for you is that whatever your dream is that you take time out of your day to listen. When the direction is right, stress will be replaced by peace, worry will be replaced by a new-found initiative to move forward, and your desire to succeed with be honored by God.