In 1989, Blythe, California held its annual rodeo in conjunction with the Colorado River Country Fair. I was crowned Rodeo Queen. And there hasn’t been a competition since. Try carrying this crown and this belt buckle around for more than 30 years.

After a while, the weight of it all inspired me to write about my riding experiences. My non-fiction attempt, an essay called “Prelude to a Queen,” chronicles my niece’s interest in horses and her curiosity about my equine career.