UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a book signing party with author Roni McFadden on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., to celebrate her second book, “The Longest Trail.”

“The Longest Trail” carries readers through a spellbinding new work by McFadden.

As a young teen, McFadden left behind the confusion and pain of her unhappy preteen years. She tells of how she went up – up onto horses, up the road to a man who could help her, and up the mountain, to where she could see clearly and breathe deeply. And, finally, up to another place where only some can go.

As she travels "The Longest Trail," McFadden evolves from a girl stumbling along treacherous and twisted paths to become a strong young woman who knows where she is going, how to get there, and understands she will have help along the way.

Having had the visions, seen the petroglyphs, felt the grinding stones, and carrying obsidian chips with her, McFadden knows the strength of the spirits of the ancients, knows their energy can be used by anyone who feels their vibrations.

Spending all of her teen years in the High Sierras riding horses and managing horse-packing tours, McFadden learned about animals, people and life.

In the time since then she has continued on "The Longest Trail," adding the wisdom of another 40 years to her perspective as she relives, and recreates those years on the pages of her new book.

As you ride with McFadden up the trail in this book, you will know the joy, fear, grief, humor, beauty and wonder she experienced in the high country, in Altadena, Calif., and all along the way, as she journeyed to this time and place.

McFadden is the mother of four and grandmother of 14. She now lives in Willits with her husband of 41 years, John.

Little did they know when moving to Northern California that the property they bought and built their house on once was part of the Ridgewood Ranch, home of the famous racehorse Seabiscuit.

Shortly after moving McFadden began a career with the equine veterinarians that have cared for the horses at the ranch for over 25 years, and through that connection she was able to write and publish her first book. ³

“Josephine – A Tale of Hope and Happy Endings” is a children's book about a great-granddaughter of the legendary Seabiscuit who becomes orphaned at four days of age and follows the filly as she is accepted by a surrogate mare.

All proceeds from the sale of “Josephine” go to The Howard Hospital Foundation and the T.R.A.I.L. therapeutic riding program at the Ridgewood Ranch in Willits. McFadden's association with Josephine and the Ridgewood Ranch enabled her to start her own small publishing company, which she named The Biscuit Press.

Although she no longer has horses of her own, she continues to work for Redwood Valley Equine, and enjoys her friend's horses. One of her greatest pleasures now, as she gets older, is watching her grandchildren grow and thrive. As she nears retirement age she feels there might be a few more books in her.

McFadden will be at the studio from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday to greet visitors and to sign sold copies of her book.

Refreshments will be provided and wine will be available for sale by the taste of by the glass. Wine tasting will feature varietals currently on sale as well as featured samplings of Olof Cellars wines and Fore Family Cabernet Sauvignon.

Lake County Wine Studio is a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County.

The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake. It is open Mondays, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays; and Fridays, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.