By: Sue Kramer
SERGEANTSVILLE – Children’s author Laura T. Barnes celebrated the release of her latest book, "Teeny Tiny Ernest," at a book launch party held Sunday at her farm, Barnesyard.
About 150 guests and members of the publishing industry attended.
Ms. Barnes’ first book, "Twist and Ernest," was a hit with children and parents alike. Based on the true events that happened the day Twist, a show horse, arrived at the farm, "Twist and Ernest" follows the antics of Ernest, a miniature donkey that just wouldn’t accept the fact that Twist didn’t want to be his friend.
Like the first book, "Teeny Tiny Ernest" is based on true events at the farm, and it also comes with a moral.
"The first story is about not judging others," Ms. Barnes said. "This story is about self-acceptance. Ernest looks out, and the cows are bigger, the horses are bigger; everyone is much bigger than he is. So he starts doing these funny little things to be taller like standing on a hill and stretching his neck up."
She added, "The moral to the story is they never noticed that he was smaller because they loved him for who he was."
Younger children and adults alike will have fun trying to find the bumble bee that’s hidden on every page. The brainchild of the book’s illustrator, Carol Camburn of Quakertown, Pa., the bees buzz from page to page as Ernest’s story unfolds.
Ms. Barnes, 45, who grew up on a farm with horses, didn’t know anything about miniature donkeys when she and her husband, Jeff, 45, bought Barnesyard seven years ago. All that changed when they were about to move into the converted barn, and the former owner said, "I don’t know what I’m going to do with Chester and Ernest."
Without thinking, Ms. Barnes answered, "I’ll take them."
And so, 29-inch-tall Ernest, the inspiration for the series, and his best friend, Chester, a huge old draft horse, were able to remain together in the stable they had shared for years. Today, four other miniature donkeys and Travis, a thoroughbred horse, also live on the farm. The donkeys, which weigh from 200 to 350 pounds, stand just under 3 feet tall.
Brought to this country in 1920 from Sicily off the coast of Italy, the miniature donkeys are warm, loving animals with "individual personalities. I know what they’re thinking," Mrs. Barnes said.
She added, "I just woke up one morning and started writing," reminiscing about the inspiration behind the Ernest series. "I’ve always wanted to do this, and it was an opportunity for me to be creative."
But "I only write my books; the animals create the story," she said.
Ms. Barnes has found such success with her book series she found herself making some tough decisions recently. After 20 years and facing 70-hour work weeks, she closed her business, Cross Keys Marketing & Advertising in Doylestown, to pursue her writing full-time.
"I’m going to handle a few clients out of the house," she said, "but I just need more time to focus on my books. A third one will come out in 2002."
The circa-1800, three-story barn at Barnesyard where Ms. Barnes lives is built in the shape of an open square and is the only remaining one in Hunterdon County with such a "courtyard design," according to Ms. Barnes, whose office is located directly over the stable that houses Ernest and his friends.
Ms. Barnes will be expanding her office to meet her needs; she anticipated the creative input from Ernest and his friends to continue.
"I get tons of it," she laughed. "I hear them all the time."
When the phone rings or if Ms. Barnes makes any noise, a chorus of hee-haws and whinnies rings out from the stable below, often driving Ms. Barnes out of her office. And just when she thinks it’s safe to write, Ernest and his friends rub their necks back and forth against the support beams below to scratch their necks and ears. And as the animals scratch and the beams shake, Ms. Barnes’ computer skids across her desk, but she loves every second of it.
Sitting well off the road on 11 secluded acres, "Barnesyard" also boasts something new. Under reconstruction is the "original Sergeantsville carriage shed" that was slated for destruction when the parking lot was paved at the municipal building.
"They were going to destroy it," Ms. Barnes said. "Everybody was up in arms about it so they decided to put it up for auction. We bought it, but we had to rebuild the 20 by 60 by 5-foot stone walls, which is a huge undertaking. We’re going to use it as a maintenance shed."
She added, "It has more pegs in it now than it ever did. The original Sergeantsville carriage shed is staying in Sergeantsville, and that’s good news."
"Teeny Tiny and Ernest" is available for $15.95 in select stores or directly through the Barnesyard Books Web site, www.barnesyardbooks.com.
Ms. Barnes will be autographing copies of her books from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 21 at Time to Read Books, 20 Church St., Flemington and from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at Alphabet Soup Books for Kids in the Lawrence Shopping Center on Route 1.
