Writing COURAGE IN THE STORM took lots of…well…courage. This book fell way outside my author comfort zone. The story centers around an Amish woman, paralyzed by anxiety after witnessing a terrifying tragedy. Unwilling to set foot off her brother’s farm, Miriam Hochstedler bonds with an injured and traumatized horse. The unmanageable animal is about to be put down, when Miriam’s brother calls in Reuben Brenneman, a formerly Amish farrier known for his skill with dangerous horses. A troubled childhood among the Plain left Reuben with scars of his own, and he wants this job finished fast. Sensing the bond between Breeze and Miriam, he enlists her help. He soon finds himself helping Miriam battle her own fears—but as their friendship deepens, Reuben and Miriam reach a crossroads. She can’t leave the Amish world—and he can’t stay. I loved the story, especially the idea of a horse whisperer hero. But to write it, I’d need to understand Breeze and the skills Reuben used to help him.  And unfortunately, all I knew about horses was that they made me nervous. The one time I’d tried to ride, the horse galloped straight to a tree and scraped me off under a branch. Flat…