Alumna set to share her children’s book with South Carolina youth

Becoming a children's book author was never a part of Paige Murray's original goals.

But her newfound side hustle was a great way to combine what she learned at Clemson University as an animal science major with a concentration in equine business and her life raising her daughter Oakley on their Texas cow/calf ranch.

Murray celebrated the release of her children's book, "Rosie's Wild Ride," on Tuesday, Oct. 8. While the book is a fictitious tale, the story is centered around her family's Clydesdale horse, Rosie, and their daughter Oakley.

"The book originated as a story about Rosie dreaming of becoming a ranch horse," Murray said. "I wondered what it would be like for her to be born into a family of Clydesdales who all pull wagons or carts, yet she has dreams of being a ranch horse. My publisher, Zonderkidz, said they would like to see a version of the story where Rosie dreams of being a rodeo horse, so I took the themes and ideas from my first draft and wrote the story in a rodeo setting."

Murray, who graduated in 2009 from Clemson's University Honors College, now resides in Stephenville, Texas, with her husband Ty, Oakley and stepchild Kase.

"Rosie's Wild Ride" is an inspirational book that Murray hopes will encourage children to dream big and find strength in their differences.

Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom and author, Murray returned to her hometown of Lancaster after graduation and became a veterinary technician and promotional model. She served as NASCAR's Miss Sprint Cup, where she became enamored with broadcast journalism.

After traveling the country as a brand ambassador for several companies, Murray moved to Texas to become a television host for RIDE TV. She also worked as a rodeo reporter for Fox Sports. She met her husband while working at the National Finals Rodeo and they married in 2017.

After Oakley's birth in 2018, Murray became a stay-at-home mom. Writing children's books became her creative outlet.

"Having a background in animal science helps me write from a place where I can keep the book authentic, even though it is fiction," she said. "I did not grow up with a farming or ranching background, so most of what I know came from my education at Clemson. I feel like I can write from the perspective of someone who is unfamiliar with the agriculture industry and also someone who works in agriculture, so I'm able to write an agricultural-based book that would appeal to all kinds of people."

Murray said she enjoyed watching the process, from the several rounds of editing to the illustrations, cover design, character design and eventually, the final product.

"This is truly a highlight of my life," she said.

"Rosie's Wild Ride" can be ordered at bootsandbiscuits.com/rosieswildride, where there will also be a free activity kit for parents to download and print out for their children. It can also be purchased wherever books are sold.

Murray will hold a bedtime story read-along on Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom in collaboration with South Carolina 4-H. Registration is open to all, and those who sign up will be entered to win a free copy of "Rosie's Wild Ride." The deadline to register is Oct. 18, at which time a Zoom link will be shared. For more information, contact Leona Ransdell at [email protected].

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