Hello, my name is Kristene Newcomb. I am the author and illustrator of Molly Q's Trashy Travels Through the Water Cycle.  This book is the first in a series of educational science children's books. I also am the illustrator and co-author of the Longhorns and Short Tales and the Folsom Fallies Cartoon Calendar.  My Dad, Fred Balmer is the author our children's book series about Festus and His Friends on the Ranch.  The Folsom Fallies Books and  cartoons are created through a joint effort between my father Fred Balmer and myself. We spent the past fifteen summers developing cartoon calendars and story books. The ideas for our cartoons come from our experiences on the Folsom Falls Ranch. The Folsom Falls Ranch raises registered longhorns for novelty steers, bulls and the occasional steak dinner. Each May, I load my car full of art supplies, and head for the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains. I spend six weeks working on the ranch and observing the antics of the colorful longhorns, family and friends (mostly greenhorns) and the many types of wild life that reside there. After collaborating with "The Boss", (my Dad) I am ready to start a whole new series of belly laughs for those who have come to appreciate our special brand of humor. Take a look at some of our previous calendar page and some of our animated fallies in our Cartoon Corral . Our children's stories about Festus and his hilarious herd of friends are written by " the Boss", my Dad and illustrated by me. 

My Dad, Fred Balmer grew up on a farm in central Iowa; which included both grain & livestock production.  Due to the loss of the family farm during the depression, shortly before he was born; he chose not to remain in agriculture due to economic considerations. During his childhood he witnessed the completion of the transition from animal power to mechanical power; this is occasionally reflected in his poetry.  Fred attended a small Iowa College on an athletic scholarship and earned a BS in Geology,  later earned an MS in Education.  He has been a pilot for over 40 years and holds an airline transport rating he and his wife have two daughters and a son.  After spending 32 years as a Federal Government employee living in Virginia, with tours in Africa, Asia and Europe, he retired and currently ranches with his wife at Folsom Falls Ranch in northeast New Mexico.  They have a small herd of Texas longhorns which serve, along with friend and neighbors, as inspiration for the books. 

 

Purchase t-shirts, mugs etc. with you favorite cartoons and story characters by shopping our  Web Shop!

Kristene Newcomb
Folsom Fallies

E-Mail: kristene@folsomfallies.com

Visit me on my space at: myspace.com/folsomfallies

Fred Balmer
Folsom Falls Ranch
E-Mail: Folsom Falls Ranch

 

Festus
Folsom Falls Ranch

E-Mail: festus@folsomfallies.com

Visit me on my space at: myspace.com/folsomfestus

 

 

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