​http://marshaknopf.fineartstudioonline.com/
Marsha was born and raised in the Washington D.C. area.

​Merle Ann Jones is a retired school teacher and the author of a new heart-warming book by LifeVest Publishing, Inc. entitled Paul's Gift.

A Lakota youth has been working very hard to earn a Nokota® horse. The horse is being given to him by the Nokota® Horse Conservancy. One of the goals of the conservancy is to reunite some of these horses with Lakota youth in the hope that their native horses will again be part of their culture. The story takes place on a morning in late spring when the horse is delivered to Paul’s house. Paul has not seen the horse and is excited about seeing his horse for the first time. 

What color will he be? What will Paul name him?

​In Margaret's own words, her dedication reads, "This book is dedicated to the Nokota Horse Conservancy, Inc. As a writer, I'm embarrassed to admit that I can't find the words to adequately express my deep appreciation for the Nokota horses and my admiration for the people who struggle so hard to preserve them. But I must mention brothers Leo Kuntz and Frank Kuntz, the founders of the Conservancy.

"For nearly 25 years, these men have taken on the task of preserving and protecting the Nokotas - the last wild horses of North Dakota who now reside on the Kuntz family ranch in Linton, North Dakota. These unique horses are the descendents of the Indian ponies of Chief Sitting Bull and the Indian-cross horses used by the early settlers of the Northern Plains. The painstaking efforts of the Kuntz family to save this breed have won the admiration of many, including my family. If only the world had more people like you.

"I am donating a portion of the proceeds from this book to the Nokota Horse Conservancy. So even if you hate the book, at least you can know you've helped a very deserving cause."

Thank you, Margaret, for your tenacity, your brutal honesty and for being a crusader for our humble cause—the Nokota horse.