Guest Post From Alison Hart!

A quick word before the Guest Post from Ms. Alison Hart:
Today our thoughts are with Kate, Maisie, and the rest of her "herd" both two legged and four, as they made the decision to bring a dignified end for her grand old gelding, Nobel.

We in the equi-blogging community grow close bonds through sharing ourselves and our horse's stories. Each and every time one leaves us for the Great Beyond, we all feel it. It is a great "side effect" of our writing- that this community continues to support, grow, share, and care so strongly.

So to celebrate life, and our lives with horses, I offer to you today this wonderful fun post from Alison Hart, author, educator, and horsewoman. Remember- WHIRLWIND is up for grabs! Leave a comment telling me about your kids/ students/ cousins/ nieces/ nephews/ or yourself if you too are a horse crazy youth! Drawing will be August 9, so don't forget to enter and spread the word!

Now, with out further ado, I present Alison Hart!
~MM


My Novels Versus, Well, Me
By Alison Hart

As a children’s author, I write adventurous, horse-filled novels with action-packed scenes. Some are mysteries, others historical suspense. Some are for teen readers, others are early chapter books. All have one thing in common: me.

` So I thought it would be fun to compare my books (my imaginative life) with reality (my real life.)

Suddenly the water began to churn. Emma sputtered and raised her head. She heard a snort and a splash. A black animal appeared beside her. Its nostrils flared pink; its eyes were white-rimmed.
Twist! Grabbing the pony’s long mane, Emma used her last burst of strength to drag herself onto his back.
(From Emma’s River—Peachtree Publishers)

You guessed it: this has never happened to me. Emma and her pony Twist survive an exploding steamboat. I rode the Louisville Belle, docked in Kentucky, for research. It didn’t sink or explode, thank goodness, and I didn’t have to rely on a pony to save me because seriously has anyone ever had a horse save them from anything? (And that doesn’t mean the furiously bolt for home when you rode over a yellow jackets nest)

“Go!” the judges holler, the drum taps, and Aristo rears as the other four horses break from the starting line.
I fall back, my hold on Aristo’s mane the only thing keeping me from plummeting to the ground. The colt springs forward, throwing me onto his neck, then charges after the others.
The crowd jeers as we pass.
(From Gabriel’s Triumph—Peachtree Publishers)

When I was sixteen I exercised horses on the racetrack one summer. It was awesome. However, I am so many years beyond sixteen that total imagination (and copious research) goes into all my racing scenes. These days my horse and I are totally content to trot on the trails, avoiding those yellow jackets at all costs.

Blowing wildly, Shadow skittered from pretend demons in the underbrush. Jas legged him forward, and they followed the fence line to the three foot six log jump built into the board fence. “From my long-ago fox hunting days,” Miss Hahn had explained during their last trail ride. Shadow was such a talented jumper he could take it at a trot.
(From Whirlwind—Random House)

I did foxhunt three times. Only my horse avoided every fence as eagerly as Shadow tackles this one. We crashed into the woods a lot and ran up on several pissed-off horses’ butts. We were not invited back for a fourth time.

I bolted up the riverbank, Bell’s whinny goodbye following after me, Katie’s cry, Run!” echoing in my ears.
Eliza clung to my mane as I raced up the lane, which soon turned into a steep, narrow trail. Sharp rocks hurt my hooves. Branches slapped my face.
But I couldn’t stop. The slave catchers’ horses were close behind.
(From Bell’s Star—Random House)

You guessed right again: I have never been a horse. Although often I wish I was one. I would be fed, pampered, fly-proofed and loved. I would have a fan in my stall in the summer to keep the flies away. Someone would clean out my stall, fill my water, mow the pasture, and spray the thistles and it wouldn’t be me. I would be in the field grazing happily!

Make sure you visit Alison Hart's website for more information on her books!