Today's Release: The Girl Who Remembered Horses

Linda Benson is the author of two previous novels for children – FINDING CHANCE and THE HORSE JAR, which has been translated into Spanish. An animal lover and avid horsewoman, she often writes about the bond between animals and humans.

Her third novel, THE GIRL WHO REMEMBERED HORSES is now available as the second release from Musa Publishing’s brand new YA imprint, Euterpe. Several generations into the future, Sahara travels with her clan in a barren environment where recyclables are bartered for sustenance, and few remember horses or their connection to humans. But Sahara has recurring visions of riding astride on magnificent animals that run like the wind. In a world that has forgotten the ancient bond between horses and humans, can this one girl’s dreams make people remember?

Here’s what she has to say about it:

I am thrilled that THE GIRL WHO REMEMBERED HORSES will be released first as an eBook, because this format and marketing will make it accessible to so many different kinds of readers. Doesn’t the title alone make you want to read it? If this boundary-jumping novel were to come out as a hardback only, it would doubtless be marketed in only one genre, and be shelved in only one spot in a bookstore, where it would probably be overlooked by many readers.

Would it go in the YA section next to numerous fantasy books? (I think fantasy readers will love it, but the horses in this book are as real as I could possibly portray them.) Would it go in the speculative fiction section, where readers of apocalyptic stories might find it? (Possibly, but not many younger readers search here.) Would it be shelved with middle grade books, where horse lovers age 9-12 might read and adore it? (Maybe, but that would limit the audience to 12 and under, for which it’s perfectly appropriate, too.) Or should it be shelved with adult fiction for animal lovers, since besides horses it also features dogs and even goats? (Yes, goats.)

Well, guess what? Musa Publishing is marketing this novel under their YA imprint. I think it’s a perfect fit. Adult readers, who are reading more and more YA, won’t hesitate to buy it, and younger people will easily find it there too. So whether you are 9 or 99, if you read on an iPhone, a Nook, a Kindle, an iPad, a computer, or any other electronic device, you can now buy and enjoy this great story for only $4.99. Here’s the link, where you can read a short summary, as well as an excerpt from the book: http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=78

THE GIRL WHO REMEMBERED HORSES was partially inspired by a college research project I completed regarding American women and their passion for horses. As a life-long horsewoman, I’ve also been concerned about the changing status of horses today as we become a more urban society. This book is not only an exciting and thought-provoking story, it’s an adventure story, a quest for a girl to find her true identity, and a rollicking-good horse story. I hope it resonates with many different kinds of readers.

While I think it’s very cool that THE GIRL WHO REMEMBERED HORSES is being released as an ebook, I’m finding myself more and more excited about the future of ebooks in general. I am an avid reader, and I read almost anything about animals, as well as adult literature, middle grade, young adult literature, non-fiction, and whatever else captures my fancy. As much as I love paper books, I’m thrilled to find new formats to read in, and I’m hoping THE GIRL WHO REMEMBERED HORSES will find lots of readers as an ebook. Be sure and let us know what you think!

For more information:

http://www.lindabenson.net

http://www.lindabenson.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/Girl.Remembered.Horses.LindaBenson