Author: John Royce

#10 – “Do you believe in legends, dear?”

“If you mean education-related, yes. Horses are said to be excellent teachers and only so much can be taught in a classroom.” The woman cleared her throat delicately. “Do you believe in legends, dear?” —excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of ‘The Legend of the Great Horse’ trilogy (p. 48)

The following excerpt is from Eclipsed by Shadow, the award-winning 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy.

Book II: The Golden Spark will be available Fall 2010.

After lunch, Mrs. Bridgestone adjourned to a warm room whose coziness made Jennifer wonder if brandy and cigars would be forthcoming. A low fire burned in an ornate fireplace, below a polished marble mantle inscribed with flowing letters in a foreign language. Dark leather punctuated with brass fasteners covered couches and stools, and framed art of horses filled the walls.

Beside the door, a pedestal bore a brass sculpture of a bearded, trident-bearing man mounted on a flipper-tailed horse. Meagan stood before it and reached out a finger.

“Don’t touch, Meagan,” Jennifer warned.

“No, let her, Jennifer. The child won’t hurt it.” Mrs. Bridgestone walked slowly to a pair of facing couches in the center of the room. “That is a statue of a Hippocampus, dear. They were the mounts of Poseidon, god of the sea. The ancients believed the horse came from the deep ocean wearing the froth of the waves for its mane. Do you like it?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Meagan answered quietly, and walked in wonder to an antique vase set upon a white pedestal. A team of horses charged over the curved surface.

“You may touch the vase, dear, it is only a copy. The original is sixth century B. C. Do you see the images of black horses over the red background? It was an early, crude form of vase painting called ‘black figure.’ Red figures were developed later, but I like the severe lines. Personal taste.”

Meagan softly agreed.

“They were interesting people, our forebears the Greeks. That particular vase shows a four-horse chariot called a Quadriga. Chariot racing grew so popular under the Roman Empire that it was considered a form of madness.”

Meagan walked on to an antique globe, hands clasped behind her. Dancing curlicues of fanciful horses adorned its colorful seas.

“I obtained that piece in Delhi, dear. I have a friend who believes the horse is the only animal to have reached Nirvana. He says Allah placed fear in the horse so that he would remain earthbound, to be an inspiration and guide to mankind. You find religion and early horsemanship very much intertwined.”

Jennifer moved to sit across from the woman. “It’s very nice to be here, Mrs. Bridgestone, but I am still not sure why. As lovely as this has been … I thought this meeting might be school-related?”

“If you mean education-related, yes. Horses are said to be excellent teachers and only so much can be taught in a classroom.” The woman cleared her throat delicately. “Do you believe in legends, dear?”

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

The above excerpt is from “Home,” the 1st section of Eclipsed by Shadow, and is set in modern-day California. (p. 48 Hbk)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … each section is from a different time period.

Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of the trilogy) won national awards including the Eric Hoffer Award for best Young Adult Fiction, and the Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly Young Adult Fantasy.

__________

Quick Links:

» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Book #2 of the trilogy: The Golden Spark.

» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.

Check out the trilogy’s page on Facebook!

#9- Horse Talk with Mrs. Bridgestone

‘ “It is fascinating how closely horsemanship and culture coincide. When Europe fell into the Dark Ages, their horsemanship deteriorated into barbarism. It was not until the Renaissance that humane methods were rediscovered.” Mrs. Bridgestone stepped to the fence and reached a frail hand to stroke the filly’s neck. “In owning a horse, I feel I own a living piece of history.” ’ —excerpted from Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of ‘The Legend of the Great Horse’ trilogy (p. 46)

The following excerpt is from Eclipsed by Shadow, award-winning 1st Book of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy.

Book II: The Golden Spark will be available Fall 2010.

Mrs. Bridgestone leaned to Jennifer. “Tell me something, dear. You have practical knowledge about horses. Are they really as intellectually … limited as one hears? It has always upset me to think so.”

“You mean, are horses stupid?”

“I have heard it said, and I am sorry. They are such splendid animals.”

“Don’t be sorry, Mrs. Bridgestone.” Jennifer was amused. “They are so different than humans. Right now that horse is watching Meagan, you and me and almost everything around her. And she will never forget, because horses have a photographic memory. Horses hear and smell almost as well as a dog, they are so sensitive they can feel a fly’s landing, and can even recognize people by the vibration of their walk.”

“Yes, yes,” the old woman said, “I have discovered the most engaging facts in my readings. Did you know that the horse’s eye is one of the largest in the animal kingdom, even larger than an elephant’s? I understand horses are timid because in nature they are prey. Have you found that to be true?”

Jennifer nodded. “It is hard to imagine how differently a horse sees the world. But the more you try, the better they respond.”

“How charming. It is fascinating how closely horsemanship and culture coincide. When Europe fell into the Dark Ages, their horsemanship deteriorated into barbarism. It was not until the Renaissance that humane methods were rediscovered.” Mrs. Bridgestone stepped to the fence and reached a frail hand to stroke the filly’s neck. “In owning a horse, I feel I own a living piece of history.” Guinevere reached to sniff Mrs. Bridgestone’s hand. The woman smiled. “Magical beings, aren’t they? There is history in their hoof beats—or is it hoof steps? I should tell you, my friends and staff have questioned my sanity since I started my horse project … but sometimes a touch of madness produces the sanest result.” She sighed, watching Guinevere trot off with her tail high. “I was surprised to learn horses have never been domesticated. Their instincts remain. Horses return easily to the wild, as with the American mustangs. I like that, somehow. In all the centuries they have never forgotten themselves.”

“Yes,” Jennifer said regretfully, “though we don’t need horses anymore. Now they are only expensive playthings.”

Mrs. Bridgestone looked at Jennifer sharply. “I wouldn’t say that, dear. I wouldn’t say that at all. People are no authority on what they need. Ignorance about our needs is one thing that separates us from animals. Oh, I truly wish we had had this meeting long ago, Jennifer. They say horses rush men to folly. Well, they do it to old women, too.”

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

The above excerpt is from “Home,” the 1st section of Eclipsed by Shadow, and is set in modern-day California. (p.46 Hbk)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … each section is about a different time period.

Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of the trilogy) won national awards including the Eric Hoffer Award for best Young Adult Fiction, and the Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly Young Adult Fantasy.

__________

Quick Links:

» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Book #2 of the trilogy: The Golden Spark.

» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.

Check out the trilogy’s page on Facebook!

#8- Wait … who is Mrs. Bridgestone?

The following excerpt is from Eclipsed by Shadow, the 1st volume of “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy.

“Allow me time to explain.” The elderly woman waited as the tea was poured, accepting her cup with a polite murmur. “I have gained some experience with horses since we last met, Meagan.” Mrs. Bridgestone sipped her cup delicately. “What did you name your young horse, dear?”

“I named her Promise, ma’am. It was how you said, that animals sometimes name themselves.”

“They do indeed. At least, that has been my experience.” The woman thought for a moment. “Promise. Why, that is a lovely name! It is quite apt too, if somewhat misleading…”

Meagan looked shyly at the floor.

The woman reached for her cane. “Before we have lunch, I think you two might enjoy meeting a few friends of mine. Nelson, could you assist?” The man stepped forward to help Mrs. Bridgestone to her feet.

Jennifer and Meagan followed into a wide hallway that ended at a glass door. Beyond could be glimpsed lawn and white fences. A bay-colored flash floated by in the sliver visible through the window.

Meagan opened the glass door and ran out. Emerging into sunshine, she gasped to see a storybook stables nestled within a brilliant green landscape. White fences wrapped crisp lines around wood-shingled roofs and raked paths. Hanging chrysanthemums flanked yellow-and-white Dutch stall doors. The building looked more like a decorated cake than a working facility.

“Mom, look!” Meagan ran to the central paddock and leaned over the fence toward a husky bay horse. “It’s a filly too!” she called. “She is Promise’s age!”

“I own six horses altogether, Jennifer,” Mrs. Bridgestone confided. “All fillies. I’ve secured the services of a horseman to watch over them. A groom…” The old woman leaned on her cane and gazed at the stables. “What a lovely profession.”

“Have you had horses long?” Jennifer asked.

“Not at all.” Mrs. Bridgestone took Jennifer’s arm as they walked on. “I admit to a mostly academic knowledge of horses, Jennifer. I loved horses as a young girl, yet I have come to actual ownership late in life.” …

Copyright © 2008 John Royce

The above excerpt is from “Home,” the 1st section of Eclipsed by Shadow, and is set in modern-day California. (p. 44 Hbk)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … each section is about a different time period.

Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of the trilogy) won national awards including the Eric Hoffer Award for best Young Adult Fiction, and the Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly Young Adult Fantasy.

__________

Quick Links:

» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Book #2 of the trilogy: The Golden Spark.

» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.

Check out the trilogy’s page on Facebook!

Novel Addiction Review – & Happy Summer Solstice

Here’s a descriptive new review of Eclipsed by Shadow posted by Morning Glow (aka Amanda), on Novel Addiction:

From the back of the book:   Eclipsed by Shadow is the first book of an exciting new trilogy, The Legend of the Great Horse, a journey through the ages when horses were everyday companions in work, war, sport and spectacle. The story is told through the eyes of a young woman, a horse-crazy teenager traveling through time with a knowledge of 21st Century horsemanship as her only defense. ”

Well, wow, the back of the book really doesn’t do this series justice. It makes the whole story sound flippant and childish, even. But really, I found this book to be far more powerful than the blurb. Yes, we do follow a young girl (she’s 15 through most of the book), and yes, she does travel through time, but these aren’t easy things Meagan is dealing with. And despite the young age of the main character, I’m not sure I would give this book to a fifteen year old.. unless he or she was very mature. There are definitely some harsh moments in Eclipsed by Shadow. Not to give too much away, but death, rape, slavery, beatings, etc, are all issues Meagan has to see and live in fear of. All this lends to a very powerful and thrilling tale, definitely, but this book should definitely not be taken lightly.

< read the entire review online  … >

Also: Happy Birthday, Promise!