THE LEGEND OF THE GREAT HORSE trilogy | Blog – Page 16 – Eclipsed by Shadow • The Golden Spark • Into the Dark

“To Fly without Wings”

Into the Dark - bookcover image of Stroller “The stadium erupted in cheers when the pony trotted out before the crowd. Programs fluttered onto the arena floor as the crowd’s appreciation drowned the loudspeakers’ sound. The pony looked around the filled stadium, seeming not to understand what all the fuss was about.” – Into the Dark (excerpt) Book #3 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history―on horseback. Into the Dark (Book #3 of the Legend of the Great Horse trilogy) was honored as a Bookwatch Selection for Young Adult Fantasy.

In this excerpt, Meagan is coming close to her time … and finds herself at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

When God created the horse,
He said to His new creation:
“Oh, Horse, I have made thee as no other.
Thou shalt fly without wings
and conquer without swords.”

—attributed to the Koran

Excitement rippled through the in-gate. Every head was turned to the entry corridor, watching a young woman in a black hunt cap. Her small, pale face could barely be seen over the spectators. As she glided forward, her horse’s tiny dark ears became visible. Meagan, standing beside the in-gate, saw the girl was not riding a horse at all, but a pony. The saddle pad bore the flag of Great Britain. These were the Individual Show Jumping medalists.

“De Gran Bretaña, Marion Coakes y—Stroller!”

Meagan knew of this pony, a famous jumper of the twentieth century. He was Marion Coakes’ childhood mount, a pony talented enough to outjump every full-sized horse in the world on one occasion or another. Something else Meagan remembered: Stroller’s tail had been in constant danger of being plucked bare by souvenir seekers …

There was doubt the brave pony could handle the huge fences, but Marion and Stroller were simply too popular with the public to leave off the Jumping team for Great Britain.

Proving doubts wrong, the pair had won the Silver medal, putting in one of only two clean rounds of the entire competition. This insured a spot in the British line-up for the final event of the 1968 Games now in progress: the Team Jumping.

The stadium erupted in cheers when the pony trotted out before the crowd. Programs fluttered onto the arena floor as the crowd’s appreciation drowned the loudspeakers’ sound. The pony looked around the filled stadium, seeming not to understand what all the fuss was about.

Perhaps his eye stopped on Meagan before he walked on … perhaps it was only her imagination. Not since her Mongolian mount Targa had she known a Great Pony. “Good luck,” she whispered.

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Quick Links:

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

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Reviews for the trilogy.

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

Into the Dark (Book #3): Encountering the reality of history

Into the Dark (bookcover) WWII cavalry horse Cavalrymen knew the situation: there were no waves of doomed galloping charges against superior weaponry as enemy propaganda claimed. However in countries such as Poland in the early days of WWII, there was no time to adapt, and tragic scenes of onslaught–metal against blood–gave mankind’s insensate use of horses in battle its final tragic setting. – Into the Dark: The Legend of the Great Horse (Book #3)

Into the Dark (bookcover) WWII cavalry horse
This bookcover image by Marti Adrian Gregory is perhaps the most difficult horse character of Into the Dark.

It is of a cavalry horse wounded on a WWII battlefield.

Horses on this battlefield probably did not suffer more than on others, but the ultimate folly of war was shown most clearly—and further folly too—as our ancient partner fell to man-made machines.

In the early 20th Century, the bright hope of liberating humanity from the tyranny of fanaticism, corrupt wealth and war was darkened by those same forces … in this era technological change swept away the last major remnants of mounted cavalry.

Horses were already being replaced by motorized horsepower when war came … the saying that ‘Generals always fight the last war’ was tragically played out as mounted units and draft animals mingled with tanks, artillery fire and aircraft.

Cavalrymen knew the situation: there were no massive waves of doomed galloping charges against superior weaponry as enemy propaganda claimed. However in countries such as Poland in the early days of WWII, there was no time to adapt, and tragic scenes of onslaught–metal against blood–gave mankind’s insensate use of horses in battle its final tragic setting.

The last part of “Into the Dark enters a recent historic change that seems to be already blended in memory with ages past; we are careless with our history. The scene is only three short pages, included because it was a turning point in the modern world that should not be forgotten.

Into the Dark (Book #3 of The Legend of the Great Horse) is to be published on July 20th, 2012 … the book’s new cover images and excerpts from the book will be shared in the run-up to the launch date…

Book III: A Tunnel of Wind

“About the head of a truly great horse
there is an air of freedom unconquerable.
The eyes seem to look on heights beyond our gaze.
It is the look of a spirit that can soar …
It is the birthright of eagles.”
—John T. Foote (1881-1950)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history―on horseback. Into the Dark (Book #3) was named to the Midwest Book Review Bookwatch and listed as a Highlighted Title by the Independent Book Publishers Associate (IBPA).

In this excerpt, the year is 1920 and the Great Horse is a fleet hero of the American racetrack…

—John T. Foote (1881-1950)

Her first time riding a Thoroughbred had been a little frightening. The horse stood prancing and eager as she took the reins and tried not to look at the ground so far away. She remembered hinting to the horse that she was ready and the sudden jolt forward in response.

She was riding quicksilver; such a steed demanded her utmost skill and focus. She had to balance and reassure the animal; she had to both follow and lead. She had to remind herself to breathe.

Only once did she truly gallop on a Thoroughbred. Her mount had been a claim horse on a backwater racetrack, a “prospect” being bought by her trainer. She remembered letting the reins out a notch and standing in the stirrups, feeling the horse opening his stride. The chiseled head mouthed the bit and pushed into the bridle, bounding forward in fluid strides that spilled across the soft earth.

She had opened the reins and felt the horse leap into them. The wind rose above all sounds, narrowing the world to just hooves exploding along the ground—and then the horse uncoiled and lifted, and the gallop was not a gallop anymore but a bolt and she was shooting through a tunnel of wind leaving the world outside stopped and static, a frozen background to the thunder beneath her that pounded on and on…

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Quick Links:

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

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Reviews for the trilogy.

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

Pre-Orders of “Into the Dark” — Sold Out

Pre-orders of the paperback edition of Into the Dark (The Legend of the Great Horse – Book #3) … have sold out!

Author-signed copies will be made available for direct ordering after the July 20, 2012 publication of Into the Dark.

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New author-signed copies of the books of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy are made available for direct ordering from TheGreatHorse.com website … with free domestic shipping!

“Nice teeth … for a parrot.”

Red and Blue from "Into the Dark" “There is something about riding down the street on a prancing horse that makes you feel like something … even when you ain’t a thing!”– Will Rogers (1879-1935)

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history. The Golden Spark (Book #2) won the 2011 Written Arts Awards for best Science Fiction/Fantasy.

The year is 1861 in this excerpt, the location is Texas (USA) … Meagan is trying to keep the Great Horse from being sold away.

“There is something about riding down the street on a prancing horse that makes you feel like something … even when you ain’t a thing!”

—Will Rogers (1879-1935)

“Can’t take less’n thirty-five dollars. He’s a real work horse and I’ll take what he’s worth.” It was Dan Beardon … he was talking quickly to two men as they exited together out the front door.

Concerned, Meagan decided to begin with cleaning the spittoon by the front window. She walked to it and casually rubbed a spot in the foggy saloon glass to see out. The dark sorrel horse, Blue, and the buckskin, Red, were standing tethered to the establishment’s hitching post. Dan and his two prospects were walking around Red, patting his backside. He was selling the Great Horse!

Dan seemed to recognize Meagan as she walked outside to join them, but he deliberately looked away and kept talking. She crossed her arms and listened.

“Thirty-five dollars, you say?” asked one of the buyers.

“Yup. And I’ll throw in the halter.”

Meagan made herself think quickly. She had to stay near Red … an idea was forming: “Excuse me, sir, is this the horse you ponied me into town on?”

The buyers glanced at her as Dan scowled. “Yes, I think I’d remember that tale of woe.”

“It can’t be … how did you get rid of his spavins?”

“Ignore her,” Dan advised. “The poor girl is touched.” He made a tapping gesture on his temple for illustration.

“Why, it is the same horse,” Meagan peered closer, sounding impressed. “Tell me, is he over that wheeze? Oh, that’s right, you said it was just heaves.”

The two buyers looked at each other.

“This horse never had spavins nor heaves,” Dan hissed. “Now get.”

Meagan stepped up to the buckskin’s head, patting him gently. “Nice teeth,” she said innocently, opening the buckskin’s lips, “for a parrot.” Smiling, she sidled up to a potential buyer and pointed at the horse’s rear portion. “You look like a horseman, so tell me … would you say the horse is sickle-hocked, or just cat-hammed? It’s hard to tell, isn’t it, on account of the goose rump?”

Dan simmered, turning crimson. “Lady, I’ll tell you this just once—if you don’t get back inside, I’m contacting the establishment. This is pure harassment of the clientele.”

“If you come back here,” Meagan led the two prospects to stand a distance behind the horse, “you can see a rare thing. A horse pigeon-toed in front and cow-hocked behind!”

“That’s it! I’m getting Geez!”

“What’s the matter, Beardon?” asked one of the buyers. “Can’t answer the young lady’s questions?”

“That’s no lady, if you catch my meaning.”

“Oh?” Now Meagan reddened too. “At least I’m not trying to pawn off a slab-sided, ewe-necked wasp-belly with no wind and asking thirty-five good dollars for it.” Meagan smiled at Dan’s murderous expression as the two ex-buyers mumbled something and went back inside.

Dan went to Red and tossed his lead rope over the buckskin’s neck. “All right, that one’s going to cost you. See I felt sorry and didn’t press charges before, but I had witnesses. I think I’m going to poke into the sheriff’s station and see what’s what…”

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Quick Links:

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

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» Check out Reviews for the trilogy.

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

Book #3: Into the Dark – info and pricing

Into the Dark, the final book of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, is being published in hardback on July 20, 2012.

>> Pre-order price: the pre-release paperbk edition may be ordered direct for $11.95 … orders begin shipping July 10th!

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Into the Dark, the final book of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, is being published in hardback on July 20, 2012.

The hardback will retail for a special discounted price of $19.95 through the summer, and will be available online and for ordering through local libraries and bookstores.

Paperback and ebook editions will be released in October 2012. Author-signed copies of Into the Dark (paperback) will be available for direct ordering after publication (7/20/12).

Book #3: Into the Dark … Book launch announcement!

The conclusion to The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is coming this month … Book III: Into the Dark is being published on July 20, 2012.

The conclusion to The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is coming …

Into the Dark ... coming July 20, 2012 Book III: Into the Dark is being published on July 20, 2012.

The bookcover for Into the Dark features original figures of each new Great Horse character by equestrian artist Marti Adrian, with layout by Pixelgraphix. The new horse “miniatures” will be displayed along with excerpts from the new title in the run-up to publication.

Additional announcements coming … entering the homestretch now!

Into the Dark is being exhibited at the 2012 BookExpo America (BEA)

The 2012 BookExpo America (BEA) begins tomorrow at the Javits Center in New York City. The sprawling convention is the largest publishing event in North America.

Into the Dark, the upcoming conclusion to The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, will be exhibited each day of the convention as part of the book’s launch.

The trilogy’s author, John Allen Royce, will be also be participating in the event. The author’s first BEA appearance was in 2010 as a Gold recipient of the Mom’s Choice Award for his debut title, Eclipsed by Shadow.