“I do not at all understand the
mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us
where it found us.” Anne Lamott
Hi,
It’s
Mary Lee (writing as M. Lee Prescott) reader of all kinds of books and writer
of dozens – mysteries, romances, of course, historical fiction and nonfiction
related to literacy. It’s taken me many years and countless hours at the
keyboard and legal pad to be able to say, “writer of dozens.” It’s a proud and
wonderful feeling!
The
quote above by a favorite writing teacher, Anne Lamott speaks of the very human
quality of grace, but it also reminds me of my “state” when completing a book
in which I am absorbed. It could be a romance, mystery, or a contemporary novel
like Masood’s wonderful The Bad Muslim Discount, which I am currently
reading. If I am engaged in a good book, I emerge in a different place, myself,
but also somewhere else. That’s what I seek when I read and when I write. A
grace that carries me and my characters along and leaves us sometimes
breathless, but never in the exact same spot as where we began.
Over
the last twelve years, I have discovered, in writing each Morgan’s Run book, that
grace does not appear to be unique to humans. I’m sure if you’ve ever loved a
dog, cat, horse, or other pet, you understand. Here I’m referring to a kind of
“equine grace.” When I began writing about the Morgans and their close knit
community, I knew that horses would figure prominently both as characters and
as animals beloved by series characters. I have been on horseback half a dozen
times in my life, some rides fun, others scary so I knew very little about these
magnificent creatures. As I began writing Emma’s Dream (book 1), I
was blessed with the birth of my first grandchild, Abby. By chance Abby and I
began visiting a local farm, home to many rescued animals, including horses.
Slowly, we got to know each horse by name and temperament -- the owner’s gentle
white mare, Misty, a huge, but gentle draft horse, Tabasco, Sunny the pony, and
many others. We also came to love them – even the ones with signs on their
stalls warning us not to get too close – and all the animals at Stony Creek.
Now
I find myself in a different place, a place of grace and presence with these
amazing creatures, less scared, more peaceful. As I wrote about Ben Morgan and
his spirited quarter horse, Rowdy, Harley and his wild Appaloosa, Pepper and
Maggie with her very own, enormous draft horse, Tabasco, I discovered that
trust, love, grace, and connection with other living creatures, be they
two-legged or four-legged, never leave us in the same place.
Many
of the love stories in the Morgan’s Run series take place around and with
horses. Training them, riding them, rescuing them from cruelness and neglect
and nurturing them back to health. I have learned so much about the efforts to
rescue the magnificent wild horses of the west, and the many breeds of horses
that we have in the United States. What does this have to do with romance and
grace you ask? Each breed has qualities and characteristics that support its
human owner. For example, Dusty, a rescued horse featured in Tom’s Ride, has a steady,
calm temperament that nurtures fragile, wounded Grace McGraw. Deathly afraid of
horses, Grace, to her surprise, bonds with the dun stallion and they are both
healed in the process.
The
human—horse connection is a critical element in many of my love stories. When
he leaps onto Pepper’s back, Harley Langdon, the quintessential cowboy, and
wrangler, becomes one with his horse. It’s difficult to imagine the two apart;
they have traveled so many miles together. Whip Kitteridge already owns a
horse, Calico, a strong, sturdy American Paint, but his work with Ghost, a
wild, aggressive white stallion, heals long ago wounds for man and horse and
they become inseparable. The morning Tabasco lumbers out of the trailer at
Morgan’s Run stables it’s love at first sight for Maggie Williams. The enormous
draft horse, acquired as part of the ranch’s mustang rescue program, is slated
to be gentled and adopted by a border agent, but no one will go near him except
Maggie.
Then
there’s gorgeous Ben Morgan who’s comes home to nurse an ailing heart and winds
up falling in love with Maggie, and his spirited quarter horse Rowdy. While
the white hot romance between Ben and Maggie is the center of Emma’s Dream, his bond
with the young horse saves his life more than once out of the trail.
What
does all this horse talk have to do with romance? In this series, beloved by so
many readers, it is very often the horses that take characters to places where
love happens—on the trail, in a secluded valley, or maybe in a darkened barn,
the scent of sweet hay surrounding them. Do horses embody a kind of equine
grace that transports and changes those they love? I’m thinking a resounding
yes. What do you think?
Great
blogging with you! I love to hear from readers and writers so please be in
touch anytime.
Warm
wishes,
Mary
Lee
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4 comments:
Mary Lee, First Thank You ever so much for being our special guest this month! I love the quote by Anne Lamott and absolutely believe it to be true - at least for me. I watched a PBS program on the horse - several episodes starting with its ancestry. Horses do love, do trust and do change from being a herd animal with other horses to being or maybe that's including their special person in their herd.
And Congratulations on being a "writers of dozens". You should be proud and feel wonderful, it is quite an accomplishment.
Mary Lee,
I enjoyed your blog post.
Having had horses in the past I can relate to the stories. Several of our horses had been working horses on a ranch . a couple had behavior problems but with love and working with them our family was able to bond and make a change in their behavior .
Thanks again for reminding us about our four legged friends!
Diana
I love this sweet and insightful story of your research that led to your adventure with your granddaughter -leading to your understanding and love for the non-human "characters" in your series.
Mary Lee, I totally enjoyed this post. As a horse lover from birth (don't know how, just was), I am all for sharing the joy and profoundness of having a relationship with this graceful and smart animal. More humans need to realize we aren't the only creatures with family ties, friends, societal rules, LOVE. And if you're ever fortunate enough to have a one-on-one relationship with a horse, if you are ever lucky enough to run full out on a horse and feel their freedom as you become one... you are indeed blessed. OH - and Anne Lamont is priceless.
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