QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS ABOUT "ECLIPSED BY SHADOW"
-1- _Tell
me about Eclipsed by Shadow

Eclipsed by Shadow
is the first book of a new adventure trilogy, The Legend of the Great Horse.
The series
is a kind of "road trip" book, telling history from horseback as an exciting
adventure. The story tells of a young horsewoman's journey through history,
traveling through the past ages of mankind. Readers will enjoy themselves
as they learn about both history and horses.
This first book begins
the journey, and takes the reader back to prehistoric times and
then advances toward modern day. Included in this volume are periods up
through the Medieval age, including the ancient Roman days of chariot
racing and the Mongolian hordes fomented by Genghis Khan.
-2- _Who
are the main characters?

The
main characters are a teenager named Meagan Roberts, an avid horse enthusiast,
and her young horse, Promise. The story is about Meagan, who is
only twelve when
this coming-of-age story begins but who advances past her teens. On her
journey
through history she meets a parade of horses and colorful individuals.
The first section introduces
the Roberts family and also an eccentric wealthy woman named Mrs. Bridgestone,
who tells Meagan that her young Promise is the latest incarnation of the
"Great Horse," an angel that has lived through history to help and
guide mankind.
Other major characters
that Meagan meets in this volume include an intimidating
gladiator and a celebrity chariot driver of ancient Rome, two devout monks
of the
Dark Ages with differing views on independent women and a protector knight
of the Medieval era.
-3-
_Who
is the intended audience for the book?

The
only readers Eclipsed by Shadow is not meant for
is very young or sensitive readers, simply because parts of the story
depict harsher sides of history. The book is meant for everyone beyond
the earliest teens, men or women, horse fans or not--anyone who likes
learning something new while enjoying a great read.
The story is engrossing
entertainment, but also features accurate information, reflecting extensive
research in both historical and equestrian aspects, making Eclipsed
by Shadow worth a reader's valuable reading time.
-4- _In
which genre
would Eclipsed by Shadow be classified?

Eclipsed by Shadow and
the rest of the trilogy is a genuinely cross-genre story: Historical fiction,
Adventure, Suspense, Fantasy, Mystery, and of course, Equestrian.
Historical fiction fans
will have a fresh and unique experience of traveling through well-researched
worlds of our past.
Horse-lovers will thrill
to read a fresh and exciting story that accurately portrays the wonder and
excitement of horses.
Adventure and Suspense
fans will find themselves enthralled with the tension and "fear-factor," Fantasy
readers will enjoy the mythological elements from antiquity, and Mystery enthusiasts
will be challenged to puzzle out the underlying plot surrounding the Great
Horse.
-5- _What
is the story about?

The trilogy is about
horsemanship, one of mankind's oldest technologies, older than recorded history.
It is fascinating to watch horsemanship mirror civilization through history,
and to see how the growth of human empathy drove the progress of both.
A second theme is to
observe how quality of thought shapes our ability to produce results in the
world. Mankind floundered desperately on horseback for eons before discovering
a true partnership with the horse, hampered all those millenia only by ideas.
Meagan is educated in
the advanced horsemanship of the 21st century, and understands the horse
as a partner rather than a mindless force of nature. One of the story's
interesting themes is how Meagan's advanced viewpoints allow her to survive
alien cultures by producing results with horses that more primitive people
cannot.
-6-
_Is
this book a good choice for a Gifted or Reluctant Reader?

Eclipsed by
Shadow was named by Heartland Reviews as a Grreat book (Gifted
and Reluctant Readers Explore Amazing Titles), and is a rewarding book
for the avid or gifted reader because it explores our history through
engaging and literary writing. The book is a good choice for less motivated
readers (especially if horse-interested) because the story is accessible
and compelling--once the main character travels back in time, the story
takes off and provides an incredible adventure to encourage even a reluctant
reader.
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