Book Title: She Who Rides Horses: A Saga of the Ancient Steppe (Book One) by Sarah V. Barnes
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 267 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Lilith House Press
Release date: March 2022
Content Rating: PG. It contains two kissing scenes and the death of an animal.
Set more than 6,000 years ago, She Who Rides Horses: A Saga of the Ancient Steppe (Book One) begins the story of Naya, the first person to ride a horse.
Daughter of a clan chief, bolder than other girls but shunned by the boys because of her unusual appearance, Naya wanders alone through the vast grasslands where her people herd cattle and hunt wild horses for their meat. But Naya dreams of creating a different kind of relationship with the magnificent creatures.
One day, she discovers a filly with a chestnut coat as uncommon as her own head of red hair. With time running out before she is called to assume the responsibilities of adulthood, Naya embarks on a quest to gallop with the red filly across the boundless steppe.
Unwittingly, she sets in motion forces and events that will change forever the future of humans and horses alike.
Guest Post – Excerpt from Chapter One
It was long after noon the next day before Naya was at last able to slip away. This time she was better prepared. In a deer skin bag slung over one shoulder she carried flint tools and kindling for making fire, a flint knife and enough food to last a day, as well as a full water skin. Over the other shoulder was coiled a long length of braided rawhide, strong enough, she hoped, to restrain the filly…
She found the little band at dusk, when the
sun’s afterglow cast blackening shadows across the landscape. She had just
gained the top of a small rise and could see for some distance, despite the
gathering darkness. There they were – blurred shapes silhouetted against the
next range of hills. Succeeding ridges gained in height, verdant meadows giving
way to forested slopes, behind which the sun had disappeared. The horses had
led her to the edge of the grasslands…
Naya shivered in the rapidly cooling air. The horses appeared to have stopped for the evening. The mares’ heads hung low, muzzles almost touching the ground in deep relaxation and she could make out several darker shapes that must be the foals, lying in the grass at their feet. Only the stallion stood alert, scenting the air for danger before dropping his head to grab a few mouthfuls of grass. Moments later, his head lifted again, keen eyes scanning the landscape.
Naya settled herself in the deep grass and rested her folded arms atop her knees. From her vantage on the rise downwind from the small band, she could sit and keep watch without arousing suspicion… Eventually, cheek resting on her forearms, she closed her eyes, and slept…
At some point later in the night, she thought she awoke. Lifting her head from her folded arms, she checked the herd. They were as they’d been before, dozing in the lee of the hillside across from the rise where she sat. Even the stallion had relaxed his vigilance and stood with his head lowered. The full moon now rode high in the sky, bright enough to cast faint shadows. As Naya’s eyes adjusted to the night, the moon’s light illuminated a faint track leading down the rise at an angle from where the horses rested. She hadn’t noticed it before.
Rising, Naya moved as silently as she could, following the path in the moonlight. Soon, she found herself ascending another small rise, then descending, then rising again, until at last she stood at the edge of a ravine. Below, she could see a stream, shining in the moonlight, gurgling quietly as it flowed over its stony bed… Slipping and sliding, Naya made her way down the steep slope, scratching her skin against sharp rocks and thorny underbrush. At last she reached the bottom and looked around her. Along the ravine’s floor, smooth white stones marked the water course… Drawn onward, Naya followed the path upstream into a grove of trees.
There, a wondrous sight met her eyes. Oaks and birches encircled a small pool of water, fed by an underground spring. Reflected in the pool’s clear, still surface was the round orb of the moon, casting its light from high above the rocky cliffs which formed the pool’s backdrop. Beside the pool stood the red filly, burnished coat softly aglow. Naya froze, rooted as if she were one of the trees, and stared. The filly, startled by the girl’s approach, stared back. Neither moved. Eventually, Naya remembered to breathe. In the next moment, she realized that she had left her rope, along with everything else she’d brought with her, back on the rise. Still, she and the filly stood motionless, looking at one another.
In that moment, Naya’s senses underwent an almost imperceptible shift; the moonlight became just a little brighter, the stream’s murmur became just a little louder, the slight breeze rustling the leaves in the trees became just a little fresher against her skin. In the next moment, she seemed to feel the filly’s thoughts.
I will
grant your heart’s desire, but only if you are able to grant mine. The musical voice resonated within the core of Naya’s
being, even though no sound other than the splash of flowing water and whisper
of the wind in the trees disturbed the silence of the grove. What is your
heart’s desire?
Awestruck, Naya
could only gaze back at the young horse, who now regarded her with luminous
dark eyes in which fear had given way to curiosity. Finally, she found her own voice. “I wish to be with you,”
she said simply. “I wish to touch your coat.” Then, from deep inside, another
longing welled up, a yearning so audacious she almost couldn’t bring herself to
speak. Hesitatingly, she uttered the words. “I wish,” she said, “to ride upon
your back.”
Ah, the red filly seemed to reply, if this is indeed your
deepest desire, then you must see with the eyes of your heart and create ties
without the use of a rope. And when you have succeeded in granting my heart’s
desire, then shall yours be granted also.
Before Naya
could begin to ponder the meaning of the words, the filly brushed past her in a
chestnut blur and was gone, disappearing through the trees toward the mouth of
the ravine. Gazing after her, Naya shook her head, as if to clear her senses. Water
still flowed in the creek and a breeze still rustled among the leaves. The moon
still cast its dim glow – but the moment of utter clarity had vanished, just as
suddenly as the young horse. Shaking herself again, as if awakening from a
dream, Naya retraced her steps to the mouth of the ravine. There was no sign of
the red filly…
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Sarah V. Barnes, Ph.D. is both an historian and a horsewoman. When Sarah is not writing stories, she practices and teaches riding as a meditative art. She also offers equine-facilitated coaching and wellness workshops.
Sarah holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and spent many years as a college professor before turning full-time to riding and writing. She has two grown daughters and lives with her husband, her dogs and her horses near Boulder, CO.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ goodreads
AUTHOR INTERVIEW w Sarah V. Barnes, author of SHE WHO RIDES HORSES
Q: What’s
your favorite inspirational quote?
A: David
Whyte has a line in his poem What to Remember When Waking:
“To become
human is to become visible while carrying what is hidden as a gift to others.”
For me,
this speaks to the essence of what we do as writers. Becoming visible means
putting yourself and your words out there, for others to read. Writing is an
inherently vulnerable act. Even if no one reads what you write other than yourself,
you are still making yourself visible, if only to yourself. You are revealing
what is hidden – the gift of your true self – the gift each of us alone can
offer to the world. The whole poem is a powerful reminder of why we are here –
and that line in particular really inspires me, especially as a writer.
Q: Is your
book mainly for horse lovers?
A: No –
it’s meant to appeal to a wider audience. I describe the story as ‘Clan of the
Cave Bear’ meets ‘My Friend Flicka.’ Certainly, the horses, and Naya’s relationship
with the red filly in particular, represent an important aspect of the storyline, but readers don’t have to be horse people to connect with the characters.
The challenges they face are universal.
Q: What is
the most courageous thing that you’ve done?
A: There’s
more than one type of courage, of course. In terms of physical courage,
competing in the cross-country phase of eventing probably took the most
courage. Eventing is the triathlon of horse sports and cross-country involves
galloping around a course while jumping over stone walls, leaping off banks,
crossing ditches, and traversing water obstacles. Like most things that require
courage, however, proper preparation takes some of the edge off. If you and
your horse have practiced navigating the various types of obstacles, and you’ve
walked the course and know what to expect, a good outcome is more likely. As
far as the kind of courage that involves emotional vulnerability as opposed to
physical risk, the hardest thing that I’ve had to do is allow my children to go
out into the world, make their own choices (and mistakes) and forge their own
paths. You want the best for them, and that starts with setting them free. Not
surprisingly, elements from both these personal experiences of courage show up
in my books.
Q: What
are your hobbies?
A: When
I’m not writing, I’m often at the barn with my horse. Horses are creatures of
the present moment. They can also potentially be quite dangerous if you don’t
understand them. Spending time around horses necessitates being mindful, being
grounded, paying attention. My horse and I have a relationship which requires
that I show up as my best self. Hobby is perhaps not the right word for the
time and effort that I devote to her, and the lessons she teaches me. Spiritual
practice comes to mind.
Q: What is
your writing schedule?
A: Many
writers apparently do their best work early in the morning. For me, that’s not
the case. While I like to get up with the sun, I spend that first quiet hour
journaling and reading, with a cup of chai at my elbow, followed by meditation
and movement practice. Once the day is underway, my first commitment is usually
going to the barn. Only after I’ve spent time with my horse, do I sit down to
write. Once I’m at my desk, other than letting the dogs out and going upstairs
for tea, I’m pretty much working away until dinner. I write very slowly – going
back to reread and rework passages – so I need big chunks of uninterrupted
time. Luckily I’m at a stage of life where I can enjoy that luxury.
Q: What is
your next project?
A: I’m
nearing the end of the writing/editing process for the second book in the She
Who Rides Horses series. There will be a third book, for sure, and possibly
more, depending on how the story unfolds. At some point, the novels will be
released as an audiobook and ultimately, I’d love to see the story made into a
film or limited series.
The storyline is one of hardship, recovery, trust, and forgiveness. The spiritual aspect of the story lends another dimension of insight, relationships between horses and mankind. I enjoyed the descriptions of the landscape, the many-layered characters, and the ever-changing circumstances of their everyday life.
A very exciting and enjoyable read that will take you on an inspiring magical journey. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily choose to review it. All opinions are my own.
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