The Elixir Bound in paperback blog tour is going strong, and today I’m at Mary Waibel’s blog with an unusual character interview. K.L. Pickett was gracious enough to stop by and talk about the inspiration behind her middle grade novel Maybe It’s Magic! (check out my Goodreads review here). Welcome, K.L.!
Why Did I Write Maybe It’s Magic! ?
By K.L. Pickett
If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?
When I was a kid, the only thing I wanted was a horse. Horses were my obsession: I read about horses, got to know horse owners, saved my money to rent horses, watched the horse races with my dad on TV, went to the race track with him, watched local horse shows, scooped poop for horse owners in exchange for horse rides, wrote reports about horses, drew pictures of horses – well, you get the picture.
When I was in kindergarten, I rode an invisible horse to school every day.
Our house was zoned as county, not city, so horses were allowed. But it was more like a suburb than a rural area. Our property was only a quarter of an acre. In the very back corner of the yard we had an old, wooden, rotten-to-the-point-of-falling-down stall where someone had kept a horse a long, long time ago – which only served as a daily, constant reminder that I didn’t have one.
Every birthday, every Christmas, I asked for the same thing: a horse.
Every birthday and Christmas morning, I’d walk into the living room, close my eyes, and yank open the drapes. Next I’d open my eyes and look outside, hoping and wishing with all my heart there’d be a horse out there.
There never was.
But I never gave up. I begged and pleaded with my parents. I prayed. I researched horses and horse training and riding. I rode whenever I had the chance.
And finally, when I was eleven years old, a miracle happened. The phone rang; I ran to answer it. It was my dad. “Karen,” he said, “I just bought you a horse.”
That was the happiest day of my eleven-year-old life.
That’s why I wrote Maybe It’s Magic! It’s written for all those kids who dream and wish and pray they have a horse someday.
My hope is that every kid who reads Maybe It’s Magic! will have his or her dream come true, too, just like mine did.
Maybe It’s Magic! blurb:
More than anything in the world, ten-year-old Pippy wants a horse. Plan One – begging her mom for one – doesn’t work. Plan Two – performing her own made-up magic spell – conjures up a tiny glass horse statue. Pippy’s disappointed; she wanted a real horse. But after studying it, Pippy thinks: Maybe it’s magic! If it is, she can use its powers to get a real one.
Soon her life changes. Because of the statue, she meets a grouchy, old ranch owner, who hasn’t had horses for years. The old woman buys one, stating it’s for her granddaughter. Pippy believes the horse is really for her. She learns to groom, saddle, and ride it. Now she’s even learning how to show it. The magic is working.
Then bad things start to happen. Why? Is the statue running out of magic?
When the ranch owner ends up in the hospital, Pippy knows the magic is almost gone. She needs more magic. But how? If she doesn’t get more soon, she could lose her horse. But even worse, the ranch owner could lose her life.
You can purchase Maybe It’s Magic! from MuseItUp Publishing at: http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/museityoung/maybe-it-s-magic-detail
About the Author:
The author, K.L. Pickett, on her horse Palleo when she was eleven-years-old. She helped her dad build the barn you see behind her.
Visit her website this month and read a free, true short story about her and Palleo: www.klpickett.weebly.com
(You will also find a recipe for making “Sweet-Smelling Play-Dough”)
Please “like” K.L. Pickett on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/pickettbooks
Love that you rode an imaginary horse to school, KL–that’s so cute! I can just imagine how excited you were to get your own horse!
I love that she rode an imaginary horse, too! I used to have all kinds of imaginary friends as a kid, but never a horse.
What is it about girls and horses? So happy you got your horse. I had to settle for an imaginary horse I kept tied to the bumper of our Packard. LOL..I’m sure this cute story will resonate with many girls. Best wishes!
Girls and horses are just natural BFF’s I guess. My 8-yr-old niece is a horse girl and is lucky enough to take riding lessons every weekend. No horse of her own, though.
Karen’s story reaches deep inside the precious wonder of childhood. I love how even at a young age she created a world just for her…and, it came true! What more can a child ask for? I look forward to reading K.L. Pickett’s inspired work. Oh, by the way, I used to pretend that I had a horse when I was a little girl, too! Yet another reason why I love K.L. Pickett!
Hi, Gina! How well-said. I agree that K.L.’s stories bring alive the wonder of childhood. 🙂
Karen, I love your childhood stories! And your children’s stories are wonderful!
love,
your big sister Cathie
Hi, Karen’s big sis! Love that you stopped by the blog. I had three sisters of my own…we had crazy times as kids. 🙂
Karen, it is always a joy to read your stories and books. I’m so happy you are doing what you love.
Your other big sister, April
Yay, more sisters! I bet you girls had lots of fun (and fights if you’re anything like my family) growing up. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Imaginary friends and pets are the best! 🙂