Terri Roe Cunningham

I love horses. I was born with them in my blood. My grandfather was a Captain in the British Cavalry and continued to ride after immigrating to America. My great-grandfather and great-uncle, already living in America, drove stagecoaches and owned a livery stable in New York. My grandfather, on my mom’s side, wrote for a magazine.

It’s only natural that I grew up with a love of riding, and of reading mysteries, as well as any book about horses. At ten-years-old, I was already dreaming of writing a series of books about a young girl, and her horse, who solved mysteries.

As a teenager, I rode my horse on trails, and as an adult, I showed my horses competitively in Western and English classes, then in Reining and Cattle Sorting events. I still enjoy trail riding and the occasional gymkhana.

After a successful business career, I returned to my dream of writing for kids. I’m currently querying my Middle Grade book, Out After Midnight, a Nancy-Drew-on-Horseback type of story. It’s about a thirteen-year-old girl and her horse, hot on the trail of a missing stallion, searching for him in a remote canyon. She’s got to find him, but time is running out for him to compete in an upcoming event and win money to save his owner’s ranch. Tracey will do anything, even confront shady ranchers and vicious wildlife, to find him—and along the way, heal her broken heart.

When I need inspiration, I walk out my back door and talk with my three Quarter Horses. I like to think they whisper ideas to me, but possibly they’re just nibbling at my ears and trying to eat my hair. I’m blessed to live with my husband and our three personality-plus horses, loving kitty, and goofy fun-loving dog, on our mini-ranch in the L.A. area.