FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES APRIL 2013 95
Writing a book isn’t as easy as you might think. One of my friends
recently commented that she had no idea of all the steps involved in
having a book published.
Unintended Lies
by Linda Kendall McLendon
is my debut novel and can be purchased in e-form from Amazon or
Barnes and Nobel and in paperback from most book sellers.
As a young girl, I was allowed to read any books I wished. I was
inspired by horse stories such as the
Black Stallion
and
Red Stallion
Series,
plus I was born with an insatiable love for horses. I was 28 years
old when I woke up in the middle of the night, realized I had a job and
money and could buy my own horse. Silly me, I got a $2,000 loan from
my bank and within a week I owned a pony, a grade palomino and an
aged American Saddlebred, plus all the tack and fxings to go along with
them, including a cart and harness. I think I even had a little money left
over. That was the beginning and also the end - which many horse people
will completely understand.
It took a series of reinventing myself and talking about writing a
book for too many years, before I fnally decided to make it happen.
This involved writing classes, attending writing seminars, research and
reading many books on writing. It meant hiring a writing coach, an
editor, a critic and a publisher (whose wife is an amazing mentor).
I knew that
Unintended Lies
needed to include animals and their
relationship with people. There had to be a calm place where the
characters could sort things out. Something needed to bind the main
characters together and the horses were the perfect catalyst to bring them
together in the frst place and give them each a reason to keep going.
I drew from my own experiences - from the people who had come
so vividly in and out of my life. Neither Catherine DeLong nor Zane
Wheeler knew exactly what they wanted; but the story lead them back
to where they came from - their roots - the starting place where we feel
very comfortable as children.
Catherine experienced many different kinds of love. The sudden tragic
death of her husband, James, is the center of the many changes. Next, the
unexpected onset of her uncle’s illness and being forced to make hasty
decisions draws her to certain places and people.
It is in the old familiar house that she comes to terms with her diffcult
childhood, attempts to get answers to questions and brings to closure
some of the burdens she has carried in her heart.
It is a story of secrets, misconceptions, tragedy and triumph; but above
all it is a story about love and endurance.
“Unintended Lies” is available in e-form for $4.99 at Amazon.com or
Barnesandnoble.com and in paperback through most booksellers for
$19.95.
Linda Kendall McLendon Debuts
Her Novel
Unintended Lies
e
Sidelights
Author Linda
Kendall
McLendon