Stacy's answers… to some of your questions
Q: Are the characters and horses in your books true?
A: The characters are definitely fictional – but they are also totally based on real people and horses that I know (or that I used to know when I was younger). Horsey people often have larger-than-life personalities so even though my characters might seem extreme sometimes – I really do know people just like them!
Q: Where are the books set?
A: Real-life places definitely inspire the locations for my books. The Chevalier Point Pony Club is a lot like the pony club I went to when I was ten. In book three, Destiny and the Wild Horses, Blackthorn Farm is totally based on a real farm that a friend of mine inherited in a will, and the film sets and stunt riding in Stardust and the Daredevil Ponies are inspired by another friend who was the stunt double for Liv Tyler in the Lord of the Rings! I like to make sure the settings are as real as possible – I went to Spain before writing Storm and the Silver Bridle because most of the action for that book is set in Andalucia.
Q: How many books are there in the Pony Club Secrets series?
A: There are 12 books in the series – but that’s not including the Christmas special (Issie and the Christmas Pony) so there are actually 13! Also, you can get the first two books as a bind-up supersized double edition called Mystic and Blaze.
Q. What order are the books written in and does it matter if I read them in the wrong order?
Yes, there is a correct order to read them in. But each book is a stand-alone story, so it’s not a problem - you’d still be able to understand what’s going on no matter which book in the series you pick up first. The correct order so far in the series is:
1. Mystic and the Midnight Ride
2. Blaze and the Dark Rider
3. Destiny and the Wild Horses
4. Stardust and the Daredevil Ponies
5. Comet and the Champion’s Cup
6. Storm and the Silver Bridle
7. Fortune and the Golden Trophy
8. Victory and the All-Stars Academy
9. Flame and the Rebel Riders
… plus the Christmas Special – Issie and the Christmas Pony – which is a prequel to book one.
Q: Will there be any more books?
A: Yes! The big news is that there’s going to be a whole new series but I can’t say too much about it yet or my publishers would kill me! Check this website because the news will be here first! All I know is the first book in the new series will be out in 2010.
Q: I would love it if they made the Pony Club Secrets books into a movie – is that going to happen?
A: I would love it too! Hopefully a movie will get made. Yes, it’s true that a producer has bought the film option rights, but it takes lots of time and money to put a movie together so we’ll have to wait and see if it happens – fingers crossed!
Q: I’d be perfect for a role in the movie – are there going to be auditions?
A: Because the movie project is still in a very early stage there are no auditions or anything like that happening. There have been no decisions made about which country they’ll be filming in if the movie does go ahead and I would probably have very little – if any – say in who gets cast. But keep checking back here because if there is any news of a movie I want you to be the first to know!
Q: Have the books been released anywhere else besides the UK?
A: The Pony Club Secrets books are available in New Zealand, Canada, India, South Africa and Australia. They are being translated into Spanish. The books are also translated into German – but in Germany the series is called Silverdale!
Q: When's your next book coming out?
A: Keep an eye on the home page of the website for the latest release!
Q: Do you have a horse? And what horses did you have when you were a kid?
A: I was desperate for a horse for years before I actually got one so I know what it is like to beg, save and plead for a pony! My first horse was a 13.2 brown mare named Bonnie. She had a white heart on her forehead and her ‘show name’ was Queen of Hearts. My second pony was a black mare named Jill. My sister had a Cremello and a chestnut Anglo-Arab mare with a white blaze and white socks (sound familiar?). I’ve ridden quite a few horses since then – I had a bay mare called Luka who was such a total sweetheart and now I ride a chestnut gelding called Jasper.
Q: I want to become a writer - any tips?
My three tops tips are:
1. Write about something that you love and understand. You can’t fake your knowledge or enthusiasm. I’m really lucky to write about horses because I totally love them!
2. Plan out your story – think about the overall plot before you start and make a map of the chapters. You probably won’t stick with it. I often totally change my mind as I write, but at least it helps you get started and keeps you on track.
3. Writing the rough draft is just the first step. Once you’ve done your story you must be prepared to look at it really hard and rewrite it as often as necessary to make it the best it can be.
Q: I've written a story/book/fan fiction on the forum – will you read it so I can get your opinion?
A: I’m sorry but I can’t. It’s kind of a ‘rule’ that professional writers aren’t allowed to read fan fiction or unpublished work. I won't even LOOK at your story/book if you send it to me, and I don't think most other writers will either. If you want feedback you should show your work to your teacher or friends and family or post it on the forum for other Pony club Secrets fans. If you’re serious about a career in writing and you have a manuscript that you think is ready to be sent to a publisher or agent, I suggest you look at the list of agents in the Children’s Writer's And Artist's Yearbook. You should be able to check out a copy from your local library.
Q: Can you write me a letter/sign an autograph?
A: Because I live in New Zealand the post costs a lot and also it takes ages to reach the UK, so it’s often much better to use email. Just click Contact on the top of the web page. I reply personally to all my emails (as fast as I can!). I will reply to actual letters by posting one back. If you live in the UK, the best way is to send your letter to HarperCollins in London:
HarperCollins Children's Books
77-85 Fulham Palace Road
Hammersmith
London
W6 8JB
or if you live in New Zealand, Australia or anywhere else in the world you can write directly to Stacy at:
Stacy Gregg
PO Box 147 005
Ponsonby
Auckland
New Zealand
It often takes letters a long time to reach me (sometimes a month or more!) so please be patient!
x Stacy
Great book links
UK Children's Books - A directory of the online world of UK children's books with links to authors, illustrators, publishers, organisations, review sites, booksellers and many ...
Seven Stories - The Centre for Children's Books, features children's books, children's writers and illustrators, children's writing, illustration, exhibitions, events ...
Children's Book Circle - The Children's Book Circle welcomes everyone with a professional interest in children's books - publishers, librarians, authors, illustrators, teachers, ...
www.childrensbookcircle.org.uk
BRAW - Books, Reading & Writing (The Scottish Children's Book Network)
Four Corner House - A Chapter a Week!
National Centre for Research into Children's Literature (including IBBY)
National Centre for Language and Literacy (NCLL)
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Welsh Books Council (Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru)
www.booktrustchildrensbooks.org.uk
