Susan Banghart

I grew up a horse crazy girl in Florida. The word "horse" wasn't in my parents' vocabulary or their budget, so I lived out my fantasy in books. I read every horse book in the elementary school library. Then a fourth grade teacher read Marjorie Keenan Rawlings' "The Yearling" to the class. The book held me captive, chapter by chapter. I couldn't bear Rawlings' heart wrenching truths, and I couldn't stop listening. That year, my parents divorced. I remember sitting with my little brother reading his tattered copy of Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham" and feeling comforted by the familiarity of a childhood treasure. I can't imagine a life without books.

I had two satisfying careers pursuing childhood passions...horses and art. For twenty years, I taught riding to students of all ages. A sketch I did of a well-known trainer led to fifteen years of portrait work. Two years ago, I started writing a tale about whimsical figures I'd drawn in my sketchbook. The story played in my head while I took care of the dogs, did the dishes, took a shower...it even woke me in the middle of the night. Now that tale is a middle grade novel. I look back and realize I'd been telling stories with my art all along. I miss the horses but they're nuzzling their way into my books.

I live in Florida with my husband...a dedicated social worker and artful photographer, and two barely civilized rescued dogs, Ella and Hobbit.