The Secret Horses of Briar Hill(43)

Ride true,

Megan Shepherd





It is fitting that the idea for Emmaline’s story came to me on a road trip, because creating this book was its own journey, and I’m fortunate to have worked with such a special cast of real-life characters along the way.

I knew Rebecca Weston was the perfect editor for this book when she sent me her own spectral shield complete with eight magical colored objects. As we worked together, I was deeply inspired by her dedication to craft, her keen insight, and her passion for timeless storytelling. In short, Rebecca, you made me believe in magic again.

My agent, Josh Adams at Adams Literary, championed this book right from the start. His belief in this story gave me confidence at a time I desperately needed it, and I am grateful for his unwavering support. Also, I am especially grateful to A. Adams, this book’s first young reader, for her advice and enthusiasm.

Thank you to my early readers, Megan Miranda, Carrie Ryan, and April Tucholke, who were kind enough to offer critiques and invaluable friendship. Thank you as well to my friend James Ballantine for lending his expertise on British military history, and to my father-in-law, Gene Shepherd, for his medical knowledge.

I’d like to express my gratitude to the team at Delacorte Press and Random House, who have also championed this book: Barbara Marcus, Beverly Horowitz, Judith Haut, Dominique Cimina, Anna Gjesteby, John Adamo, Kim Lauber, Melissa Zar, Nick Elliot, Laura Antonacci, Adrienne Waintraub, Lisa Nadel, Kate Gartner, Heather Kelly, Jenica Nasworthy, Colleen Fellingham, Tamar Schwartz, Alice Rahaeuser, Shameiza Ally, Susan Hecht, Kate Sullivan, and Whitney Conyers. Also a special thank you to Daniel Burgess for creating such striking artwork.

And finally, my husband, Jesse, can be blamed for encouraging me to stare at walls and daydream in the first place. Thank you for believing in me.

And as always, a special thanks to my readers. If writing this book was a journey, then you are the destination, and I hope my words have found a home in your hearts.



MEGAN SHEPHERD grew up in her family’s independent bookstore in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the author of several acclaimed young adult books, and The Secret Horses of Briar Hill is her debut middle-grade novel. Shepherd now lives and writes on a 125-year-old farm outside Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, two cats, and a dog. You can visit her at meganshepherd.com.