DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF BOOKS! WELCOME TO DANCING HORSE PRESS
Home of the writings of M.J. Evans
Home of the writings of M.J. Evans
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The Stone of Integrity was awarded the Silver Medal from The Purple Dragonfly Book Awards on June 21st, 2018 for the best of Middle-grade Fiction! |
THE STONE OF INTEGRITY
BOOK 3 OF THE CENTAUR CHRONICLES
RELEASED on January 22, 2018!
BOOK 3 OF THE CENTAUR CHRONICLES
RELEASED on January 22, 2018!
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"M.J. Evans is a fabulous storyteller!"
Cheryl Rodreguez for Readers' Favorite "Thoroughly absorbing!" Diane Donovan for Midwest Book Reviews "A brilliant fantasy read!" K.J. Simmill for Reades' Favorite |
In November, I traveled to New York City to attend the Equus Film Festival. I was trilled to receive the Winnie Award for outstanding Young Adult Fiction for "In the Heart of a Mustang" and the Winnie Award for outstanding Children's/middle grade fiction for "The Stone of Mercy!"
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THE AWARD-WINNING SERIES CONTINUES!
The Stone of Integrity-Book 3 of the Centaur Chronicles will be released in January 2018. Pre-release copies are available NOW only on this website! (Go to the Store Page to purchase)
The Critics have praised this new book:
“Thoroughly absorbing!”
Diane Donovan for Midwest Book Reviews
“A brilliant fantasy read!”
K.J. Simmill for Readers’ Favorite
The Critics have praised this new book:
- “M.J. Evans is a fabulous storyteller.”
“Thoroughly absorbing!”
Diane Donovan for Midwest Book Reviews
“A brilliant fantasy read!”
K.J. Simmill for Readers’ Favorite
GREAT NEWS! The Stone of Courage has been selected as one of just three finalists in the Middle-Grade Fiction category for the
Book Excellence Awards!
Book Excellence Awards!
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I am so excited to announce that The Stone of Mercy has won the Silver Medal from the Literary Classics Awards in Young Adult Fiction and
In the Heart of a Mustang has won the Silver Medal from the Readers' Favorite Awards in Young Adult Fiction!
In the Heart of a Mustang has won the Silver Medal from the Readers' Favorite Awards in Young Adult Fiction!
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MY NEW BOOK:
THE STONE OF COURAGE-BOOK 2 OF THE CENTAUR CHRONICLES
HAS RECEIVED THIS WONDERFUL REVIEW FROM THE FEATHERED QUILL BOOK AWARDS! I AM SO GRATEFUL.
Spotlight Reviews:
The Stone of Courage: Book 2 of the Centaur Chronicles
Quill says: Another wonderful addition to the Centaur Chronicles that I could not put down!
Reviewed By: Kristi Benedict
Review Date: July 24, 2017
In book 2 of the Centaur Chronicles, the fate of the land of Crystonia rests in the hands of a girl named Carling.
Carling has been given the silver breastplate, a sign that she is the next destined ruler of the kingdom. However, before she can sit on the throne she must find four stones, The Stone of Mercy, The Stone of Courage, The Stone of Integrity, and The Stone of Wisdom. Carling has already acquired The Stone of Mercy, which she had to battle through an angry group of centaurs from the Heilodius herd to get, but with the help of her friends Higson, Tibbals, and Tandum she made it through unharmed. Unfortunately, her and Higson’s families were killed in a raid by the evil Heilodius herd that will stop at nothing to make sure that Carling is not able to claim her rightful throne. With the support of each other, Carling and Higson pull together and begin to train with different weapons for they know that the fighting is far from over and that they have many more dangers to face in the upcoming months.
Now, the wizard of Crystonia who has been suddenly appearing and disappearing in Carling’s life ever since she received the silver breastplate, informs her that it is time to find the second stone, The Stone of Courage. It was such a dangerous quest finding the first stone that Carling is initially apprehensive about this next adventure but she does know that this is now her destiny and she must be ready to confront whatever challenges come her way. The wizard then tells her that the stone is hidden in the mountains of the Northern Reaches and protected by a creature named Shim. Just the mention of the Northern Reaches sends a chill up Carling’s spine for no one she knows has ever dared to venture into those lands - they are just too treacherous for anyone to travel through. Of course, this is where her journey is taking her so with all the courage she can muster she gathers her friends and they set off for the Northern Reaches, hoping that their combined strength will be enough to find The Stone of Courage and return home safely. Unfortunately, the guardian of the Stone of Courage is not a friendly creature and may give Carling more trouble than she ever thought.
Before this journey is over Carling will face ogres and angry centaurs and also find that a treacherous plan is unfolding to keep her from ever taking her rightful place as ruler of Crystonia. As each new challenge hits her Carling begins to question if she is strong enough for this task, for how could such a small being be chosen to rule all of Crystonia?
When I saw that the second book had come out in this series I could not wait to read it, for the last book left on such a cliffhanger that I was excited to see what would happen next. Through the first book, author M.J. Evans introduces her characters beautifully and that really helped to get me into the story. In book 2, The Stone of Courage, Evans expands on the characters' personalities in such a way that it had me relating to them even more. The camaraderie that is created through these adventures is wonderful and had me hanging on every page.
THE STONE OF COURAGE-BOOK 2 OF THE CENTAUR CHRONICLES
HAS RECEIVED THIS WONDERFUL REVIEW FROM THE FEATHERED QUILL BOOK AWARDS! I AM SO GRATEFUL.
Spotlight Reviews:
The Stone of Courage: Book 2 of the Centaur Chronicles
Quill says: Another wonderful addition to the Centaur Chronicles that I could not put down!
Reviewed By: Kristi Benedict
Review Date: July 24, 2017
In book 2 of the Centaur Chronicles, the fate of the land of Crystonia rests in the hands of a girl named Carling.
Carling has been given the silver breastplate, a sign that she is the next destined ruler of the kingdom. However, before she can sit on the throne she must find four stones, The Stone of Mercy, The Stone of Courage, The Stone of Integrity, and The Stone of Wisdom. Carling has already acquired The Stone of Mercy, which she had to battle through an angry group of centaurs from the Heilodius herd to get, but with the help of her friends Higson, Tibbals, and Tandum she made it through unharmed. Unfortunately, her and Higson’s families were killed in a raid by the evil Heilodius herd that will stop at nothing to make sure that Carling is not able to claim her rightful throne. With the support of each other, Carling and Higson pull together and begin to train with different weapons for they know that the fighting is far from over and that they have many more dangers to face in the upcoming months.
Now, the wizard of Crystonia who has been suddenly appearing and disappearing in Carling’s life ever since she received the silver breastplate, informs her that it is time to find the second stone, The Stone of Courage. It was such a dangerous quest finding the first stone that Carling is initially apprehensive about this next adventure but she does know that this is now her destiny and she must be ready to confront whatever challenges come her way. The wizard then tells her that the stone is hidden in the mountains of the Northern Reaches and protected by a creature named Shim. Just the mention of the Northern Reaches sends a chill up Carling’s spine for no one she knows has ever dared to venture into those lands - they are just too treacherous for anyone to travel through. Of course, this is where her journey is taking her so with all the courage she can muster she gathers her friends and they set off for the Northern Reaches, hoping that their combined strength will be enough to find The Stone of Courage and return home safely. Unfortunately, the guardian of the Stone of Courage is not a friendly creature and may give Carling more trouble than she ever thought.
Before this journey is over Carling will face ogres and angry centaurs and also find that a treacherous plan is unfolding to keep her from ever taking her rightful place as ruler of Crystonia. As each new challenge hits her Carling begins to question if she is strong enough for this task, for how could such a small being be chosen to rule all of Crystonia?
When I saw that the second book had come out in this series I could not wait to read it, for the last book left on such a cliffhanger that I was excited to see what would happen next. Through the first book, author M.J. Evans introduces her characters beautifully and that really helped to get me into the story. In book 2, The Stone of Courage, Evans expands on the characters' personalities in such a way that it had me relating to them even more. The camaraderie that is created through these adventures is wonderful and had me hanging on every page.
AWARDS PRESENTED TO THE STONE OF MERCY!
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EXCITING NEWS:
The Stone of Mercy-Book 1 of the Centaur Chronicles has received yet another national award. It has been announced that "The Stone of Mercy" has been awarded the Silver Medal from the Literary Classics Awards. It has also been awarded their coveted Seal of Approval. Literary Classics selects the best children's and young adult books for the year. I will be receiving the silver medal at their awards ceremony on September 3rd in Rapid City, South Dakota. This book
has also won the Gold Medal/First Place Award from the Feathered Quill awards and the 5 Star Review award from Reader's Favorite!
This is the first book of a 4 part series about the leaderless land of Crystonia and the Centaurs, Cyclops, Ogres and little Duende who populate the land.
By tradition, the ruler of Crystonia will be the one in possession of the Silver Breastplate. Yet none of the larger races expected that the heir would be a young Duende girl.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW ABOUT THE STONE OF MERCY:
CLICK HERE:
http://www.featheredquill.com/reviews/interviews/evans3_int.shtml
READ THE GREAT REVIEW FROM THE FEATHERED QUILL:
Quill says: A breathtaking adventure that I cannot wait to continue!
There is a legend known throughout the land of Crystonia that foretells that the rightful heir
of the kingdom will be wearing a silver breastplate adorned with four stones, the Stone of
Mercy, the Stone of Courage, the Stone of Integrity and the Stone of Wisdom. However, in
the last century and a half no such ruler has come forward and this has thrown the kingdom
into a war between the races, with each wanting to rule the throne. Now, more than ever
Crystonia needs someone to unify the land and rule with an honest, steadfast hand before
an all out war destroys everything. Unknown to anyone but a select few, the silver
breastplate is being forged and it will be given to the most unlikely person - a person no
one ever dreamed would rule Crystonia.
In a small village a sixteen-year-old Duende girl named Carling worries little about the
problems going on in other parts of the land. The Duende race is known to be very
peaceful, keeping to themselves and their specific tasks, as Duende are known for their
beautiful artistry in carpentry, weaving, and other domestic skills. The most rebellious
thing Carling does is go out hunting with her lifelong friend Higson and practice her aim
with a bow and arrow. In fact it’s on one of these hunting excursions that Carling and
Higson came upon a group of young centaur fillies playing in a meadow. It was rare for
Duende and Centaurs to mingle so Carling and Higson decided to take a moment and enjoy
watching the fillies have fun. The fun, however, is short lived as a group of enemy centaurs
burst through the bushes and attempt to kidnap the group of fillies. Without thinking of the
consequences, Carling and Higson begin firing arrows at the enemy centaurs wounding
them enough that they run back into the woods, leaving the young fillies behind.
Of course the herd of centaurs are extremely grateful for Carling and Higson’s bravery. The
young Duende are a little surprised that they acted so quickly, deciding to fight back
against the group of enemy centaurs which they soon learn are called the Heilodius herd.
Through the struggle for power the Centaurs had divided into two groups - The Minsheen
Herd who preferred keeping peace while the Heilodius Herd wanted to start war with the
Cyclops to win the throne and rule Cystonia. Even though the Minsheen Herd is
overwhelmingly grateful for what Carling and Higson did, this act causes a terrible chain of
events that lead to the destruction of the Duende village Carling calls home. Now, whether
she likes it or not, Carling is thrust into the conflict that she never wanted to be a part of
and matters are complicated further when she finds the breastplate...
As soon as I heard the description of The Stone of Mercy I knew I wanted to read it and I
was not disappointed. The unique fantasy world filled with unforgettable creatures created
by author M.J. Evans is a wonderful escape into a great adventure. The main character of
Carling grabbed at my heartstrings instantly and I felt as if I was right there next to her
though the entire book, through the battles, the tears, and the triumphs. The end of this
book leaves on a nail-biting cliffhanger as well, and I cannot wait until the next installment
comes out so I can continue this adventure.
Quill says: A breathtaking adventure that I cannot wait to continue!<a href="https://www.readingalley.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.readingalley.com/img/banner1589.gif" width="468" height="60" /></a>
In the Heart of a Mustang
has been awarded the Gold Medal by the Literary Classics Awards!
I was notified on July 1st that In the Heart of a Mustang was selected as the first place winner of their Young Adult General Fiction award.
Literary Classics, an organization dedicated to furthering excellence in literature, takes great pride in its role to help promote classic literature which appeals to youth, while educating and encouraging positive values in the impressionable young minds of future generations. Judging is based upon the criteria set forth by Literary Classics’ highly selective awards committee which honors books promoting character, vision, creativity and learning, through content which possesses key elements found in well-crafted literature.
has been awarded the Gold Medal by the Literary Classics Awards!
I was notified on July 1st that In the Heart of a Mustang was selected as the first place winner of their Young Adult General Fiction award.
Literary Classics, an organization dedicated to furthering excellence in literature, takes great pride in its role to help promote classic literature which appeals to youth, while educating and encouraging positive values in the impressionable young minds of future generations. Judging is based upon the criteria set forth by Literary Classics’ highly selective awards committee which honors books promoting character, vision, creativity and learning, through content which possesses key elements found in well-crafted literature.
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"In the Heart of a Mustang is one of the finest books ever written for teens and preteens. This book is strongly recommended for young readers." Literary Classics |
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In the Heart of a Mustang is the Nautilus Silver Medal Winner!
I am honored to announce that In the Heart of a Mustang has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious NAUTILUS AWARD. The Nautilus Awards are "given to print books of exceptional merit that make a literary and heartfelt contribution to spiritual growth, conscious living, high-level wellness, green values, responsible leadership and positive social change, as well as to the worlds of art, creativity and inspiration."
See more on my "Books" Page
Currently available on this website and through Amazon and Barnes & Noble!
In the Heart of a Mustang, by M.J. Evans, earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval and the GOLD MEDAL for Young Adult Fiction!
When fifteen year old Hunter learns the truth about his father he is hurt and angry. Feeling betrayed and disillusioned, he starts running around with a rough crowd, becomes reckless, and gets into serious trouble for his actions. Consequently, he is sent to Promise Ranch, a facility for at-risk boys. The ranch offers counseling, love, and support, in a home-like setting. But Hunter resents being sent away and wants nothing to do with Promise Ranch or their programs. Upon arrival at the ranch Hunter is paired with a rescued mare which was on the brink of starvation prior to its adoption. Under the guidance and direction of an old cowboy, and through the heart of a mustang, Hunter learns to care for the mare while letting go of the anger he has harbored since learning the truth about his father.
Author M.J. Evans has crafted a coming of age story which speaks to the hearts of readers on many levels. The bond between Hunter and his mare makes for a genuinely riveting tale that will not soon be forgotten. This story grabs the reader’s attention immediately, taking them through the struggles of a troubled teen who must come to terms with his angst. The author brings to life very real problems and situations. In the Heart of a Mustang is one of the finest books ever written for teens and preteens. This book is strongly recommended for young readers.
A wonderful review for In the Heart of a Mustang by the author of the Keystone Stable Series, Marsha Hubler: "This is a great book for tweens. The author addresses important issues for coming-of-age kids who might wrestle with bitterness vs. forgiveness, friendship, and bullying. She also gives wonderful details about "horse whispering," which has become the acceptable way to train a horse in modern times, not "break" him and his spirit. I recommend this book especially for boys and even girls who love horses."
AUTHOR INTERVIEW ON THE HOWLING TURTLE BOOK BLOG!
I am honored to be featured in an article on The Howling Turtle Book Blog. Click here:
http://howlingturtle-pdx.blogspot.com/2015/10/author-interview-margi-evans.html
GREAT REVIEW for In the Heart of a Mustang by Author, Blogger and Horsewoman Sharon Miner:
The book, In the Heart of a Mustang by MJ Evans, is the type of horse novel I love to read, one with an interesting protagonist, an endearing theme without being preachy, a detailed setting and cast of characters the reader won't forget.
When 15 year-old Hunter learns that his mother has lied to him about his father, he retaliates by running away and making the wrong sort of friends on the street. To avoid trouble with the court, his grandfather suggests they send Hunter to a boy's ranch in Arizona and grandpa will pay for his stay.
Hunter is not impressed with Promise Ranch at first, and especially when he meets the other at-risk boys and staff including the head cowboy, a horse trainer for the wild mustangs that the ranch adopts. But slowly he learns about life lessons, even after a PERSONAL tragedy.
This is a fantastic story for everyone, not just horse lovers. It's one of the best coming of age novels I've ever read!
See more of her reviews here: horsebookreviews.blogspot.com