Maggie Dana

Born in England but in her twenties moved to America, where she now lives in Connecticut. As a child she had a fairly unusual introduction to horses when she learned to ride at Pinewood Studios, which surprisingly housed a riding school. One of the girls she rode with was a stunt double for the films they made there! Her dream came true when she got her own pony, a black New Forest named Smoky who was a whizz at cross country but who hated jumping in a stadium and always refused the first jump three times! As an adult she kept her love of horses, raising a similarly horse mad daughter and turning to writing pony fiction. In the 1980s she wrote a number of children's pony books, four forming the popular Best Friends series, the other a stand-alone (written under her full name of Margaret Dana). She has also more recently penned a successful adult romantic novel.

As well as writing, she is also a typesetter, freelance book designer, and talented needlewoman.

Recently Maggie has re-worked and updated her Best Friends series into a completely new pony series for the present generation of pony mad kids: the Timber Ridge Riders series. She has even used her multiple talents to design the new covers herself!

Maggie Dana has her own website and can be found too on Twitter and Facebook. The Timber Ridge Riders  series also has its own website.

A big thank you to Maggie herself who has provided much of the above info.

Best Friends Series:

1) NO TIME FOR SECRETS
(TROLL PB [USA] 1988)
SUMMARY: Kerry blames herself for the death of a horse and  vows to have nothing more to do with them. But when she takes a job as helper/companion to wheelchair-bound Holly she is forced to confront the horse world once again.

2) JUMPING INTO TROUBLE
(TROLL PB [USA] 1988)
SUMMARY: Now a regular at Timber Ridge Stables, Kerry has an enemy in troublemaker Whitney who is jealous  of Kerry's  riding prowess. When things start to go wrong at the stables Kerry gets the blame: is Whitney behind the trouble?

3) RACING FOR THE STARS
(TROLL PB [USA] 1999)
SUMMARY: A movie is being shot at the stables and a rider is needed to play a part. Both Holly and Whitney want the part, Holly as she needs the money to buy a horse of her own. But Whitney it seems will stop at nothing to secure the role for herself. Has she really put a horse in danger to get her own way?

4) IF WISHES WERE HORSES
(TROLL PB [USA] 1999)
SUMMARY: At last Kerry has a horse of her own. Perhaps the scrawny neglected mare she rescues is not her dream horse, but she is sure in time that her horse will be restored to health and taking part in shows. Whitney however has other ideas and wants Kerry's horse thrown out of the stables.

Collector's info:
Paperback first editions. The books are all easy to find in America. Harder to get hold of elsewhere, however they are usually low cost so it shouldn't be too expensive to buy them from American sellers.

Timber Ridge Riders Series:
This is a re-working and updating and expanding of the Best Friends series which has been substantially changed from the original and is essentially a completely new  and much longer series.

1) KEEPING SECRETS
(PAGEWORKS PB [USA] 2012)
In print in the USA and UK.
SUMMARY: After a careless moment seemingly causes a horse's death, Kate is too upset and guilt-stricken to want to have anything to do with horses any longer. So taking a summer job as companion to wheel-chair bound Holly who lives at a riding school is perhaps not the best move. But can Holly's enthusiasm and the proximity of so many horses change Kate's mind? And will her dark secret come back to haunt her?
PONYMAD VIEW: Although a modern re-working of an older series this still manages to retain the feel of an old-fashioned traditional pony story whilst its fast pace, sassy heroines and snappy dialogue will appeal to the modern reader. Excellent amalgamation of the old and new styles.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES
Read review

2) RACING INTO TROUBLE
(PAGEWORKS PB [USA] 2012)
In print in the USA and UK.
SUMMARY: Ever since Kate arrived at Timber Ridge Stables, Angela Dean has been making trouble for her. Maybe she's angry because Kate's a better rider than she is, or maybe she's jealous because Kate is the only one allowed to ride Buccaneer, the barn's willful new horse. Then things begin to go wrong around the stables and Kate gets the blame. Matters come to a head when the trouble turns serious and Kate is banned from the stables and her best friend Holly. Can the girls prove that Kate is not the culprit?
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES
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3) RIDING FOR THE STARS
(PAGEWORKS [USA] 2012)
SUMMARY: When a big movie is planned to be filmes at the stables one of the lucky riders will have the chance to be the stunt double for the lead actress. All the girls are a flutter with dreams of fame - except for Kate. She too wants the part, but only so she can earn enough money to buy a horse of her own. However rival Angela also wants the part badly. Just how far will she go to get her own way…?
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES
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4) WISH UPON A HORSE
(PAGEWORKS [USA] 2013)
SUMMARY: Kate's dream to have a horse of her own is finally about to come true. But the neglected mare she rescues is far from a champion. Can she restore her back to health and turn her into a show horse, despite rival Angela's attempts to spoil things.
PONYMAD RATING: 5 HORSESHOES
Read review

5) CHASING DREAMS
(PAGEWORKS [USA] 2013)
SUMMARY: Just when Kate is enjoying life with her best friend and beloved horse, her father drops a bombshell. He wants her to sell her horse and move 2000 miles away!

6) ALMOST PERFECT
(PAGEWORKS [USA] 2013)
SUMMARY: Kate and Holly are hoping to qualify for the annual Festival of Horses where scouts from the United States Equestrian Team are watching! But as usual Angela is hoping to put a spoke in the wheels of their plans...

7) TAKING CHANCES
(PAGEWORKS [USA] 2013)
SUMMARY: Kate and Holly have swapped horses until Kate qualifies for the big show in April. But just as Kate is getting to really know Magician, a flashy new horse shows up at the barn. He captures the heart of everyone except his owner and sends Kate's plans tumbling into free fall. So does Brad Piretti, the local snowboarding star. He invites Kate to go skiing, and Kate takes yet another unexpected tumble. Then Angela returns from winter vacation. Angela is coping with demons of her own and ends up turning the tables on Kate in a way that nobody expects.

8) AFTER THE STORM
(PAGEWORKS [USA] 2013)
SUMMARY: Valentine's Day is just around the corner and the Timber Ridge girls are excited about getting dates and new outfits for the school dance. But a blizzard plunges them back into reality when the barn's power goes out. If Kate and Holly don't act fast a pony may die.

9) ALMOST PERFECT
(PAGEWORKS [USA] 2014)
SUMMARY: A girl from Kate's past is tangled up with Angela's present, and the fallout affects all of them . . . including Mrs. Dean who'll stop at nothing to shove her daughter into the limelight.

10) FLYING CHANGES
(PAGEWORKS [USA] 2014)

Other Editions:

KATE AND HOLLY: THE BEGINNING
(PAGEWORKS [USA] 2014)
SUMMARY: Prequel of the series in which we find out what was going on in Kate and Holly's lives before they met.

Collector's info:
The books are in print and available in both paperback and e format both in the UK and USA. 

Other Horse & Pony Books:

THE GOLDEN HORSE OF WILLOW FARM
(As Margaret Dana)
(WEEKLY READER PB [USA] 1981)
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Kate has loved and spent every spare moment with the golden palomino mare Nutmeg ever since she was a new born foal. When Nutmeg's owner is forced to sell the mare due to financial problems, Kate is heartbroken. She decides to steal the mare before the new owner arrives.

TURNING ON A DIME
(PAGEWORKS [USA] 2014)
SUMMARY: Time slip adventure as two girls from different centuries are united in their love of horses. Aspiring Olympic rider Samantha slips through a time portal and enters the world of the American Civil War. There she meets Caroline, a horse-loving tomboy beneath the Southern Belle exterior. The girls are plunged into an adventure in the hope of saving both their horses.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

Collector's info:
The Golden Horse of Willow Farm was written under the author's full name of Margaret Dana. It is harder to find than the other books. Turning on a Dime is in print and available in the UK and USA as a paperback or an e-book.