How Myth Can Drive Romance - by Nell Walton, Author of 'The Bone Trail'

Yesterday I reviewed Nell Walton's moving story 'The Bone Trail'.  Today she reveals how an ancient Native American myth inspired her to write the book..

How Myth Can Drive Romance

One of the core plot elements of my book, The Bone Trail, is based on the Native American (Choctaw) myth of the Wind Horse (http://www.indianlegend.com/choctaw/choctaw_002.htm).  What I love the most about this story is the underlying elements of unconditional love and the healing it can bring.

It is the magical and mysterious Wind Horse, weaving in and out of the story that brings the two of them together and helps them to find healing through love.

 My two main characters in The Bone Trail, Kate Wyndham and Jim Ludlow are both, in their own way, as damaged as the lame boy in the Choctaw story.  Ludlow (a Shoshone Indian horse ‘whisperer’) is a recovering alcoholic, and has also had to come back from a failed marriage and a disastrous career as a lobbyist in Washington.  Kate survived abandonment by her father, and an extremely abusive childhood, and is basically asleep in her life as far as her ability to have a healthy, nurturing relationship with a man. 

The Wind Horse in my mind is a healer not only of people, but also a sentinel and protector of the Earth.  He comes at a time that a mining company has committed what I consider to be “crimes against the Earth” and is instrumental in helping Kate and Ludlow solve the mystery that is the core of the story.

This book is actually based on real events that are occurring in our world today.  I hope it will not only entertain, but also raise awareness of the damage that is being done by extractive industries throughout the world, as well as how we are losing our wild horses in America.

Nell Walton is an avid horsewoman and also owns two wild horses, both of which came from a herd near Elko, NV.  She is also the founder and managing editor of the online equestrian news magazine, The AllHorses Post (www.allpetspost.org/allhorsespost ).  She has degrees in journalism and biology from the University of Arkansas, spent many years as a professional journalist and worked as an intern for former President Bill Clinton when he was governor of Arkansas.  She lives in East Tennessee on a small horse farm with her husband, four horses, one donkey, two cats and two dogs.  The Bone Trail is her first novel.

Find Nell at:

http://www.allpetspost.org/allhorsespost/

www.allpetspost.org/TheBoneTrail

Twitter: nellwal

Facebook:  All Horses Post

The Bone Trail on Facebook

Thank you so much, Nell.  I really loved reading your book - and thank you for sharing this legend and for drawing attention to the persecution of the beautiful American mustangs.

Artist:  Emilie Touraine

‘As long as the wind blows and the prairies grow, 

love will have the power to move the earth' 

(c)Leanin' tree cards