Dorothy Brenner Francis

American author. Born in 1926 in Kansas. Studied music at university and after leaving played in a band and worked as a music teacher for a while. Her writing began with short stories and children's song lyrics, and now she is a highly prolific novel writer, with over 50 books to her name.

Best known for her crime and mystery novels (mainly young adult), although she has written children's books in many other genres, including a handful of horse-related titles. Has also written some juvenile romantic fiction, some under various pen names, and some non-fiction.

Dorothy now divides her time between Iowa and Florida, from where she is still writing.

Horse & Pony Books:

A BLUE RIBBON FOR MARNI
(AVALON [USA]1973)
Reprinted in hardback by Thorndike Press (possibly large print?) in 2001
SUMMARY: Young adult pony/romance story.
Marni is working as a horse trainer on a vacation ranch. If she can train the fractious palomino Peso, the ranch owner has promised to give him to Marni. But the horse had previously injured the rancher's wife and when she arrives back from hospital she wants the horse sold. For Marni, there is also the added distraction of the ranch owner's son, whom she finds herself growing close to.

THE FLINT HILLS FOAL
(ABINGDON [USA] 1976)
ILLUSTRATED BY TAYLOR OUGHTON
Scholastic paperback edition.
SUMMARY: Kathy is having problems adjusting to her new step-brother Jay who seems to hate horses and is always boasting and getting her into trouble. She seeks solace with the horse at the nearby stables where she helps out. When her favourite foal Flash is orphaned and almost dies after being out in a storm, she helps restore the little filly back to health - with the surprising help of Jay. She begins to realise that Jay is perhaps not as bad as she'd first thought. But then a new problem arises when it seems Flash's owner may sell her and Kathy will never see her again...
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

BORDERLAND HORSE
(PERFECTION LEARNING [USA] 2001)
ILLUSTRATED BY DEA MARKS
SUMMARY: Historical story set in the American Civil War. Not sure how much horse content. Kaleb and his brother cross the Kansas/Missouri border during the Civil War to find their brother and horse.

THE JAYHAWK HORSE MYSTERY
(PERFECTION LEARNING [USA] 2001)
SUMMARY: Part of the author's 'Cody Smith' mystery series.
Very loosely described as a horse novel as the horse in question is wooden!
After they move to Kansas, Cody and his friend Maria try to help a local artist who was cheated when she bought a wooden carousel horse.
For the full Cody Smith series click here

Collector's Info:
None of these were published in the UK. The Flint Hills Foal is hard to find in the UK although reasonably easy to find in the USA. Borderland Horse is still in print at the moment, although only in America where it can be bought new. Harder to get hold of elsewhere. Jayhawk Horse Mystery and Blue Ribbon for Marni can both be ordered from Amazon UK, although these may be shipped from the USA and supply can be sketchy.