GiGi Amateau
Honors
2009 SIBA Book Award, nominee
2008 CYBIL Award - Middle grade fiction, nominee
2008 New Voices Pick, Association of Booksellers for Children
Resources and more
- Links
- Study Guide - SPOILER ALERT! (1MB PDF)
- Bookstore signing photos
- Albert wallpaper for your computer
Books
More on Chancey of the Maury River
Links
You may wish to visit these Web sites.
- The Appaloosa Museum
- North American Riding for the Handicapped Association
- United States Equestrian Federation
- End Horse Slaughter -- The Humane Society of the United States
- All About Birds -- Belted Kingfisher
- Historic Rockbridge County, Virginia
Read an excerpt
A fire star raced across the winter sky, causing quite a stir among us.
The younger ones were afraid and ran to their mothers. I did not fear
the wild streak, as I once had in my youth. I dropped my head and
gave thanks for a long and good life lived here by the Maury River
and in these blue mountains. I gave thanks, too, for the friends who
have stood beside me through these many years.
When I was still a colt, I saw a fire star with such a fury that it scared me greatly. I thought it was coming straight for me. I raced to the corner of our field and, unable to find my dam, became filled with an anxiety so invasive that I began to breathe too fast and thus found no breath at all. But I was in no danger. My dam came to me. She wrapped me in her neck and I was no longer afraid.
My dam explained that when a horse of great beauty or wisdom enters the world, a star reserved especially for that horse tears across the night sky announcing the new arrival. Dam told me that we should not fear the fire stars; instead we should drop our heads and say a word of thanks for life's many blessings.
Chancey book signings
As you might imagine, a Chancey book signing is no ordinary event! Here are some photos from recent signings:
Albert meets fans at Narnia Bookstore in Richmond, VA

Dale and Misto at Wild Rumpus Bookstore in Minneapolis, MN

Yes that's poo -- Misto felt so relaxed and happy that she pooped in the store. I hardly noticed because my house, my car, and every pair of shoes I own (even my high heels because even in heels I can't help but run up to Albert's stall and smooch him up!) smells like horse poo and old dog; that made me feel right at home!

