Readers Up #35: Beautiful Horseflesh
June in my part of New York isn't deep summer, but Albany has had enough 90+ days so far this year to make me think longingly of home. Tampa's sun-baked streets have a particular scent (not as gross as it sounds)... and of course Tampa Bay Downs, the Bay Area's small jewel, comes complete with a Proustian buffet: cigar smoke, Axe body spray, gardenia blooms, Cuban sandwiches on the grill, and horseflesh.
Beautiful Horseflesh, Karen S. Bennett's recent release, is set along Florida's west coast and its action culminates at TBD for a climactic stakes race. There's nothing quite like a travelogue book, even in fictional form, to take readers to places they love--particularly after a year of stopped traffic and grounded planes, stalled travel and dreaming of anywhere-but-here. From dramatic storms and sunsets to tidbits straight from the small towns lining route 41, Beautiful Horseflesh is steeped in details dear to Floridians' hearts. But it's also an industry book; the simultaneously sprawling and tight-knit community of American Thoroughbred people is on display through the natural circuit of Pimlico or Laurel to Tampa Bay or Gulfstream. Bumble B's journey begins as a Maryland-bred, but her mettle is tested at the Oldsmar oval, where many hopefuls from all over the country stretch their legs in springtime. The occasionally-radical interpretation of racing's core texts comes through in the character of Bud Coleman, a trainer of many conflicting allegiances. And the contested truth that we all hope for--that horse-hearted people win the day--is alive in the Smitt family, and in their care for all the horses treated at their water-walk farm, not just the fancy ones.
Until I can visit home, or at least make the lazy summer drive up route 9 to Saratoga, books like Beautiful Horseflesh will sustain me. Below you'll find a Q&A full of behind-the-scenes insight with the book's author:
Beautiful Horseflesh, Karen S. Bennett's recent release, is set along Florida's west coast and its action culminates at TBD for a climactic stakes race. There's nothing quite like a travelogue book, even in fictional form, to take readers to places they love--particularly after a year of stopped traffic and grounded planes, stalled travel and dreaming of anywhere-but-here. From dramatic storms and sunsets to tidbits straight from the small towns lining route 41, Beautiful Horseflesh is steeped in details dear to Floridians' hearts. But it's also an industry book; the simultaneously sprawling and tight-knit community of American Thoroughbred people is on display through the natural circuit of Pimlico or Laurel to Tampa Bay or Gulfstream. Bumble B's journey begins as a Maryland-bred, but her mettle is tested at the Oldsmar oval, where many hopefuls from all over the country stretch their legs in springtime. The occasionally-radical interpretation of racing's core texts comes through in the character of Bud Coleman, a trainer of many conflicting allegiances. And the contested truth that we all hope for--that horse-hearted people win the day--is alive in the Smitt family, and in their care for all the horses treated at their water-walk farm, not just the fancy ones.
Until I can visit home, or at least make the lazy summer drive up route 9 to Saratoga, books like Beautiful Horseflesh will sustain me. Below you'll find a Q&A full of behind-the-scenes insight with the book's author:
Hi Karen! For new readers, please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what led you to creating a horse-centric story.
I was paging through the Internet when I found film of “aqua therapy” for horses: a deep tub with a treadmill on the floor, the tub filled with churning water, jets pitched at the horses’ legs. The horses walked along, bobbing their heads. Adorable. I later went to a Maryland farm to observe the real thing. Beautiful. I also learned that a Thoroughbred mare rarely gave birth to two live twin foals. Usually when twins are discovered, the vet “pinches off” one fetus to allow the other to grow and survive. Sad, but ….well, really sad. And lastly, the twin thing hit me. My dad was an identical twin, and somehow twins as a theme has surfaced in my many stories. So there you have it: twins, aqua therapy, and bad guys were the ingredients for the book.
I was paging through the Internet when I found film of “aqua therapy” for horses: a deep tub with a treadmill on the floor, the tub filled with churning water, jets pitched at the horses’ legs. The horses walked along, bobbing their heads. Adorable. I later went to a Maryland farm to observe the real thing. Beautiful. I also learned that a Thoroughbred mare rarely gave birth to two live twin foals. Usually when twins are discovered, the vet “pinches off” one fetus to allow the other to grow and survive. Sad, but ….well, really sad. And lastly, the twin thing hit me. My dad was an identical twin, and somehow twins as a theme has surfaced in my many stories. So there you have it: twins, aqua therapy, and bad guys were the ingredients for the book.
You live in Baltimore and sought feedback for this project from the Maryland racing world. What prompted you to set Beautiful Horseflesh in Florida rather than Maryland? Have you visited Laurel Park, Pimlico, Tampa Bay Downs, or another track?
Moving the horse from Maryland to Florida is a necessity in the story line… and to reveal that is to give away the story. You have read the book, so know that the owner, Mr. Prescott, in Maryland wanted to hide his fastest horse from the authorities who might want to take away his horse. I talked to Ms. Georganne Hale, vice president of development in the Maryland Jockey Club, about the problem of a horse being removed from the owner. She reported that horses who trample are not necessarily removed, but it could depend on the circumstances. Good enough for me to use the excuse to hide the horse in Florida. Yes, I have visited Pimlico and Laurel racetracks; neither during racing. I have been to sulky races in New Jersey, but did not get close enough to the horses to count that as anything other than observing the congregation at the track.
Part of the book's plot features a literal plot of deception and underhanded dealing. Did you draw on any real-world racing scandals or mysteries for these details?
I’ve worked in prisons and jails, halfway houses, detention centers, and have been alive, just observing the bad kids for a lifetime. The crime was easy to construct. I’ve sung in church choirs all of my life, so I’m personally innocent of doing any evil myself, as you might intuit!
I’ve worked in prisons and jails, halfway houses, detention centers, and have been alive, just observing the bad kids for a lifetime. The crime was easy to construct. I’ve sung in church choirs all of my life, so I’m personally innocent of doing any evil myself, as you might intuit!
Being that Beautiful Horseflesh was published in 2021, how did the 2020 COVID19 pandemic affect the writing and publication process?
I was house-sitting in Juneau, Alaska, using the time away from home as a sabbatical to send out queries to many agents and small publishers. We were days away from the upcoming pandemic. Day after day, from my seat at a picture window, I watched more beautiful snow fall in a few hours than I’d ever seen before. Breathtaking. Juneau is accessible only by plane and boat, so when coronavirus reared its head we were all worried about the city’s containment, and contracting the disease. Flights were suddenly curtailed, the churches and pools closed. I was able to fly cross-country to Maryland on a plane of 11 other passengers. Time were a-changing.
When I learned that my book had been accepted, people were not at offices but at home cross-legged on their beds with laptops on laps. I was unable to meet with any one of the team although we were in the same city. Zoom to the rescue. In “olden times” I would have gone to meet the members of the team, to take cake as a gift to each. But nope. No dice. Now that the book is out, the biggest problem is in marketing, with no real in-person readings. So, so sad and lonely. I will probably schedule my reading in August, not exactly a timely launch, but at least it will be in person, outside, for which I prefer to hold out.
What was the first story you ever wrote?
The first story I ever wrote was a classic. I was in sixth grade and loved to illustrate, and by the way I had a crush on my handsome teacher. He, (fictionalized) of course solved the problem of a pesky thief who was found to have stage make-up and wigs in his room—evidence of the thefts. I wrote the story so I could do the illustrations. It bears noting that I did not become a writer until I retired from being a nurse practitioner. I was fifty-seven and had time on my hands and plenty of stories banging around in my head. My first story was about my years working in prison. I fictionalized myself in the clinic of corrections facilities. Although that book won first place in Literary fiction in 2006 no one wanted to publish it, so I started writing other stories. I have four more books to publish.
The Smitts' universe is expansive and full of characters, surely all with their own stories. Do you anticipate writing more books featuring Florida racing? What's next on the immediate horizon for your projects?
You are not the first to intimate that there is a sequel to be had, but I have nothing more to say. I wanted to talk about the Smitt family’s accidental involvement in the web of deception. As a rule, I’m pretty cheery, and this was a rather dark book. What’s on the horizon? I solemnly hope to publish the prison book, The Dictionary Defense, and the church choir book, In St.Cecilia’s Shadow. I’m presently shopping to agents The Slug Ride, about an overly tall ballerina in Washington D.C. who is kidnapped by a crazy man in a house full of cats and kittens, and maybe some previously missing girl in the back shed. Oh boy, lots of nail-biting here. Wish me well.
You are not the first to intimate that there is a sequel to be had, but I have nothing more to say. I wanted to talk about the Smitt family’s accidental involvement in the web of deception. As a rule, I’m pretty cheery, and this was a rather dark book. What’s on the horizon? I solemnly hope to publish the prison book, The Dictionary Defense, and the church choir book, In St.Cecilia’s Shadow. I’m presently shopping to agents The Slug Ride, about an overly tall ballerina in Washington D.C. who is kidnapped by a crazy man in a house full of cats and kittens, and maybe some previously missing girl in the back shed. Oh boy, lots of nail-biting here. Wish me well.
Best wishes to Karen in her next writing endeavors--be sure to check out her website for more project info! Beautiful Horseflesh can be found wherever you buy books.
Gazing Spa-ward,
Diana
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