Out 28 April 2025

Summary:

These race horses can talk, race riderless, and manage their own careers thanks to genetic manipulation in the past intended to make Thoroughbreds hardier. But living free doesn't mean living without problems of the career and family (both blood and found) kind. Nor does it mean they are free from having to interact with humans.

In this mosaic novel, stories of two very different stallions and their friends and families (both four legged and two) interconnect to explore how these horses deal with career decisions, love, family, retirement, illness, and having to find alternate paths when flat racing does not prove a profitable or fulfilling life choice.

Not all roads lead to the winner's circle, and even when they do, winning doesn't always equal happiness without someone to share it with.

The stories explore themes such as friendships, loyalty, parents (both present and absent), resilience, taking risks, love, the place of humans in this new racing world, rivals working together to help a friend, tragedy and counseling, and many others.

Content Warning:

This is not a book for little chilldren as there is some swearing (no f-bombs though). If you have older kids, there's nothing here that probably wouldn't be in a PG-13 movie.

Ordering information:

Order direct from publisher at WolfSinger Publications

Order Kindle or Paperback on Amazon

Praise for Bluegrass Dreams Aren't for Free:

"Bluegrass Dreams Aren't for Free is both a delightful thought experiment about what life would be like for uplifted race horses and a compelling little world that drew me right in -- I not only cared about the different racehorse's lives, relationships, and careers but got drawn right into the excitement of their races, even though I've never cared about horse races before. I really enjoyed this book."

- Mary E. Lowd, Author of Otters in Space and Editor of Zooscape