1. First off, for those who didn’t grow up in the early 2000s when Canterwood Crest first came out, how did you get started? 

I started really, really young as a freelance writer. Like, I was 14 when I started pursuing writing for publication. Over the years, I did regular work for several different (many now out of print) magazines from quizzes to profiles to articles about health and wellness. 

Initially, I started writing as an escape from physical and emotional pain from a spinal fusion to correct severe scoliosis. I’d been wearing a back brace for 23 hours a day for years, but it didn’t help. Post-surgery, I was left with some nerve damage that–on top of my spine needing time to heal–meant my planned career as an equestrian was over. Since I couldn’t ride anymore and I was flat on my back for months in bed healing, I started writing about anything but horses to pass the time. 

I was depressed and heartbroken and trying to heal from major surgery and once I healed, I kept writing, enrolled early in community college, and distracted myself from thinking about horses. 

Five years later, I was a senior in college and I learned about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) where the goal is to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. I couldn’t think of a single idea! I tried and nothing. But a couple of days before NaNo started, I got The Idea. TAKE THE REINS. I resisted it so hard, too. I did not want to write a horse book! But it wouldn’t leave me alone and it was in NaNoWriMo 2006 that the first draft of TTR was born. 

2. With series like Unicorn Magic and Canterwood Crest, it’s clear that you love horses. What draws you to them and why do you think equestrian literature has become its own subgenre that connects with so many people? 

I love them so much! It’s a magnetic pull for me. I don’t know how or why I’m drawn to horses, but I just am and always have been. I’d guess that there are many horse lovers like me who are now adults but started loving horses as kids. There’s something about the powerful relationship between a human and a horse that’s unlike anything else. I think people respond to that with awe and interest. 

3. With your personal experience, any fun equestrian stories? 

Oh, I loved decorating horses’ stalls for Christmas and that inspired the cover of HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. It was one of my favorite things to do every winter. It made the stable feel so cheery. 

4. Canterwood Crest was a pretty long-running series for middle-grade fiction with 20 books. With such a large cast of characters who grow through 2-3 years in-series, what are your favorite moments or characters? 

With Sasha Silver, she transformed from a scared, shy new girl at Canterwood to taking the reins (ha!) of her own life in every aspect. I loved writing her and hmmm, *raises eyebrow* I wonder if we’ll ever see what she’s up to? Maybe?   

As for Lauren Towers, her story was a bit different. She was a bit savvier than Sasha and a much more decorated equestrian. But Lauren was dealing with her own insecurities too and watching her fight her way back to the top of the riding circuit after some difficulties was wonderful to write. 

And I love, love my supporting cast. Callie Harper! Paige Parker! Khloe Kinsella! Everyone was so fun and brought something to the Canterwood universe.

5. It’s been a while but do you remember if there were any plot points to explore or scenes that you had wanted to include but didn’t make the final draft? 

Oh god, it really has been a while. But I was pretty lucky in that aspect of things—I had a lot of creative freedom to include the storylines that I was passionate about.  

6. I have one favorite line, it was the final line in the Super Special where you wrote: “This isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of a whole new series, and I’m the main character.” I loved it, so meta. Why did you decide to transition main characters from Sasha to Lauren? 

Well, that was a decision based on the age category of Canterwood Crest. Sasha wasn’t ageless, and if I kept writing her stories, I would have either had to condense timelines greatly and make books that spanned a few days or a week because she was going to hit high school age soon. And as we know, middle-grade books don’t feature high school-age characters. So, it was either tell inorganic stories just to keep Sasha or put a bow on her as a character and find someone new of middle-grade age to narrate. 

I get asked all the time why not write YA (young adult) Sasha and sadly, the sales for traditionally published horse novels for older teens don’t seem to be as great as those for middle schoolers. But a wish of mine is to adapt the Canterwood into graphic novels, so that would allow us to revisit Sasha and Lauren in a new way. 

7. Besides horse fiction, you’ve also written in anthologies about writing and mental health, what fueled you to write about your personal mental health journey? 

TW: addiction, overdose mention
I’ve always struggled with anxiety and later anxiety and depression, but when I lost seven years of my life to addiction, it propelled me to open up about what I’d experienced. I was truly at the height of my career when I became addicted to benzos and painkillers, and it took almost everything from me. I finally had to hit rock bottom and have a near-fatal overdose to enter treatment. I try to speak openly about my experience in the hopes that if someone else hears about my journey and is waiting for a sign to seek help—this is their sign! I hope it helps anyone in recovery to feel a little less alone.

8. You also work as a freelance editor and writer for scripts/articles/books, do tell how it is similar or differs from your work as an author? 
With my freelance work, I try to help other writers on their publication journeys. So, I’ll work on submission packages, query letters, summaries, bios—whatever they need to help attract the attention of a literary agent. I also freelance edit for clients if they have a manuscript that needs feedback. It’s so much fun, and it’s very rewarding to see clients of mine sign with literary agents! 

I’m newer to writing scripts, but it’s fast becoming my new obsession. I love, love writing them! Writing scripts is much like writing a novel except I need to think visually as possible the entire time. I try to make sure each line of dialogue has a purpose and works hard in the script. It’s a new way of thinking, but I love it because I get to use the creative part of my brain like I do when writing books. 

9. You’re also recently came out (congratulations btw) and you’ve been vocal about being able to include more diversity in your new series. With the increase of book bans and censorship, what are your thoughts on the importance of representation? 

Thank you for the congrats! It was scary to come out, but I’m so glad I did. I’m very privileged because I’ve received so much support. I’m steeling myself for the inevitable backlash when the first Saddlehill book drops, but I’m standing behind my work and stories. I came out because I saw the increasing attacks on queer youth and their families. I wanted queer kids to know I see them, they matter, and their stories are beautiful. 

My stories always have been and always will be for all. Everyone should feel welcome in my books. It was time to have a queer horse girl front and center—a character I wish I’d had when I was a kid. 

10. But I do want to note, that while things still need to improve, you were able to hint at Cole’s sexuality in CC. How do you feel about the progress that you can write explicitly out and proud characters today? (This can be skipped depending on your previous answer) 

There’s been lots of speculation as to all of the Canterwood Crest characters and where they might fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. It was a different time in mainstream media back then and all of the not-so-subtle hints I dropped about Cole’s sexuality were very much on purpose. I wanted to make sure the guy readers who wrote me and said they were getting bullied for being gay or riding horses could see themselves in Cole. 

In Saddlehill, I’m not hinting at anything. Abby St. Clair is pan but will wonder if she’s a lesbian. Her stepsister is also queer. I’m so proud to be part of today’s kidlit world where we can write explicitly out and proud characters. 

Of course, there is deep worry and fear on my end with having queer MCs. I wish queer books weren’t being banned and challenged like they are. I wish alt-right groups would stop terrorizing librarians and their patrons for having Pride displays. I wish all kids were safe enough to take home a book with two girls holding hands on the cover. But times are tough. There is still so very much progress to be made. 

I hope anyone who has read and enjoyed Canterwood Crest will help me usher Saddlehill into the world and get it into the hands of a new generation of readers, censorship be damned. Queer people won’t cease to exist just because people attempt to silence our stories. I’d be so appreciative toward anyone who helps Saddlehill flourish despite any attempt meant to bring it down. 

11. And since you’ve been mentioning it, please do tell about your new series, Saddlehill Academy, a continuation of the CC universe. Any hints or spoilers will be great to hear if you can 😉
Ahh, so! Saddlehill Academy is my new middle-grade Canterwood Crest spin-off series debuting in summer 2023 from Aladdin. Saddlehill is part of the Canterwood world . . . but how? I can’t say yet. 🙂 Sorry, haha! I WILL say that readers MIGHT see familiar faces at some point. I came up with a storyline revolving around Someone Familiar that made me shriek a little. Hopefully, old readers will enjoy it while giving Saddlehill room to stand on its own. 

I really love my main character, Abby St. Clair, and I can’t wait for everyone to meet her! Here’s the elevator pitch: a 12-year-old girl must learn to share the spotlight with her new stepsister at boarding school when an anonymous source spreads rumors to break them apart. 
It has everything you expect from me: drama (so much drama!), light romance, horses, equestrian competitions, besties, crushes, and mean girls!

If you’d like to add it on Goodreads, I’d appreciate that so much! And if you want sneak peeks at covers, an email when the book is ready to pre-order, info about giveaways, and more, please sign up for my newsletter. 

12. Finally, any other endeavors, like a tv show script that I’ve been seeing around Instagram? 

Ahh, yes! I’ve started screenwriting after wanting to do so for many years. So far, I’ve written pilot episodes for Canterwood Crest and Saddlehill Academy. I’m also working on an original super gay Christmas romance script, and I’ve got a few other script ideas in the pipeline. Cross your fingers for me that I can make things happen! I very much want to work in film/TV while still writing novels. 

You can reach out to Jessica on her website to get more updates with her newsletter or editing help or just fanmail. You can also connect to her on social media: http://www.jessicaburkhart.com/