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M.J. Evans

Goodreads Author

Born

in Corvallis, OR, The United States

Website

http://www.dancinghorsepress.com

Genre

Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Influences

Fantasy writers such as J.K. Rowling and horse-story writers such as M ...more

Member Since

December 2010

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I am a graduate of Oregon State University. Upon graduation, I spent five years teaching at the middle school and high school levels. My writing, at that time, was limited to curriculum. That was not fun.

While raising my children, I coached their Odyssey of the Mind and Destination Imagination teams for seventeen years. I helped them write their own stories for the competitions. During this time, I also wrote two parent handbooks for the Salem, Oregon School district on sex education.

About fifteen years ago, I was able to combine my passion for horses with my love of writing. I researched and wrote two equestrian trail guide books for the Denver area. By “research” I mean that I spent every Friday riding my horse on a new trail, be it on t I am a graduate of Oregon State University. Upon graduation, I spent five years teaching at the middle school and high school levels. My writing, at that time, was limited to curriculum. That was not fun.

While raising my children, I coached their Odyssey of the Mind and Destination Imagination teams for seventeen years. I helped them write their own stories for the competitions. During this time, I also wrote two parent handbooks for the Salem, Oregon School district on sex education.

About fifteen years ago, I was able to combine my passion for horses with my love of writing. I researched and wrote two equestrian trail guide books for the Denver area. By “research” I mean that I spent every Friday riding my horse on a new trail, be it on the plains or in the mountains. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it! The result of that work was the publication of Riding Colorado-Day Trips from Denver with Your Horse, and Riding Colorado II. Both books continue to sell very well in the Denver to Colorado Springs area and have made my horse famous.

I was able to combine my love of horses with my love of fantasy in my first Trilogy. The Mist Trilogy, comprised of Behind the Mist, Mists of Darkness and the Rising Mist received a gold medal from the Mom's Choice Awards. My next fantasy, an allegory of the Revolutionary War, but with Trolls and Leprechauns, won first place in the Purple Dragonfly Awards for fantasy. I took a brief (2 year) break from writing fantasy to complete a contemporary, coming of age novel titled "In the Heart of a Mustang." This YA novel won first place in the Literary Classics Awards for Young Adult fiction and second place in the Nautilus Awards in the same category.

On October 1, 2016, I released the first book of my new fantasy series "The Stone of Mercy: Book 1 of the Centaur Chronicles."

I have now expanded my writing interests to include Historical Fiction: "PINTO! Based Upon the True Story of the Longest Horseback Ride in History," and "The Sand Pounder - Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII."
I have also had fun working with illustrators on five picture books: "PERCY - The Racehorse Who Didn't Like to Run," and "The Skullington Family Series."

I describe myself as a “Mozart” type of writer as opposed to a “Beethoven” writer. When I sit down to write, the words just flow and I don’t have to go back and do a lot of revisions. ...more

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M.J. Evans’s books

Average rating: 4.52 · 975 ratings · 423 reviews · 26 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy 4.62 avg rating — 169 ratings — published 2023 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Coal Dust and Dreams: The Story of a Girl and Her Pit Pony in the Coal Mines of Wales 4.76 avg rating — 95 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Finding Fionn 4.34 avg rating — 103 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	In the Heart of a Mustang 4.54 avg rating — 93 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Behind the Mist (The Mist Trilogy, #1) 4.15 avg rating — 80 ratings — published 2011 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Sand Pounder 4.73 avg rating — 64 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pinto! 4.55 avg rating — 53 ratings — published 2019 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Silver Charm: And the Old Friends Who Save the Thoroughbreds 4.45 avg rating — 42 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mists of Darkness (The Mist Trilogy, #2) 4.51 avg rating — 37 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Stone of Mercy (The Centaur Chronicles, #1) 4.26 avg rating — 35 ratings — published 2016 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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M.J. Evans's Blog

COAL DUST AND DREAMS WAS RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2024!...

COAL DUST AND DREAMS WAS RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2024!

I spent a year researching the use of horses and ponies in the coal mines of South Wales. In addition to learning about the role of the Pit Ponies, I also studied the role of children and women in the mines.I set my story in the 1930's at the Penalta mine.

The Penalta MineThis was one of the largest mines. The horses (both ponies and Read more of this blog post »

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Published on January 06, 2025 12:41

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Series by M.J. Evans

The Mist Trilogy (3 books)
by

M.J. Evans (Goodreads Author)

4.30 avg rating — 145 ratings

The Centaur Chronicles (4 books)
by

M.J. Evans (Goodreads Author)

4.47 avg rating — 92 ratings

M.J. is Currently Reading

M.J. Evans is currently reading

Fire at the Track - A Harness Racing Mystery

by M.J. Evans (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, horse-book-challenge

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Mar 10, 2026 06:52AM

M.J. Evans is currently reading

Silver Charm - And the Old Friends Who Save the Thoroughbreds

by M.J. Evans (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Oct 28, 2025 05:55AM

M.J. Evans is currently reading

Coal Dust and Dreams: The Story of a Girl and Her Pit Pony in the Coal Mines of Wales

by M.J. Evans (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jul 02, 2024 10:33AM

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M.J.’s Recent Updates

M.J. Evans is currently reading Fire at the Track - A Harness Racing Mystery by M.J. Evans (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 10, 2026 06:51AM · like
M.J. Evans added a status update: The professional reviews are coming in for "Fire at the Track" (to be released on April 21st.) Here is an excerpt from one from Literary Global Book Reviews. “Fire at the Track” pulls readers straight into the emotionally charged world of harness racing, where loyalty runs deep, money runs hot, and tragedy can strike without warning.
Mar 10, 2026 06:51AM · like · see status
M.J. Evans rated a book really liked it The Adventures of Billy: The Empty Lot by William Word (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Adventures of Billy: The Empty Lot is an interesting book but I'm having a hard time deciding what I think of it. It begins in a hospice setting where Billy is in his last, lonely days and wants to share his childhood memories with the hospice nu ...more
Mar 10, 2026 06:25AM · like · see review
M.J. Evans rated a book it was amazing Time Agents: Alterations: A Time-Travel Romance by Jodi Bowersox (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I have read all of the works by Jodi Bowersox and enjoyed each one. However, I must say, this was my favorite! I loved the history that gets "Altered" in this time-travel book set in the days of King Henry. It's beautifully written and kept me up lat ...more
Feb 18, 2026 08:30AM · 1 like · like · see review
M.J. Evans rated a book it was amazing The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh: Classic Illustrated Gift Edition by A. A. Milne	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I grew up with A.A. Milne's heartwarming tales of young Christopher Robin and his imaginary world of friends - most of whom were his stuffed animals that came to life in his imagination. Each animal has its own distinct personality that children can ...more
Feb 13, 2026 01:19PM · like · see review
M.J. Evans liked Vijay Kerji's review of Coal Dust and Dreams: The Story of a Girl and Her Pit Pony in the Coal Mines of Wales: "An Entertaining Story of South Wales Author M J Evans has written a captivating story that aligns with the real life of coal miners in South Wales. She has beautifully painted the hard work of the coal miners in the first part of the story. Later, the " Read more of this review »
Feb 05, 2026 09:03AM · see review
M.J. Evans rated a book it was amazing The Aging in Place Handbook for Fall & Accident Prevention: Emotional Support, Step-by Step Home Safety Modifications, Affordable Solutions, Checklists & Diagrams by J.M. Saner	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a good book to get you thinking about the modifications you might need to do to keep living in your home safely. Each chapter looks at a different room and concludes with a check list of things to evaluate. It even includes suggestions for ou ...more
Jan 28, 2026 09:05AM · 1 like · like · see review
M.J. Evans rated a book it was amazing Black Baseball's Heyday: Capturing an Era in Art and Words by Denny Dressman	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Black Baseball's Heyday: Capturing an Era in Art is a stunningly beautiful book. Both the text and the artwork will amaze you. What a great collaboration between a talented author and an equally talented artist. Great job to both of them! This would ...more
Jan 27, 2026 12:32PM · 2 likes · like · see review
M.J. Evans rated a book it was amazing The Team-Building Activity Guide: Quick Exercises to Boost Trust & Teamwork in Any Workshop (with 50+ Great Work Energisers & Games - No Materials Needed) by Guerric de Ternay (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Ever been to a seminar or company meeting and found yourself having trouble paying attention after a while? You look at your phone, you watch that bird in the tree outside the window, you find yourself making up background stories about the woman acr ...more
Jan 27, 2026 06:56AM · 1 like · like · see review
M.J. Evans rated a book it was amazing When the Stars Linger: A Soothing Children’s Bedtime Story About Love, Belonging, and Peaceful Sleep by Peggy Kan Hai (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is one of the most beautiful children's books I've ever read. The illustrations are breathtaking and the rhyming is lovely. I felt peaceful just reading it! Any child would be lucky to go to bed with these words swimming in their head! ...more
Jan 19, 2026 06:49AM · 1 like · like · see review

More of M.J.'s books…

Quotes by M.J. Evans (?)

“Tears welled up in Jane's eyes. "I don't need something to remember you. I can never forget you.”
― M.J. Evans, The Sand Pounder

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Horse Lovers Central: Challenge Books - Winter 2022 - 23	12	22	Jan 23, 2023 03:05PM
Horse Lovers Central: Challenge Books - Spring 2024	17	26	Apr 06, 2024 05:22AM
Horse Lovers Central: Horses of History	35	43	Jan 21, 2026 07:51AM
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