Welcome to the website of Linda Benson, author of middle grade and young adult novels.

Make yourself at home, browse through the pages and learn more about me and my books.

My newest book - 
THE GIRL WHO REMEMBERED HORSES - is now available as an eBook from Musa Publishing.

Several generations into the future, Sahara travels with her clan in a barren environment where recyclables are bartered for sustenance, and few remember horses or their connection to humans. But Sahara has recurring dreams of riding astride on magnificent animals that run like the wind.

With the help of Evan, a young herder from the Gardener's Camp, Sahara discovers a crumbling book containing pictures of humans riding horses and learns that her visions are real. Confronting a group of hunters led by hot-headed Dojo, Sahara rescues a wounded horse, but the animal escapes before it can be tamed.

Sahara is labeled a foolish dreamer and almost gives up her quest. Following horse tracks into a remote ravine, she finds wild dogs attacking a dying mare, and must drive them off in order to save the foal. Now she must attempt to raise the young animal, convince her clan of the ancient bond between horses and humans, and learn the secret of her true identity.

What Readers are Saying:

* The Girl Who Remembered Horses is a fast-paced story with a plucky heroine . . . A great read for anyone who loves horses.

* I read it in one day because is was so entertaining. I would recommend this to anyone who likes horses, and ages 10-20 . . . I really hope that there will be a good sequel. ~ from an 11-year-old girl

* Sahara is such an intriguing character. I did not know what she would bring next to the story . . . Ms. Benson is a good story teller . . . Her love for horses (helped) make this story come alive.

* I like dystopian YA as a genre, but this book . . goes above and beyond. I found it to be about the drive for . . . beauty? graciousness? gentleness? . . . in the midst of the harsh realities of survival. No matter how focused we are on just getting by, there's a part of the human spirit that wants more than that. That struggle was seen in the conflict between Sahara and Dojo, and the "more" came in the form of the horses Sahara finds. This is one of my favorite books.

* This is a whole new imaginative take on the well-loved story of a girl finding her horse . . . a fascinating world and cast of characters . . . Benson's love and familiarity with dogs and horses . . . shine through here. But ultimately it's the human relationships that make this such a satisfying story.

* A memorable e-book read . . . It qualifies as a mid-grade/YA that adults will enjoy as well. It's obvious that Benson knows her horses from the life-like descriptions and heartfelt connection in her words . . . loved the vivid language and beautiful descriptions, as well as the interesting and believable characters in this unusual tale . . . This one's a winner! 

Buy this great read today, and let us know what you think! Only $4.99