Linda Chapman

Linda was born in Liverpool in 1969. She learned to ride at an early age and had a naughty grey Welsh Mountain pony called Swizzle whom she used to imagine was really a unicorn. (This developed into the premise for her My Magic Unicorn series, although the author admits that Twilight is much better behaved than Swizzle!). When growing up she loved the stories of Ruby Ferguson and the Pullein-Thompsons and began writing her own pony stories.

As well as being an author, Linda has had many different jobs, working as a teacher, nanny, stage manager, dog trainer and groom! She has written many fantasy type children's books, including two series about unicorns, one about mermaids and one about fairy type spirits.

Are her unicorn books 'pony' books? The Magic Unicorn series does combine elements of traditional pony stories with a fantasy element (the girls go to pony camp for example) and although the fantasy element predominates, I would still class them loosely as pony stories. The Unicorn School books are however probably not really pony books at all but are rather school stories with unicorns taking the place of children. The most traditional of the lot is her latest series, Loving Spirit.

As well as writing books and riding, Linda is interested in drama and training dogs. She lives in Leicestershire with her family and dogs.

More on Linda and her books can be found by visiting her own website.

My Secret Unicorn Series:
Fantasy pony series in which a girl finds that her pony is no ordinary equine! For younger readers.

ALL PUBISHED BY PUFFIN PAPERBACKS

1) THE MAGIC SPELL
SUMMARY: Lauren discovers her pony Twilight is really a unicorn in disguise!

2) DREAMS COME TRUE
SUMMARY: Twilight is discovering his new unicorn powers - but are they enough to help a young pony in danger.

3) FLYING HIGH
SUMMARY: Lauren must choose whether to use magic to help a friend and risk exposing Twilight's secret.

4) STARLIGHT SURPRISE
SUMMARY: Lauren and Twilight set out to uncover a ghostly mystery

5) STRONGER THAN MAGIC
SUMMARY: Twilight becomes ill…

6) A SPECIAL FRIEND
SUMMARY: Lauren thinks that another pony, Moonshine, may also be a unicorn.

7) A WINTER WISH
SUMMARY: Lauren finds herself in trouble when new and old friends don't mix.

8) A TOUCH OF MAGIC
SUMMARY: Lauren's brother Max neglects his pet dog Buddy and the dog goes missing. It is up to Lauren and Twilight to find Buddy.

9) SNOWY DREAMS
SUMMARY: Will Twilight have to leave forever?

10) TWILIGHT MAGIC
SUMMARY: A new foal is born at the local stables.

11) FRIENDS FOREVER
SUMMARY: When Lauren and best friend Mel go off to Pony Camp Lauren feels left out when Mel makes new friends.

12) RISING STAR
SUMMARY: Lauren and Twilight help a new unicorn learn to fly.

13) MOONLIGHT JOURNEY
SUMMARY: Lauren and Twilight must make an arduous journey in order to save a pony from a mysterious virus.

14) KEEPER OF MAGIC
SUMMARY: Lauren is delighted to hear her pony-mad cousin Hannah is coming to stay. But when Hannah arrives Lauren is disappointed to find her cousin is no longer interested in ponies!

15) STARRY SKIES
SUMMARY: Lauren becomes the new Keeper of Magic.

Collectors info:
All paperbacks. Easy to find in the UK and USA. There was also a German printing so they can be found there easily too.  I think they are all are still in print. There are some 2 in 1 omnibus editions also - I will be adding more information about these editions later.

Unicorn School Series:
Another fantasy series about unicorns. Far less of a pony series than the Magic Unicorn books and aimed at slightly younger readers too. This series is about a school for unicorns in which youngsters learn how to use their powers,but more importantly how to become good 'people.' The stories are heavily based on the value of friendship.

ALL PUBISHED BY PUFFIN PAPERBACKS

1) FIRST CLASS FRIENDS
(PUFFIN PB  2007)
SUMMARY: Willow the young unicorn starts Unicorn School and makes lots of new friends. When one of her pals gets into trouble Willow will stop at nothing to save her friend.

2) THE SURRISE PARTY
(PUFFIN PB  2007)
SUMMARY: When Willow and her friends find out one of their pals is a Unicorn Prince they have to assure him that they like him for himself and not because he is royal.

3) THE TREASURE HUNT
(PUFFIN PB  2008)
SUMMARY: The young unicorns go on an treasure hunt. Despite arguments, they eventually realises they must all pull together as a team.

4) THE SCHOOL PLAY
(PUFFIN PB  2008)
SUMMARY: The unicorn school is putting on a play and Willow dreams of playing the lead role.

5) THE PET SHOW
(PUFFIN PB  2008)
SUMMARY: The unicorns are excited when they find out there is to be a pet show at their school!

6) TEAM MAGIC
(PUFFIN PB  2008)
SUMMARY: Its nearly the end of term and everyone is working hard preparing for exams - Except Troy who thinks he has a much better plan. Can Willow show him the error of his ways before he gets into trouble?

Collectors info:
All paperbacks. Still in print.

Sky Horses Series:
Fantasy pony series aimed at a slightly older readership than the unicorn books.

1) CLOUD MAGIC
(PUFFIN PB 2009)
SUMMARY: Erin discovers she has magical powers over the weather and that there are special magic horses in the sky. When a sky stallion has been trapped on earth by an evil spirit, Erin knows she must use her new powers to help him.

2) THE ROYAL FOAL
(PUFFIN PB 2009)
SUMMARY: Mistral the royal sky foal has been captured by a dark spirit who wants to harness his powers to create storms.

3) THE WHISPERING TREE
(PUFFIN PB 2009)
SUMMARY: Erin must discover a magic gateway which will lead the sky stallion and his son Mistral back to their sky kingdom.

4) EYE OF THE STORM
(PUFFIN PB 2009)
SUMMARY: Erin faces her greatest challenge. Can she free the sky horse kingdom from the dark cloud horse's control - and will this mean she loses her magical equine friends forever?

Collectors info:
All paperbacks. Easy to find as they are still in print.

Loving Spirit Series:
More traditional pony series aimed at a slightly older readership than the unicorn books.  Another in the current crop of horse whispering books that are popular at the moment.

1) LOVING SPIRIT
(PUFFIN PB 2010)
SUMMARY: Ellie has lost her parents, her home in New Zealand and everything she knows. Now she must live in England with family who are more like strangers. Life on her Uncle Len's horse farm seems so lonely until Ellie meets Spirit. She's never seen the grey horse before, but she has the strangest feeling they've always known each other. Like Ellie, Spirit is alone in the world, and they form an intense bond. And as the weeks go by, Spirit helps Ellie to discover an incredible talent that changes both their lives forever.

2) DREAMS
(PUFFIN PB 2011)
SUMMARY: Life is not as lonely as it once was on the farm where Ellie was sent to live after the loss of her parents. She has Joe and Luke, the boys on the farm who thrill her and confuse her in their own different ways. And she has Spirit - the beautiful grey horse with whom she shares the most incredible connection. They speak to each other; they trust each other. Soon Ellie discovers she can connect with the other horses in the yard in the same amazing way - except for one. Is she being distracted by life on the farm or this horse trying to tell her something she doesn't want to hear?

3) HOPES
(PUFFIN PB 2011)
SUMMARY: Ellie works really hard at the stables. Her only comforts are her beautiful horse, Spirit, and the friendship of her cousin Joe. When it looks like both might be taken away from her, will Ellie have the strength she needs to survive? And will her magical bond with Spirit be unbreakable - or not?

Collectors info:
All paperbacks. Easy to find as they are still in print. A fourth book is due to be published soon - I will add more information at a later date.