At 14 years old, Alexandra is already a published author who educates readers about the inhumane transport and slaughter of American horses. Her latest book, Mystery at Silver Key Stables, is a heartwarming story for young readers who love horses. Her specialty is loving many horses, supporting their well-being through her Charity Book series, and creating happy endings for them. Alexandra donates all of the proceeds of her book to non-profit, charitable organizations that help rescue, rehabilitate, and protect horses from cruelty and neglect.

What inspired you to start writing about horses? Did you have a particular experience or know a special horse?

I wrote and illustrated my very first book about horses when I was 8 years old. It was a 12-page children’s picture book entitled “The Horses I Love.” I was inspired to write that book because I fell in love with each and every one of the horses in the barn where I was first learning to ride. That book title pretty much sums up how I have always felt about every horse I have ever met or ridden since.  Horses are such special animals, each with his own unique personality and temperament. I think of each horse as a beautiful, living puzzle that must be solved slowly, with patience and kindness.  Winning the trust of a 1,200-lb. horse is an amazing experience.  One of the most exciting things I have ever done is to ride competitively in the hunter/jumper show circuit with my horse as my teammate.

What messages are you trying to convey in your books?

One of my goals is to show that horses are highly intelligent and intuitive creatures, and that they deserve our respect. They feel the exact same emotions that humans do. I have seen horses show fear, love, anxiety, excitement, anger, annoyance, pain, pleasure and even pride. I hope that, through my writing about them, readers will better understand the sensitive nature of horses; then perhaps better laws protecting horses from slaughter, abuse, neglect and abandonment will be passed. My books also touch on the real issues that horses face in our country today.

Can you explain the process of how you published your book?

After my English homework assignment had taken on a life of its own, writing itself into a full length chapter book mystery about horses, I knew that I wanted to publish it. During the publishing process, I discovered that it’s much easier (and lots more fun!) to write than to go back and edit the story.  I had a great editing staff that read my manuscript and made several good suggestions for changes to it. I was able to choose what changes I would make, and which ones I did not want to make.   Still, it was really hard to have to delete entire chapters that I had spent weeks writing, and re-write new chapters that developed the characters and story better. It was a learning experience that I will never forget.  At times it felt really brutal and frustrating, but in the end my book was exactly how I wanted it to be. I really learned a lot about the difference between writing for myself and writing for an audience.

The best part of all was seeing my horse characters come to life with the artwork of equine artist Delia Pacheco.  She is an amazing artist and contributed her artwork with no fees.  I am incredibly lucky to know Delia who shares my love for horses, and to have her support.

I wanted horses to benefit somehow from my writing about them, so my parents helped me create the Charity Book Series, Inc., a charitable nonprofit organization.  As president, my responsibilities are to write and promote my books about horses, depicting them in humane ways and educating readers about real issues that affect horses.  All the net profit from every book I write in the Charity Book Series will be donated to horse charities I have selected myself.

What other animal issues concern you?

At my book signings I try to make as many people as I can aware of the shipment of American horses across U.S. borders to Canada and Mexico for slaughter.  Americans do not even eat horse meat, yet slaughter buyers attend our auctions, buy our horses and transport them in inhumane ways to slaughter them in other countries.  I believe that if horses have been born and/or bred on American soil then we owe them more respect and protection than that.

The inhumane transport and slaughter of American horses for human consumption bothers me a lot. I also believe that all animals, whether they are domestic or livestock, deserve our respect, basic care and a good quality of life.  Many animals on this planet are here only because humans breed them.  If we create these lives, we should take full responsibility for the quality of lives these animals lead.

Do you have any pets?

I have a 4-year-old guinea pig named Miss Holly. In the past I have had two hamsters (Princess and Miss Dixie), a dog (Dusty), a rabbit (Flash), a pair of walking sticks (George and Gracie) and various types of fish and frogs.

Some people have also asked me why, if I love horses so much, I don’t own one myself. I have a very good reason for this. An average horse lives to be twenty to thirty years old. This means that a horse might pass through many different owners in its life. Some owners outgrow them or become disinterested in the horse they once loved, after it has outlived its usefulness to them. Some of these pet horses end up at auctions and slaughterhouses because their owners are no longer willing or able to care for them. This is a very sad ending to give to a friend. I can always find a horse somewhere who belongs to someone else who needs to be ridden, enjoyed, cared for, and loved.

What advice would you give to other teens who want to take up a cause for animals?

I would say to them, “Have the courage to speak up for the animals on our planet.”  We have voices and they don’t. You can use your voice to help those who can’t speak for themselves.  Even if you are a shy person, you can always use your voice in writing to help make a difference for animals. 

Anything else you’d like to add?

Yes!!!!! Buy a Book – and Save a Horse! I donate all the profits from Mystery at Silver Key Stables to seven charities that I have personally selected myself. They are organizations that provide safe habitats and new homes for horses, rescue them during disasters, help relocate them when they are stolen, and provide humane retirement for them. To purchase Mystery at Silver Key Stables visit my website, www.alexandragritta.com.

The last, and most important, thing that I want to say is “thank you” to everyone who has helped me with my charitable book project. Thank you to my English teacher, Mr. Jeff Luther, to the members of the Board of the Charity Book Series, Inc., to my parents who helped me create the Charity Book Series, and to all of the people who wrote supportive reviews for my book. I especially want to thank Delia Pacheco for bringing Mystery at Silver Key Stables to life.

For the love of all horses,
Alexandra Joy Gritta