Bonnie Bryant
Encyclopedia
Bonnie Bryant is an American author
of children's and young adult books. She is best known for authoring the intermediate horse blok series The Saddle Club
, which was published by Bantam Books
from October 1988 until November 2001.
. The series was static in time; the girls never aged in 101 books, 7 special editions, and 3 Inside Stories.
In the newsletter sent to fan club members, Bryant explains that she "wrote the first Saddle Club book in 1986. It came about from a suggestion made by an editor at Bantam. Her name is Judy (recognize the name?). She knew there were a lot of horse-crazy readers who hadn't had any new books in a long time. She also knew how interested I was in horses. She decided to bring us together. That's how The Saddle Club was born. At first, there were only going to be four books, but so many of you read them that I just had to do more. Right now, we're planning up through Number 52!" The Saddle Club books were Bryant's first books for Bantam-Skylark.
For a complete list of titles, see this list.
Robert Brown and Fredericka Ribes provided the cover art for the Pony Tails books, and Marcy Ramsey provided the interior art for the books.
For a complete list of titles, see this list.
The first book was published in July 1998, and Full Gallop, the seventeenth and last book, was published in April 2001. Although the last few Saddle Club books were published after Full Gallop, it is the last book set chronologically in the Willow Creek universe.
For a complete list of titles, see this list.
, based on the books, was filmed in Australia
. As of November 2010, three seasons have aired.
s. Bryant wrote at least thirty-eight The Saddle Club books, six Pony Tails books, and two Pine Hollow books herself. Ghostwriters for the Saddle Club and Pine Hollow books included Caitlin Macy (sometimes credited as Caitlin C. Macy), Catherine Hapka, Sallie Bissell, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Helen Geraghty, Tina deVaron, Cat Johnston, Minna Jung, and Sheila Prescott-Vessey.
, The Karate Kid, and Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
, written under her married name, B.B. Hiller.
Bryant collaborated in the ghostwriting of The Baby-sitters Club
Super Special #14: BSC in the USA, published under the name of its creator, Ann M. Martin.
, then moved to Wisconsin
to go to Lawrence University
, where she met her husband, Neil W. Hiller. Bryant worked on the campus newspaper, where Hiller was the editor.
After college, Bryant worked for a publishing company, then left in 1986 to write full-time. She and Hiller had two sons, Emmons and Andrew "Andy" Hiller. Neil Hiller died in 1989. Many of Bonnie's books are dedicated to him. She dated Irving Gottesman for about 7 years from 2000 to 2007, until his unfortunate death from cancer September 21, 2007. He, had from a previous marriage, two children name Max and Alice Gottesman.
Bryant has two sisters, Penelope "Penny" Bryant Carey, and Molly Bryant, now deceased. Bryant now lives in Greenwich Village
, New York
.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of children's and young adult books. She is best known for authoring the intermediate horse blok series The Saddle Club
The Saddle Club (books)
The Saddle Club is a series of intermediate children's books published by Bantam Books between 1986 and 2001. The series was created by a publishing house using the contract writing services of self-professed equestrian novice Bonnie Bryant. Many titles were also written by ghostwriters...
, which was published by Bantam Books
Bantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
from October 1988 until November 2001.
The Saddle Club
The Saddle Club chronicles the adventures of thirteen-year-old Lisa Atwood and twelve-year-olds Stephanie "Stevie" Lake and Carole Hanson, who live and ride horses in the fictional town of Willow Creek, VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. The series was static in time; the girls never aged in 101 books, 7 special editions, and 3 Inside Stories.
In the newsletter sent to fan club members, Bryant explains that she "wrote the first Saddle Club book in 1986. It came about from a suggestion made by an editor at Bantam. Her name is Judy (recognize the name?). She knew there were a lot of horse-crazy readers who hadn't had any new books in a long time. She also knew how interested I was in horses. She decided to bring us together. That's how The Saddle Club was born. At first, there were only going to be four books, but so many of you read them that I just had to do more. Right now, we're planning up through Number 52!" The Saddle Club books were Bryant's first books for Bantam-Skylark.
For a complete list of titles, see this list.
Pony Tails
Pony Tails is the first spin-off series authored by Bryant. It is aimed at beginning readers and follows the lives of eight-year-olds May Grover, Corinne "Corey" Takamura, and Jasmine James, who also ride at Pine Hollow. The first book was published in July 1995, and the last was published in February 1998.Robert Brown and Fredericka Ribes provided the cover art for the Pony Tails books, and Marcy Ramsey provided the interior art for the books.
For a complete list of titles, see this list.
Pine Hollow
Pine Hollow is the second spin-off series authored by Bryant. It is aimed at young adult readers and features Carole, Lisa, Stevie, and some new friends in a series set four years after the events of The Saddle Club. Unlike The Saddle Club, Pine Hollow conformed to a realistic timeline. The series took place over the span of less than a year.The first book was published in July 1998, and Full Gallop, the seventeenth and last book, was published in April 2001. Although the last few Saddle Club books were published after Full Gallop, it is the last book set chronologically in the Willow Creek universe.
For a complete list of titles, see this list.
Television series
In 2001, a television show called The Saddle ClubThe Saddle Club
The Saddle Club is a children's television series based on the books written by Bonnie Bryant and is an Australia/Canada co-production. Like the book series, the scripted live action series follows the lives of three teenage girls in training to compete in equestrian competitions at the fictional...
, based on the books, was filmed in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. As of November 2010, three seasons have aired.
Ghostwriting
Like many long-running children's book series, eventually The Saddle Club was taken over by a team of ghostwriterGhostwriter
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...
s. Bryant wrote at least thirty-eight The Saddle Club books, six Pony Tails books, and two Pine Hollow books herself. Ghostwriters for the Saddle Club and Pine Hollow books included Caitlin Macy (sometimes credited as Caitlin C. Macy), Catherine Hapka, Sallie Bissell, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Helen Geraghty, Tina deVaron, Cat Johnston, Minna Jung, and Sheila Prescott-Vessey.
Other Books
Bonnie Bryant is also the author of many novelizations of movies, including Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
, The Karate Kid, and Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid is the 1992 sequel to the 1989 film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Directed by Randal Kleiser and released by Walt Disney Pictures, the film stars Rick Moranis, Marcia Strassman, Robert Oliveri and Amy O'Neill, who reprise their roles as Wayne, Diane, Nick, and Amy Szalinski...
, written under her married name, B.B. Hiller.
Bryant collaborated in the ghostwriting of The Baby-sitters Club
The Baby-Sitters Club
The Baby-sitters Club is a series of novels written by Ann M. Martin and published by Scholastic between 1986 and 2000, that sold 17 milllon copies. Many of the novels were ghostwritten, including 43 by Peter Lerangis. However, Ann Martin wrote the first 35 novels.The series is about a group of...
Super Special #14: BSC in the USA, published under the name of its creator, Ann M. Martin.
Personal life
Bonnie Bryant was born to Emmons and Metzer S. "Mary" Bryant, who are now deceased. Bryant was born raised in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, then moved to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
to go to Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Lawrence University is a selective, private liberal arts college with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, in Appleton, Wisconsin. Lawrence University is known for its rigorous academic environment. Founded in 1847, the first classes were held on November 12, 1849...
, where she met her husband, Neil W. Hiller. Bryant worked on the campus newspaper, where Hiller was the editor.
After college, Bryant worked for a publishing company, then left in 1986 to write full-time. She and Hiller had two sons, Emmons and Andrew "Andy" Hiller. Neil Hiller died in 1989. Many of Bonnie's books are dedicated to him. She dated Irving Gottesman for about 7 years from 2000 to 2007, until his unfortunate death from cancer September 21, 2007. He, had from a previous marriage, two children name Max and Alice Gottesman.
Bryant has two sisters, Penelope "Penny" Bryant Carey, and Molly Bryant, now deceased. Bryant now lives in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.