The Story Behind Lucky Penny: How Horses, Faith, and Healing Inspired My Next Novel

If you've been following my journey as an author, you've probably heard me mention my upcoming novel, Lucky Penny. What you may not know is that this story is deeply personal to me. Unlike the dystopian world of Beneath A Broken Sky, Lucky Penny is rooted in something that has been a huge part of my life for years—the horse world.

My daughters both ride and compete in local horse shows, and as a family, we've spent countless hours at barns, arenas, and horse events. Horses aren't just a hobby in our household; they're part of our everyday lives. We also own our own horse, Arrow, who readers of Beneath A Broken Sky may recognize as the inspiration behind Hadley's beloved horse in the series.

Because horses have played such an important role in our lives, I've always wanted to write a story set in that world. But I didn't want to write just another horse story. I wanted to create something that explored the realities of life—the struggles we all face, the wounds we carry, and the hope we desperately need when life feels impossible.

At its heart, Lucky Penny is a story about grief, healing, addiction, forgiveness, and finding your way back when you've lost yourself.

The characters in this story face heartbreak, loss, and difficult choices. They make mistakes. They struggle. They hurt. But they also learn that healing is possible, even when it feels out of reach.

Most importantly, Lucky Penny is a story about faith.

Faith has always been a central theme in my writing because it's a central part of my own life. While this story tackles some heavy topics, I wanted readers to walk away with hope. I wanted them to see that even in our darkest moments, God is still present. Even when life doesn't make sense, He is still working.

Through Charlie, Jimmy, Lucas, and of course Lucky Penny, I hope readers will find pieces of themselves within these pages. Maybe they'll see their own grief. Maybe they'll recognize their own struggles. Maybe they'll find encouragement to keep moving forward.

Because sometimes healing doesn't happen all at once.

Sometimes it happens one step, one prayer, and one day at a time.

And sometimes, the things we think are broken beyond repair can become the very things that help us find hope again.

I can't wait to share Lucky Penny with all of you in Summer 2026. Thank you for continuing to support my writing journey and for allowing me to share these stories with you.

You can pre-order Lucky Penny on amazon @ https://a.co/d/018a9Jel

Until next time,

Taylor A.