Much like her latest character, Claude, Marion Altieri knows what it’s like to be young and feel different.
“When I was a girl, I could be walking on a new sidewalk, smooth as glass, and trip over nothing,” said the Saratoga Springs writer. “I was lousy at gym, not athletic or graceful at all, and I got picked on.”
Her first children’s book, titled “Claude, the Clumsy Clydesdale,” shows Altieri has finally embraced the characteristics that make her unique. She hopes the lovable horse and his pals will help children feel the same.
“I wrote ‘Claude’ because I could identify with him and thought kids could as well,” she said.
At 200 lbs., the Clydesdale is a “perfect specimen” for his breed, but because his animal friends are so much smaller than he is, Clyde feels big and awkward. He starts feeling sorry for himself, but must put those feelings aside when disaster strikes to come to the rescue of his animal friends.
Altieri said the distraction of saving his friends soon makes Claude forget how clumsy he once felt.
“In so doing, he realizes no one else could have done what he did because of his speed and power,” she said. “I hope the kids will know their power comes from inside and when you put yourself aside for others, that’s when you find it.”
Horses are a passion for Altieri.
At the age of four, she rode her first horse. That same year, her mother and grandmother brought her to a thoroughbred racetrack for the first time and she’s been captivated ever since. She is currently the Editorial Director and Head Writer of “Equicurean,” an annual Saratoga-themed magazine featuring horse racing and polo, and is Head Writer for the Saratoga horse racing blog “Mairzy Doats.” She also edits and freelances for various other publications about thoroughbred and Arabian racehorses.
The story of Claude is just volume one in a series of books Altieri has signed on to write with Caballo Press of Ann Arbor. The Alpha Mare Series — a nickname of Altieri’s —will feature 10 books in all. The next one, “Alia the Antsy Arabian,” will be released in March.
“But, who knows. Maybe if I become the J.K. Rowling of horse books it will turn into 72 books,” she joked.
Altieri’s character, Alia, is named after her friend, Her Royal Highness Princess Alia Bint Al Hussein of Jordan. The princess in extremely involved in the preservation of the Arabian horses in the Middle East, and Altieri said it was an honor to name one of her characters after such an influential leader in the Arabian horse industry.
In the second book, Alia has a lot of energy. Her critter friends soon take notice and wonder “if she has that thing humans get where she can’t stand still.”
“I never mention A.D.D. [Attention Deficit Disorder] in the book,” said Altieri. “I wrote it because I’m sick to death of hearing every child that is creative or active be pseudo-diagnosed by a neighbor as having A.D.D.”
Alia soon finds out all of her pent up energy was meant to be useful and she was born to be a race horse.
“I want to teach children about finding their vocation in life,” she said. “You have to try to find out what your calling is and not listen what other people say. What your heart tells you is probably correct.”
The third book in the series will be released in the spring to coincide with the beginning of racing season. Titled “Thea, the Thankful Thoroughbred,” the book is meant to be released a year before the Saratoga Race Track’s 150th anniversary, to help educate children about the sport. Altieri said she hopes it will get children to bug their parents into bringing them to the track.
“I think every child should be brought up at the race track like I was,” she said.
So far, her first book has been a success with young readers. Altieri said she couldn’t believe the response she’s getting from children while reading “Clyde” at events.
While asking questions at a recent reading in Saratoga, a little girl nodded and looked at her mother each time Altieri mentioned getting picked on or feeling lonely.
“She looked so somber I wanted to cry,” she said. “I’m 55 years old and so naïve. I didn’t think about encountering children in person who could relate to the sad parts of the story. I ache for those children because I know how they feel.”
Altieri said she hopes her books will become beloved classics to the children who read them, who will one day want to pass them on to their own kids. Much like Dr. Seuss and Golden Books were inspirations for her growing up, Altieri dreams someone will eventually say they became a writer because of the impact the Alpha Mare series had on their lives.
“I want to give them that joy, while contributing to their self esteem. I want to help them find meaning in their lives,” she said. “That’s not a lofty ambition, right?”
A portion of each book sold is donated to Equine Advocates, a non-profit that supports the humane and responsible treatment of horses.
“Claude, the Clumsy Clydesdale” can by found at Saratoga Expressions on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, online at caballopress.com, and is coming soon to Barns and Noble Bookstores throughout the country.
