Books
Early Praise for Of Wind and Wolves
Historical Fiction
Anaiti is a hamazan, trained in riding and archery yet untested in war. When her father seeks alliance with the Skythian king, she consents to an arranged marriage—but no hamazan may wed without first taking an enemy’s scalp. Riding with the warband offers her both promise and peril. Fiercely protective of her freedom yet desperate to prove her worth, refusing to kill could win her liberty . . . or lose her all she loves.
When Anaiti reluctantly agrees to marry the aging king of the Skythian nomads to forge an alliance, she never expects the price of peace will be an enemy’s scalp—or that she’ll have to take it with her own hands.
Anaiti has been trained since youth in riding and archery, but her education was cut short, and she's never faced true combat. Though she has no taste for bloodshed, her desire to remain free outweighs her fear. Thrown into the lawless wilderness, she joins a ruthless warband whose loyalties and suspicions are as fierce as the unforgiving steppe. There, her skills and courage are tested to the edge, and she forms an intense bond with their commander—a formidable warrior who believes Anaiti possesses a rare gift.
Determined to evade her fate, Anaiti devises a daring plan to stay with the warband. But as her defiance threatens the pact between kingdoms, she must decide if her longing for freedom is worth the cost—of countless lives, perhaps her own.
Of Wind and Wolves is the first volume in The Steppe Saga, a haunting and subversive retelling of events recorded by Herodotus. Set against a backdrop of astonishing beauty and brutality, it reveals the lost wisdom, traditions, and beliefs of the Scythian people, whose powerful women once inspired Greek myths of the Amazons.
Publication date: September 2025. About the Author
J. M. Elliott lives on a Hudson Valley farm, far from the hustle of modern life. She prefers hiking boots to heels, work gloves to manicures, and humble stories to showy prose. When she's not lost in the pages of historical fiction, you might spot her astride a horse, unearthing the mysteries of archaeological sites, or trekking into the wilds where phone signals can't reach. To learn more, visit jmelliott.org
Horsemanship
Understanding the five rein aids is the key to unlocking effective communication with every horse.
The topic of the aids, particularly rein aids, remains a mystery for many riders and trainers, creating an almost mystical aura around them. Unable to decipher this enigma, numerous riders and trainers turn to brute force, utilizing harsh bits, auxiliary reins, and various gadgets.
But there is another way—a simpler, gentler method that has stood the test of time for centuries.
This method does not require advanced training for the horse, nor does it rely on force, specialized tack, or years of study under an expert. The correct use of the reins is neither magical nor forceful; it simply involves grasping the fundamentals of equine biomechanics and developing an awareness of the horse's mouth and our impact on its balance.
It is indeed an art, yet one that we can all learn to master. This book aims to guide riders in achieving just that.