Michael Rountree

Howdy,

My name is Michael Rountree and I am the author of the Gunpowder series. I've teamed up with multiple New York Times and USA Today Best Selling author, Lori Wilde and artist Peyton Aufill to give any young reader and horse enthusiasts the Gunpowder Series.

For the past 20 plus years I have taught grades 4-12 in Texas schools. I currently teach high school history in Spearman, Texas. I have a Bachelors and Masters degree in Education from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.

I also have a lifetime of experience with horses since my dad was a trainer and farrier and my mom owned a business making horse tack such as leg wraps, saddle blankets, etc. I team roped in high school and college and was a farrier myself for awhile.

One year while teaching 5th grade Reading I thought about trying to combine the two things that I know and love best... teaching and horses! I wanted to develop a love for reading and felt that I had a story to tell. With a lot of guidance and instruction from Lori, we published book one of the Gunpowder series, Tales of a Wise-Cracking Cow pony, and my students loved it.

Since then I hear a lot of "When is the next Gunpowder coming out?" So,we went to work and published book two, Gunpowder the Cowpony Goes to Cowboy School, which set the stage at the Mesquite Bean Ranch and Cowboy School as the platform for many more Gunpowder books.

Recently we published book three, Gunpowder, Rivals on the Ranch, which in my opinion, it's the most powerful and best of the three. Check out the video preview of book three on Gunpowder's website. www.gunpowderandconrad.com and yes, I've already started on book four.

I love writing about Gunpowder and his best friend in the whole world, Conrad. Readers have said it will make them cry, laugh, and fall in love with this horse and little boy. I have actually had readers name their new colt Gunpowder! My greatest compliment as an author comes when I have a young reader or a parent say, "My daughter or son loves to read about Gunpowder and they want more!"

I am very proud of winning a Moms Choice Award Juvenile Books Fiction that focuses on family friendly media.

My beautiful wife is Jennifer Rountree and I have one awesome son, Riley. We live on a small ranch in Hansford County and love working with our horses, chickens, and dogs.

I would like to invite you to give me a holler at www.gunpowderandconrad.com or see me on Facebook at Gunpowder the Cowpony. Feel free to email me at rountree123@gmail.com