This is a review for Blind Pony written by Samantha Hart which I received in exchange for this review.
As soon as I begin to read Blind Pony I found myself thinking of Jackie Collins and the books of hers I read and loved. Learning about the things she faced was things I wanted to make Charlie aware of because abuse not only happens to girls but boys as well.]
At times I found myself lost inside Blind Pony when hours would go by, and I wouldn’t talk to anyone as I wanted to finish what I was reading. I can’t wait to share Blind Pony with my sister.
By the time I got to the end of Blind Pony I felt like I had a new friend and a new lease on life. Anyone facing any kind of abuse or adversity should sit down and read Blind Pony.
About:
Hollywood Exec Samantha Hart’s Coming-of-Age Memoir, “Blind Pony,” Publishing on March 15, 2021. A heart-wrenching childhood of abuse leads to a harrowing journey of self-discovery, globe-trotting, and tales from the Hollywood trenches.
LOS ANGELES, CA – For the first time, Hollywood executive Samantha Hart is baring her soul in her memoir, “Blind Pony: As True A Story As I Can Tell” (Wild Bill Press), to reveal to the world a heart-wrenching childhood of abuse that she endured by her own grandfather, which led to her life as a runaway teen, and landed her in 1970s Los Angeles.
This coming-of-age story is a page-turner that chronicles the author’s journey into her 20s, as she navigates various abusive relationships, toxic Hollywood characters, her personal relationship to her “Marlboro Man”-idealized father, “Wild Bill,” and ultimately, how she finds her North Star. The book is publishing on March 15, 2021, and can be pre-ordered.
Hart says, “Almost no one in my life, including long-time friends and colleagues, knew about any of the trauma that I experienced as a young girl.
I always managed to overcome adversity throughout my life, have a positive outlook and do really well for myself, so telling my story now—it’s going to surprise a lot of people.
I hope that if there is just one girl out there who feels alone and scared about her situation, when she hears my story, she’ll realize that there’s always hope.”
Early reviews and reactions are hailing the book and its author with accolades including: “Unforgettable and raw, Hart’s deeply honest musings will ring true to those who want to understand what it’s like to walk through fire.” (Book Life/Publisher’s Weekly);
“…a memoir about overcoming—about facing up to and learning from one’s past without being imprisoned by it.” (David Herman, IndieReader); “
An extraordinary new voice…takes you on a trip back in time to when LA was over-the-top cool.” (Barbara Gorder, executive);
“A powerful coming of age story about finding strength through rebellion, recovery, and forgiveness.” (Jill Watts, bestselling author/Professor of Graduate Studies at CSU);
“Hart is a gifted storyteller. she became a backgammon hustler in Los Angeles, something readers likely won’t find in many memoirs.” (Kirkus Reviews);
“Excellent writing…I recommend this book to simply everyone.” (Dog-eared Publishing).
Comparisons of Hart’s story have been made to New York Times bestselling author Cheryl Strayed’s popular storytelling and books like “Wild,” which Oprah’s Book Club selected.
Samantha grew up on a farm in rural Pennsylvania that was no childhood ideal, but rather a surreal, twisted nightmare. After years of enduring a life of abuse, at the age of 14, she ran away searching for her father, a character she only knew as “Wild Bill”—only to discover he’s not the hero she dreamt he’d be.
Her instinctual knack for surviving independently as a young runaway takes the reader on an unbelievable journey into the mind of a vulnerable, resilient, and quick-witted teen-who finds herself in situations that range from mordantly funny to sometimes perilous adventures.
Arriving in Los Angeles at the peak of LA’s decadence, where money, drugs, and good times flowed, she floats through a strange new world of champagne-soaked parties, high-stakes backgammon tournaments, and a whirlwind of international escapades as she travels across Europe.
“Blind Pony” is a raucous recounting—a coming-of-age narrative of healing and hope, intersecting themes of recovery, redemption, and forgiveness. Hart’s defiance to play the victim, but rather define life on her terms, will inspire anyone who reads her words.
“Blind Pony: As True a Story as I Can Tell” is available for pre-order at
About Samantha Hart
Samantha Hart’s career has spanned music, film, and advertising, earning her a reputation as an award-winning Creative Director. Early in her career, Hart worked with top artists at Geffen, including Cher, Aerosmith, Nirvana and Guns ‘N Roses, to name just a few.
Segueing to the role as Creative Director in the film industry, her creative marketing campaigns brought prominence and Academy Awards to films such as “Fargo,” “Dead Man Walking,” and “Boys Don’t Cry,” while earning cult status for independent features, “Four Weddings and A Funeral,” “Priscilla Queen of the Desert,” and “Dazed and Confused,” which is enjoying a resurgence in popularity from the new book Alright, Alright, Alright.
The book details Hart’s campaign for the Richard Linklater film that has become synonymous with the indie due to its iconic stoned happy face and irreverent copy.
With her partner, Samantha built a multi-million-dollar company in the advertising industry, Foundation, with over forty employees and offices in Chicago and Los Angeles.
Under her leadership, Foundation earned distinction as an early disrupter of the traditional production and post-production models, combining the two under one roof.
Samantha currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, director James Lipetzky, and their teenage sons, Davis and Denham. Her daughter, Vignette, and her granddaughters, Andromeda and Ondine, reside in Massachusetts.
Thank you, Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
