Carolee Santmyer is best known for writing
"The Horse Catcher", a historical novel that was published in 1978, when Santmyer was 84 years old. This novel, set in the 1830s and 1840s, tells the story of a young woman named "The Horse Catcher" who is trying to create a new life for herself in the Kentucky countryside. It was a critical and commercial success, earning her the National Book Award and becoming a bestseller.
While "The Horse Catcher" is her most famous work, Santmyer also wrote other works, including:
* "The Fair Sister" (1985)
* "An American Dream" (1991), a collection of her personal writings
She also wrote articles and short stories that were published in various magazines and journals throughout her life.