Now for the second author who inspired me – Walter Farley.
I can’t remember now whether I read The Black Stallion first or saw the movie first. I think it was the book first. Being a long-time horse lover, I was drawn in by the story of the beautiful, wild, black stallion, to such an extent that black remains my favourite colour for horses. The story was so beautifully crafted, so amazing and so engaging. It’s one of those books I wish I could go back and read again for the first time just to experience it all over again. Imagine my delight when I discovered there were more books in the series!
But back then, finding these books could be a real trick. I couldn’t get my hands on all the books in the series before my interest in them waned (which took a while, I can tell you!) I still have twelve of them on my bookshelf. Perhaps I will seek out the others in the series now that they should be easier to find. Thank you, internet!
It’s amazing how a particular book can stay with us long after we have read it. I can still remember the feelings The Black Stallion raised in me. In fact, this book inspired me to take up a pen myself. I’d already tried writing a picture book a few years before (it was also about horses: Goldie the Pony) but this time I was trying to write a full-length novel. I don’t remember what it was called, but I know it featured a horse. I don’t think I got very far, but it made no difference. Something had been set in motion by that novel. It was inspiration.
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