Redwings, readers and the pony book that inspired it all...

Hello!

Last time I wrote I was looking forward to a trip to Norfolk to take part in the second ever Redwings Book Festival at Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s Caldecott Visitor Centre near Great Yarmouth.

I'm now back - and I had the most brilliant time. It was a complete joy to meet so many lovely people: readers, Redwings staff and, of course, the stars of the show, the rescued ponies and donkeys!

I caught up with my two favourite book buddies, fellow pony book author Cressida Burton - who writes the excellent Ravensbay School Stories (you can find them here) - and pony book expert and publisher Jane Badger. Cressida, Jane and I have been friends for more than a decade, and they really are the most supportive people you could wish to meet.

The day began with a very special welcome by some of Redwings' donkeys, who reminded me of Chester and Jenny, Poppy's two donkeys in the Riverdale books.

Then it was time for me to step on stage with Cressida and Jane for our panel discussion, Why We Love Pony Books, hosted by Professor Thomas Ruys Smith and Dr Hilary Emmett from the University of East Anglia.

(Pictured left to right are: me, Professor Thomas Ruys Smith, Jane Badger, Cressida Burton and Dr Hilary Emmett)

During the discussion, we were asked the Million Dollar Question: What's your favourite pony book?

Now, this is a toughie. I grew up on a diet of pony books by authors like the Pullein-Thompson sisters, Ruby Ferguson, Patricia Leitch and Elyne Mitchell. How could I pick just one?

But pick one I had to, so I chose a book that I re-read recently and loved just as much forty years later.

Dream of Fair Horses by Patricia Leitch is a classic of the pony book genre - an emotionally rich, beautifully written tale of longing, ambition and love.

Gill Caridia is the pony-mad middle child of seven in a chaotic, cash-strapped family. When her eccentric author father finally finds success, the family move to Hallows Noon, a crumbling old house by a lake. It’s there Gill discovers Perdita - a spirited grey mare and the pony of her dreams.

With the help of elderly neighbour Mr Ramsay, Gill trains Perdita with one goal in mind: to ride at the Horse of the Year Show at Wembley. But their journey is far from easy.

What happens next is the ultimate story of love and loss, of winning and losing.

If you can spot parallels between Gill and my own heroine, Poppy McKeever - who finds Cloud after moving to a new home on Dartmoor - it's because of the huge impact the book had on me when I was a pony-mad girl.

I was only too pleased to be able to share my love of the book with the audience at Redwings Book Festival.

Originally published in 1975, Dream of Fair Horses has been republished by Jane, who is doing so much to bring out-of-print pony books back in the spotlight.

Here are the two covers - the one I remember on the left, and the new one on the right.

Spark any memories?

If you've never read the book, I thoroughly recommend it. And if you have, I promise you'll enjoy it just as much second time round. You can check it out here.

And now a question for you. What's your all-time favourite pony book? I'd love to know! Just hit reply and share your recommendations.

Back to Redwings. It really was a fantastic day, full of cake, conversation and happy readers. I'm still buzzing!

Here are a few more photos, mainly of me getting up close and personal with some of the centre's four-legged heroes...

Donkeys, ponies and friends - what's not to love?!

We'd only been home from Norfolk for a week or so when it was time to travel up to London for this year's Self Publishing Show Live.

It's the fifth time we've been part of the volunteer crew helping to make sure the event - the biggest conference for self-published authors in Europe - goes without a hitch.

It’s always a blast to help behind the scenes, meet other authors and soak up the atmosphere of all things books and writing. It reminds me how lucky I am to be part of such a supportive, creative community.

Self Publishing Show Live 2025 - roll on next year!

It's been a quiet few months on the pony book front while I concentrate on finishing my latest psychological thriller under my pen name AJ McDine. But that doesn't mean more Riverdale books aren't on the horizon.

In fact, one of the questions Cressida and I were asked at Redwings Book Festival was whether we would ever collaborate on a Riverdale/Ravensbay crossover.

I think we both thought it would be great fun for Poppy and Ravensbay's heroine Paige to meet in their own pony story, so you never know.

As they say... watch this space!

Happy reading!

Amanda