The Horse Dreamer: How Holly Surplice’s New Illustrated Story Was Born

The Scottish author recounts in the first person the ten-year journey behind her new illustrated novel, The Horse Dreamer. Drawn from personal childhood memories, a tender coming-of-age story unfolds, celebrating friendship, the healing power of animals, and hope.

I first sketched The Horse Dreamer in a notebook about ten years ago. My youngest son was just a year old then, and I knew I didn't yet have the clarity to write the story that these characters I had imagined deserved. So, Maren and Sorel patiently remained within the pages of my notebook, waiting for their moment.

I spent over twenty years creating books for very young readers, often inspired by my own children. As my children grew older, then, it was inevitable: at some point, I would write for an older age group. When that moment finally arrived, I discovered a hesitation within myself—a doubt as to whether I could truly achieve what I envisioned for the story. I wanted to create something special. A story that the reader could completely immerse themselves in. I wanted it to be an exciting and vivid story that captures the magic I felt as a child alongside our horses.

Writing the book was based on my childhood memories. On adventures I had lived while riding our horses, on the special friendships one develops with animals, and which made the years of school bullying I had suffered—and always kept hidden—bearable. I wanted to write about a brave girl, smart, restless, and thoughtful, yet at the same time vulnerable. A girl who needs someone to help her believe in herself again. We all need that sometimes. The strength to endure, to survive, and to flourish exists within us, but often we cannot see it because the circumstances and experiences of our lives have blurred our faith. It takes someone, or something, very special to illuminate and bring out the best parts of ourselves. That is precisely what Sorel does for Maren.

Writing a novel brought many new challenges, but it was an endlessly enjoyable and deeply satisfying process. The hardest part was reading and rereading the text during the editing stage. That in itself was a true feat! Although I was writing for an older audience, it was extremely important to me to tell the story with both words and pictures. I don't believe anyone is ever too old for an illustrated book, and I wanted The Horse Dreamer to be full of images. As I wrote, I also drew, and the characters came alive both in my mind and on the page; it was a wonderful process.

As the mother of a neurodivergent child, I know that the reading experience can be made easier when there are scattered illustrations in the text, short chapters, and a legible font with proper spacing and leading. I also believe that the blue tone of the ink, in both the words and the images, greatly enhances the aesthetic and makes reading the story easier. The designer who curated the book was a true wizard! He understood how important all of this was to me and did everything he could to render the exact format I had envisioned.

Although The Horse Dreamer touches on difficult themes such as grief and sorrow, I wanted the reader to journey alongside Maren and Sorel into worlds filled with joy. To live experiences guided by hope and optimism. I believe it is very important for young people to know that all of these things can coexist. Life is rarely black and white. In reality, it is a multitude of shades, and when you believe in yourself, everything in life is possible.