Author inspired by the Ochils landscape

AN award-winning children's author was inspired to write her latest book after spending time in Clackmannanshire

The mythical landscapes in Chilean-born Lari Don's 'Rocking Horse War' - which is launched today - were inspired by the majesty of the Ochil Hills and historical beauty of Dollar's Castle Campbell.

Lari (pictured right) told the Advertiser, "I wrote this book mostly from childhood memories of climbing - but I did also needed wee reminders so a few times during the year we climbed in the Ochils - Dumyat, Castle Campbell. The mythical mountain landscape in the book, the plants, the wildlife, do bear a bit of a resemblance to the Ochils."

She added, "I also based a scene where the heroine is nearly trapped in a bog on a story my father-in-law, who lived in Kennet, used to tell about being trapped in mud on the Forth when he was a boy. His story also involved poaching and the local police - which didn't make it into this book.

"I'm sure I will also discuss my Kennet and Ochil connections and inspiration when I chat to the Clackmannan Women's Guild after the summer."

Living, breathing rocking horses, magicians, triplets with special powers and a girl with a talent for reading the land all star in Lari's latest book - her first novel since she received the Royal Mail Award for Younger Readers for her debut book - 'First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts' - in November last year.

After writing two successful books in the First Aid for Fairies series, Lari was excited to explore new characters and themes in Rocking Horse War. The fantastical adventure bears a striking resemblance to Lari's own adventurous, outdoor childhood - minus the dangerous rocking horses.

"My childhood was spent climbing mountains with my dad and brother, so my head is still filled with memories of scrambling, scree, heather, blueberries, sandwiches in the shelter of rocks, never taking the easy tourist way up, deer and grouse and amazing views which you are almost too tired to enjoy, so I built these mountains and Pearl's journey from those memories," she said.

Set in Lari's own mythical version of Scotland's mountains, heroine Pearl must use all of her knowledge of the land to find her triplet siblings who have been kidnapped by their rocking horses.

Lari hopes this kind of adventure book will inspire children to get out and enjoy Scotland this summer.

She added, "Summer reading shouldn't be about sitting reading in the house, or on the beach. All my books are set outdoors in Scotland. I want to encourage kids to get out and about in the hills."

Lari will be reading from Rocking Horse War at Stirling Waterstones on Tuesday at 11.30am. To find out more about the author visit the website www.laridon.co.uk/homepage


by Iain Robertson ALLOA ADVERTISER