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Harry Horse |
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A former political cartoonist, Harry Horse wrote and illustrated stories of epic adventures - to the Arctic, Australia and America. His best-loved character is undoubtedly Roo - the spirited dog. And, yes, Roo really does exist. Indeed, she has even been interviewed and says that "writing is quite easy - I don't know what all the fuss is about."
THE BASICS
Born: Coventry, May 9th 1960
Died: January 2007
Jobs: Illustrator and Writer
Lives: Edinburgh
First Book: The Opopogo - My Journey With The Loch Ness Monster, 1983
THE BOOKS
Harry Horse was well on the way to becoming a lawyer, when he decided instead to flee to Scotland to pursue a career as an illustrator. After a couple of commissions, Harry made an impressive debut as author and artist with The Opopogo - My Journey with the Loch Ness Monster in 1983.
It would be ten years before Harry's next book, although he continued to illustrate other writers' work. Between 1987 and 1992, he enjoyed the high-profile role of political cartoonist for Scotland on Sunday. His illustrations have also appeared in the Independent, the Observer, Vox and the New Yorker. Harry also contributed a weekly satirical cartoon Horsebox to The Scotsman.
In 1992, a knotted parcel of tea-stained paper arrived at Penguin Children's Books. Few "unsolicited" manuscripts ever make it beyond the "slush pile", but The Last Polar Bears immediately stood out. Publisher Philippa Milnes-Smith recalls "this was clearly an exceptional talent - someone who could write and illustrate with equal skill." The Last Polar Bears introduced readers to the delightful character of Roo, Harry's real-life dog.
WHAT HE SAID...
"The Last Polar Bears, The Last Gold Diggers and The Last Cowboys were all inspired by my family and my dog Roo. Roo has an exceptional personality and I hope that my portrait of her captures what I love most about her."
"I feel better about my work when it has a personal mythology around it. I cannot write about things that do not in some way involve me."
ABOUT HARRY HORSE...
"An inventive, gentle writer." Scotland on Sunday
"A hilarious and original story." Young Telegraph on The Last Polar Bears
"The book is often funny, sometimes downright hilarious... yet there is a poignancy about the story." School Librarian on The Last Polar Bears
"Dramatic, fanciful and witty, The Last Polar Bears is a charmingly original adventure." The Bookseller
"The weirdest ever expedition to the cold wastes of the Arctic... a gently nonsensical, highly enjoyable tale with all the makings of a classic." Northern Echo on The Last Polar Bears
"Thought-provoking." Daily Express on The Last Polar Bears
AWARDS
Winner of Gold Medal for 6-8 age category, 1998 Smarties Book Prize for The Last Gold Diggers
Scottish Arts Council's Writers Award for The Ogopogo - My Journey With The Loch Ness Monster
S.A.C. Publishers Award for The Ogopogo - My Journey With The Loch Ness Monster
The Last Polar Bears was a Children's Book of the Year Choice
PLACE AND DATE OF BIRTH:
Coventry; 1960
FAVOURITE BOOK:
The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White
MOST TREASURED POSSESSION:
My five-string banjo
FAVOURITE SONG:
'The Swimming Song' by Loudon Wainwright III
FAVOURITE FILM:
Once Upon a Time in America
When did you start writing?
I began writing as a child and enjoyed English above all subjects, apart from art. My English teachers were all good at school but Mr Nicholas Dakin was my inspiration. When I was about seventeen he suggested that I consider writing as a career. He introduced me to many fine books and was the first person to try to teach me that you should write what you know. It has taken me many years to put it into practice and I'm still learning what it really means.
Where do you get your ideas?
The Last Polar Bears, The Last Gold Diggers and The Last Cowboys were all inspired by my
family and my dog Roo. Roo has an exceptional personality and I hope that my portrait of her captures what I love most about her. My first book was called The Ogopogo - My Journey
with the Loch Ness Monster and was inspired by my lifelong interest in what lives in Loch
Ness. I feel better about my work when it has a personal mythology around it. I cannot write about things that do not in some way involve me. My family feature in many of my books. I have kept notebooks for the last twenty years and there is enough in there, I hope, for me to keep working for many years to come.
Can you give your top three tips to becoming a successful author?
1. Enjoy what you do, otherwise there is no point doing it. Write what makes you happy.
2. Write wherever you are. If you are discreet, then all the better.
3. Know what you want to say and say it truthfully.
Favourite memory?
On the beach with Mandy and Roo in Shetland. Mandy searched for sea rabbits and Roo built us a temporary shelter out of driftwood. Or was it the other way round? I can't remember. I have hundreds of happy memories, and when I can't sleep I go in search of them.
Favourite place in the world and why?
Edinburgh, because it taught me every life lesson, good and bad, and is above all things a
beautiful city.
What are your hobbies?
Playing the banjo, cricket, fishing, messing about on boats, walking with Roo, collecting
insects, wood-carving, making puppets, sculptures on beaches, bad accordion playing and
other unmentionables.
If you hadn't been a writer, what do you think you would have been?
A cowboy.
