Misty the Magical Horse:
Where Wishes Go

About the Author: Phil Cardwell

Since my eldest boy Harry was born some 18 years ago, I spent most evenings reading to him as he settled down in bed. This was my quality time with him. We used to talk about the stories and add to the illustrations with our own imaginations. Reuben, my middle son, came in to the world some seven years later, swiftly followed by my youngest son Spike. Our imaginations never stopped. As well as reading wonderful books, we would each create stories, conjured up from all sorts of wild and wonderful thoughts. This quality bonding evolved from being just a bedtime storytelling activity to an ongoing fun filled anytime project. If we were going on a long journey in the car, we would make up a story. If we went for a walk in Macclesfield Forest, which we do most weekends, we would make up stories.

Back in 2010 I was lucky enough to be asked to join a crew to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Knowing that it would be difficult not seeing my boys for over eight weeks, including the preparation element, it was too much of a lifetime opportunity to pass up. Although the voyage was exhilarating and something which I will remember for the rest of my life, there was plenty of time to relax. So much so that I wrote Misty the Magical Horse during the three weeks we were at sea from Las Palmas to St Lucia.

When I showed the book to my family and friends, they were surprisingly encouraging. I approached Jenny Hamer, a friend of mine, to ask if she would like to create some illustrations. This is when the book really started to take shape. Once I had a sample cobbled together, I innocently thought a publishing agency would take it on. As the phrase goes “you know what thought did”, well it did. Knock back after knock back. However, with the support and energy from my boys I didn’t give up. For the past four years I saved up to self-publish the book, if anything, to be able to leave my boys something to remember me by when I’m long gone. And here we are, printed and ready to go. Well I won’t waffle on any more apart from to say, thank you ever so much in taking an interest in my work.