Annie M. Wyatt is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book A Horse in the Castle. She also has written the picture book All Kinds of Castles. She lives in North Carolina.
Q: What inspired you to create A Horse in the Castle?
A: My son was the inspiration behind my first book, All Kinds of Castles. When he was just 2 years old, he would see the world through a magical lens, imagining everything as a castle—gas stations as castles for cars and barns as castles for horses.
His boundless imagination compelled me to bring these ideas to life on paper, leading to my latest book, A Horse in the Castle, which continues to explore that enchanting world.
Q: Did you work on the text first or the illustrations first--or both simultaneously?
A: Text first, and then illustrations, but I always knew the style I wanted to go with: simple black and white with highlights of watercolor.
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?
A: I hope children take away that anyone or anything can wear a crown and live in a castle of their own. Beyond that, I want them to see the beauty in animals, recognizing that they live lives just like us, full of kindness and approachability.
Q: You've written about castles before--how would you compare this book with your previous one?
A: The castle and crown theme is woven through both books, but the second, A Horse in the Castle, really dives in and educates the audience on a horse’s daily life.
While the first book spans from city life to the countryside, touching on many animals, A Horse in the Castle focuses more deeply on one.
The major difference with this book is that I did the illustrations myself, which was both incredibly exciting and a bit nerve-wracking as I introduced my art to readers for the first time.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’m focused on marketing to ensure A Horse in the Castle reaches and inspires as many children as possible. As a mother, I understand how impactful and magical reading time can be, and my greatest hope is that children who read the Of Castles stories will fall in love with them.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: A Horse in the Castle was inspired by time spent volunteering at Mitey Riders in Waxhaw, North Carolina. This organization helps children with physical and mental disabilities spend time with and ride horses. More information can be found at Miteyriders.org!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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