The much awaited third movie in the very popular Flicka franchise is out now and ready to ship!

All of the Flicka movies (including the original 1943 version starring Roddy McDowell) continually remain amongst my very best sellers and I'm sure this one won't be any different.


My Friend Flicka - Oringinal 1943 Version
Flicka - 2006 movie
Flicka 2: Friends Forever - 2010 movie
Flicka 1 and 2 movie double set
FLICKA 3: COUNTRY PRIDE - 2012 MOVIE

I have recently heard from Karen Wood, the terrific author of the Diamond Spirit book series for young adults, and asked her what to expect in her latest release BRUMBY MOUNTAIN plus what is coming in the future.

"I’m really excited about Brumby Mountain because I really think it’s the best DS I’ve written so far. It has Jess and Luke galloping around the mountains in the snow, saving wild horses. Like the first three books it has a strong sense of place and a connection to the land where the story is set. It also goes right back to Luke’s origins and takes him back to the small town where he was born. I travelled to some fantastic places to research the book and met some wonderful people who are involved in saving Australia’s wild horses. I’m really hoping that the book will raise awareness of the plight of brumbies, their true ancestry and how they have helped us build a nation. I also hope it will debunk popular beliefs and romantic notions about brumby running." KAREN WOOD

Karen has also mapped out a story for an as yet un-named sixth book in the series all about Grace's story, although it hasn't yet gained approval from the publisher. If they do give her a tough time over it, I think we should all get a partition going to show our support for this terrific series.

We may also get to see a new series in the future; this time aimed at a slightly older teenage audience.

Bring it on Karen ... I can't wait!

Book One - Diamond Spirit
Book Two - Moonstone Promise
Book Three - Opal Dreaming
Book Four - The Golden Stranger
NEW RELEASE
Book Five - Brumby Mountain

I've just found out that a there is a new Black Beauty series currently being developed by Australian movie legend George Miller.

This brilliant Aussie director, famous for international blockbusters such as the Mad Max movies and more recently Happy Feet, will be both writing and directing this new 26 part TV series. Black Beauty - The Next Chapter will be set in India in WW2, and is the story of a young girl and her magnificent black stallion.

Of course it's very early stages yet so it may never come to fruition, but it is exciting that such a big name in film is working on a horsy series.

I've also heard from another Aussie filmmker Warren Ryan who was so successful with his rodeo, bull-rider film A Hell of A Ride. He has another horsy film in the pipeline, but production is being delayed due to lack of funding. I believe this one was to be set in the world of Reining and the Western showring, which would be brilliant, so lets all keep everything crossed he is able to get it underway soon.

Filming has just wrapped up in France for the new movie based on the life of Olympic gold medal showjumper, Jappeloup de Luze and his rider Pierre Durand.

Jappeloup was a small black horse (barely 15.2 hands) who came to international fame when he beat the mightly Gem Twist to win gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Pierre Durand originally refused to ride The French Trotter, Thoroughbred cross as he was so small. Jappeloup spent the first few years of their partnership regularly dumping Pierre in the arena, most memorably at the 1984 Olympics when he galloped back to the stables bridleless, leaving Pierre to walk back on foot. Didn't something similar happen to Rupert Campbell-Black in Riders? I wonder if that's where Jilly got her inspiration from!

The film is starring French actor Guillaume Canet who also co-wrote the screenplay. Canet comes from a very horsy background and was himself a leading junior showjumper until a nasty fall forced him to change careers and become an actor.

The film is due to be released in 2013, but I haven't been able to find out if we will get it here in Australia yet. I guess it would be a foreign language movie although British actor Donald Sutherland has a role in the movie, so we might get lucky. I'll keep you posted as I find out more.

If you're in a mood for some good showjumping fiction then apart from the all-time classic of Riders by Jilly Cooper, try the new romance just out The Heart of the Valley by Cathryn Hein or the Australian high jump drama Foal's Bread by Gillian Mears.