Olivia Tuffin

The Secrets of Wild Hill: Lottie's Dream

About Author

Olivia Tuffin joins ReadingZone to talk about The Secret of Wild Hill: Lottie's Dream, the first in her exciting new series about horses, dreams - and deadly family secrets . . .

Olivia lives on an arable farm in Dorset with her farmer husband, their children, and an assortment of ponies, dogs, pet sheep and chickens. She never outgrew the pony-mad stage and her favourite thing to do is to ride off for hours into the countryside.

She's always loved writing and her own ponies and their funny antics provide inspiration for her stories every day.

Interview

January 2026

Olivia Tuffin introduces her new series for horse-mad readers, The Secrets of Wild Hill

Pony adventures and family secrets entwine in Olivia Tuffin's exciting new series, The Secrets of Wild Hill, which begins with Lottie's Dream. The author's passion for horses and love of mysteries guarantee a page-turning adventure for those aged nine years plus - and especially for those horse-mad young readers out there!

ReadingZone Review: "An absolute must for readers who love a real-life adventure story with an animal focus, especially if they particularly like horses." Read a chapter from Lottie's Dream

Q&A with Olivia Tuffin: Horses, mystery and adventure in The Secrets of Wild Hill: Lottie's Dream

"I love writing about characters who have their pony at the centre of their universe, who take on
all the trials and tribulations that come with horses."

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself - what brought you into writing for children and the kinds of stories you enjoy writing? What have been your writing highlights so far?

I'm a farmer's wife, mother of two children and the keeper of many, many animals! As cliché as it sounds, I have always loved writing and thinking up stories, and wanted to write the kind of stories I loved as a child. I write pony books, and only pony books, because that is all I want to write, and read!

I think every letter I receive from a reader is a highlight because writing can be a lonely thing, and then suddenly you get a letter! They come from readers all over the world, telling you how much a book has been enjoyed, or from a mum telling me that one of my books had finally got her daughter into reading. It means so much!

2. What happens in your new book, The Secrets of Wild Hill: Lottie's Dream, and what do you have planned for the series?

I had carried a story around in my head for ages, of two rival yards with a feud going back generations. Lottie, my main character, is the granddaughter of Annie and William, owners of Wild Hill. Her older brother Harry, a showjumper, comes back to England to run the yard (reluctantly) after William has an accident, and her parents aren't interested at all and want Wild Hill sold.

Lottie becomes friendly with Felix, grandson of the cruel and ruthless Ralph, a horse trainer next door, who is out for revenge. Lottie and Annie come up with a plan together to save Wild Hill which is in financial peril, with the help of Patch, Lottie's talented, but wild pony.

There are lots of secrets and lots of drama, and lots of things still to be revealed in the series as Lottie aims to get to the Badminton Grassroots final with the odds stacked against her.

3. Your stories feature characters who are passionate about horses. What do you enjoy exploring in these characters who share your passion?

I think young people who love horses have a special sort of dedication about them. There is nothing like a pony-mad child! I love writing about characters who have their pony at the centre of their universe, who take on all the trials and tribulations that come with horses, because as those who are involved with horses know, they are great levellers; you can be top of your game one day and then right at the bottom the next.

I've loved horses since I was small, I was the quintessential pony-mad child. I would say most of my readers are horse-mad, too, but I do also want to give them a really good story.

4. Would you also encourage young writers to focus their stories on things they know and care about?

Absolutely - only then can your words carry authenticity, because you know the world you are writing about. When I do workshops, I talk about how the little things are the big things. Only horse kids know that special tack room smell, or the feel of leather reins, or the nerves before a show, and those little details enrich a story.

When I first submitted my very first draft to Nosy Crow, it was full of terrible spelling and grammar mistakes, but I always remember my editor saying that could be fixed; it was the heart of the story that was important, and the passion in the words.

5. Why did you decide to put two warring families with hidden secrets at the heart of The Secrets of Wild Hill series?

I had a spark of an idea years ago, a possible murder-or-was-it type situation and wanted to weave it in somehow. I LOVE writing about complex families and yards and horses and all the dramas that go with it, so I liked the idea of unfolding several secrets over a series rather than all in one book.

Wild Hill and Highgrove Acres have a little bit of Capulet and Montague about them (only no romance here!) and I also liked the ideas of skeletons in the closet on BOTH sides. It made it a little more complicated; this is my first book with a family tree!

6. Can you tell us more about your main character, Lottie, and the kinds of challenges she faces through the novel?

Lottie is great. She is stubborn, determined, a bit naughty, utterly driven and slightly naïve. She is also kind, bright, and brave. She adores Wild Hill and all its heritage and history and would do anything to save it. Lottie faces all sorts of challenges as she aims to qualify Patch at Badminton, from fitting in at Pony Club, to her first events, and losing the home, and the pony, she loves.

7. Is the setting for The Secrets of Wild Hill, a struggling family-run business, based on a specific place? How do you plan your settings?

I'm not really sure how I plan my settings, it sounds simple, but when I think of the story, I imagine the place so clearly it just couldn't be anywhere else. Wild Hill is a mix of places set around the Quantock or Exmoor hills, but also near the coast.

8. Horse riding is often seen as an elitist sport, but your characters face financial hardship in reaching for their dreams. Why did you want to explore this other side of horse riding?

There are a lot of houses like Wild Hill, asset rich but extremely cash poor, struggling to survive. It's more than the money for Lottie and Annie; it's their home, their heritage.

Horse riding at the top levels, can be an elitist sport but honestly, I'd say most of the riders at grassroots level are giving up a lot to afford a horse, and a lot of yards are facing financial turmoil as costs rise for hay, feed, vet bills etc. I think Wild Hill is the more realistic side of horses.

9. Do you prefer to be out and about with horses when you're planning and writing your novels? What puts in you in the right head space for writing?

Most of my horse time is with my children, watching them ride and compete. They are great muses and when we are out and about, I'm a real people watcher, especially at shows, gathering little snippets. I mostly think about my plots on the school run though!

I'd say my perfect writing time is 10-1: children at school, an hour to potter doing the animal jobs, then hot coffee and at my desk. I write best in short bursts; I sort of have to do that with a million animals and two children!

10. Would you want to live somewhere like Wild Hill? What kinds of adventures make you happiest in read life?

Oh, I'd love to live at Wild Hill (so long as the roof had been mended), I love old romantic buildings with all sorts of nooks and crannies and lovely stone outbuildings with meadows, woods and fallen trees to jump.

As for adventures - to be honest, I'm not very adventurous, I'm just happy making a flask of something hot and walking miles whilst my children canter up ahead and wait for me at the top of a hill. Rosy-cheeked children, fresh air and ponies - nothing better.

Creative Challenge: How would you encourage a young writer to start developing a story based on their own passion or interest?

I would start by thinking up the main character first. Really get to know them! Think up three great things about your character, and three not so great things. Then think about a challenge you'd like them to overcome. There - the very bare bones of a story!

Now, it's very easy for me to say, and I have to take my own advice - but write. Get the words down. Once they are on the page, you can start moving them around and making the story come to life. But start with a main character and one challenge, and see where that take you!

For example, I thought up Lottie. I knew she was brave but she is also a bit naïve. I know she is kind but she can be a bit naughty, defying her parents. For her challenge, I want her to try and qualify Patch for the Badminton Grassroots, against all the odds. And suddenly I have a spark, the very first building bricks of my story!

Also by Olivia Tuffin:

The Horse Who Danced by Olivia Tuffin (Nosy Crow): If you're looking for a great mystery adventure - and have a passion for horses - you will love Olivia Tuffin's The Horse Who Danced, which follows a family business in trouble, and a young rider with her very special horse. Read a Chapter from The Horse Who Danced and find out more from the author in this short video:

The Horse Who Came Home by Olivia Tuffin (Nosy Crow): This is a heartwarming story about one girl's fight for justice, the truth that lies behind social media, and the special bonds that riders forge with their horses. Read a Chapter from The Horse Who Came Home and find out more from the author and enjoy a short reading in this video:

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