By: Anthony Sansom

Summary

So what is the job of a writer? Is it to invent the story in its entirety, word by carefully planned word of its studied construction? Or is it nothing more than to order and present the inspiration that comes from somewhere unknown – after trying to keep up while writing it down? This question I ask myself now, and in answer cannot escape the conclusion: that there was more to the writing of the Thirsty Horse than came from my mind alone. But then, perhaps the journey of the writer was ever to find his muse and to commune, which surely works best when the harmony sounds well between the two - and so it was we, I believe, who wrote this book.

Personally I thought it was a story just for children that I had set out to write, and certainly the first chapter reads well as such. But finally, I believe, it is a work that may be read with pleasure by adult and child alike, since my muse had this plan for the book - and what choice had I but to follow suit.

Then as the writing began to count the pages I saw my central character grow quickly in maturity while the story unfolded ever more profound before me. Until I was forced to accept the situation for what it was: to let the hero develop with the telling of his tale, and the style of writing evolve with it too. While I was also obliged, lest you should wonder at the end of the story, to ascribe its narration to a character within its compass rather than to myself.

The Thirsty Horse of Mongolia is very much a work of inspiration and my several muses in fact, for that is how I understand it, were the spirits of Mongolia whose paths I crossed while I travelled in that land. Of course I am far too much a westerner to claim that these spirits actually appeared before me or spoke to me in magical disembodied voices. Yet such as my experiences were, it would not be so far from the truth if I claimed even this. So saying, I would like to communicate to you, the esteemed and valued reader of this book, something of how these spirits called upon me to write it. And for this reason, it is, that I have included within these pages some words and images from those episodes of my life that were most instrumental in bringing that inspiration to my mind.

About the Author

Anthony Sansom was born in 1957 in Bangor, North Wales. He spent his childhood in the remote fastness of Northern Scotland, and then moved down to Portsmouth on the south coast of England as a teenager.

With a professional background in the construction industry, he has travelled extensively, particularly in the Middle East, and currently lives in South Korea.

He made his first visit to Mongolia in August of 2000 and found the country and its people to be “very much in harmony with my soul.” So inspired, he came back for the second time just a few months later and made an amateur video which he entitled “No Fear of Wolves” and sold copies of it to raise money for the National Children’s Committee in Mongolia. Two years later, and after several more visits back, he finally travelled as far as Hovd in the remote Altai Mountains in the west of the country (picture).

During these several trips he found the inspiration to write his second book: the story of a horse that became a boy and set out to journey upon the Great Earth Beneath the Stars in each of the secret of life.

A dynamic and driven personality with a love of people and passion for life, Anthony is very pleased that his book “The Thirsty Horse of Mongolia” is now achieved and on sale after a fabulous amount of hard work. But there is no time to rest, with a whole host of other books, videos, and even films currently waiting in the wings. Continuing with his interests in Mongolia, he is also working closely with his friends there to develop the initiative that was begun with the writing of his book.

So the art competition becomes an international festival of competitions and events including writing, art, drama and music. While Anthony is also working too to facilitate cheaper access and better possibilities for anyone who wishes to visit Mongolia and enjoy the adventure of this uniquely beautiful and fabled land.