Ian B MacLeod – Music maker to author

Rockabilly Cowboy gallops into

new career as children's author

By SHIRLEY BROUN

'A DELIGHTFUL fantasy suitable for children of all ages,' was how book reviewer Ethel Witherspoon described singer/songwriter and musician Ian B MacLeod's first novel DARK HORSE MOUNTAIN.

Dark Horse Mountain: Horses and fantasy combine in this book by Ian B MacLeod.

She went on to say: "It is intriguing as talking horses, aliens and humans meet in various adventures. The story line keeps you wondering where it will take the reader next."

Dark Horse Mountain is English-born Rockabilly star Ian MacLeod's first book and is something that the seasoned performer, who admits to having a great love for horses dating back to the TV days of Roy Rogers and Trigger and The Lone Ranger and Silver ... dreamed of doing from an early age.

He was even preparing to one day write a book, having spent his first years out of school as an illustrator and also writing poetry.

"My first job was working at Chamberlain Signs and Displays where I made posters and marketing materials," said Ian.

A year later, he had joined the merchant Navy where another love ... of music ... saw him put together a band which eventually led to gigs on P&O Cruise ships.

Ian arrived in Australia in 1959 and the earlier ambition to write a book about his beloved horses took a back seat as he firmly established himself as one of the country's much-loved singer/songwriters, touring extensively and in 1975 starting his own record label `Bunyip' followed later by Rockabilly and Pinewood Labels.

"My life got caught up with shows and less and less with horses," said Ian.

He worked with the cream of country music artists in Australia including Rex Dallas and the late Smoky Dawson who also shared his love of horses having had his own famous palomino in `Flash'.

Ian, whose live show repertoire included tributes to America's 'King of Rockabilly' Carl Perkins quickly saw him build up a reputation for being Australia's Rockabilly Cowboy.

His seventh album, `Thank You, Mr. Perkins' ... a tribute to the man himself, attracted a personal reply from Carl Perkins which read: "I've listened to your album, man, I'm very impressed, it sounds great..."

During his now five decades in the entertainment industry, Ian has enjoyed many song-writing successes including his song `The Ellenborough Falls' reaching #1 on the Swedish Country Music Charts. He has also received many awards, among them being his induction into the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000.

Life on the road is less demanding these days, a fact which has enabled the music industry pioneer to once again turn his attention to his beloved horses and a long-term goal to write a book.

"The book came out of a thought I had one day about how lovely it would be to actually be able to talk to horses, then I thought about telepathy and how I could place a hand on the forehead of a horse to talk to them. I built the story around that and the result was DARK HORSE MOUNTAIN," said Ian.

The self-published book was completed last year and Ian received such great feedback that he is now seeking a major publisher to help meet demand.

He said the beautiful story would appeal to everyone from 7 upwards, especially if they love science fiction and horses.

From the peace and quiet of his Queensland Sunshine Coast semi-rural home, he has also penned a sequel called Dark Horse Mountain 2 to which he is currently putting the finishing touches and says he would love to see them made into a movie one day.

Known for his loving heart and good nature, Ian is also keen to raise enough money through the sale of his book to help the nearby Forest Glen Horse Rescue that was going through tough times.

"This wonderful operation has re-homed almost 25 horses during the past nine months and they need our help. I can't do a lot, but if I can sell some books, the profits can go towards saving more horses."

WIN A FREE COPY:

IAN HAS KINDLY PROVIDED ONE SIGNED COPY OF HIS FIRST FANTASY NOVEL `DARK HORSE MOUNTAIN' (VALUED AT $14.95) TO `ON WITH THE SHOW'. FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THIS SPECIAL GIVEAWAY, YOU SIMPLY NEED TO HAVE JOINED UP AS A MEMBER (STILL JUST $5/YEAR). WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER IN MAY 2020.

Please follow and like us: