Derina McLaughlin was at a loss after a severe car accident hospitalised her eldest son and she was forced to stop working.
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She waved goodbye to her career of award-winning script writing, although she didn't give up writing completely.
It was another writer who told the small pony stud owner at the time, to write children's horse books.
The words of encouragement stuck with Ms McLaughlin and with Cameron facing a permanent brain injury from the accident, the book meant she could continue to work while providing care.
It also became a way to share family stories, with Cameron and Heath, Ms McLaughlin's eldest son, brought up showing horses, as well as the history of her local area, Murrumbateman and Yass.
The Brumby of Summerhill Park tells the story of a young sister and brother, Alexia and Brad, who travel to the Snowy Mountains and rescue a starving brumby they name Prince of the Brumbies.
Alexia decides to train Prince for the annual Stockman's Bush Race - once a real race that raised money for Murrumbateman's fire brigade - over the village's old gold fields.
However, the task proves harder than Alexia first thought.
Ms McLaughlin was inspired by the history of Yass and Murrumbateman and even rode over the old gold fields with Heath to find information and inspiration for the book.
"We got to go past entrances to old gold mines. We were shown the old salt licks needed for stock. We went through the property where the Chinese market gardens were held," Ms McLaughlin said.
The story of the Australian Light Horse that camped in Murrumbateman is also mentioned in the book.
Before the illustrated book was published, the manuscript won an award from the Children's Book Council of Australia NSW branch.
"It teaches kids good things can happen in life even if it's not exactly how you expected it to turn out," Ms McLaughlin said.
"Kids get depressed but they don't know why. [In the book], Alexia thinks shes not good enough to train the brumby and win the race."
Ms McLaughlin said the characters and stories are based on her children and her friend's daughter.
"There's a lot of imagination in there but they are all things that have happened," she said.
"There also a bit of my own parenting in there."
Today, her eldest son Cameron lives happily with some support. Ms McLaughlin said he chose not to let the accident stop him from a bright future.
"Cameron can't work but he volunteers. He does talks to children about how to find the good when something unexpected happens. He would say that you still have to achieve and make the best out of what happens," Ms McLaughlin said.
The publisher, Austin Macauley, has committed to a series if The Brumby of Summerhill Park is a success.
"The second book is about kids trying to qualify horses for Sydney Royal in the drought and will continue to be set in the area but will also cover Crookwell and Adelong," Ms McLaughlin said.
"Another book, probably the third, will go into the bush ranger history of Yass and Murrumbateman and Banjo Patterson considering his connection to the area.
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"Carey's Cave at Wee Jasper will also feature in a book."
The Brumby of Summerhill Park can be purchased in Australia through Booktopia, which uses Australia Post, and Amazon.
It's also sold in the UK and America.
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