When I started writing A Difficult Boy, I didn’t have a sequel in mind. But as I was editing the first book, I realized Daniel’s story wasn’t finished. I kept wondering what he would do and how he would manage in the world, especially since he’d spent most of his life being told what to do. So I thought he might look for Mr. Stocking, the peddler from the first book, for advice.
Because Daniel is a natural horse whisperer, I knew he would want to do something with horses, and I at first thought he might get involved with an Army cavalry unit, but that didn’t feel right to me. I began thinking about what other jobs might involve horses, and the circus seemed like a natural fit. It also provided lots of opportunities to create interesting characters and situations.