The True Story Behind Molly’s Secret

I first met Amy, the real sheepdog behind Molly, in June 2018. She was a small black-and-white Australian Shepherd who lived an idyllic life high in the Austrian Alps. Amy loved people and animals, yet she carried a surprising fear – she was afraid of sheep.

She shared her home with an enormous horse called Paul, who often worked with humans to help them overcome challenges. These horses were part of a remarkable programme that helped people develop leadership skills through non-verbal communication. Across the world there are many groups like this, showing how much we can learn from animals – whether we are children, adults, athletes or company directors. Their quiet power is immense.

I once joined Amy for a walk. She moved with such confidence – along pathways, across roads and leaping fences into Alpine meadows. Later her family shared her secret: Amy was afraid of sheep. She loved everything else, yet the very animals she was bred to herd filled her with fear. I began to wonder what life might be like for a sheepdog who carried such a secret. Who would help her? The answer seemed obvious – surely it would be one of the horses, the largest and kindest of them all, Paul. Amy was never afraid of him.

From that spark a story began to grow. On the journey home I sketched the tale of Amy and Paul, who later became Molly and Prince. When I shared it with others, especially children, they found it funny but also inspiring. We all have fears – some small, some that seem enormous – and with the help of friends and family we can learn to face them. Even the fears that feel most irrational can be overcome.

So while Molly’s Secret is make-believe, it is rooted in a truth that touches every one of us. Fear is part of being alive. It is not limited by age. Yet so too is courage – and with kindness and support, we can always find a way to grow braver.

That is why I dedicated this book to Amy, the sheepdog who just needed a little help to be brave.

So Amy’s courage lives on in Molly – and in every reader who dares to take one small step towards bravery. Her story may be make-believe, but it leaves space for many more to be told.