An interview by a fellow equestrian author “Genevieve Mckay”

31/01/26 13:01

Welcome back, everyone, and Happy New Year!
I trust you've all made some solid resolutions to read more books and play with more ponies in 2026.
Today, I have an interview with international bestseller Hyunah Kim, author of the Vienna Calling series. Today, she's here to talk about art, travelling, and her book Dammi Mille Baci.
I'll also be revealing a new project, a brand-new cover, and sharing the link to the free short story, Storm Rider.
So stick around and have fun 😊

Thanks so much for joining us here today Hyunah!

Q: I know that your novels are largely inspired by your real-life adventures travelling the world. The descriptive settings in the first book in the Vienna Calling series, Dammi Mille Baci, are fantastic. Where is the most inspiring place you’ve ever travelled to?

A: Thank you so much for having me!

Of all the places I’ve visited, I would say the gentle green hills of Krems, where horses roam freely and graze in peace. This landscape became the main setting for my novels and the birthplace of Axel, the artist and horse whisperer. There’s something truly special about this place—it sparked my imagination and inspired me to write Rise to the Horizon and Dammi Mille Baci (Give Me a Thousand Kisses).

Beyond Krems, other places have left a lasting impression on me as well. South Africa, where the Big Five thrive in their natural habitat, was profoundly moving. I was also captivated by the magical Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand, and by Ostional Beach in Costa Rica, where I witnessed the extraordinary phenomenon of Arribada—thousands of sea turtles arriving simultaneously to lay their eggs.

Q: I have to ask, how many languages do you speak?

A: Hmm, let’s see. My mother tongue is Korean. I speak French and English fluently, and I know a bit of German from having lived in Vienna. I also speak some Italian, since my partner is Sicilian—so yes, I’ve picked up a few Sicilian dialects as well.
For the past few years, I’ve been learning Latin. Why study a “dead” language? Because Latin is the root of many European languages, learning it has given me a much deeper understanding of how modern languages originated and are used today. I also incorporate Latin texts into my books—translations included, of course.

Q: Have you always wanted to be a writer? What started you on that journey?

A: Books—reading and writing—have always been part of my life. My father was (and still is) a celebrated author in Korea, and I grew up watching him write for as long as I can remember. He passed away (from a natural cause) during COVID crisis, and I couldn’t even attend his funeral because I was in lockdown in France. That unbearable loss triggered something deep within me. Then one day, I began scribbling memories from my life in Vienna—how I met and fell in love with Axel, a painter and horse whisperer. Those pages eventually became my debut novel, Dammi Mille Baci.

Q: Paintings, sculpture, and classic literature have a really strong presence in your books. Do you think high-level horsemanship is another type of art form?

A: Oh yes, any type of performance is an expression in the form of art. Show jumping—It’s like dancing in harmony with horses, breathing as one piece of the body. At the same time, it really is a dialogue—two nerve-systems learning to trust each other at speed and height. When it works, it stops looking like “rider directing horse” and becomes something closer to chamber music: subtle signals, timing, shared intention.

What I love about your perspective is that you give the horse full artistic agency. The rider may shape the line, but the horse contributes judgment, courage, rhythm, and even interpretation. No two rounds are ever identical, just as no two performances of the same piece of music are.

At that level, confidence isn’t bravado—it’s calm clarity. The horse feels it instantly. Skill becomes invisible, and what remains is flow, breath, and balance. That’s where sport dissolves into art.

Q: Do you have a special horse in your life now? Have they made it into any of your books?

A: My journey as an author of equestrian fiction began in a rather unprecedented way. Although I have always been an ardent animal lover, I was not a horse rider—but I fell in love with one.

During an adventure as a fashion stylist, I traveled to Vienna. There, I met a Horse Whisperer—and I fell madly in love. That extraordinary encounter became a turning point in my life. Through him, I was introduced to a world where horses were not simply animals, but emotional anchors, teachers, and soul companions. It compelled me to write books inspired by his lifelong passion and profound bond with horses. What began as observation turned into devotion, and eventually into storytelling.

So, in answer to the question, “Do I have a special horse in my life now?” I would say Frühling—the mare Axel depicts as his soulmate. I saw her at his ranch in Krems, and she truly was a beauty. Gentle and wise, she was like a mother to Axel (his real mother left when he was only five), a best friend, and the kind of companionship no human could ever replace.

When Axel lost her, he was utterly broken. The grief was so profound that he temporarily lost his memory and fell into a state of amnesia. This was real, and it all found its way into my novels. And yes—Frühling lives on in every one of my books. She is not just a character—she is the emotional spine of the story.

Q: Are you working on any upcoming writing projects? Are there future books in the Vienna Calling series?

A: Yes, I have been working on a sequel to Rise to the Horizon since May. The novel will be titled Fly off the Horizon, and I am hoping to complete it in early 2026. There will be future books in the Vienna Calling series as well—but only after Fly off the Horizon is finished. Unlike some authors who can produce a new book every few months, I am a slow writer. I enjoy every step of the journey, allowing my imagination the time it needs to fully form into words.

Q: What advice would you give to people who would like to turn their passions, like art, writing, and travel, into a career?

A: Haha… that’s a question everyone dreams about, right? I believe there is no shortcut in such matters. You have to believe in yourself, never give up, and keep on dreaming—because a dream can only be realised if you dare to dream it first.

As an author, I believe the greatest privilege in this world is to use freedom of speech for those who have no voice—as Ricky Gervais once said. In that spirit, I often think that if horses had a voice, they would say they deserve a peaceful retirement after a lifetime of service: running, jumping, and carrying their owners until their legs finally give way. They would wish to spend the rest of their lives grazing and roaming freely in green fields, or perhaps helping autistic children, soldiers, or war veterans with PTSD—offering comfort and healing—instead of being sent to auctions and, tragically, sometimes ending up in the hands of meat buyers.

—If my books could reach those people who have the power to make this happen, I would be truly grateful.

Thank you so much!