It’s been a while, but it’s finally #GuestDayTuesday again on The Write Stuff, and today, our special guest is Valerie Ormond. I know you are going to thoroughly enjoy her post, so without any further delay, I’m going to turn the floor over to her. Take it away, Valerie! 😀
Thank you, Marcia, for inviting me back to your blog with your fun and engaging group! One of the questions I’m most frequently asked is why I chose to write young adult (YA) fiction horse books given my military background. So I thought I would answer that question here in my Guest Post.
Why YA?
- When I retired from the Navy, I spent a lot of time at the barn with our horses. I noticed many girls at the “young adult” age losing their sense of self and succumbing to peer pressure. I was one of them not long ago, it seemed. I thought maybe, if I could reach one or two of them, I could make a small difference.
- Although my initial intent upon retirement was to retire and enjoy life, I realized I had learned so many valuable lessons that I could share with others. I decided to do it through a young adult book. This book later turned into two, and then three, and now, I’m working on the final book in the series.
- Some of my favorite books and young reading memories had been YA fiction books – the entire Nancy Drew series, Catcher in the Rye, The Outsiders, and YA horse books including Marguerite Henry’s iconic Misty of Chincoteague.
- A bonus benefit was that my brother was a career teacher for this age group. He not only helped me write to this age reader, but he also created a teacher’s guide to accompany my first book, Teacher’s Tack for Believing In Horses.
- Educators recognized the educational value of the Believing In Horses book by selecting an excerpt from it for the national Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) annual assessment. McGraw Hill’s Actively Learn platform and CommonLit’s nonprofit literacy organization also included reading passages and curriculum materials from Believing In Horses for their learning assignments. So this little colt got legs from the education community!
- FUN FACT: Although my books are categorized as YA, I believe many more adults have read them then young adults. I think many of us like to time travel back to those days, and of course I included a cool grandmother in my books based on my own.
Why Horses?
- I had a passion for horses from as long as I could remember with no true understanding of where that came from. I still can’t explain it, but it’s not unusual for horse people to have this affliction.
- I wrote what I knew, and at the time, I was immersed in the barn life and had plenty of characters, settings, and plot ideas to bring a story to life.
- I had a wonderful inspiration that I had to act upon. While buying the first horse I had purchased who was a young and untrained so I could start him on my own, a conversation ensued where the owner suggested what I had said would make a cute children’s book. The first book was born with that horse as the star.
- People say that horses are the eyes to the soul…for a reason.
- FUN FACT: The cover of Believing In Horses includes and almost imperceptible image of a young girl reflected in the horse’s eye. That is an old black-and-white photo of my mother-in-law when she was a young girl.
What about the Military?
- When I started outlining my story, I did my research on what other YA books were out there about military families. In 2009, there were surprisingly few. I wanted to change that.
- Having been a military granddaughter (both sides), daughter, niece, cousin, wife, and member of the military, I felt I had the credibility to write a story about a military family.
- Some of my happiest moments have been at school visits where a child will tell me that he or she understood more about what military families endure due to reading one of my books. That made it all worth it!
- Because of my military connection, I ended up becoming a member of the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA), which has awarded each of my books Gold Medals. I’ve also made lifelong friends through this organization and am now the Vice President. I encourage anyone who is in the military, a veteran, a family member, or interested in writing about the military to check out this welcoming organization.
- FUN FACT: I’ve met many military members, veterans, and family members through my writing and have had the opportunity to encourage them to tell their stories – whether through fiction, non-fiction, short stories, essays, or poetry. I’ve been thrilled to see people write words in workshops they have held inside for years and even have their work published for the first time. I’ve been fortunate to provide resources to those who had something to say but weren’t sure where to turn. This entire unexpected book writing journey has been a gift.
Thank you, Marcia, and as a thank you for letting me tell my story here, I have a free book promotion for the Kindle version of Believing In Horses from Tuesday, October 24 at 12:00 AM through Thursday, October 26 at 11:59 PM. Please stop by for your free copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Believing-Horses-Valerie-Ormond-ebook/dp/B086BTVPC7/
Book Trailer
Believing In Horses book trailer: https://youtu.be/QvA-HcQz7ak
Book Blurb
First the move to Maryland. Then Dad’s deployment to Afghanistan. Sadie is in trouble. Then she gets Lucky, a new, young horse who proves to be a handful. But that’s just the beginning. Together they encounter horse thieves, Maryland storms, and unwanted horses destined for auction and uncertain futures.Sadie makes it her personal mission to save the horses. Along the way, she meets other people who are dedicated to rescuing horses. She also learns some people in the horse industry are driven by greed. And she’s only twelve.
Author Valerie Ormond
Valerie Ormond retired after a 25-year career as a naval intelligence officer and launched her second career as a writer. She is the author of three award-winning young adult fiction books in the Believing In Horses series – Believing In Horses, Believing In Horses, Too, and Believing In Horses Out West. Her books have been called inspirational and motivational and share stories of today’s youth making a difference when focused on their passions. Valerie’s fiction and non-fiction stories, articles, and poetry appear in books, magazines, newspapers, and blogs worldwide. She owns and manages Veteran Writing Services, LLC, working primarily for defense contractors. She lives happily in Maryland with her husband and their three horses and one spoiled dog. For more information, please see her website: www.BelievingInHorses.com.
Buy Links
Believing In Horses: https://www.amazon.com/Believing-Horses-Valerie-Ormond/dp/0973633026/
Believing In Horses, Too: https://www.amazon.com/Believing-Horses-Too-Valerie-Ormond/dp/0973633042/
Believing In Horses Out West Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Believing-Horses-West-Valerie-Ormond/dp/0985187417
Buy Books – Believing In Horses(Author website for personally inscribed copies)
Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.com/author/valerieormond
Social Media links
Blog: https://valerieormond.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BelievingInHorses/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/believeinhorses
Goodreads: goodreads.com/ValerieOrmondAuthor
Contact Info
Email: valerie@believinginhorses.com
Website: www.BelievingInHorses.com
The Write Stuff 
Fabulous guest post. Interesting about having a passion for horses and yet not knowing where the passion comes from. Life is funny that way.
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I agree, Vera, and thanks so much for taking a moment to comment, too. (Sorry I left such a long gap before the Comments section starts, but I’ve corrected that now.) Valerie definitely has a passion for horses (and writing), even if she isn’t sure where it comes from. Glad you enjoyed her post! 😀 ❤
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Hi Marcia, and thank you for having me! I know you have many passions, and I’ve had the pleasure of reading your books where you share your background in those passions and help paint pictures for readers in scenes. It is a gift.
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Thank you, Vera, and I think many of us have passions that are inborn. Let’s hope we all have the opportunity to discover them!
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I enjoyed Valerie’s post very much. As a long time horse owner I can attest to the goodness in these wonderful animals. Our daughter became obsessed with horses at age five. We finally bought our first pony after we were sure she had acquired the skill to handle her (Many lessons and barn membership). Next came a warm blood for shows and then finally a beautiful boy named Calvin Star who made 5ft fences look like childs play. All told, 20 years of joy. I credit the sport with the development of a self-assured, well-rounded, and happy adult. Thanks for featuring Valerie today, Marcia. Congratulations to her on her writing success and a big thank you for her service.
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Hi John, and thank you for sharing that positive story – it sounds like a book in the making! I think many people don’t understand the part where you speak about horses building self-assurance and responsibility. It’s not always a picnic, and horse owners and riders learn to accept the ups along with the downs. The writing has been fun, and I was happy to be able to serve.
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😊
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I love horses too. I always wanted one, but Santa never brought it. Your book sounds inspirational, and congratulations on its success!
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He wouldn’t leave one for me, either, Sharon, I suspect living in a basement maisonette with a small shared garden may have had something to do with it! 🤣
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We lived in a suburban neighborhood, so I suppose it would have been impractical.
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Thank you, Sharon, and I asked for a pony from Santa for fourteen years before he finally brought my first leased horse. Before then, I read every horse book I could find to live vicariously through the pages. Maybe it was early research that I wouldn’t realize would pay off later!
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Fascinating background and great to be able to do something to help that fragile self-worth of young teens. Fascinating to think that your mother-in-law is reflected in the eye of that magnificent beast. Many thanks, Marcia, for this introduction to Valerie. ❤
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Hi Trish, and thank you for recognizing that difficult time for young teenagers. And they are growing up even faster these days! It is rewarding to hear from younger folks when they say that something in one of my books inspired them to do something good. But I don’t credit my writing; it’s the horses speaking through me to them. 🙂
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I remember reading “Black Beauty” and “The Black Stallion” when growing up. I loved them. My daughter loved them. Horses are so endearing and it comes through in prose. Young adults want these books and it’s wonderful you have given them an additional learning experience about military families. Thank you, Valerie. And thank you, Marcia for sharing Valerie and her books on your blog!
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Hi Nancy, I think it’s fascinating how “Black Beauty” and “The Black Stallion” books have endured the test of time. There are so many interesting facts about both, and I recently came across this website that showed the breadth of the books in the Black Stallion series: https://theblackstallion.com/web/books/the-series/. I am happy to share the military experience, particularly with young folks who may not have had any exposure. I appreciate your comment!
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Thank you for sharing the “Black Stallion” website, Valerie. I have a granddaughter who will soon be reading every horse book known to man. 🙂
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You are welcome, Nancy, and I hope she may enjoy the Believing In Horses series!
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Thank you so much for sharing, Marcia and Valerie. I so enjoyed reading your post and your fun facts! I’ve had a passion for horses from birth and likewise, have no idea where it came from. My parents don’t even like animals!
Misty of Chincoteague was my youth. Reading and horses, what could be better?!
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You are welcome, and we are born with it! I am so happy to see current interest in Marguerite Henry and her Misty and other books. The classics keep galloping on. Thank you for stopping by!
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Great interview! I always had that passion for horses too. At one point we cleared an area to put a barn to get a horse, but life got in the way. Thank you for the free book, I look forward to reading it soon 🙂
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Thank you, D.L., and you are welcome. It’s not too late for a horse now!
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No, it’s not!
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I enjoyed learning more about Valerie and her wonderful books. Horses are such special creatures.
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Thank you, Darlene, and yes horses are special – “eyes to the soul,” they say.
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A lovely post from Valerie. It was fun to learn about how her book came to be, and what she hoped it would accomplish. The cover of the horse with that special reflection in its eye is gorgeous. Thanks for featuring Valerie today, Marcia.
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Thank you, Diana – and another fun fact – the horse on that cover is our real life horse Lucky. 🙂
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😀
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How wonderful to meet Valerie here today. I love her dedication to writing stories that can help young people find their way through the maze of growing up. And I can’t think of a better way to share those stories than through horses. Thanks, Marcia!
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Thank you, Jan, and horses can be wonderful teachers in many ways, particularly in teaching patience.
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Wonderful post, Marcia. I’ve several competitive horse riders in my extended family. Their love for their horses has always entranced me. I used to ride when I was in high school, but since then, I simply admire them from afar. Living outside Prescott, I see them daily. I’m delighted to meet Valerie and wish her all the best. Her covers are extraordinary. ❤️
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Thank you, Gwen, and nice that you get to see horses daily. I’m looking out my office window now and can see the horses grazing across the fenceline – a peaceful sight. Thank you for stopping by!
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