Please welcome author Valerie Ormond to Jemsbooks.blog Interview an Author. It’s a pleasure to have you here, Valerie. Thank you so much for coming today to share your books and a little bit about yourself with me and my readers.

Please tell us something about yourself.

I’m a retired Naval officer, which some people find surprising. I spent 25 years in the Navy before I began my writing career. One of the reasons I wrote about a girl in a military family is because there were so few books ten years ago that included military families. I’m happy to say that trend has changed, but I can’t give myself credit for that upward swing. Independent publishing has allowed so many people to share their stories, and I see that as such a positive direction.

Jjspina: Thank you for your service, Valerie, and also for your ingenuity. I agree, Indie publishing has allowed us to share our stories.

What process do you need in order to write?

I’m an outliner, but I also allow myself to go off the outline when my story starts telling itself. I try to write freely and not worry so much about the adjectives and descriptions and improve on that during the editing stage. I try not to let a single word or thought stop me in my tracks. I make schedules and target dates for completion to stay on track.

jjspina: Good for you. You certainly are disciplined.

What is your target audience for your book?

My target audience for my latest book is anyone who has ever wanted an adventure to a dude ranch. I write for a young audience, age ten and up, but I’ve found over the course of my three books that I have more adult readers than youth. I think many of us like to escape back to a time when we had fewer cares in the world.

Jjspina: Yes, I agree. Adults do like to escape just as children do.

Please share your books with us and a synopsis of each.

Believing In Horses Out West

Sadie Navarro rescued a mare from an auction accomplishing what she thought was the most important mission of her young life.

Now, that mare is headed to a ranch in Montana and a home Sadie knows nothing about.

She wants to make sure the horse is in good hands, but Montana is far away and a different world from Maryland. 

Will fourteen-year-old Sadie need to stand up to rugged cowboys to protect her special rescue horse?

Believing In Horses, Too

Every day, thirteen-year-old Sadie lives in fear about her father serving in Afghanistan. She turns to her love of horses to help her cope and commits to showing at the largest local horse show and volunteering for therapeutic riding programs. 

It seems like the perfect plan, until one of the therapy programs provides unexpected challenges. 

Then, her inexperienced horse and an unwelcome show ring rival threaten her chances at her first horse show. Sadie wants to make her father proud. She wants to help others. 

But will she find the courage to overcome her fears?

Believing In Horses

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.

Please share your links and where to purchase your books.

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.com: Believing In Horses Out West: 9780985187415: Ormond, Valerie: Books

Believing In Horses Website: https://believinginhorses.com/buy-books/

What advice would you give prospective authors?

Write because you want to write, and you have something to say. And don’t compare yourself to others; everyone has his or her unique voice and talents.

jjspina: Excellent advice, Valerie.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Although my books are in a series, they all stand alone. So if a reader is interested in virtually visiting a ranch, he or she could read Believing In Horses Out West without having to have read the first two books. I wrote them this way since each book’s topic is slightly different, and not everyone is interested in the same subjects.

jjspina: I enjoyed your newest book, Believing in Horses Out West, even if I did not read the other two. I would like to go back and read the other two another time though.

Here are Valerie’s books and their blurbs.

In this standalone sequel to Believing In Horses, strong-willed protagonist Sadie Navarro faces new challenges with both horses and people. Filled with action, intrigue, and heart, this young adult novel delivers an unforgettable story about the power of finding strength through experience and reflection.

Every day, thirteen-year-old Sadie lives in fear about her father serving in Afghanistan. She turns to her love of horses to help her cope and commits to showing at the largest local horse show and volunteering for therapeutic riding programs.

It seems like the perfect plan, until one of the therapy programs provides unexpected challenges. Then, her inexperienced horse and an unwelcome show ring rival threaten her chances at her first horse show.
Sadie wants to make her father proud. She wants to help others. But will she find the courage to overcome her fears?

Sensitive, thoughtful, relevant, and moving, Believing In Horses, Too is award-winning-author Valerie Ormond’s second insightful book exploring military family life and challenges faced by many of today’s youth.

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.

Sadie Navarro rescued a mare from an auction accomplishing what she thought was the most important mission of her young life.

Now, that mare is headed to a ranch in Montana and a home Sadie knows nothing about.

She wants to make sure the horse is in good hands, but Montana is far away and a different world from Maryland.

Will fourteen-year-old Sadie need to stand up to rugged cowboys to protect her special rescue horse?

Here is my review of this book:

Believing in Horses Out West is a story about a surprisingly strong and resilient young girl of 14, Sadie Navarro. She has done some amazing things in her short life by saving horses and relocating them to new homes.

Sadie travels to Montana to the ranch to check on the most recent horse she saved, Sunny. She wants to make sure that Sunny is safe and happy in his new home. What she finds there in this horse ranch is varied. She traveled with her mother, father, brother and grandmother under the auspices of having a good time riding and taking part in different activities led by the ranch hands.

She meets the main ranch hand, Luke, who doesn’t like her right away. She feels uncomfortable in his presence and doesn’t know why. Some interesting things happen and Sadie is thrust into the midst of some dangerous activities.

The author has created an interesting story about horses with a mystery blending into the tale. This is a book that all horse lovers will want to read. Even though I am not at all an equestrian I thoroughly enjoyed tVhe story.

Here are Valerie’s links:

Purchase links: Amazon.com: Valerie Ormond: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

http://believinginhorses.com/buy_books

Links to blog & website

Blog: Valerie Ormond’s Thoughts On… – Writing – Sharing Tips

Website: Home – Believing In Horses

Links to social media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BelievingInHorses/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/believeinhorses
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerieormond/

Goodreads: goodreads.com/ValerieOrmondAuthor

YouTube: Valerie Ormond on HorseGirlTV – YouTube

Believing In Horses Book Trailer

Thank you so much, Valerie, for visiting my blog today. It was a sincere pleasure to learn more about you and your books. Please come back again when you have another book to share with me and my readers.

Thank you, readers, for stopping by to read this post. I hope you enjoyed learning about Valerie Ormond and her interesting books. Please check them out on her links above. Happy Reading!

Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!

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Janice Spina aka J.E. Spina

Award-Winning Author

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