Author: valerieormond

Writer - please also visit my Believing In Horses website to learn more about my books at http://believinginhorses.com/

Author Survey Says…

I’m sharing this article from my friends at Written Word Media because I found the data interesting. I hope you do, too:

Every year, we survey the indie author community to discover and share the latest information on how authors are doing.

This year we had over 2,000 respondents to our survey! This is our biggest sample ever, and gives us a better understanding of how authors as a whole are doing. Thank you to everyone who participated.

Whether you’re an aspiring author seeking insights, or an industry veteran curious about the trends shaping independent publishing, this comprehensive analysis will provide an overview of how authors are working in 2023.

Keep reading or click below to jump to a section and see what we learned!

Survey Results: The State of Indie Authorship

Why I Write What I Write

Thank you to prolific author and blogger Marcia Meara for inviting me as a featured author for #GuestDayTuesday on The Write Stuff blog. It was like when your teacher assigned a creative writing topic and said, “Pick what you want.” I decided to answer a question I’m frequently asked about my writing; why do I write what I write? I hope you enjoy the post.

#GuestDayTuesday | The Write Stuff (marciamearawrites.com)

FACES OF MWSA (Military Writers Society of America) Annual Conference

FACES OF MWSA (Military Writers Society of America) Annual Conf. (kathleenmrodgers.com)

I returned from the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) Annual Conference this week energized and was happy to see my writer friend Kathy Rodgers had prepared this wonderful blog post on the same event. So, I share Kathy’s post with you…and her pictures and story are way better than mine.

Sharing Books with Readers

Today I had the pleasure of sending 24 courtesy copies of my latest novel, Believing In Horses Out West, to Maryland’s library systems. The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) awarded me a grant to share my books with residents to help educate readers about horse rescue, natural horsemanship, and trail riding.

In Believing In Horses Out West, young Sadie Navarro ventures from Maryland to a dude ranch in Montana to make sure a horse she rescued is safe. While there, she learns about ranch life, unravels a mystery, and returns home with revelations about her life’s purpose.

I am proud to include information in this book about Maryland’s wonderful horse-related organizations including Freedom Hill Horse Rescue, Maryland Therapeutic Riding, Maryland High School Rodeo Association, and more.

MHIB’s Executive Director Ross Peddicord and the board have been instrumental in recognizing equine-related arts including hosting EQUUS Film and Arts Festival events, promoting Maryland-based film productions, and supporting local authors and artists.

Thank you to the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the MHIB for your support and allowing me to share my books with readers across the state!

Sharing Nathan Bransford’s Wisdom

For instance, in the opening chapter of my most recent novel, I describe a minor character like this: “Mary was wearing a deep purple jumpsuit that seemed a bit festive for a funeral.” ~Nathan Bransford

I’ve been reading and following Nathan Bransford for years and wanted to share the blog post below because I connected immediately with what he was saying by the one example he used from his recent novel. I look forward to applying this tip in my writing.

When describing characters, think more about capturing presence than details – Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing