Valerie Ormond's Thoughts On …

Writing Tips from Valerie Ormond

Tag: horses

  • Looking Back Through Books: Bold Characters and Bigger Goals

    A graphic featuring book covers of 'Fall of Giants' by Ken Follett, 'Sisters of Night and Fog' by Erika Robuck, 'Degrees of Intelligence' by Miranda Armstadt, and 'Undaunted Courage' by Stephen E. Ambrose, with a central caption 'Conviction-Driven Stories'.

    The new year is a good time to reflect on the last, and I prefer to look at the positive. I read and listened to more books than ever, which means I’m achieving one of my goals! Since my current work in progress is a historical fiction novel, I consider reading part of my homework.

    I curated ten of my recent favorites across a variety of genres but with similarities: strong characters fighting to support their countries and their beliefs.

    Historical Fiction

    Fall of Giants (The Century Trilogy #1) by Ken Follett

    Reading this led to books #2 and #3 in this series…a fascinating education told in riveting tales

    Sisters of Night and Fog by Erika Robuck

    Strong women fighting evil and seeking survival against all odds

    The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

    Three brilliant women from wildly different backgrounds solving the problems others couldn’t

    Degrees of Intelligence: A Geopolitical Thriller of WWII and the Cold War—Inspired by a True Story by Miranda Armstadt

    Politics, spies, and a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of the CIA

    The Sand Pounder: Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII by M.J. Evans

    What’s not to love about a young woman challenging the rules to serve her country?

    (Young adult historical fiction)

    History

    Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen E. Ambrose

    An eye-opening story of adventure, history and courage every American should read (or listen to)

    Operation Underworld: How the Mafia and U.S. Government Teamed Up to Win World War II by Matthew Black

    A true story that seems unbelievable—Naval Intelligence and the Mafia joining forces to help win WWII

    Mystery

    Welcome Home to Murder by Rosalie Spielman

    Female veteran returning home to find her family in danger in this cozy mystery

    Fatal Image: An Avery Sloane Mystery by Rhonda Lane

    An intriguing mystery including horses, veterans, and a slice of humor

    Fiction

    Playing Army by Nancy Stroer

    Will she race to the finish line or crash along the way?

    I hope you’ve enjoyed the list, and please feel free to add your own favorites in the comments.

  • Podcast Connections

    A vintage microphone in the foreground with a radio and headphones in the background.

    I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Rachann Ennis Mayer, owner and host of the Raising Connections Program. Rachann and I became fast friends, and I thank her for being such an excellent host and making the experience a fun one.

    To paraphrase Rachann, she focuses on Critters, Companions, Commerce, and Agriculture and raises the connections between them through casual conversations.

    Our conversation, titled Author, Valerie Ormond, aired on the Raising Connections Podcast at this link:
    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2069900/episodes/17103601

    If you want to learn more about the fascinating Rachann and listen to wide variety of past programs, please visit her website at https://raisingconnections.com. Thank you to my new friend and connection!

    Logo of the Raising Connections program featuring a gear symbol with wheat stalks, accompanied by the text 'RAISING CONNECTIONS' and the tagline 'Critters Companions Commerce Agriculture'.

  • My Irish Luck with Gaelic Storm

    In the spirit of March and a salute to the Irish, here is the story behind the music in my Believing In Horses book trailer.

    I LOVE Gaelic Storm’s music. Gaelic Storm is perhaps most famous for being the “band” in steerage in the movie Titanic. Their use of traditional Irish instruments including bagpipes, fiddle, and Irish drums combined with an upbeat rock flavor and lots of spirit make for a foot-stomping, heart-pounding sound like no other. When thinking about music to accompany my book trailer, the choice was easy: it HAD to be Gaelic Storm.

    So, with my public relations team of one (me), I reached out to the band by finding contact information on the web. I emailed people who might be able to help, told them my story, and asked if they could help an unknown author with a silly dream. I figured, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Before long, I received a phone call from Gaelic Storm’s manager, Matt, from Nashville, Tenn. More details back and forth; Matt’s discussion with the band; and voila, I had permission to use this world-famous band’s music in my trailer!

    The band’s one condition: a small donation on the band’s behalf to Maryland Therapeutic Riding (MTR) in Crownsville, Md. Gaelic Storm had shot their “Bring Yer Wellies” album cover at MTR and were fans of the organization.

    As my Irish luck would have it, I was thrilled to be contributing to MTR. Without spoiling the book, a therapeutic riding center is discussed in my book, and although I hadn’t written my second book yet, I knew I would be featuring the organization in Believing In Horses, Too. What a fantastic facility with a tremendous mission and phenomenal donors and volunteers! 

    Not long after my first book was published, Gaelic Storm played at Ram’s Head in Annapolis, and this was my first opportunity to see them perform live. After the show, I had a chance to personally thank a few of the band members, give them a copy of the book, and was again struck by their graciousness. The photo at the top is with Gaelic Storm’s beautiful, talented violinist at the time, Jessi Burns.

    Slainte! And now for the trailer….

  • Who’s That Indie Author?

    Thank you to Barb Vitelli for hosting me on her Book Club Mom site and introducting me to her followers and readers. I loved her questions

    Who’s That Indie Author? Valerie Ormand | Book Club Mom (wordpress.com)

  • Podcasts for Writers

    Podcasts for Writers

    As a writer, I’ve found podcasts to be an excellent way to learn from other writers – what works, and what doesn’t work. I enjoy watching YouTube videos, classes, and interviews, but there is something about listening to a podcast while working out, walking the dogs, or driving in my car that helps the information settle in my brain differently than watching and listening at the same time.

    One of my favorite podcasts is Carly Kade’s Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast, and I recommend this to writers all the time, and not just horse book authors. Carly’s guests include tips on writing routines, marketing, and more from authors of all genres, and she makes the sessions fun and supportive. Her favorite hashtag is #authorsunite.

    I’ve been fortunate to have been a featured guest twice including the most recent episode, “On Revisiting a Series, Awards & Dude Ranch Research Trips with Valerie Ormond.” I hope you will enjoy the show!

    Or, listen to the podcast via Carly’s website.

     Need some ideas for more podcasts for writers? Check out DailyWritingTips’ 8 Great Podcasts for Writers and Book Authors.

    If you have any thoughts about Carly’s podcast or recommendations for others, please leave a comment!