Saddle up for Tuesday Talk with pony-story writer Susan Count

Susan Count writes at an antique secretary desk which belonged to the same grandmother who introduced her to horse books as a child. Today, she shares her love of horses through the pages of her award-winning Dream Horse Adventures series... and is a welcome guest here on Tuesday Talk. 

Susan, where did you grow up? 

I’m proud to say I am the daughter of a career Army officer. We moved every nine months except for one assignment in Hawaii. Transferring schools in the middle of terms meant being constantly disoriented and translated to only having superficial friendships of convenience. But the lifestyle galvanized me with tremendous strength and confidence to take on unknown challenges. I think the experience gives depth to my stories.

Did you read a lot as a child? 

My father was twice deployed to a war zone and left the family in his hometown—Falls Village, Connecticut. His mother, Charlotte Dann Count worked as a librarian there. She recognized in me a love for horses and supplied me with the classic horse books. It wasn’t that I loved to read as much as I wanted to experience a life with a horse and the only way that could happen was in a book. 

What were some of your favorite authors and books? 

Anything horse. Black Beauty, The Black Stallion, Misty. And Saturday morning television fed my equine addiction with Fury, Flicka, The Lone Ranger, and Roy Rogers. Back in the day, all heroes rode horses.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I knew at an early age my gifting was in composition. While I had a natural aptitude for vocabulary, punctuation skills evaded mastery. I used what literary skills I had in my everyday life, but had no career aspirations. When my children were born, I was completely, exclusively devoted to their well-being and education.

How did you get started writing? 

I’m always surprised to hear myself say, “I’m an author,” because I wrote a book by accident. In fact, if anyone had told me to write a book, I would have scoffed at the notion. Now there are three, soon to be four, novels in the Dream Horse Adventures series.

I started writing in a season of grief. Some days I wrote 100 words and others 800. The pain of my loss lifted and was replaced with sweet joy. I realized I was finally doing what I was born to do. I loved the story that seemed to magically flower on the page. It took me only three months to write my first book – Selah’s Sweet Dream. Then it took nearly two years to take it chapter by chapter to a critique group to shape it into an award-winning novel.

Why do you write books? 

I write because God has blessed me with gifts and abilities that He expects me to use for His glory. In the process, He gives me a great joy, a sense of a job well done, and a certainty that I have pleased my heavenly Father.

The real Selah and her painted dream.

What do you like best about writing? 

Three things: My heart is completely blessed to read my stories to my grandchildren. Second, it’s a sweet satisfaction when a child runs to my book table and expresses delight in discovering a new horse book. Also, I’m greatly humbled and appreciative when readers take the time to drop me a note or leave a review on Amazon to tell me how much they loved the book. All these things give me great joy and encourage me to write on.

What makes a good story? 

Experiencing the struggles of life through a character and seeing how the struggles change them. The relationship between Selah, her horse, and her grandfather is tender and endearing. It is my calling to write wholesome books that take readers on a wild ride.

Where do you get your inspiration? 

The beauty of old age is the wealth of life experiences that enable me to layer nuance into a story so that it connects with readers of all ages. My grandchildren and my equine treasures keep the stories real.

Horses have a strangle hold on my heart. I’m not sure if I was born with a love of horses or if I fell in love at first sight. I can’t imagine my life without my pasture ornaments and I hope to be able to ride them on the forest trails all the days of my life.

Can you share a little about each book? 

Though Selah’s Sweet Dream is book 2 in the series, it was the first one written. It’s the story of the bond between a horse-crazy girl and a mare with a major attitude. Then I had to know the backstory of Selah’s grandmother and it became Mary’s Song. It tells the story of a young artist who falls in love with a lame foal and is willing to sacrifice everything to save it. Selah’s Painted Dream takes us on a ride of desperation to save her equestrian aspirations. Selah’s Stolen Dream will break your heart when one girl’s triumph is another’s tragedy.

What else are you writing? 

My grandboys are clamoring for stories about them and have given me some hilarious moments to paint into their own adventure story. The Firefly Warriors Club has captured my heart because it has given me the opportunity to connect with the boys on their level. I hope to release it in 2020.

Saddle up and ride along! 

For more information about Susan Count and her books, visit www.susancount.com.

Susan is offering a free giveaway of Mary's Song

 in audio book format available 

for both US and UK. 

The offer is open to the first ten people to claim a copy

 direct from Susan on

susancountauthor@yahoo.com