About the Book

Book: Preach It, Grace A Girl’s Testimony of Faith (Dream Pony Book 5)

Author: Susan Count

Genre: Middle-Grade

Release date: February, 2024

Sharing a pony worked perfectly, until it didn’t.

The pony share Grace worked out with her elderly neighbor was ideal—she thought. Mr. Harvey bought the buckskin gelding’s food and Grace fed him. The pony was important to both of them so it made no sense when the elderly man sent him away. And why won’t he tell her where?

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Author Interview

1. Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?
I use both techniques on my writing journey. Once I figure out who my character is and what
she wants more than anything, I make post-it-notes for plot points. Every writing session, I read
some of what I wrote previously and, with my sights set on the goal, craft one obstacle after
another. If the progress gets sluggish, I’ll set a modest, daily word count goal. It’s a wonderful
thing to be walking in God’s gifting.

2. What is your favorite part about writing?
While I love the initial composing of story, my super power is editing story. Making sure the
character has a clear goal and that the obstacles are real and relatable.

3. What is your least favorite part about writing?
When the first edit comes back from my editor, there are an overwhelming number of
punctuation errors to deal with. I’ve never met a comma I can place properly the first time.
Thankfully, I have an exceptional editor and she doesn’t let anything get by her.

4. Do you have a way to keep track of your story ideas?
I have a stash of story ideas and articles of interesting happenings tucked into a file. I’m a
sucker for a touching story about a horse and rider. Real life tragedies and triumphs are the best
inspiration for fiction.

5. What is your writing space like?
Sliding glass doors to my writing room allow me a forest emersion experience. An expansive
area thick with pine trees flows down a slight incline covered in knee-high grasses and beauty-
berry bushes. It’s the favorite spot of a trio of fawns still covered in white spots. When the heat
relents, an assortment of birds will visit the bird bath until the Blue Jay claims it as his personal
spa. The sun is filtered by the tree canopy and its rays dance with joy on the forest floor.

6. When did you become a writer?
Composing was always my gift, but I wrote my first novel in 2013. Now I have ten novels for
children and one more in the works.

7. How long does it usually take you to write a book?
I can knock out a thirty-five thousand word, rough draft in less than three months. It will take a
year to work it through my critique group and then get it professionally edited.

8. Where do you get your ideas for your books?
Inspiration comes from the magnificence of the horse, the glory of the forest, and
my granddaughter who has the gift of being able to establish rapport with horses.

9. What is your work schedule/routine when you write?
When the sun comes up, I head out to the barn to feed. There are always barn chores.
If the conditions are good, and my horse is willing, I could take a ride through the forest.
By late morning, I’m at my desk wearing any number of hats from writing to managing
my ads.

10. Do bits of yourself/friends show up in your characters?
If so, it is entirely unintentional.

About the Author

Susan Count is a Kingdom Scribe who has published nine books in two equestrian series. As a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Texas Association of Authors, she takes studying the craft of writing seriously. Revision is her super-power.

Susan is a life-long equestrian and owned by a Rocky Mountain Horse that is kind hearted enough to take her on long, forested trail rides. She says the only thing more fun than riding might be writing horse adventure stories and she invites you to saddle up and ride along.

Read an Excerpt

Saturday started early for Grace’s family. Serve Out Saturday was the church’s biggest outreach event all year, and everyone who could turned out to help. Grace manned the church’s front-door sign-in desk. After everyone got their work assignments, she ran with her clipboard for the van headed to the retirement home. When they arrived, many residents were already gathered.
She lined up with six other girls, and they sang the gospel songs the residents requested. She searched their faces until she found Mr. Harvey in the last row. Giving him a quick wave, she sang directly to him.

He didn’t sing along like many of the residents, but he stayed for the program. That counted as a victory. Did he recognize her? She couldn’t tell.

She stepped to the microphone. “Hello. I’m Grace. That means blessings from God.”

She grinned at the residents, and they smiled back at her. “Horses are my favorite thing, and they’re also blessings from God. If you’ve ever seen a horse, then you know they are magnificent, mighty creatures.”

Grace held a booklet high, then pointed with it to the residents. “This explains how we can know the God that blesses us. And how we can go to heaven to be with him someday. It says he sent his Son, Jesus, to teach us about eternal life.”

She placed her hands over the open Bible on the podium. “No matter how hard we try, we can’t be perfect, but because of Jesus, we are forgiven for all the things we do wrong. He suffered and died on the cross, was buried, then raised to life on the third day.” She looked into Mr. Harvey’s eyes. “He loves us that much.”

As she closed the Bible, she softened her voice. “Pray to your heavenly Father—ask him to help you believe in Jesus.”