Episode 32: Welcome to the Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast! In each episode, you’ll hear inspirational stories from horse book authors including writing advice and marketing tips to help you write your own horse book. If you are an author, aspire to be an author, or simply love horse books then you are in the right place!
In this week's episode, you'll meet cowgirl, freelance journalist, poet, blogger and brand ambassador Amy C. Witt. You'll learn ...
Watch Amy C. Witt's Interview on YouTube!Or listen to the audio only version.About Amy C. Witt
Always creating and evolving, Amy C. Witt has gained recognition as a freelance journalist, poet, western lifestyle blogger and brand ambassador.
This modern day California-cowgirl has learned many lessons from her life, her friends, animals, working the land, and the cowboy life. From halter breaking a colt to doctoring calves in a field, to backing into the box with a breakaway rope or nodding her head to stick a steer, being in her saddle is first nature. A member of the American Horse Publications and Western Writers of America, her work has been seen in several publications like the AQHA Journal, Quarter Horse News, American Cowboy Magazine, Ropers Sports News, and the Rock N W Report. Holding nothing back, Amy aspires to inspire in her award-winning book of poetry, “Cowgirl Confessions.” Through writing, her ultimate goal is to connect and build relationships with her readers, in hopes that they can escape, relate or be inspired by her work. To capture the essence of her life, as well as the western lifestyle, she is constantly seeking new adventures, new country, and better content. Riding her horse through our sacred lands allows her to evolve as a woman, writer, and creator. Amy C. Witt Podcast Interview Excerpt
Carly: How did your love affair with horses begin?
Amy: Since I was an infant. My parents would strap me into the old school green big backpack and they used to take me through the mountains on horseback. I was nine years old when I got my first horse. Then in high school, I moved into rodeo.
Carly: You are very passionate about the Giant Sequoia trees in California. Tell us about those trees and your connection to them.
Amy: I'm excited to talk about them! I don't think they get enough recognition. The Giant Sequoias only live north of California or Central here. There's around 70 or so sacred Sequoia trees left. The first time I laid my eyes on a giant Sequoia tree, I was really young and the moment that you walk into a Grove it's like everything stops. You're literally standing with one of the largest organisms on earth and one of the oldest. They're so powerful. If anybody gets an opportunity to come to California, go to the Sequoias. It's free and it will be life-changing. 
Carly: Your Instagram feed is absolutely stunning. You've taken pictures with the Sequoia trees and you're always doing fun things with your horse. Tell us how you create content for your Instagram channel.
Amy: My best friend since childhood, Jamie Changala, takes about 90% of my photos. Sometimes I work with other photographers. I have the opportunity to collaborate and it's always really fun, but Jamie and I have such a strong connection. She understands horses and dogs, so it's easy for us to just naturally and organically create content. Carly: You have a huge following on Instagram. Tell us how you use the channel to develop such an amazing group of followers and relationships with brands. Amy: Instagram just kind of blossomed because I took the opportunity to take good pictures and actually go out and do things. I think that's the key. Going out and being a part of nature on the back your horse. Instagram has allowed me to not only be creative but also showcase the communication between a horse, a dog, a human and our land. I just started taking pictures wearing the companies I love and using their products and being extremely authentic, organic, and not having any expectations. I'm really lucky to have my relationships with brands. My brand representative opportunities wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Instagram. Note: Amy dives deep into how she built brand relationships using Instagram in the full podcast interview. 
Brands Amy C. Witt Represents
Carly: Talk to us about your your book of poetry Cowgirl Confessions.
Amy: I took a creative writing class at our local college and the last few weeks we focused on poetry. We had an assignment to write ten poems and I decided to write about what I know and love. From there, my work started evolving. I started evolving as a person. My book started evolving. There's over 150 poems and more than 50 illustrations in Cowgirl Confessions. Jamie, my best friend, produced the cover. She hand-painted the whole cover and freehand drew the horse. I had a graphic designer that I went to high school with design my cover front and back, and then all of the artists are local women. The categories in the book follow the motions of life from love to just being a cowgirl to what a cowgirl is. I write about the lifestyle and our trials and tribulations. I learned through the writing and production of this book that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. I just have to get over that hurdle of fear and move forward 
Cowgirl Confessions by Amy C. Witt
Carly: What's the hardest for you, but then on the flip side what is the best part about what you've created for yourself and your role as an equestrian influencer?
Amy: I know that I'm titled an equestrian influencer, but I don't really know how that is defined. I just like to produce good content. I think the most challenging part is the anxiety of feeling that you have to capture every moment. I struggle with expectations, what to post, what's good enough, but the best and most rewarding part is to be able to be so creative and to be free. How I live my life on Instagram is how I really am as a person. I love to connect with people or give them an escape either through my writing or art. Instagram is a platform for art and we can be as creative as we want to. That is beautiful.
Carly: What are you curious about right now?
Amy: I want to dig deeper in my career with forestry and the trees. I'm really really starting to draw. I'm going to focus on drawing and challenge myself to write about topics or even genres that I haven't before. I just want to do better, be better, produce better content, and produce better writing. Connect with Amy C. Witt
Love Creative Writing about Horses?
New Podcast Episodes Each Wednesday!
Make sure you never miss a show by subscribing on YouTube or Apple Podcasts. This podcast is made possible by listeners like you. I appreciate your support! Thank you for joining us this week on the Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast I hope you enjoy these Q&A sessions with wonderful equine authors who love all things horses and writing just like me.
If you are an author who writes about horses and would like to be spotlighted please let me know. Visit my contact page to fill out a request. I'd be happy to have you on the show, too. About Host and Author Carly Kade
Carly Kade is an award-winning equestrian author and the host of the Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast. Creative writing makes her spurs jingle! She writes fiction about horses, horse shows, Western pleasure and a handsome cowboy or two. Her books are for people just like her — crazy about reading, horses and cute cowboys!
In the Reins, the first in Carly's series of novels inspired by the equestrian lifestyle, has been an Amazon best seller for more than 10 weeks, is an EQUUS Film Festival Literary Award Winner for Best Western Fiction and has earned two Feathered Quill Book Awards in the Romance and Adult Book featuring Animals categories. The In the Reins equestrian romance series is available now in Audiobook, Paperback and eBook on Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks and Kobo. 
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Books by Carly Kade
In the Reins is an EQUUS Film Festival Official Literary Award Winner
In the Reins earns TWO Feathered Quill Book Awards
Cowboy Away Earns Carly Kade Second EQUUS Film Festival Literary Award
In the Reins is the Self Publishers Association Book of the Week
Book TrailerAuthor InfoCarly Kade writes for anyone who loves horses, handsome cowboys and a great romance. Creative writing about horses makes her spurs jingle! Archives
September 2023
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