CARLY KADE CREATIVE: FOR THE LOVE OF HORSE BOOKS
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Buy the Books
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Work With Me
  • Media Room
  • Contact
  • Author Coaching Services
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Store
  • Bonus
  • Wisdom
  • Photo Gallery

Episode 33: On Writing Career Building Blocks, Equestrian Romance & Conquering Fear with Laurie Berglie (Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast)

5/20/2020

0 Comments

 
Laurie Berglie Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast Interview with Carly Kade
Episode 33: 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 author, blogger, copy-editor, freelance journalist, and Instagram superstar Laurie Berglie. You'll learn ...
  • How she is building her writing career through freelance work, blogging, writing books, offering copy-editing services, and operating an Instagram channel.
  • About the history of her popular blog The Maryland Equestrian and how supporting the people and products she loves led to her influencer status.
  • How she overcame the fear that crept in after publishing her first book and went on to independently publish two additional equestrian romance books in one year.
  • And MUCH more!

Watch Laurie Berglie's Interview on YouTube!


Or listen to the audio only version.


About Laurie Berglie

Laurie Berglie is the best-selling author of three equestrian romance novels, Where the Bluegrass Grows, Kicking On, and Taking Off. 

​All of Laurie’s books contain a host of both horse and human characters, plenty of equestrian action, and some steamy love scenes!

Laurie is also a freelance writer and editor, and the majority of her equestrian articles can be found in Horse & Style Magazine. She has also copy-edited numerous novels for other self-published authors. 
​
When not reading or writing horse books, Laurie is hard at work taking care of her many animals that reside on her farm in northern Maryland where she lives with her husband, James.

Laurie Berglie Podcast Interview Excerpt

Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast Hosted By Carly Kade Featured in Horse Illustrated Magazine
Carly: What excites you about writing horse books?

Laurie: I have always been an active reader. I read anything and everything, but as a horse crazy person I would naturally gravitate to horse books. The equestrian romance books are my favorite to read, so I decided to write one. I worked on Where the Bluegrass Grows for at least five years before I finished the first draft. I just stuck with it and I got to the point where I really liked my characters. I really wanted to continue their story and see what happened see where it went. That's how it develops. I wanted to write what I wanted to read. 
Carly: We are both equestrian romance authors which makes is so happy and we both write for adults. Tell us about your books for horse lovers.

Laurie: Where the Bluegrass Grows was published in 2016 and takes place in gorgeous Lexington, Kentucky, and features main character, Molly Sorrenson. Kicking On, a semi-sequel published in 2019, takes place in Maryland’s horse country and is Macy Holland’s story. Finally, Taking Off, also published in 2019, takes readers south to The Plains, Virginia, where Erin Sorrenson takes center stage. 

Horse Books by Laurie Berglie
Books by Laurie Berglie

Carly: What does equestrian romance mean to you and why this particular genre for your books?

Laurie: I want to write about what I like to read. We aren't the first people to write equestrian romance by any means, but I felt like there just wasn't a lot out there. What was out there was definitely young adult. I absolutely read some young adult stuff. A horse book is a horse book and there are some fabulous young adult authors out there, but I'm not 16.

​I really feel like I need something a little more my speed, something that your average 20, 30, 40 something would pick up and really enjoy. I definitely wanted to keep it 18 and above. There are some romantic themes, but I, by no means, went over the top with with your romantic scenes. There's just that little extra that an 18 plus reader would would want.

Also. I wanted to write a nice easy series. You would take this to the beach and you don't have to use a lot of brainpower to read it. When you're done you feel good. What makes a really good book is if I really like the main character. I just wanted to create some literature that people would feel good about when they were done and then pass along to their friend at the barn.
Carly: How did you get into freelance work?

Laurie: I got into freelance work quite some time ago. I just wanted to make
some extra money because, as you know, horses aren't cheap and any little extra money I can make just from side gigs and freelance gigs goes into my horse hobby.

I reached out to a bunch of publications proactively. I would email the editor and would send them my resume, a portfolio of my work samples, and let them know I'd love to write for them. I would submit article ideas that I thought would work well in their next issue and sometimes they would respond.

Now, I have a couple regular columns in Horse & Style magazine. I've also written for Sidelines magazine among others. It's always fun to see that byline. I do some freelance editing as well. I've had multiple independent authors come to me to do their copy-edits before they hit publish.
Carly: Is there anything that you wish you had known when you started out?

Laurie: As far as publishing the books, I wish that I had been more brave. When I first published Where The Bluegrass Grows, I was petrified. I was so petrified that everybody would hate it, especially when it's your first novel. You don't have your base support yet. I gave it life, and then, I let it die. I didn't do anything. I did share on my Instagram a couple times. I wrote about it on my blog. I think that was it. I did virtually nothing to market it because I was scared.

I got to the point where I was like I can do this. I put the second book out into the world and I had developed a plan for how to market it. I was very diligent and I took my time. With Taking Off, I knew exactly the influencers that I wanted to send it to, which blogs I wanted to reach out to for some PR, and local events that I wanted to support. I feel more confident now with a reader base that's going to be behind me.

Connect with Laurie Berglie

Laurie Berglie, Author of Where the Bluegrass Grows, Kicking On and Taking Off
Website: www.laurieberglie.com
Blog: www.themarylandequestrian.com
Instagram: @marylandequestrian
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marylandequestrian/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/Laurie_Berglie

​Be All Inclusive: https://www.beallinclusive.net/
Be All Inclusive Instagram: @beallinclusive


Please note that this post contains affiliate links. If you choose to buy any books featured, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate purchases help with the upkeep of the podcast. Thanks for your help keeping this site running!

Love Creative Writing about Horses?

Creative Writing About Horses
​
​Gallop over to carlykadecreative.com/wisdom to have author advice delivered instantly to your inbox. This free resource includes words of wisdom and tips from equine authors on writing, independent publishing, traditional publishing, book marketing and more!
Get the Resource

New Podcast Episodes Each Wednesday!

Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast Hosted By Carly Kade Featured in Horse Illustrated Magazine
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.
Go to the Episode Directory

About Your Host and Author Carly Kade

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.
In the Reins, Cowboy Away and Show Pen Promise Books by Carly Kade

Carly Kade Creative
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Carly Kade Creative

    Carly Kade Author

    Books by Carly Kade

    In the Reins Equestrian Romance Horse Book Series by Carly Kade
    In the Reins, Cowboy Away, Show Pen Promise Books by Carly Kade

    In The Reins is an EQUUS Film Festival Literary Award Winner
    In the Reins is an EQUUS Film Festival Official Literary Award Winner
    Author Carly Kade wins Feathered Quill Book Award for Equestrian Fiction In The Reins
    In the Reins earns TWO Feathered Quill Book Awards
    Cowboy Away Earns Carly Kade Second EQUUS Film Festival Literary Award
    Cowboy Away Earns Carly Kade Second EQUUS Film Festival Literary Award
    In the Reins by Carly is BookWorks Book of the Week
    In the Reins is the Self Publishers Association Book of the Week

    Book Trailer


    Author Info

    Carly Kade writes for anyone who loves horses, handsome cowboys and a great romance. Creative writing about horses makes her spurs jingle!  

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

Feeling Social? Join The Herd!
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Buy the Books
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Work With Me
  • Media Room
  • Contact
  • Author Coaching Services
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Store
  • Bonus
  • Wisdom
  • Photo Gallery