Brittney Joy Equestrian Author Spotlight

Equestrian Author Spotlight: Meet Brittney Joy

8/4/2016

An Interview with Brittney Joy Books on her Horse Book Series

In this third spotlight edition, I talk about writing and horse life with Brittney Joy, author of the Red Rock Ranch horse book series. Horse books make my spurs jingle and I fell in love with the characters from Brittney's books! In her interview, Brittney shares some seriously fun stuff including how her experience with a naughty cow (and her calf) inspired the opening chapter of Lucy's Chance! Plus, you'll learn about her new project called OverThrone (my spurs are jingling over this!) involving a sassy heroine, a castle, magic, and horses! I just know you are going to enjoy learning all about this very special fellow equestrian and author in this month's spotlight!

A little bit about Brittney Joy ...

Cowboy Boots or Muck Boots always have been Brittney's shoe of choice. An animal lover to the core, her parents didn't know what they were signing up for when they put Brittney in a summer horse camp at the age of ten. She was hooked.

Horses quickly became her true passion in life. At twelve Brittney started working at a local stable - cleaning stalls and leading trail rides. At thirteen her parents finally broke down and bought Brittney her first horse, Austie, who was a spunky bay Quarter Horse/Saddlebred cross with a perfect white heart on her forehead. Brittney grew up on Austie's back and, when it came time to go to college, she packed her mare along too.

Brittney and her family and now live in their own little piece of heaven in the Oregon countryside. They stay busy taking care of their two horses, two cows, ten sheep, fifteen chickens, and one very naughty goat.

Isn't that neat? Now, Let's get to know Brittney Joy even better in her interview answers ...

What is your favorite horse memory?

I have so many favorite horsey-memories – that’s probably one of the biggest reasons why I write young adult equestrian fiction. I started riding when I was ten years old. My family lived in town, but my parents signed me up for a summer camp at a local ranch and the horse bug bit me – hard! I ended up working at that ranch and eventually getting my own horse & boarding it there. My best friend also boarded her horse there and we spent every waking minute riding the trails, going to local shows, and generally horsing-around. I use a lot of the experiences and feelings from those days as inspiration for Red Rock Ranch.

How many horse-related books have you written?

Currently, I’ve written two horse-related books which are part of a young adult series called Red Rock Ranch (Lucy’s Chance and Showdown) and I plan to write a third. However, I took some time off from the RRR series to follow a project I’ve wanted to write for a while now – a young adult fantasy which involves a sassy heroine, a castle, magic, and horses! I just wrapped up the final draft so I’m hoping to present OverThrone to the world in fall of 2016.

What book are you currently reading?

I love all types of books and generally read two or three at a time. I usually read different genres and pick up whichever book suits my mood – at that moment. Currently, I’m reading The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and In the Reins by Carly Kade. If I want twisted and dark, I grab Hawkin’s book. If I want heart-warming and swoon-worthy, I grab Kade’s.

PAUSE ... Hold on ... I think I need a squeal break ... here it comes ... SQUEAL! I can't stop smiling because Brittney Joy (an equestrian author I admire) is reading MY book. Now my spurs are really jingling! Okay, I think I am ready to continue ... thanks for holding on through that small interruption to our regularly scheduled programming! LOL.

Ahem ... next question please ...

Any amusing story about writing your books?

In Lucy’s Chance (Red Rock Ranch, book 1), the opening chapter involves Lucy’s first day at the ranch and the misfortune of chasing down a very naughty steer. This was not originally in the book at all, but I was inspired by a real-life-cow-incident while revising the manuscript. At the time, my husband and I had a cow and calf (Twinkle & Star) that lived with our horses. However, Twinkle decided to bulldoze a fence one evening and run rampant through our backyard with her calf - when I was home alone. I proceeded to run through the backyard as well – in my pajamas, with a bucket of sweet feed. I eventually got the naughty buggers rounded up, but my pajama pants were toast – ripped apart via barbed wire fencing. Note: you never know when inspiration will hit you. ;)

What inspired the horse(s) in your book?

I pulled inspiration from many horses in my life and in my past. Chance, the main horsey-character in Lucy’s Chance, starts off as a wild, scared, broken horse that Lucy tries to help. I pulled a lot of inspiration for Chance’s character from my real horse, Cheli. Though Cheli was not abused or wild, he did fall into my lap unexpectedly and it took me awhile to gain his trust (and vice versa). Like Chance, Cheli is intuitive and sensitive. Also like Chance, once I bonded with Cheli, I realized he would do anything for me and that he is truly my soulmate horse. Cheli has now been with me for five years and we just get each other.

What was your favorite chapter to write and why?

My favorite chapters to write always involve action so I had a blast writing the last third of Lucy’s Chance which involves a “Cowboy Race” – a team obstacle race through the mountains! Jumping, running, roping, cattle-chasing … fun, fun, fun!

Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp?

I hope that the Red Rock Ranch books show readers that they should always follow their hearts, that good things come from hard work, and that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover (no pun intended).

Want to discover more about Brittney Joy's work?

The Red Rocks Ranch Horse Book Series by Brittney Joy

Find Brittney Joy Online
Website: http://brittneyjoybooks.squarespace.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brittneyjoybooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brittneyjoydov
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Brittney-Joy/e/B00JQIJUOY/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7066997.Brittney_Joy

Book Links
OverRuled: http://a.co/7Sv5Nev
Lucy's Chance (Red Rock Ranch, Book 1): https://amzn.com/1497543460
Showdown (Red Rock Ranch, Book 2): https://amzn.com/1505332273

Watch the Book Trailer to Lucy's Chance!

Wasn't that awesome?

Many thanks to equestrian author, Brittney Joy, for this wonderful interview! I certainly enjoyed learning more about how her Red Rock Ranch horse book series for teens (and adults too!) came to be and so appreciate the support of a fellow author!

Thank you for giving me the gift of your time, Brittney! I can't wait to learn more about your newest project, OverRuled, and the third book in the Red Rock Ranch series!

If you are an author that writes about horses and would like to be spotlighted let me know. I’d be happy to include you too. Helping out fellow horse book authors makes my spurs jingle! Visit my contact page to fill out a request!

Miss one of my Equestrian Author Spotlights? Review them here!

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