Acknowledgments (Or Why This is “About Us” and Not “About Me”)

I have to begin by thanking my wonderful husband Jaime for his positive support, encouragement, and persistent patience with me throughout this process. He never once questioned me; he believed in me. Everyone should be so lucky to have such strength in their lives.

My brother Eddy provided sound advice based on his many years of teaching experience and creativity, enriching my books from stories to what will hopefully be learning experiences. He developed the educational Discussion Guides/Activities on his own initiative, which then led to our creation of Teacher’s Tack for Believing In Horses and Teacher’s Tack for Believing In Horses Out West – more great adventures!

I thank my mom, Flo, for her support, her editorial guidance, and for listening to me throughout this venture. I miss her more than she will ever know.

I thank the organizations Freedom Hill Horse Rescue and Thoroughbred Placement Resources, Inc. which allowed me to visit and research to make realistic renditions of events in my first book. I also thank the dedicated people at the Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Programs, Maryland Therapeutic Riding, and the SPIRIT Serving Veterans Program for working with me on my second book and sharing their valuable time and insights with me. A large thanks also goes to Loftmar Stables for too many reasons to list here.

For my third book, I thank Homeplace Ranch in Alberta, Canada; the former Circle Bar Ranch in Utica, Montana; and the Red Rock Ride based in Tropic, Utah for providing memorable experiences and sights to share with readers in this fictional story about a ranch ride.

Finally, I thank my publisher, J.B. Max Publishing, for taking a chance on an unknown author for my first two novels.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Valerie Ormond retired as a naval intelligence officer and now writes books and stories sharing lessons learned. Her three novels—Believing In Horses, Believing In Horses, Too, and Believing In Horses Out West—have won fifteen national and international awards.

Valerie’s fiction and non-fiction stories have appeared in numerous books. Five of her short stories and essays have won awards in the National Federation of Press Women’s (NFPW’s) at-large and national communications contests. She holds memberships in writing organizations including NFPW, National Association of Independent Writers & Editors, American Horse Publications, Military Writers Society of America, and the Accokeek Women’s Writers Group. She is currently the Vice President of the Military Writers Society of America, serves on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Press Women Foundation, and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Animals in War & Peace organization.

In 2014, Valerie founded Veteran Writing Services, LLC to provide writing services to business clients and encourage other veterans to write. In 2021, she established Veterans Publishing as a part of her business. Her current work in progress is a historical fiction based on an Irish immigrant daughter striving to succeed while living through WWI, Prohibition, the Great Depression, and WWII in New York City.

She lives in Maryland with her husband, Jaime Navarro, a retired Navy pilot and horseman. Jaime and Valerie enjoy the company of their wonderful families and friends, their two horses, and two dogs.

Valerie’s non-fiction and fiction stories and poetry have been published in the following books:

Regeneration – Writings about Hope & Beyond

Snapshots: An Anthology

Smokes, Blokes and Jokes of Foggy Town LONDON

Creative Gems Volume 2 (with James McGee and Seamus McGee)

Untold Stories: Military Writers Society of America 2021 Anthology

Ernest Lived and Other Historical Fiction Short Stories

The TCFFV Poetry Journal Volume Five

The TCFFV Poetry Journal Volume One

World War I Inspirations: Military Writers Society of America 2018 Anthology

Hope and Courage

More Than Best Friends – An Anthology in Support of Guide Dogs for the Blind

All Gave Some

Our Voices

The 5 Must-Know Secrets of Success for Today’s College Girl

The Heart of Christmas

The Beauty and Inspiration of Travel (Chique Travel Anthology Book 1)