So You Want To Be An Equestrian Author?

Laurie Berglie
11 hours ago
6 min read

I’ve been a self-published author of equestrian fiction since 2016. In that time, I’ve had many of my readers reach out to me, and the top two questions I get asked is, “Any advice on how to write a book?” Which, of course, is followed closely with, “How do I publish it?”

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know everything, but I’m happy to share what I’ve learned about writing, the self-publishing industry, marketing, and so on over the last decade.

What Kind of Writer Are You?

We all have a story in us, don’t we? Well, it’s time to let it out. When you first start working on your book, you will need to figure out what kind of writer you are. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the writing process, so start by finding out what works for you. Are you someone who needs to make a very detailed outline before you start writing your book? Or are you someone who kind of wings it and lets the characters and the flow of the story determine the plot and overall outcome? Do you feel more creative in the morning, the afternoon, or are you a night owl? Are you someone who needs to write the story chronologically? Or do you write big scenes and chapters first and then piece everything together at the end?

If you’re new to this, then the answer to all those questions is, “I don’t know.” And that’s okay! But the only way you will know is by doing it. Sitting down and writing. And writing. And…well, you get the picture.

It’s hard to give advice for the how to write part because it’s so personal. Myself, I never make an outline. Most of the time when I start a new book, I have zero idea how it’s going to end until I get there. So it’s a surprise for me too! I also love to write in the afternoon in my home office or on my back porch. I need quiet. No background music or television. I also need time. I can’t write if I know I only have ten or fifteen minutes to work – I need to know I have at least a full hour cleared on my schedule.

But the more you sit and write – and it could be anything, a blog post, a journal entry, not necessarily your book – the more you’ll learn what you need to be your best writer.

Woman outdoors with sunglasses and earrings signs a book. She's wearing a beige top with a name tag. Blurred greenery in the background.

Write What You Know

When you’re first starting out, make life easy on yourself and write what you already know. If you’re reading this, you are probably a horse person, so start there. Are horses going to be the main focus of your story, or will they be more in the background? What about genre – fiction, non-fiction, romance, mystery? Most people write the type of books they like to read, so that’s usually the best place to start.

Most of my novels take place in Maryland, which is where I was born and raised and still live. So it’s an area I know really well and don’t have to put a lot of time and energy into learning or researching.

I’ve also spent a few winters in Ocala, Florida, and my latest novel will take place there. For that one, I’ve pulled memories from those winters to develop various scenes and plot twists. I’m not someone who can write well about places I don’t know or experiences I haven’t had, and if you’re the same, that’s okay! Your life thus far has made you a subject matter expert in a multitude of areas – build off of them!

Kindle Direct Publishing

Once your book is complete, it’s time to release it out into the wild! I have only ever self-published my novels, so that’s all I can speak to. I’ve never tried the traditional publishing route, but if I ever do I promise to come back and write Part 2 of this article for you!

All of my books have been published through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), and I’ve had great experiences with them. KDP is a platform by Amazon that provides you with the self-publishing tools for both ebooks and paperbacks.

To get started, you will need to create an account on KDP, (it’s free), and then follow the step-by-step process of uploading your manuscript, the book details, the cover image, and setting pricing and royalty options. I will say that I’m not a very tech-savvy person, but I find this platform to be pretty user-friendly.

While KDP is free, Amazon does take a royalty on every book sold. KDP is an easy way to get your books out into the world as Amazon has global distribution and provides print-on-demand, so there’s no need to keep a ton of inventory on hand.

One of the biggest pros of self-publishing is that I have complete control over my work. From the first sentence to the last, from the cover image and design to the title itself, it’s all up to me. The biggest con is that, well, it’s all up to me. I have to be a writer, an editor, a publisher, a designer, a marketer, you name it – all rolled into one.

Equestrian competes in outdoor arena, riding a brown horse. Rider wears black attire and helmet. Trees and blue sky in the background.

Marketing and Social Media

No matter where you are in the writing process, start a social presence now. Whether it’s a blog, an Instagram, or a TikTok account, find your little space of the internet and make it your own. And then shout from the rooftops that you are working on a book! Update your followers as you continue throughout the process. Involve them as often as you can, (for example, if you’re between two images for your cover, post them both with a poll for readers to vote on). Blogs are great for SEO that will help drive traffic to your personal website or Amazon page. If you already have personal accounts on these platforms and don’t want to take the time to build something new, turn the old ones into author accounts. Capture the audience you already have.

Before I published my first novel, I already had an active blog with a fairly large readership, as well as an Instagram account that I accidentally grew to more than 20,000 followers, (that’s another article)! My account was and still is very horse-centric, so when it came time to publish my first equestrian romance, I already had built-in readers, essentially.

After I published each of my books, I sent copies to a variety of influencers in the equestrian space who helped share and promote my books. Some had larger accounts, but most did not. Never underestimate the micro-influencer; they might not have as many followers as others, but their reach is still vital, especially if their content is engaging and targets your same niche.

Other Places to Sell Your Books

Even though the bulk of your sales will come through Amazon, it’s important to have your own website to facilitate direct sales. Purchase “author copies” from KDP, (for about a third of the cost), so you can keep some inventory on hand at home. Books on my personal site are priced similarly to Amazon, but unfortunately it’s hard to compete with Prime because, unlike them, I have to charge for shipping. I try to offset that as much as possible by providing some extra incentives to purchase direct. I sign every book that’s purchased through my site as well as include a handwritten thank you note and some bookmarks, stickers, and magnets. Some additional “swag,” as I like to call it.

Local tack and feed shops are other great places to sell your books. I have a little stand set up at two of mine with an info graphic/marketing slick advertising me as a local author. Consignments shops and other boutiques that have a “locally made” section can be good spots to inquire.

Do you have any other local authors in your area? Reach out to them and ask about sharing a booth together at trade fairs or horse expos. Even if you have to travel a few hours, depending on the size of the event, it may be worth it as thousands of people may be coming through over the course of the show.

Woman in striped shirt and sunglasses smiles beside a brown horse in a sunny, grassy area with trees in the background.

Now Get Writing!

So there you have it – a very high level overview of how to be an equestrian author. I know I went through these sections quickly, but hopefully this article is a good starting point to get you going in the right direction.

The biggest takeaway is that if you want to be an equestrian author, you can! There is nothing holding you back. Find what works for you, write as often as possible, and don’t give up when the excitement wears off and it gets hard. Reach out to others who have been there and done that, (like me!), and ask for help, guidance, etc. I’m always happy to provide insight and advice, so don’t hesitate to message me with questions. I’ve been in the industry for years, and I’m still asking questions myself.

Never stop learning and never stop writing. I can’t wait to see your best-seller on the shelves! Best of luck!

Laurie in hat and sunglasses outdoors, in a white top and red patterned skirt, holding a magazine. Background: blurred green grass and fence. — Laurie Berglie

Laurie Berglie

Author

Laurie Berglie lives in the Maryland countryside where she enjoys renovating her fixer-upper farm, reading horse books, and competing in the hunters. Laurie is also an author of equestrian fiction and maintains her lifestyle blog and Instagram, “Maryland Equestrian.” She has a BA in English from Stevenson University and an MA in Humanities from Towson University.

Laurie Berglie can be found at themarylandequestrian.com or on Instagram @marylandequestrian or @authorlaurieberglie.