About the Book

Book: Preach It, Grace A Girl’s Testimony of Faith (Dream Pony Book 5)

Author: Susan Count

Genre: Middle-Grade

Release date: February, 2024

Sharing a pony worked perfectly, until it didn’t.

The pony share Grace worked out with her elderly neighbor was ideal—she thought. Mr. Harvey bought the buckskin gelding’s food and Grace fed him. The pony was important to both of them so it made no sense when the elderly man sent him away. And why won’t he tell her where?

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About the Author

Susan Count is a Kingdom Scribe who has published nine books in two equestrian series. As a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Texas Association of Authors, she takes studying the craft of writing seriously. Revision is her super-power.

Susan is a life-long equestrian and owned by a Rocky Mountain Horse that is kind hearted enough to take her on long, forested trail rides. She says the only thing more fun than riding might be writing horse adventure stories and she invites you to saddle up and ride along.

Read an Excerpt

Saturday started early for Grace’s family. Serve Out Saturday was the church’s biggest outreach event all year, and everyone who could turned out to help. Grace manned the church’s front-door sign-in desk. After everyone got their work assignments, she ran with her clipboard for the van headed to the retirement home. When they arrived, many residents were already gathered.
She lined up with six other girls, and they sang the gospel songs the residents requested. She searched their faces until she found Mr. Harvey in the last row. Giving him a quick wave, she sang directly to him.

He didn’t sing along like many of the residents, but he stayed for the program. That counted as a victory. Did he recognize her? She couldn’t tell.

She stepped to the microphone. “Hello. I’m Grace. That means blessings from God.”

She grinned at the residents, and they smiled back at her. “Horses are my favorite thing, and they’re also blessings from God. If you’ve ever seen a horse, then you know they are magnificent, mighty creatures.”

Grace held a booklet high, then pointed with it to the residents. “This explains how we can know the God that blesses us. And how we can go to heaven to be with him someday. It says he sent his Son, Jesus, to teach us about eternal life.”

She placed her hands over the open Bible on the podium. “No matter how hard we try, we can’t be perfect, but because of Jesus, we are forgiven for all the things we do wrong. He suffered and died on the cross, was buried, then raised to life on the third day.” She looked into Mr. Harvey’s eyes. “He loves us that much.”

As she closed the Bible, she softened her voice. “Pray to your heavenly Father—ask him to help you believe in Jesus.”

Interview with the Author

1) What does success as an author look like to you?

Success looks like the note, quoted below, from a young reader. It encourages me to keep going when the process bogs down.

“To Mrs. Susan Count,

Your books have been so awesome. I adore all the descriptive words, and how I feel like I am a character in the book.

You are a very talented writer, and I admire that. Thank you for the books that you have written.

Have a FANSATIC day and may God bless you in many ways!

Sophy”

2) Which character did you connect to best in this book?

Since my goal is to understand what Grace is feeling about the situation she’s in, how she will react to what’s happened, and how she will overcome the obstacles keeping her from her heart’s desire; I would say I most connected with Grace.

3) Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?

What is difficult for me is to balance the character’s need to achieve her goal without her coming across as self-centered or bratty. That thread runs throughout the book and not in a particular scene.

4) What inspired this book?

Especially on my mind was my desire to unravel the relationship between Grace and her grumpy, elderly neighbor. While we normally expect an adult to enrich a child’s life, Grace’s character and kindness were revealed through her rocky relationship with Mr. Harvey.

5) Which author influenced you the most?

Multiple authors in my Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators critique group had the most influence over the development of my books. They taught me critical things like how to build tension and how to breathe life into the characters. They helped me develop my voice for middle-grade novels. I will be forever grateful and indebted to them.

6) What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

7) What is your vacation spot?

My soul longs for the peacefulness of the forest and draws me to eastern Kentucky and anywhere in Missouri. When a change of pace is in order, my beach of choice is Destin, Florida. The emerald waters are refreshing and invigorating.

8) What are you reading right now?

I just finished How To Know A Person by David Brooks. Since each book character constructs their own perception of reality, this non-fiction study helps authors learn to actively listen to their characters to develop a compassionate understanding of their deepest desires, hopes, and dreams.

9) Describe your view as you’re sitting in your writing chair.

Sliding glass doors to my writing room allow me a forest emersion experience. An expansive area thick with pine trees flows down a slight incline covered in knee-high grasses and beauty-berry bushes. It’s the favorite spot of a trio of fawns still covered in white spots. When the heat relents, an assortment of birds will visit the bird bath until the Blue Jay claims it as his personal spa. The sun is filtered by the tree canopy and its rays dance with joy on the forest floor.

10) If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?

May I have two? No. My practical side will show here then. May I have a wilderness survival guide? I will have to rely on my memorized scripture verses to keep me aligned with the Lord. Combined with prayer, I’m confident in his ability to keep me under his wings.