Sunday’s Author Spotlight: Brittney Joy

Today I’m excited to have author Brittney Joy on the
Sunday’s Author Spotlight. Brittney Joy is the author of the Red Rock Ranch series.
This is a YA series and are perfect for horse lovers. The first book in the
series is ‘Lucy’s Chance’ and was published in 2013, followed by the second
book ‘Showdown’ which was published in 2014. 

Sixteen year old Lucy Rose is spending her first summer
away from home  and she has two things on her mind: an abandoned, violent
horse and a  blue-eyed cowboy. Only neither is hers…

. . . Lucy has never attracted much attention from boys,
but she can’t seem to ignore her blue-eyed co-worker, Casey Parker. A true
cowboy, Lucy becomes enthralled by his gentle way with the horses at the Red
Rock Ranch. However, she is very aware that Taylor Johnson, rodeo queen extraordinaire,
already has her spurs in him. And, there’s no crossing Taylor.

. . . Not until a mysterious horse appears on the ranch
and pushes Lucy and Casey together. The two are willing to do anything to save
the black gelding that doesn’t want a thing to do with them – or the human
race. But, every step forward with the broken animal makes Lucy fall harder –
for him and for Casey. 

This book is available at Amazon.

Taylor and Lucy mesh together like a tight cinch and a
broncy horse – an explosion waiting to happen.

. . . Blonde and sassy, Taylor Johnson is used to guys
falling at her feet. Blue ribbons always come easy. And, dropping a grand on
new cowboy boots and a pair of chaps is the norm. So why does the new
stablehand keep getting under Taylor’s skin?

. . . A newbie to Red Rock Ranch, Lucy Rose is
comfortable in a ponytail and jeans. Her makeup routine consists of a dirt
smudge and chapstick. And, if she had her choice, she’d spend every minute with
her beloved horse Chance . . . and far away from Taylor, the rodeo princess in
need of an attitude adjustment.

But, in a twist neither saw coming, Taylor and Lucy are
forced to work together. Will they play nice? Or will their summer at Red Rock
Ranch go out in a bang?

This book is available at Amazon.

“A beautiful love
story between a girl and a horse.  The scenes of Lucy bonding with Chance
are deeply affecting; at times, poignant enough to induce tears in the
reader.  Chance might be a horse, but he is a pivotal character in this
novel that the reader grows to love just as much as Lucy.  Brittney Joy captures
the day to day workings on a ranch, and the intricacies of equine rodeo sports
in a realistic manner that makes the reader part of the story. Although the
romance between Lucy and Casey takes a back seat, “Red Rock Ranch” is
recommended to horse lovers and readers who have experienced the profound bond
between an animal and a human being.”

– InD’Tale
Magazine, Review of Lucy’s Chance

“I’ve read
countless stories about a girl and her horse, but I’ve never read anything
quite like “Showdown.” Author Brittney Joy’s second book in her Red Rock Ranch
series is fresh and fun. The dynamics between the characters are intriguing,
authentic, and will have you cheering them a little more with every page. She
does a wonderful job of developing the antagonist from the first book into
someone I wanted to see succeed, which took me by surprise. Joy is creating a
series with great potential for expansion and true lasting power. I am eager to
see where she takes her cast of characters next.”

– Jadie Jones, Author
of the Moonlit Trilogy, Review of Showdown

Did you always
wanted to become an author?

Ever since high school it has been a goal of mine to
write a book. I’ve always enjoyed reading and in high school I discovered I
really enjoy writing as well. Actually, my Mom gave me a journal when I was
sixteen and I started writing pretty regularly in it — all my experiences and
feelings — and I realized writing was a release for me. I still have that
journal … under lock and key, of course.

What do you love most about being an author?

I love sitting down with my notebook or my laptop and
staring at a blank sheet of paper or a blank screen and realizing I can mold
that into story, a character. I love discovering plot lines and twists and new
characters as I go along. It’s fun!

Tell us about your books? How did you come to the idea of
writing them? 

I have two books in a young adult series called Red Rock
Ranch — Lucy’s Chance (book 1) & Showdown (book 2). Ever since I was
little, I have been horse-obsessed and my equine passion transferred to my
writing. I wrote these books for the horse-crazy-tween-girl. Both books explore
friendship, love, growing up, and (of course) horses and riding.

What are your future plans in writing?

I have plans to write a third book in the Red Rock Ranch
series, but I recently decided to take a break and follow another story that
has been “playing” in my head for a while now. I just started the
rough draft and hope to have it complete by the end of the year. It’s a fantasy
with equine elements.

Where do you go to write your books? And where do you get
the inspiration?

I write in quite a few different places. I have a cozy
office with a big, comfy leather recliner. Often times I’m curled up in my
recliner with my laptop and my dog, Lu. But, I also write while sitting at the
kitchen counter, waiting for dinner to get done in the oven. Or, in the summer,
I love to sit on the deck and breath fresh air while I’m writing. As for
inspiration, it comes from everywhere — usually from real life. For instance,
in the opening scene of Lucy’s Chance, Lucy has to chase down a steer
and ultimately gets “tackled” by it. This was inspired by my
experience chasing down my own cows when they decided they wanted to push over
the fence and run around the neighborhood!

What is your favorite book?

This is always a hard question for me because I love so
many books! But, some of my faves are The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle, The Da
Vinci Code by Dan Brown, The Dressage Chronicles by Karen McGoldrick, and Cut
& Run by Amy Elizabeth. Also, I grew up devouring The Thoroughbred
Series. 🙂 

What would you advice to new aspiring authors? 

Go for it! If you want to write, figure out a way to make
it happen. Take a class, join a writer’s group, read a book on character and
plot development. Try to soak up every piece of knowledge that you can! But,
most of all, I believe you can make anything happen if you have the passion for
it. Follow your passion. My passion is horses.

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.

For more information about Brittney Joy and her books
please visit her website, her blog, Facebook and Amazon.