Hope Haven in Big Fun on the Bayou
Thibodaux resident tackles inspirational story about horse therapy
Correspondent
She had been riding horses for a majority of her life, but it wasn't until recent years that Victoria E. Mora was inspired to write her new Christian novel.
Mora picked up the task to pen "Hope Haven" after being introduced to therapeutic horseback riding.
"I really always wanted to be a writer, but I hadn't tapped into what I really wanted to write about," she said. "But about 10 years ago, I met a young man at a NASCAR race who was never able to walk as a child, but through therapeutic riding, he learned to walk. It was amazing to me and very inspirational."
"Hope Haven: A Novel," tells the story of a teenage nationally ranked horseback rider named Lauren Hart, whose faith is tested through challenging real life family issues and a serious injury to her horse, Dawn Treader.
"It's only through [Lauren's] experience at Hope Haven Therapeutic Riding Center that she begins to find the answers she needs to rebound from this trying accident," a press release says.
Mora, a New Orleans native who now lives in Thibodaux, earned her bachelor's degree from Scripps Women's College in Claremont, Calif., and returned to Louisiana to volunteer at Hospice of South Louisiana.
The 38-year-old freelance marketing manager said her time at the hospice helped further her inspiration to write the book.
"The thought [to write this book] rolled around in my head, and then I had the opportunity to volunteer at the hospice, and I got to understand hands-on how the therapeutic riding, or hippotherapy, works," Mora said. "I saw children and adults experience the joy of horses, and I was inspired by their joy."
The bond between horses and riders wasn't the only thing that inspired Mora's novel, however.
"I definitely wanted to write a Christian novel because my faith is so important to me," she said about the book she began to pen in 2005. "The main character is grappling with her faith and holding on, trying to find a meaning through these challenges."
When it came to getting the book published, Mora said it was quite a process, but is grateful to have worked with iUniverse publishing company and freelance cover artist, Liam Peters.
Peters, who moved to the U.S. from Australia in 2008, got in contact with Mora through a friend.
"I did a previous book cover for a friend of [Mora's], and she contacted me," Peters said. "Normally, if I'm working on a book cover, the writer will send me a manuscript for me to read so I can come up with some ideas. Victoria sent me a sketch and a lot of references, so she already had a concept in mind."
Peters said the cover art process was a quick one, once he came up with the sketch.
"Everything is done in ‘Photoshop,' and once the sketch is approved, it takes about a week or two to finish," Peters said, who normally does fantasy illustration work.
"It's definitely a nice, more light-hearted cover than I usually do, so it was a nice change," he added.
But Mora doesn't want her book to just look nice; she wants it to touch her readers, too.
"Early on in the writing process my hope was that a reader would pick up this book and somehow it would speak to him or her, and as I got to the end of the process, it became important to me as a writer to try to make a difference in more ways than just that," she said.
So Mora teamed up with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International to give back to the organization, as she felt it gave so much to her community. Mora said the nonprofit partnership was also made possible by iUniverse.
"Every purchase of ‘Hope Haven' will help PATH International continue to advocate for safe equine-assisted activities and therapies for people with special needs," the press release says.
"Hope Haven" is available on Amazon.com, BN.com and Mora's website, victoriaemora.com. Mora can also be reached for signed books, speaking engagements and book-signing events on the contact page of her website.
Friday, Oct 21 - Check out the Hope Haven article in Houma Courier's Big Fun on the Bayou Section
Thank you Jenna for an awesome interview!!
Spanish Riding School
Check out this amazing video of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna...awe-inspiring!!!
Check out the 2011 USEF Pony Finals
2011 USEF Pony Finals video coverage and results ...
http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2011PonyFinals/
Congratulations to all the riders for their year-round hard work and dedication!!
NARHA Is Now PATH International
NARHA is now officially the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.The new website is: www.pathintl.org.
While volunteering for a Therapeutic Riding Program, I witnessed the extraordinary physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits horses can provide for children and adults with special needs.
Please join me in helping this worthy organization. With every purchase of Hope Haven, you will be helping PATH Intl., formerly NARHA, continue to advocate for safe equine-assisted activities and therapies for people with special needs.
Hope Haven: A Novel by Victoria E. Mora
Over a decade ago, I met a young man at a NASCAR race in Virginia. Our conversation turned from race cars to horses. At the time I owned two horses that I competed with in the hunter/jumper divisions. I was surprised to learn that this young man rode horses too—surprised because he was using a walker. He explained that he had spent his youth in a wheelchair, but through therapeutic riding he had learned how to walk. Wow! All the years I’d ridden horses, and I’d never even heard of therapeutic riding. Riding had always been a huge part of my life, but I didn’t realize how life-changing horses could be for people with special needs.
Some time later, I was working in Atlanta, but I had plenty of spare time on my hands. After a bit of research, I learned about the therapeutic riding program at Chastain Horse Park. I soon became a volunteer there, and always, that young man I’d met at the NASCAR race stayed in the back of my mind. I knew that one day I would write a story to share his hope and inspiration.
As an author, I hope that my writing makes a difference in the lives of my readers, even if only in small way. If even one person laughs, feels less alone, or finds encouragement, then writing this novel will have been worthwhile. I wanted to give my readers the opportunity to make a difference too, which is why I’ve partnered with NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association). With every purchase of Hope Haven, readers will be helping NARHA continue to advocate for safe equine-assisted activities and therapies for people with special needs.
NARHA, a federally-registered 501(c3) nonprofit, was formed in 1969 as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association to promote equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs. With over 3,500 certified instructors and 800 member centers around the globe, more than 6,500 NARHA members help more than 42,000 children and adults with physical, mental, and emotional challenges find strength and independence through the power of the horse each year. To learn more, please visit http://narha.org/.
About Me
Victoria E. MoraVictoria E. Mora grew up in New Orleans, LA. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Scripps Women’s College in Claremont, California. She currently splits her time between Louisiana and Georgia.
Search
Tags
- Christian (1)
- God (1)
- NARHA (1)
- cancer (1)
- church (1)
- coming of age (1)
- death (1)
- divorce (1)
- dying (1)
- equine therapy (1)
- View all 34 tags »
