Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Horseman.
Hi Natalie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
For most of my career, I never imagined introducing myself as an author. I have spent more than twenty years as a nurse and healthcare leader, focusing on education, quality improvement, and helping teams deliver the best possible care. It continues to be incredibly meaningful work that has taught me the importance of empathy, resilience, and paying attention to the details that often make the biggest difference. Those lessons continue to influence both my work in healthcare and the stories I write.
Long before I wrote my first children’s book, I had dreamed about becoming an author. In many ways, I have wanted to write for just as long as I have wanted to be a nurse. Reading was a huge part of my childhood, and some of my favorite memories are story time with my mom, my aunt, and my grandma. Every summer, I was the kid leaving the library with a towering stack of books, determined to complete every reading challenge I could. I was also given so many beautiful books over the years, many of them lovingly signed with handwritten notes that I still treasure today.
When I began thinking about writing a children’s book, I realized I wasn’t just writing a story. I wanted to create an experience. My hope was to write a book that would give children and the adults reading with them the same kind of special memories that books gave me growing up.
For years, though, I kept telling myself I would write “one day.” One day turned into months, and months turned into years as I waited for the perfect time. Finally, in 2023, I realized the perfect time was never going to arrive. I was tired of my own excuses, so I sat down and wrote my first draft.
Then I found myself facing a new challenge. I had written a book, but I had no idea how to publish one. The manuscript sat untouched until 2024, when I connected with an editor who became an incredible mentor. She patiently guided me through the publishing process, answered countless questions, and gave me the confidence to move forward. That journey led to the release of my first children’s book in November 2024 and opened the door to everything that has followed since.
Writing that first book began as an attempt to achieve a goal I had set for myself many years earlier. It quickly became something much bigger. I discovered that I loved creating stories that could make readers laugh, think, and see the world from a different perspective. That passion led to several children’s books centered on themes of kindness, belonging, and celebrating differences.
As I continued writing, another side of my imagination began to emerge. I found myself drawn to darker, more atmospheric stories, which ultimately led me to write Blackwater Parish, a Southern Gothic psychological thriller that was recently released. While the genres could not be more different, they are both driven by the same purpose. Whether I am writing for children or adults, I hope to create stories that draw readers in, stay with them long after the final page, and perhaps even become part of the memories they share with the people they love.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being an author reminds me a lot of riding the Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Over Georgia back in the ’80s. The slow climb to the top is filled with nervous anticipation. You finally reach the peak, equal parts terrified and exhilarated. Then comes the rapid descent where you question every decision you’ve ever made. After a brief stretch of smooth track, you’re already dreaming about the next story before another twist or unexpected dip reminds you that publishing is never predictable. And yet, when the ride finally comes to an end, all you can think is, “Let’s do it again.”
That’s what writing feels like to me. It’s a wild, emotional, unpredictable journey, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
One of the biggest surprises was realizing that writing the book was only the beginning. As an independent author, you’re not just a writer. You’re also the publisher, project manager, formatter, marketer, website designer, newsletter creator, graphic designer, and often your own tech support.
I have spent countless hours researching, watching tutorials, reading forums, and teaching myself the many skills that come with independent publishing. From book production and graphic design to websites, marketing, and business operations, every step required learning something new. There have been plenty of trial-and-error moments and more than a few “oops” moments along the way. Every mistake taught me something I didn’t know the day before.
I also had to learn how to write for completely different audiences. Creating an engaging picture book for young children requires a very different approach than writing a book for adults. I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with talented illustrators, editors, and other publishing professionals, each of whom has helped me grow as both a writer and a publisher.
Perhaps the biggest lesson has been learning the importance of grassroots marketing. Independent authors don’t have a large publishing house introducing their books to readers, so building authentic relationships becomes incredibly important. Connecting with readers, supporting other authors, showing up consistently, and sharing both the successes and the setbacks have become some of the most rewarding parts of the journey.
The road certainly hasn’t been smooth, but every challenge has made me a better writer, a better publisher, and a better entrepreneur. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Today, I write stories for readers of all ages. My books range from children’s picture books that celebrate kindness, belonging, and imagination to Southern Gothic psychological thrillers that explore secrets, resilience, and the complexities of human nature. While the genres are very different, every story I write is centered around creating an experience that stays with the reader long after the final page.
My first children’s picture book was Goat on the Go: Scout’s Muddy Day. One of my favorite fun facts is that Scout is a real goat. He lives at the wonderful Spring Haven Farm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he has earned a reputation as the mischievous escape artist who is always finding his way out of his pen. His playful personality has inspired an entire series that now includes Scout’s Delicious Day and Scout’s Rainy Day, with another adventure already in the works.
I have also written two standalone picture books. The Bumpy Pumpkin encourages children to embrace what makes them unique, while In the Wide, Wild World is a gentle, rhyming celebration of the many ways a family can be made. The story highlights adoptive, foster, blended, single-parent, grandparent-led, interracial, multigenerational, and LGBTQ+ families, reminding children that while every family may look different, they are all united by love.
Most recently, I ventured into adult fiction with Blackwater Parish, the first novel in my A Southern Lady’s Guide to Revenge series. The story explores power, manipulation, memory, and the strength it takes to reclaim your voice.
If I’m being honest, I still struggle with what I call the “P word.” Proud. Feeling proud of my own accomplishments has never come naturally to me. I’m much more comfortable celebrating someone else’s successes than taking a moment to recognize my own. I’m usually already thinking about the next project or all the things I could have done better.
When I look back over the past few years, though, I am incredibly grateful that I finally gave myself permission to pursue something I had dreamed about for decades. It took me a long time to get to that point. The truth is, I was never really ready. I finally realized I probably never would be, so I dove in and told myself I would figure it out as I went.
That one decision didn’t simply result in a few published books. It opened the door to a creative side of myself that I didn’t fully realize was there. Writing has become an outlet that complements every other part of my life. It has challenged me, inspired me, and lit up a part of my brain that clearly had a lot to say.
I still love being a nurse, and I cannot imagine not doing that work. Healthcare will always be a part of who I am. Becoming an author didn’t change that. Instead, it expanded who I am. It has given me another way to connect with people, tell meaningful stories, and continue learning every single day.
Looking back, I think what sets me apart is that I never waited until I had everything figured out. I started before I felt ready, embraced every challenge as an opportunity to learn, and accepted that making mistakes was simply part of the journey. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, and I still have so much to learn, but I wake up every day excited to keep growing. Even when this journey is unpredictable or makes me a little nervous, I’m always ready to get back in line for another ride.
What does success mean to you?
Success has changed a lot for me over the years. Early on, I measured success by checking boxes, reaching goals, and wondering what came next. Becoming an author has taught me to look at it differently.
Today, I define success by impact. If a child asks to read one of my picture books again before bed, that’s success. If a family creates a special memory together while reading one of my stories, that’s success. If a reader stays up far too late because they can’t put down Blackwater Parish, that’s success.
Success is also having the courage to pursue something that once felt impossible. For years, I dreamed about writing a book but convinced myself the timing wasn’t right. Now, every time I sit down to write, learn a new publishing skill, or help another author navigate their own journey, I feel successful because I’m doing something I genuinely love.
Of course, I would be thrilled to see my books on bestseller lists someday, but those aren’t the things that keep me writing. What matters most to me is creating stories that connect with readers, spark conversations, create memories, and perhaps inspire someone else to finally pursue the dream they’ve been putting off.
If one person finishes reading my story and thinks, “I’m so glad I picked up this book,” then I consider that a success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nataliehorseman.com/ and https://www.goatonthegobooks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliehorsemanbooks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nataliehorsemanauthor
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-horseman
- Email: info@horsemanbooks.com
