Multi-award-winning author and lifelong horse enthusiast, Laura Holt-Haslam, writes uplifting novels for tweens and horse lovers of all ages, inspiring them to be more courageous, compassionate, and resilient.
While horses play an important role in her stories, the heart of her writing revolves around themes of friendship, family, and the healing power of love and forgiveness. Her stories feature relatable, diverse characters who model integrity as they work hard to overcome challenges and achieve their dreams.
Laura is the mother of two adult children. She lives in Southern Maine with her husband, adult son, and two adorably naughty cats. She and her daughter share ownership of Max, a 30-year-old palomino miniature horse who loves to jump.
Max and his best friend, Tater Tot, are the spokesponies for River Pony Press.
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Emily’s adventure begins in this first book of the series.
Emily Edwards knows everything there is to know about horses.
There’s just one problem—she’s never ridden one.
Twelve-year-old Emily has spent years preparing for her equestrian future. She’s devoured horse books, memorized riding techniques, and watched more how-to videos than she can count. When she wins an essay contest and earns a scholarship to a week of horse camp, she knows it’s the moment she’s been waiting for.
At camp, Emily is eager to shine. But the no-nonsense head instructor isn’t impressed by how much Emily knows—only by what she can do in the saddle. As Emily struggles to turn book knowledge into real-life skills, she begins to realize that becoming an equestrian extraordinaire will require more than knowing the right answers.
Determined to make a friend, Emily soon discovers that fitting in is harder than she imagined—and finding her place might be her biggest challenge yet.
Emily Edwards Equestrian Extraordinaire is a fun, heartfelt middle-grade novel about confidence, perseverance, and discovering that there’s more than one way to become extraordinary.
2022 Winnie Award Winner, Young Adult English Riding, Equus Film and Arts Festival.
This book is available for purchase directly from the author or from Amazon and most other online book retailers.
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Book Two of Emily Edwards Equestrian Extraordinaire.
Emily Edwards knows when something is wrong—
and she refuses to look away.
After a week at horse camp making friends and bonding with her favorite horse, Calypso, Emily should be riding home on a high. Instead, she can’t shake a growing sense of worry. What will happen to the fiery chestnut when the summer ends?
The thought of Calypso being sent somewhere unknown feels wrong, and Emily can’t ignore it. While others seem ready to trust that everything will work out, Emily refuses to stand by and do nothing when a horse she loves might be in danger.
At home, Emily already carries more than most kids her age. Her father’s worsening illness and the tension of living in a crowded household leave little room for risky ideas—or big hopes. Certain her plans will be shut down before she can explain them, Emily keeps her worries to herself, working harder than she ever has before—and holding onto a secret that feels far too big for one girl to carry.
Emily Edwards to the Rescue is a heartfelt middle-grade novel about loyalty, courage, and the cost of standing up for what you know is right.
This book is available for purchase directly from the author or from Amazon and most other online book retailers.
find on major retailersSome losses leave you without words. Sometimes, kindness helps you find your voice.
Twelve-year-old Malachi often feels isolated. His stutter makes words hard to form and friendships hard to begin, leaving him most at ease with his loyal dog, Sunny—who understands him without words. When Sunny is gone, Mal is left alone with a grief he doesn’t know how to express.
Overwhelmed with sorrow, Mal wanders alone, unsure where he’s headed. Hearing a horse’s whinnies nearby, he follows the sound to a pasture, where he discovers a pregnant mare confined without food or water. Convinced Sunny has somehow led him to her, Mal commits to keeping the horse safe until her foal is born.
When Mal trusts a classmate with his secret, he takes a risk that feels far more dangerous than speaking out loud. But as a cautious friendship begins to grow, caring for the mare and her newborn foal helps Mal find the courage to speak up when it matters and stand firm for what he knows is right.
Sundance is a tender middle-grade novella about grief, friendship, and finding your voice—even when words don’t come easily.
2023 Winnie Award Winner, Young Adult Rescue Stories
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Book One of Sofia’s Story
All Sofia wants for Christmas is a horse.
What she needs is warmth, belonging, and a family that can heal.
When her mother runs out of ways to keep their trailer warm, nine-year-old Sofia Ruiz is sent away to spend the holiday with a grandmother she barely knows. The silence between the adults in her life goes unexplained, and Sofia has learned not to ask questions she can’t bear the answers to.
Sofia’s unease turns to cautious wonder when she discovers a horse in her grandmother’s old barn. Taking on daily chores and learning to keep going—even when things feel uncertain—gives Sofia something steady to hold onto.
But as Sofia starts to feel at home, old hurts resurface. The adults she loves are trapped in the past, and Sofia is caught in the middle—wanting peace, fearing loss, and discovering that some wishes come with impossible choices.
Sofia’s Surprise is a tender middle-grade novel about loneliness, resilience, and the quiet courage it takes to hope for healing when forgiveness feels out of reach.
Winnie Award winner, Young Adult Overall runner-up, 2021 Equus Film and Arts Festival, 2021
This book is available for purchase directly from the author or from Amazon and most other online book retailers.
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Book Two of Sofia’s Story
Sofia finally has the one thing she’s always wanted—a horse of her own. But just weeks before her eleventh birthday, her life is torn apart.
When her mother abruptly tells her to pack, Sofia is forced to leave her horse behind. She’s sent to live far from everything she knows, leaving her uprooted—lonely, anxious, and aching for the home she was just beginning to trust.
While exploring on her own, Sofia discovers the neighbor’s miniature horses and follows her curiosity where it leads. With encouragement from a new friend, she helps revive the Mini Whinnies Horse Club. Along the way, Sofia connects with Olivia, quick-tempered and determined, and her twin brother Ryan, who is afraid of horses.
As Sofia’s bond with her new friends grows, so does the pull of the life she left behind. Torn between where she was and where she is, Sofia must face a difficult question: is home a place you return to—or something you learn to claim for yourself?
A Place for Sofia is a tender middle-grade horse novel about friendship, belonging, and discovering family in unexpected places.
This book is available for purchase directly from the author or from Amazon and most other online book retailers.
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Book Three in Sofia’s Story
Being reunited with Sundance should feel like a happy ending. Instead, it tests trust in ways Sofia never expected.
When an accident shakes Sundance’s confidence, Sofia is forced to confront what trust really means. Rebuilding it with her horse takes patience, humility, and courage—but trust proves fragile elsewhere, too. Friendships grow complicated, standing up for herself feels risky, and at home, unspoken fears and half-truths leave Sofia wondering how much honesty is safe.
Sofia’s world shifts again when a letter tied to her estranged father arrives, raising questions she’s never dared to ask. Afraid of what the truth might cost, Sofia keeps the letter to herself, torn between protecting the life she’s worked so hard to build and uncovering a past that still has the power to hurt her.
As trust is tested with her horse, her friends, and her family, Sofia must decide who is worthy of her trust—and who she can become when she trusts herself.
Sofia and Sundance is a heartfelt middle-grade novel about trust, boundaries, and the courage it takes to grow into yourself.
This book is available for purchase directly from the author or from Amazon and most other online book retailers.
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Book 4 in Sofia’s Story
Growing up means making tough choices—and learning to live with them.
When Sofia is offered the chance to ride the carriage trails of Acadia National Park with Sundance, it feels like a dream come true. That joy falters when she realizes she must choose which friend to bring—knowing the wrong choice could cost her a friendship.
As pressure builds, Sofia finds herself pulled in too many directions. Friendships feel fragile, expectations pile up, and figuring out what kind of relationship she wants with her father brings more questions than answers—about trust, forgiveness, and what she truly wants.
Sofia must decide whether to keep trying to make everyone else happy—or trust herself enough to choose what feels right, even if it means disappointing someone she loves.
Sofia’s Choice is a thoughtful middle-grade novel about friendship, family, and the courage it takes to choose for yourself when the path forward isn’t clear.
Reading Level: grades 4-7; ages 9-12
Contains no swearing or violence. A side character experiences an innocent crush.
Sofia’s Choice is available for purchase directly from the author or from Amazon and most other online book retailers.
find on major retailersSaddle Up Your Gratitude with this guided gratitude journal!
Studies show that practicing gratitude leads to greater happiness, improved relationships, higher self-esteem, reduced stress, and better overall well-being.
Cultivate a mindset of positivity, compassion, and hoof-stomping gratitude with this guided journal designed especially for horse-loving tweens. Invite your equine companions to inspire you as you celebrate life’s everyday blessings, extend acts of kindness and generosity, and express heartfelt appreciation to those around you.
Carefully crafted writing prompts will guide you to express your thoughts and feelings and uncover your inner gratitude. Most journal pages include delightful horse illustrations to color and decorate, making each page a reflection of your unique style.
Embark on a journey where thankfulness and the love of horses gallop together, unleashing the life-changing power of gratitude that resonates within you and radiates to those around you.
For ages 8 and up.
This book is available for purchase directly from the author or from Amazon and most other online book retailers.
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Unleash Your Gratitude with the “Pawsitively Grateful” Guided Journal!
Studies show that practicing gratitude leads to greater happiness, improved relationships, higher self-esteem, reduced stress, and better performance in school.
Cultivate a mindset of positivity, compassion, and tail-wagging gratitude with this guided journal designed especially for dog-loving tweens. Invite your furry companions to inspire you as you celebrate life’s everyday blessings, show kindness and generosity, and express heartfelt appreciation to those around you.
Carefully crafted writing prompts will guide you to express your thoughts and feelings and uncover your inner gratitude. Most journal pages include delightful dog illustrations to color and decorate, making each page a reflection of your unique style.
Embark on a journey where thankfulness and the love for dogs intertwine, unleashing the life-changing power of gratitude that resonates within you and radiates to those around you.
For ages 8 and up.
Pawsitively Grateful is available for purchase directly from the author or from Amazon and most other online book retailers.
find on major retailersExplore Your Inner Catitude with the “Purrfectly Grateful” Guided Journal!
Studies show that practicing gratitude leads to greater happiness, improved relationships, higher self-esteem, reduced stress, and better performance in school.
Cultivate a mindset of positivity, compassion, and whisker-twitching gratitude with this guided journal designed especially for cat-loving tweens. Invite your feline friends to inspire you as you celebrate life’s everyday blessings, extend acts of kindness and generosity, and express heartfelt appreciation to those around you.
Carefully crafted writing prompts will guide you to express your thoughts and feelings and uncover your inner gratitude. Most journal pages include delightful cat illustrations to color and decorate, making each page a reflection of your unique style.
Embark on a journey where thankfulness and the love for cats intertwine, unleashing the life-changing power of gratitude that resonates within you and radiates to those around you.
For ages 8 and up.
Purrfectly Grateful is available for purchase directly from the author or from Amazon and most other online book retailers.
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