Barbara is incredibly friendly. I loved exchanging e-mails with her and reading her positive responses to everything I asked her. She has truly been a delight to "talk" to.
Linda:
Who is your favorite character in The Secret of Lies and why?
Barbara:
Although there are things I feel drawn to in each of my characters, I loved writing Stevie. I am saddened by her losses, understanding of her torments, sorry for her foolish choices and regrets. I so wanted to help her navigate her heartache and alleviate her feeling of guilt, but she nevertheless needed to do things her way and experience the consequences of her actions in order to heal. While her flaws are not necessarily my flaws, I identified with her struggles and uncertainties.
Linda:
Do you outline your books before you start writing or does the story come together as you write?
Barbara:
I have attempted to outline when an idea first shows itself simply because I thought I should. But I’ve come to recognize and subsequently respect that I’m pretty much a seat-of-my-pants storyteller. As characters deepen in my thoughts and develop, they truly take over and lead me into their stories rather than the other way around. And I love that about writing—the true sense that I am being carried by the developing story and characters, rather than conscientiously plotting and planning. It makes for something of a grand adventure!
Linda:
What project(s) are you currently working on?
Barbara:
I have two novels I am now working to fine-tune and another waiting for an A-Z rewrite. I have a wonderfully supportive agent who has been something of an invaluable writing instructor along the way. She’s tough (Seriously, another rewrite?), but incredibly wise. I trust her instincts, experience, and wisdom, and so feel inspired to work hard. All of which means rewriting, rewording, and rearranging as often as it takes until she says, “Okay, we’re ready to go!”
Linda:
What is your latest news (does not have to be book related)?
Barbara:
Hum…I have four children and as any mother knows, so much of our happy, thrilling, grinning-ear-to-ear news begins and ends with our kids. Honestly, but I am forever thrilled by their accomplishments. My own news never sounds so exciting, but I have to say I am feeling pretty giddy because I’m on the final stretch of a novel I’ve been writing and rewriting for several years and I feel like I’ve finally gotten it right and that’s just an amazing feeling.
Linda:
For the moms out there who are struggling to find time to write, what is the best advice that you have for them?
Barbara:
I started writing the Secret of Lies over 20 years ago. I had no idea what I was doing, I just knew I had a passion for writing and it wasn’t going away in the midst of running a household and raising my children. When I first started seriously writing my two older girls where very young and my third daughter was a baby. I would write in the afternoons during naptime and that was just enough to plant the seed and keep it growing. I think it’s important to understand that we have the capabilities to make things happen if we’re willing to take that first step and then keep on going. Regardless of how impossible your life schedule looks in comparison to your dreams, truly, there is a way. If you want it enough, you can make it happen. Small strides eventually add up to equal a mile—and then another. One or two hours a day, or a week, will grow into something larger if you just keep at it.
Linda:
What do you do when you aren't reading or writing?
Barbara:
I’m a bit anal and like my life neat and tidy. I like a clean house, tidy closets, healthy home-cooked meals, and I don’t balk at working on a schedule. It’s the only way I can accomplish everything I aspire to. I love fashion, poking around flea markets for vintage treasures, sewing, gardening, making unique things with bits of found items. I teach a 3rd grade CCD class at my church on Monday afternoons and attend a bible study two nights a week. I rarely have idle time, which is just as well since I have no idea what I’d do with it if I did.
Linda:
Wacky Question: Do you get road rage? What is your pet peeve about other drivers?
Barbara:
I don’t get full-on, crazy lady road rage, but I am something of an impatient driver. When someone cuts me off in traffic or a parking lot and the first thing I notice is that the driver is talking on a cell phone—well, it brings a certain heat racing up into the roots of my hair. So many drivers seem terribly distracted behind the wheel and that’s just horribly unfair to everyone else on the road around them. The thought of being a victim as a result of someone’s head-in-the-clouds-negligence is just lousy.
Now, in case you missed it, I reviewed her debut novel, The Secret of Lies, yesterday. If you would like to learn more about her then you can visit her website here.
2 comments:
She sounds really cool. That was really fun to read!
It was really fun to do too. I'm glad you enjoyed it!! :)
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