Carol: What are your New Year resolutions
for your book goals in 2009?
Barbara: Last year, I challenged myself
to learn more about my craft and decided to return
to school. Enjoying a new semester right now!
Carol: What can you tell us about yourself?
Barbara: I’m an avid reader/writer living
in Salt Lick, Kentucky with a wonderful hubby,
two precocious boys, and a yard full of furry
friends.
Carol: What is the name of your current book
and give a synopsis of it?
Barbara: I’m currently working on a screenplay
for a college course and it does not have a title
yet. It’s so exciting to step out of my comfort
zone and work with a new style.
Carol: Who is your publisher and how do you
feel about this publisher? Would you recommend
this publisher to other aspiring authors?
Barbara: As I write mainly narrative non-fiction
and general non-fiction, I don’t "belong" to any
one publishing house, I also write articles, fillers,
and narrative stories for magazines. I have a
popular frugal-living book with McGraw Hill,
The Mom’s Guide to Earning and Saving Thousands
on the Internet (ISBN 0071457763) The
editors at McGraw Hill were wonderful to work
with during the production this helpful guide.
Carol: What is your publishing journey? How
did you get started in writing?
Barbara: I don’t recall when I first started
writing, but I have scribbles from as far back
as first grade. I began reading at the age of
4 and I’ve been in love with the craft ever since.
Writing for "a living" began in my late twenties
when I started writing curriculum manuals which
eventually led me to explore writing for newspapers
and local magazines. It was then a natural progression
to mainstream publishing.
Carol: Do you have an agent? If so, why and
why not?
Barbara: I did but the relationship wasn’t
a good fit. The most important key, for me, in
an agent-author relationship is that the agent
works for the author and also helps develop a
plan of action (a vision per se) If this is non-existent,
then in my opinion, the writer is actually better
off without an agent. When the time comes that
I find a need for one, I would consider entering
into a business relationship with an agent again,
but I would take a lot more time to interview,
research, check references, and meet the agent
first before committing to the partnership.
Carol: Did you self-publish or go the traditional
route?
Barbara: I went the traditional route
first, but did (by naivety) wind up publishing
with a publisher that bordered dangerously close
to being a vanity press. It was a terrific learning
experience, and a somewhat lucrative one, though.
I would do over again, but this time with a wiser
approach. Whether one makes a living writing by
self-publishing or traditional routes, what matters
is that the writer understands the relationship
they are entering with the publisher: the rights,
and the responsibilities of the publishing path
chosen.
Carol: What are your New Year resolutions
for your book goals in 2009?
Barbara: Last year, I challenged myself
to learn more about my craft and decided to return
to school. Enjoying a new semester right now!
Carol: What are your views on the writers
of today?
Barbara: They are lovely and diverse!
And isn’t that what makes us readers keep coming
back for more? To discover new voices and new
ideas is divine.
Carol: Who is your favorite author and why?
Barbara: I adore many authors but Joel
Osteen, Dean Koontz and Alice Hoffman rise to
the top of my list. Joel Osteen offers powerful,
uplifting messages and a friendly style of writing
that I appreciate. Dean Koontz offers the most
riveting brain candy with a soulful message. Alice
Hoffman, in my opinion, simply said, is the best
lyrical writer of my generation.
Carol: How do you feel about writing?
Barbara: This question gave me pause because
I don’t really feel about writing, per se, it’s
such a part of who I am, that it is joy, sorrow,
love, anger, and all the emotions of my being.
Carol: Is writing a hobby or a full-time goal?
Barbara: I don’t view it as just a goal
or a hobby, it’s a little of both and some gray-shaded
areas, too. I have writing goals and then there
are some aspects of writing that are a hobby for
me, such as poetry.
Carol: What is your genre of writing? Explain.
Barbara: I’m most passionate about paranormal/fantasy
in the fiction genre. In non-fiction I enjoy writing
true stories, frugal living, parenting, education,
and entertainment topics.
Carol: What are your other published books?
Barbara: Recent publications include:
The Mom's Guide to Earning and Saving Thousands
on the Internet (ISBN 0071457763)
And contributsions to:
A Cup of Comfort for Weddings: Something Old,
Something New (Anthology)
Stories of Strength (Anthology)
Carol: Who inspires you to write and why?
Barbara: Many people have given me encouragement
along the way, particularly my teachers throughout
my school years, but mainly, it’s life—everything
about this amazing universe—that inspires
me each day. I’m fortunate to experience the miracle!
Carol: Do you write short stories and poems?
Barbara: Yes, I’m particularly fond of
writing in both genres.
Carol: Have your stories ever been in an anthology?
Why or why not?
Barbara: Yes, and I Confess 3 is
the 9th anthology my short story work appears
in.
Carol: Have you done a book signing? If so,
was it successful?
Barbara: Yes, several. Define success?
My books sold out, I learned from each one, and
I had many, fun conversations with lovely people...
so yes, to me they were all a wonderful success!
Carol: What voice do you write in and why?
Barbara: My own ☺ because it is
the one God gifted me with.
Carol: What advice would you give to other
writers?
Barbara: Write and persevere!
Carol: You have to write constantly to keep
honing your craft and of course, to keep producing
material.
Barbara: You must believe in yourself
and your writing and keep pushing the boundaries.
Believe! Most of all, you must believe in your
magical prose.
Carol: Do you have a website? If so, please
showcase it to our readers?
Barbara:
Carol: What is your email address where readers
can learn all about you and your books?
Barbara: Readers may contact me at my
Yahoo address
Carol: Have you attended any writing classes,
or workshops? If so, explain.
Barbara: Many! There is always something
new to be learned and I love the "ah-ha" moments.
Carol: How do you come up with your stories?
Barbara: By living and experiencing all
life has to offer.
Carol: Do you write them in long hand, on
the computer, or does someone type them for you?
Barbara: I write in long-hand and on the
computer. It depends on what mood my muse is in
that day
Carol: What book are you reading now? Give
the title, the author, and a synopsis.
Barbara: I wish, wish, wish I was reading
something other than a college text book right
now. I’m really looking forward to catching up
on my leisure reading again next summer
Carol: If you had three wishes, what would
they be and why?
Barbara: I’d wish for a brighter world
with less pain and strife and a better economy
for all.
I’d wish for God’s love to fill every heart with
hope and kindness.
I’d wish for everyone who reads this to be blessed
by all the joy and wonder life has to offer!
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