Q and A with Barbara

PERSONAL STUFF:
Challenges and rewards of a writing career
Do you have any regrets about your career as a writer?

Sure. I wish I had started sooner. I wish there were more hours in a day. I wish I was a better writer.

Has writing taken more time and energy than you expected or wanted to give to it?
Actually, yes. When I'm writing a book, I can't seem to turn off the characters and their plot. They're with me round the clock, seven days a week. There are days when I wish I worked nine-to-five and could just come home, put it all out of my mind, and relax.
What keeps you writing?

The contract I signed? The money I get? These may both be factors, but they are minor ones. If I worked solely for the money, my books would show it. We've all read books like that. Right?

Two things, really, keep me going. First, I love playing with words. There is nothing more satisfying than writing a passage, editing it and re-editing it until every last word fits smoothly, neatly, and rhythmically—then reading the whole thing and thinking, "Wow, that's nice." It's a puzzle. The moment when all of the pieces come together is magical.

Second, my readers keep me going. I work in solitude, some of the time thinking that no one but me ever sees that magical passage. Then I get feedback from you all, and any frustrations I feel regarding the down-side of this career (the business side, the traveling, the fighting for placement in bookstores) go right out the window. Knowing that I touch so many people is mind-blowing. Come the day when that stops happening—when my books fail to move readers—I'll pull the plug on my computer.

What does your family think of your writing?
My family has been supportive of my work from Day One. Granted, I've always organized my time around their needs. Being self-employed and working at home enables me to do that. Nonetheless, they are eternally enthusiastic, even at times when I know that they have other things on their minds. I'm particularly grateful for this, given that my husband and sons are—well—male. They do love getting into the plotting. And they do love having people spot my books in stores and ask if we're related!

What is your favorite ...

Color? Green. I'm a forest person.

Season? Spring. New Englanders die for spring after the winters we have.

Vacation Destination? Big Sur, hence Coast Road.

Recreational Sport? Kayaking.

Form of Exercise? Aerobics. It's the lesser of the evils.

Entre? Lobster. Cook it any way you like.

Dessert? Strawberry Shortcake. Yum.

Candy? Heath Bar. Wouldn't have made it through pregnancy without them.

Old book? Peyton Place by Grace Metalious. Forget sex. Think character development.

New book? Sentimentally, Three Wishes.

Writing time? AM. I'm definitely a morning person.

Holiday? Thanksgiving, when we're all together, no matter where.