Barri Bryan’s Heart Lays Deep Within Texas
Barri grew up
during the thirties. Her formative years were spent in a small town in West
Texas. Life was simple then. She could accept what was without questioning what
would be, or wishing for what would never come to pass. She sensed there was a
world beyond my limited horizon. but it seemed remote and far away. That
horizon began to expand and move nearer when she discovered reading and books.
Barri’s dad
taught her to read before she started to school; thus began her journey. In the
seventh grade, she found the Bronte sisters and fell in love with romantic
novels. Since then, she’s been an avid fan of happy-ever-tales.
Today Barri
is a wife, a mother of three, and a grandmother to seven wonderful
grandchildren. She’s also a former teacher and educator and a published author
with over twenty novels, four books of poetry, numerous essays and short
stories, and one how-to-write book to my credit.
Barri has a
graduate degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas, and
holds six valid teacher certifications.
Barri’s writing
career began late in life, writing her first book in 1990. Her first romance
was published in 1998 and writes the kind of books she enjoys reading --- romantic
tales about relationships; stories that explore feelings and probe emotions.
The plots revolve around ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances
and faced with difficult decisions.
Barri likes
poetry, George Strait’s music, old movies and Earl Grey tea. Her many hobbies
are reading, quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, taking long walks, and
growing house plants.
Could you please start by telling us
a little about yourself.
I can’t
remember a time I didn’t want to be a writer. I am an octogenarian. I am not an
extraordinary person, but my life’s journey has been extraordinary in many
ways. I have stood on the sidelines of history and watched a rapidly changing
world’s passing, panoramic parade. My personal life has embraced change,
struggle, difficulty, and an enduring love. I’ve had my share of happiness.
There has been tragedy too. I have known misfortune and heartbreak. I have
gambled and often lost, but sometimes won. There are so many things I would go
back and change, if I could. I have pretty well come to terms with both my
capabilities and my limitations.
How much research do you do for your
books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?
I do a
tremendous amount of research, especially when I write historicals. I am always
finding tidbits that interest me. When I researched for my novel Renegade, I discovered that Texas men in
the 1830’s didn’t wear cowboy boots. Most of them wore moccasins. A few wore
brogans. When I researched for my novel Changeless
as the Heavens, set in 1944, I was surprised to learn that during WWII
gasoline was rationed, not to save gasoline, but to save tires that were made
of rubber, which was a scarce commodity. My research for my novel Wish on the Moon revealed that in 1906
it was considered disgraceful for a woman to go out in public without wearing a
corset under her other clothing. My WIP is set in 1966. There were no seat
belts in cars in 1966.
What main genre do you write in?
I write
romances. Many of my romances are historicals set during a specific decade in
the twentieth century. I write some contemporaries, and some historicals set in
the nineteenth century.
I also write
verse. My poetry is eclectic. I write about what speaks to my heart and
quickens my insight.
What are your hobbies?
I enjoy reading. I like both fiction and nonfiction. I’m an
avid Texas History buff. I read anything I can find about the history of The
Lone Star State. I enjoy Regency Romances if they are historically correct and
well written. I’m a fan of C. S. Lewis. I read Victorian poetry. I especially
like Christina Rosette and Emily Dickinson.
I love taking long walks. That’s when I do much of my planning and
problem solving for my writing. I raise house plants and herbs. I love crafts and handwork. I knit, crochet,
and quilt.
If you had to choose one person to
have dinner with, who would it be? And why?
If I had to
choose one person to have dinner with it would be Christina Rossetti. Of all
the poetical voices that echo down through the ages, none rings more sweetly in
my ear or resounds with more clearly through my senses than this Victorian
spinster’s lyrical compositions. Oh, the questions I would like to ask that
lady, not only about her work, but about her personal life also.
What is your writing process? Do you
outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?
The first
thing I do is make character sketches of my main characters. I need to know
them well before I begin writing about them. Then I outline, by chapter, the
story I have in mind. After that, I do much of my research for the story. This
gives me a feeling of where I am and where I want to go. I don’t always go in
that direction. I have been known to do a 180 degree turn and take another path.
Would it be safe to say I combine the two?
Current Release Details:
My current
release is entitled For Jenny’s Sake.”
It is a contemporary romance set in a small town in South Texas. It’s published
by Desert Breeze Publishing.
Can you please give us a sneak peek
at any of your upcoming books?
I have a book
titled Renegade that is scheduled to
be published by Desert Breeze Publishing in January of 2014.The story is set in
the little village of San Antonio de Bexar the year after the fall of the Alamo.
What is the best and worst advice you
have ever received?
The best writing advice I ever
received was from the teacher whose name I can’t recall. She was the instructor
in an adult education class I took several years ago. She began her class by
saying, “Be honest with yourself so you can be honest with your readers.” I
thought that was a strange opening statement for the teacher of a course
titled: How to Write Short Fiction. She
wasn’t speaking of literal truths, but personal truths. Throughout much of my
writing career, I have tried to stay true to that premise. Memorable, moving
books are not written from a sense of anything but the writer’s deepest and
most honest convictions.
The worst
advice I ever had was, “Sit down and write what you feel. As you move along,
the story will unfold in your mind. All you have to do is write it down.” Maybe
that works for some. It doesn’t for me. I need structure and purpose.
What was your first published work
and when was it published?
My first
published book was titled A love Like
Mine. It was published in 1998 by new Concepts Publishing.
What would be the best way for
readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog?
Message Board? Group?
Ø Website: http://barribryan.com/
Ø Blog: http://barribryan.com/blog/
Ø Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrriBryan?ref=hl
Ø Twitter: https://twitter.com/texpoet
Ø Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/louhou85/
Gabe Harrow
has never recovered from his ex-wife’s flight to oblivion, and he’s never
forgiven her for disappearing without leaving a trace. She’s back now and
determined to take from him the one thing that gives his life meaning, his
daughter Jenny. But then, she’s Erin’s daughter too.
