Barri Bryan

Barri Bryan’s Heart Lays Deep Within Texas

Barri Bryan is the pen name for Billie Houston. She acquired a pseudonym at the behest of adult children when they discovered a steamy excerpt from one of her romances at the web site of a publisher.

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 Contact me: http://barribryan.com/contact.php?firstname=Barri&lastname=Bryan

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/

 

Eight years ago Erin Harrow left her hometown in the wake of shame and scandal. She’s back now, as Erin Bennett the rich widow of recently deceased billionaire Sheldon Bennett. She’s returned to claim what is hers and to set the record straight on some very important issues.

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. 

DesertBreezePublishing / Amazon

 

Met RWA® Golden Heart® finalist Diana Layne

Native small town Texan Diana Layne is an award-winning published author and an RWA® Golden Heart® finalist. She's a homeschooling mom of six kids who grew up riding horses and motorcycles, practicing the piano and reading every chance she could. As an only child she kept herself entertained with imaginary playmates and now writes romantic suspense thrillers and historical romances.

What do you do on a typical writing day?

I’m not certain any day is typical. In my fantasies, I have created a perfect, typical day, but reality has yet to live up to the fantasy. Since I’ve always homeschooled and I’m on the last two (though two of the older ones, a DIL and two grandkids live with me), I find it’s easier for me to get up early, like at 4 am early, to get any writing done. Our homeschooling could probably be labeled eclectic, meaning it’s a combination of unschooling and homeschooling. Which means I let the kids sleep as late as they can; no “get up at a certain time, start lessons at a certain time.” The longer they sleep in the mornings, the longer I can write. With the first four kids (who are much older) I had an early riser in the bunch. And now with the last two—yep, I have another early riser. He rarely sleeps past seven. Still, if I’ve managed to haul myself out of bed on time, I can get a couple good hours in before he wakes up. In the winter, it’s a LOT harder getting out of bed that early on a cold morning though. (I live in an old house so I have to light the heaters every morning, until it warms up, it’s pretty danged cold! At least cold for this Texan!)

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Growing up as an only child (and only grandchild), many of my best friends were imaginary. These were the days before cable, computers, video games-heck, the TV only had four channels. So I played a lot with those imaginary friends.

While I wrote to entertain myself, it never occurred to me I could write novels for others to read.  I thought writers were members of special clubs, were super smart and rich, everything I wasn’t. One day when I put the kids down for a nap (at the time I was running a home childcare business and naps were vital then) I picked up my Romantic Times magazine and read an article about RWA. You mean they let normal people write romance? (okay, okay, normal is probably subjective, how many normal people’s best friends are imaginary, right?)

Is there anyone who really mentored or inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published?

The path to publishing was a long and bumpy one, marred by a very bitter divorce which knocked me off balance for a long time. The characters had deserted me, the silence was deafening. And I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to write again.

As they say here in Texas if the horse bucks you off, get up and dust yourself off and climb back on. That sucker bucked me off and I flew through the air and had the wind knocked out of me when I landed flat on my back and hurt so much I didn’t want to move. But I wanted my kids to see that you never give up if you have a dream. So I pulled myself up, dusted myself off and climbed back on that horse.

When you have writer's block how do you break free?

Yeah. Been there a few times. Or twenty. First time it was bad. Scary. What happened, why couldn’t I write?

I read The Artists Way by Julia Cameron, saved my sanity. Morning pages. Hate them. Really. Hate them. Don’t do them anymore but I do something similar, I just don’t call it morning pages. I journal. Write down all I’m feeling, analyze it, figure out where I’m blocked-usually it’s some situation or an emotional reaction to a situation that I’m ignoring and real life has leaked over and destroyed writing life. Writing all that down gets it out of my head so my brain doesn’t have to worry with it like a cat with a toy mouse, and I know I won’t forget about it because it’s all down on paper. At that point, my characters have room to come back and play.

How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

I do however much research is needed. Usually a lot because usually I’m clueless. Why can’t I pick something I know to write about? Like wiping snotty noses or changing diapers… But assassins? Yeah, that’s something a small town homeschooling mom is gonna know about. Sailing a pirate ship? Um, no, my toy bathtub boats sink. Tanning hides? Well, I got my hide tanned a few times when I was a kid, but…tanning an animal hide like the 1800s Native Americans, no clue.

Cool tidbits? I learned how to kill someone with a hat pin. I learned that the Elm tree I wanted cut down because it’s right in the way is actually quite useful in several herbal remedies. And I learned that I’m not made for the seafaring life, I got seasick just researching.

What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

I actually write like I homeschool, half and half. What’s that mean? As I mentioned previously, I do a combination of unschooling and homeschooling, no rigid school schedules here and while we cover basics, the kids are free to explore whatever subjects beyond that make them happy.

For writing, while I look super organized, I have scene sentences on notecards in a notecard notebook after all, they’re actually bare bones sentences and the scene pretty much develops on its own after I start writing the story.

Mainly I start each book with the “sentence” that boils the story down to this: Protagonist with a need vs. antagonist with a need in an interesting setting with a twist. I learned this from Holly Lisle’s course How To Think Sideways, which is a really cool course. Next, I work on scene ideas from that sentence ala Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake method (incidentally Randy starts with a sentence too, I just like how Holly’s is structured). I write each scene sentence on a notecard, file them in my notecard notebook and ready, set, go! (Randy’s also got great Snowflake software but since I do my rough draft writing by hand, I prefer having my notecard notebook by me.)

What I did learn when I wrote Pirate’s Proposal is that if I start off with the wrong sentence, the story will not work, no matter how I organize myself. I had to ditch the first three chapters on my first attempt-so much for all my organization.

Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?

This is from a novella that will be out this month. If you’ve read my romantic suspense The Good Daughter, this is the beginning of the love story of two characters who play a prominent role in The Good Daughter, Nia and Sandro. This isn’t a suspense book, it’s strictly a romance; although since Nia’s still in college it might be classified as one of those New Adult romances. If you haven’t read The Good Daughter, no big deal. Red-Hot Italian will stand on its own.

Nia, the heroine, is a world-class soccer player for the American women, while hero Sandro is an international Italian soccer star. Yeah, you could say like Beckham but Sandro is Italian and if you actually go back in history a couple of decades you can say like Roberto Baggio, who was FIFA World Player of the Year in 1994.

Anyway, Sandro is Nia’s soccer hero, she always studied and emulated his style until it developed as her own and by a fluke of unimaginable luck (at least to her) her soccer coach is Sandro’s uncle. When the Italian national team is in town for a friendly match with the American national team, the uncle invites Sandro over.

Here Sandro and Nia are cleaning up the dinner dishes while coach and his wife are having a very loud argument in the other room.

“I know these dishwashers are supposed to clean without rinsing, but it just seems--”

Nia abruptly cut off her sentence when she realized she was chattering to cover her nervousness and the noise in the other room.  Noise which could no longer be ignored.

She stopped to listen, dried her wet hands on a towel. “Do you know what’s going on out there?”

“Si.”

“Well, come on, don’t keep me in suspense.”

Sandro’s gaze captured hers. “I asked if you could stay the night.” 

Ahhh. Why is Sandro wanting Nia, who he just met earlier that day, to stay the night at his uncle’s house? Is he wanting to be naughty or is it something else?

Do you have a website recommendation for other writers?

Naturally I recommend the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com.  We’re a group of 2009 Golden Heart® finalists who formed the group the day the finalists were announced. It wasn’t long after we started our blog, designed to help other writers. Our motto is: Your sisters on the yellow brick road to writing success.

How can readers find out more about you and your books?

www.dianalayne.com

Nominated for the RWA® Golden Heart® Award

When reality is a web of lies and the truth endangers all you hold dear . . . you Trust No One.

Drafted into the nebulous underworld of a secret agent right out of college, MJ Thornberg survived betrayal and attempted murder at the hands of her trusted partner. Instead of returning to the deadly realm of espionage, she chose to retire to a small Texas town and work as a mechanic while raising her soon-to-be-adopted baby daughter.

Ben Walker is a man with his own secrets. An agent with MJ's former employer, Vista Security, Ben is clawing his way out of a downward spiral from a job gone wrong when Vista sends him after MJ, with orders to use the threat of halting her baby's adoption to ensure her cooperation.

Furious and trusting no one, MJ intends on working the job solo until a sniper's bullet alters her plans. With no choice but to work with Ben, MJ must confront ghosts from her past, discover truths of her present, and trust that the future she deserves is in her hands to create.

 Excerpt / Amazon / Amazon UK

 

CONTEST: $20 Amazon or BN gift card