2007 ~ Winner
RITA Award (Traditional
Category)
Judged by members of The Romance Writers of America
CLAIMING HIS FAMILY
2005 ~ Winner
Romantic Book of the Year Award
Judged by Australian romance readers
HER PLAYBOY CHALLENGE
2005 ~ Winner
CataRomance Reviewers' Choice
Award
THE CATTLEMAN'S ENGLISH ROSE
2004 ~ Finalist
RITA Award (Traditional
Category)
Judged by members of The Romance Writers of America
HER PLAYBOY CHALLENGE
2004 ~ Winner
CataRomance Reviewers' Choice
Awards
A BRIDE AT BIRRALEE
HER SECRET, HIS SON
2004 ~ Finalist
Romantic Book of the Year Award
Judged by Australian romance readers
A BRIDE AT BIRRALEE
Duo Magazine
What
does ‘success’ mean to you?
You know, this keeps
changing. Before I was published, having a book accepted was my burning
obsession, but then that wasn’t enough. I wanted to hear glowing comments from
readers, to win awards and make bestseller lists. Now, with those achievements
behind me, I’m looking more at the big picture of my life and I know that
friendship and family are more important than any career.
Read more...
The Long and the Short of It
Barbara is definitely a multi-tasker. In her
office, along with the two walls covered in bookshelves and the
floor-to-ceiling built-in wardrobe stuffed with books, she also has a printout
from her latest manuscript on the floor beside her AND a collage for her
latest book. She also has good luck charms, cards from friends, and notes to
herself all over her desk. She says she's looking for a place to put her RITA,
which she won this year for Best Traditional Romance.
Read
more...
Cataromance
Website
First of all, tell us about yourself. How did
you become a romance writer and when did you start writing?
I discovered category romance novels at the
ripe age of 43, when I was teaching a unit of popular fiction to my grade
eleven English class. It was love at first sight for me and I started writing
straight away. It took me four and a half years to sell my first book while I
continued to teach and raise my family.
Read
more...
Friday
Magazine
Where
do you find your inspiration?
Some of my writer friends refer
to “the girls in the basement” who send up our ideas. The truth is we’re never
quite sure what stimulates the muse, but a bum on the seat in front of the
computer is the first step.
Read more...
A
Romance Review Website
Who can be found on your 'to
be read' pile and is there anyone you'd like to recommend?
I've just finished Jennifer
Crusie's Fast Women and loved it. Near the top of my waiting to be read
pile are Connie Brockway's The Bridal Season, Linda Howard's Son of
the Morning, Anne Tyler's Back When We were Grownups, Anita
Shreve's The Last time They Met, and a HM&B historical, The Dutiful
Rake by fellow Aussie Elizabeth Rolls. And just for a change of pace, I
want to steal The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John Le Carré from
the pile on my husband's side of the bed.
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Romance
Writers of Australia Website
~ May 2002
Do you set yourself challenges with each new
book?
I
feel as if I'm learning so much about writing all the time, but I'm never sure
if it shows. Yes, I do keep challenging myself and to a certain extent I think
it has meant that I'm still finding out what my true voice is and what kind of
story I write best. I'm beginning to understand that very emotional stories
suit me. (I'm a huge fan of LaVyrle Spencer. I love the way she gives her
characters incredible emotional dilemmas, problems that appear to be
impossible to resolve.) With each book, I experiment... with levels of
emotional intensity ...or the impact of setting... or a particular type of
character... I love the challenge of trying to lift the bar all the time and
would hate to feel I was getting stale.
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Romance
Writers of Australia Website
~ March 2002
You seem to write two completely different
styles of book, the "Outback" series aimed at the American Market and the more
conventional romances aimed at the UK market. Which do you prefer writing and
is there any difference in your approach to the two styles?
I haven’t consciously aimed my books at markets
in specific countries. I believe that both UK and US readers like outback
settings, but as I’m primarily an urban animal, I find it refreshing to take a
break from writing outback stories. However, I must admit that when I returned
to the outback for the books that followed "The Wedding Dare", I was very
conscious of the way the setting became a third main character, adding a very
strong flavour to every element of the story. I think this must be what makes
these stories feel so different. It’s certainly nothing I set out to achieve.
I enjoy writing romance in any setting and don’t have a strong preference.
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