Interview with Barbara Edwards

by

MM (Mark) Francis

Barbara, it's easy to understand why you have a keen interest in things historical, having grown up in New England. Do you find yourself drawing ideas from that time?

Since I do like to explore historic places and there is so much to see in my area, I do find myself making notes of things I might use in a future story.

What motivates you to write? (I loaded that question on purpose).

I can’t help writing. Its part of me, like my hands or feet. When I am unable to do my daily pages, I get irritable and difficult to live with. As to why I write, its because all these stories are in my head, banging at my skull, demanding to be told.

You've traveled extensively across the U.S. What are a couple of places you especially remember and might eventually work into your writing?

I loved San Francisco and walked around the city to find places mentioned as affected by the earthquake that decimated the city. That’s a prime plot point to use in a future book. I also thought the Chicago fire had potential in a novel and have visited the city several times to do research.

You and your husband are Civil War re-enactors. What part of that very interesting hobby do you enjoy?

I truly enjoy living in the Confederate camp, portraying the lifestyle of someone from that time period and talking to spectators about what it was like. People are hungry for knowledge and appreciate having things explained to them like how to cook over an open fire or how the women lived.

What aspect of teaching your Romance Writing class at Manchester Community College do you find most rewarding?

Having my students ask questions so I have to think about the basics of writing is very rewarding. Its helped my own writing to be reminded of the things I tended to file away as I learned more and more.

Have your students surprised you in any way?  (Probably another loaded question). Hold on… maybe I should ask it this way--what's an instance you especially remember?

They constantly surprise me. I’m impressed by their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. At this point, I can’t recall a single incident, just the general attitude.

What made you decide to publish electronically?

I believed that electronic books are the future of publishing, and still do. The finite resources needed to publish books will eventually force the price too high for most people to casually afford and downloading a book to a reader will be the logical alternative.

If there's a single way you'd suggest to improve the emerging e-pub industry to benefit us authors, what would it be?

Publicity will be our strongest tool. We have an excellent product at an affordable price and the readers are finally cheap enough for most people to afford so the next step is letting people know we are here. Since readers are clamoring for good books, we must help them find us.

Who are your favorite authors to read?

Linda Howard, Jayne Anne Krentz, Patricia Potter are a few. I read so many good authors it’s hard to pick.

Try distilling your philosophy of life down into a single sentence.

I believe that love is the most powerful force in the universe; God’s love for us and our love for each other.