Barbara was born in New York City and but now lives somewhere else. By now, she thinks of herself as a country girl and knows more about gardening and animals than how to ride the subway.
Starting her career by writing tweens and YA books, (and did the cover photography for her first two books published by Atheneum so continuing to do the covers to her ebooks is predictable), she was actually aiming at the small screen. Television seemed like the perfect place for her even if she had no clue how to get there. Life is funny and often presents opportunities. Advice--Grab Them! Through a neighbor, Barbara wound up getting an introduction to a lower honcho at ABC and an audition to write for them. Her hopes were more than dashed, they were disintegrated, evaporated, demolished when ABC couldn't find a place for Barbara on General Hospital. (No Luke and Laura in her future!) To ease the crushing disappointment, Barbara wrote “In Real Life I'm Just Kate” about a 17 year old girl who becomes a star on a soap opera. That became an open sesame moment and shortly thereafter Barbara became the last headwriter for NBC's daytime serial, The Doctors, where she was ordered by the network to kill Alec Baldwin, shooting him not once but twice. With two different guns. From different directions.
Ah, good times.
You can read the book that started Barbara’s television career as the Kindle YA ebook, “Just Kate”, now with a substantial tweak because living life made her smarter.
You can also read about some could-be-hers-could-be-rumors experiences gleaned during Barbara’s stint in daytime television in the Kindle romantic comedy, In Under My Head. Barbara is a recipient of a Writers Guild of America Best Writing Award for her work on One Life To Live.
Whether you're looking for a Mature YA or a romantic comedy, Barbara has a book for you!
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
I always know where I’m going to wind up but I rarely know very much about how I will get there. I like to be surprised and if I’m surprised, then the reader will be, too.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
I’ve never had that happen, although I’ve heard other writers say that.
Or they say a subplot has taken over. I’ve never had that happen either.
What is your favourite food?
Pasta! I love it so much, I will make it from scratch. Saute some mushrooms, then put them in the food processor, chop very fine and incorporate into the dough.
Fantastic!
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Neither!
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
Italy for the pasta. I love Italian food and going to the source of all that lusciousness would be heaven.
Do distant places feature in your books?
No, not at all, although I did write a book about New Orleans and I’ve never been there.
I try to stay with places I’ve been and luckily I’ve left the house more than a few times.
Do you listen to music while writing?
If I can find the perfect music that expresses the emotion and sensibilities of the book, definitely. If I can’t find that, then I don’t listen to anything.
A friend was murdered and those dramatic, life-changing moments cause everyone to reflect on the experience. Everyone asks why did this happen. I was fortunate enough to have the police willing to share their information with me and I had access to my friend’s belongings so I say I became an archeologist. I dug into the past as fully as I could to understand. After some years, I began to put the pieces together and be able to create something that would enable a reader to experience some of what I went through.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
It’s better for me to be an independent publisher because I understand my work and its needs better than someone who considers it one more thing they have on their desk to deal with before they leave work to have some fun.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I wish I had written a sequel to Dream Horse and Summer Horse!
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
Living life is the best teacher. The more you write, the more proficient you become. The longer you live, the smarter you get. I didn’t know that starting out.
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
Read good literature. Read also what’s current, what you like, what you want to do.
Read from the standpoint of a student, not a fan. Understand what you’re reading and what the writer was attempting to do in the work. Rinse and repeat.
What are three words that describe you?
Creative, determined, chocoholic.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
But it’s also about writing, publishing and the creative process. It has metaphysical aspects and conspiracies galore. It’s a real artistic and intellectual achievement for Eco as well as an entertaining novel.
Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book
Bad Apple—
Neal Marchal lived with this threat for the next eight years. When she finds her neighbor murdered, she knows who did it. The why is the secret the family has been keeping forever. The reminder to never reveal the secret is her limp.
She rebuilt her life and now Neal has everything to live for—music, performing and a growing affection for the young man who pulled her to safety.
Then Joe comes home. Neal knows Joe’s going to finish what he started 8 years ago because she told. But this time Neal vows the outcome will be different.
List of previous books if any
EBooks Available by Barbara Morgenroth
YOUNG ADULT/MATURE YA
Bad Apple 1 (Mature YA)
Burning Daylight--Bad Apple 2 (Mature YA)
Rise--Bad Apple 3 (Mature YA)
Flash--Kip Chanin 1 (Mature YA)
Flash of Light--Kip Chanin 2 (Mature YA)
Mounted--Bittersweet Farm 1 (Mature YA)
Pass or Fail (Mature YA)
Just Kate--YA
Blue Raja--YA
ADULT
In Under My Head
Almost Breathing
Not Low Maintenance--The Miller Sisters 1
Unspeakably Desirable--The Miller Sisters 2
Fly Away With Me--The Miller Sisters' Cousin
Nothing Serious (Romantic Comedy)
Murder Is Exhausting (Cozy Mystery)
Sweet Tarts and High Heels (Short Story)
TWEEN
Dream Horse--Tween
Summer Horse--Tween
EVERYONE
Jingles All The Way: A Christmas Tail For All
NONFICTION
The Ice Cream Parlor--History and Recipes of Yore
Verrines: Sweet and Savory Parfaits Made Easy
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.
http://barbaramorgenroth.blogspot.com
http://facebook.com/barbara.morgenroth.5
Thank you for the wonderful interview with the thumbnails of my other books which must have taken so much time and added so much to the overall effect!
ReplyDeleteBarbara Morgenroth
You're ver welcome, Barbara. Lots of people love to see the book covers :)
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