Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries.
Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.
Her awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.
Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.
www.Barbarabretton.com
http://barbarabretton.blogspot.com/
www.Facebook.com/barbarabretton
www.Twitter.com/barbarabretton
www.Goodreads.com/Barbara_Bretton
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
Once upon a time when I was a brand new writer, I believed I could plan out an entire book on two sheets of paper and stick to it. The surprising thing is that I actually managed to do exactly that for ten books. I'm not quite sure what happened when I began number eleven, but I sat down at the laptop one day with two characters in mind and the barest wisp of a story and I started to write. And write. And write some more. I discovered I loved not knowing what was going to happen next, loved the surprises, and (I'm not sure what this says about me) really loved the sense of walking a deadline tightrope.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
If your characters don't want to take over the story, you're doing something wrong.
What is your favourite food?
Sichuan anything, followed closely by a tuna salad sandwich with cole slaw and lots of pickles.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Definitely a night owl. I come alive when the sun goes down.
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
Philadelphia in July of 1776. I'd love to be there to see our Founding Fathers sign the Declaration of Independence.
Do distant places feature in your books?
Almost never.
Do you listen to music while writing?
Most of the time, yes. But never music with lyrics. Way too distracting. I don't want other words in my head. Only my own.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
JUST LIKE HEAVEN was released in print a few years ago by Berkley and it spent a nice bit of time on some bestseller lists and as a Romantic Times Top Pick. I had been writing mostly women's fiction for quite a while and it was a pleasure to write an unabashed love story. Sure, there are family issues at play throughout the story but the focus is firmly on Kate and Mark and the wonderful process of falling in love.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
That writing never gets easier. The more I write, the more I realize how little I know about the act of writing. I'm glad nobody told me that when I first started! (Then again even if they had, I probably wouldn't have believed it.)
Is there anything you would do differently?
I would write under a pseudonym and I would use a different pseudonym for different genres.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
The wonderful historical romance author Bertrice Small took me under her wing when I sold my first book and taught me the value of professionalism and friendship.
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
Be professional. Be discreet. Be careful. This is a very small and incestuous industry. And yes, it runs on gossip! You want the talk about you to be positive.
What are three words that describe you?
Writer. Wife. Nightowl.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
The late Laurie Colwin is my favorite writer and her beautiful Family Happiness is my favorite book.
Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book
Barbara Bretton
Genre: Contemporary romance/women's fiction
Publisher: Free Spirit Press
previously published in print by Berkley
ISBN: 9781301177493
ASIN: B00BH8FZVI
Number of pages: 320
Word Count: Approximately 90K
Book Description:
Love can happen anywhere . . .
Even in New Jersey!
A beautiful morning in early spring. What could possibly go wrong?
Just returned from a buying trip in England, Kate French was jet-lagged and exhausted and running on fumes. She was already running late for an appointment but a wave of dizziness forces her to pull into the shopping mall parking lot in search of a quick fix of caffeine and protein.
When the pain first hit, she ignored it and continued racing across the parking lot toward the food court. But within moments she realized something was terribly wrong as her wobbly legs gave out and she dropped to the ground. The last thing she remembered as she started to fade away was the guy in the Grateful Dead T-shirt who held her in his arms and promised he'd never let her go.
List of previous books if any
SUGAR MAPLE CHRONICLES
Spells and Stitches (book #4) - Berkley - on sale December 6, 2011
Spun by Sorcery (book #3) - Berkley
Laced with Magic (book #2) - Berkley
Casting Spells (book #1) - Berkley
CONTEMPORARY MAINSTREAM
Just Desserts (Berkley)
Just Like Heaven (Berkley)
Someone Like You (Berkley)
Chances Are (Berkley)
Girls of Summer (Berkley)
Shore Lights (Berkley)
A Soft Place to Fall (Berkley)
At Last (Berkley)
The Day We Met (Berkley)
Once Around (Berkley)
Sleeping Alone (Berkley)
Maybe This Time (Berkley)
One And Only (Berkley)
Guilty Pleasures (MIRA)
HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCES
Love Changes
The Sweetest of Debts
No Safe Place
The Edge of Forever
Promises in the Night
Shooting Star
Second Harmony
Nobody's Baby
Mother Knows Best
Mrs. Scrooge
Bundle of Joy
Daddy's Girl
Renegade Lover
HARLEQUIN CENTURY OF AMERICAN ROMANCES
Sentimental Journey (The 40s)
Stranger in Paradise (The 50s)
HARLEQUIN AMERICAN - PAX
Playing for Time
Honeymoon Hotel
A Fine Madness
All We Know of Heaven
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Operation: Husband
Operation: Baby
HARLEQUIN AMERICAN: MORE THAN MEN
The Invisible Groom
HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE
Starfire
TIME TRAVEL TRILOGY - Harlequin/MIRA
Somewhere in Time
Tomorrow & Always
Destiny's Child
HISTORICALS
Fire's Lady
Midnight Lover
The Reluctant Bride (Harlequin Historical)
ANTHOLOGY
THE CHRISTMAS CAT - Home for the Holidays (Berkley)
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION - 3-2-1 . . . Baby! Family (Harlequin)
LOVE AND LAUGHTER - The Marrying Man(Harlequin)
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD - I Do, I Do (Harlequin)
A WEDDING IN PARIS - We'll Always Have Paris - (Harlequin)
AND THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE - Ever After - (Harlequin)
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.
Website: www.barbarabretton.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/barbarabretton
Twitter: www.twitter.com/barbarabretton
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com - Wickedsplitty
Giveaway
Barbara Bretton is offering a signed copy of Just Desserts (US mailing addresses only). To enter, just leave your name and email in a comment. You'll need to provide your mailing address if you win :)
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