As a member of Novelists, Inc., Barbara Meyers is available for booksigning events, personal appearances and speaking engagements. For more information please contact her at barb@barbmeyers.com.
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More About Barb - In Her Own Words...
When not writing fiction, Dr. Seuss-like poetry or song lyrics, I masquerade behind a green apron at the local Starbucks where I pick up story ideas in exchange for serving up lattes.
As a native of Southwest Missouri I grew up in the Midwest, but my transplant to Southwest Florida proved successful. My hobbies include tormenting my long-suffering husband and interfering in the lives of my grown children. I also like to sneak into nearby gated communities to walk my almost perfect dog, Pepper. For exercise and meditation, I plug in my MP3 earpods and take long bicycle rides and beach walks.
I wish I could recall which book it was (not that I’d tell you) I finished reading, threw across the room and declared, “I can write better than that.” I know I’m not the only romance author who started her career this way.
PUBLISHING HISTORY:
My first G-rated romantic comedy, Hidden Assets, was a 2001 release from Avalon books co-written with Marlene Stringer. My second, Training Tommy, was published in 2002. Prior to that Star Magazine published my short story, The Toothbrush Test, in February 2000.
A sexier romantic comedy, A Month From Miami was released by Samhain Publishing as an e-Book in January 2008 and in print February 2009. In July 2011 I independently released Not Quite Heaven, as an e-Book in July 2011.
The second in The Braddock Brotherhood series, A Forever Kind of Guy, is available in digital release through Samhain Publishing in October 2011.
MORE FASCINATING STUFF:
MY THEME SONG: “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” from the Mr. Rogers kids show on public television which I never watched.
I think everyone should have a theme song. What’s yours?
“It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” personifies my outlook on life. Every day is a beautiful day when you live in gratitude. Gratitude for all the little things life hands you: a convenient parking place; a sunny day; or for that matter, a rainy, cloudy, windy day; lots of green lights when you’re on your way to work.
Gratitude for the big things: A roof over your head; Food to eat. Good health. Family. Friends. Freedom. Book sales.
Get the idea? Life is about attitude. If you think your life is horrible, it is. If you think your life is wonderful, it is.
If you believe every day is a beautiful day, it is.
MY ALTERNATIVE THEME SONG: Joy to the World. The Three Dog Night version from 1971. Uh-oh. I’m old.
PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS
Life’s too short to spend with negative people
Anyone can be happy. It’s a choice. (To be miserable is also a choice.)
Honesty is the best policy. Dishonesty creates an illusion of who you are. You’ll never be close to anyone if you lie to them.
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Ask and you shall receive; Seek and you shall find.
Knock and it shall be opened to you.” –Matthew 7:7
“The world is not against you. Nor is the world on your side. The world just doesn’t care.” -Thomas Hardy
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” --Calvin Coolidge, American 30th president of the United States, 1872-1933
“Want-to-be writers admit defeat easily. Successful writers never give up.” I don’t know who said this, but I cut it out of a Writer’s Digest magazine years ago and it’s still taped above my desk.
“Never, never, never quit.” --Winston Chuchill
THINGS THAT BAFFLE ME:
Dogs who don’t listen. Sometimes it’s like I’m not even speaking English!
Human behavior. If you want to study this get a job at Starbucks. It’s often frustrating but endlessly fascinating.
Supermarket baggers. Do they have a quota they need to reach on how many plastic bags they have to use or what? I bring my own bags. Otherwise I’d be drowning in plastic.
To quote a professional personality profile about me, “Barbara tends to be alert and often uncannily correct.” Which begs the question, why doesn’t anyone ever listen to me?
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
There is no reality. There’s only perception.