20 Questions with Barbara Freethy

Bestselling author, Barbara Freethy, has a new book in her blockbuster Callaways series available today. To celebrate, the NOOK Press team asked Barbara 20 questions on everything from writing and reading to a few fun facts in-between.

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Can’t Let Go available now!

Your best virtue as an author.

I’m always willing to change my idea if a better one comes along.

Your most quirky author habit.

I often don’t know the true villain until I’m halfway through the book. I like to motivate several characters to be the bad guy/girl and then decide which one. I figure that way I’ll keep the read guessing, too!

 Your favorite quality in a protagonist.

Risk-taker! I love protagonists that are not only willing to walk to the edge of the cliff, but also jump off!

Your favorite quality in an antagonist.

Cunning! That’s what makes them such a great antagonist. They keep the hero on his/her toes.

If you could ask any other author, past or present, a question who would it be and what would you ask.

Nora Roberts – What story did you want to write that you never wrote and why?

When you aren’t writing, you are____

Reading or playing tennis.

Your easiest book to write.

Beautiful Storm. The idea that a storm-chasing photographer sees what looks like murder in a flash of lightening lent itself to a fast-paced, complex, romantic suspense. I also loved that the heroine is part of a family of three siblings, whose lives were destroyed by a lightning storm that killed their father, so it all ties together in an intriguing way.

Your hardest book to write.

Silent Run. I loved my idea for this book, as well. A woman crashes her car. When she wakes up in the hospital, she has no memory of who she is, why she was in the car, or where she was going. A man comes into the hospital room saying he’s her husband, and both he and police want to know where her baby is, but she doesn’t remember having a baby. This terrifies her. How can she be a mother and not remember her child? The safety of her baby is on her, but she needs to get back her memories. This is still one of my absolute favorite books, but I also had a difficult time writing it because the heroine has no memories. When I was writing from her viewpoint, she really knew nothing, so I had to describe her and bring her to life through the people around her and her own growing knowledge. Fun, but super challenging.

Your ideal writing place.

The big armchair and ottoman in my bedroom. Not the best for ergonomic posture, but super comfy!

Your favorite childhood book.

I read a million books as a child, but I loved The Secret Garden, Jane Eyre, and any Nancy Drew book! My love of secrets and female sleuths started early!

The book you’ve re-read the most.

I don’t really re-read books. There are so many new ones to choose from. I’m always moving on to the next great story!

Your favorite literary hero.

Jo March – Little Women

Your favorite literary villain.

Annie Wilkes – Stephen King’s Misery

The name of your autobiography.

Imagine This…Imagine That (I actually have no idea. That’s a tough one!).

You favorite comfort food.

Cheeseburger and French fries.

First thing you do when you finish a novel.

Probably smile with satisfaction if it was a good book.

A secret talent you have.

I was once a championship hula-hooper – at least among the ten-year-olds in my neighborhood.

Where have you always wanted to travel?

Ireland.

One tip for aspiring authors.

Never give up! It’s easy to start, much harder to finish, but there is great joy in the total completion of the story.

Puppies or kittens?

Both are super cute, but I’d pick kittens 🙂

 

Want to learn more about Barbara and the Callaways? Head to her website at www.barbarafreethy.com.

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