Celebrating Barbara Freethy
If you love stories filled with emotion, intrigue, and unforgettable characters, chances are you’ve already discovered the books of Barbara Freethy! She has written more than 90 novels and sold millions of copies, earning her a loyal following across contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and mystery thrillers.
In this guest post, Barbara takes us behind the scenes of her writing career, from her first spark of inspiration to becoming the first indie author to sell over a million books on Barnes & Noble. She also shares what she loves most about connecting with readers and what’s next on her publishing journey.
My Writing Journey
A Guest Post by Barbara Freethy
I started writing in the most unexpected place—creating nonfiction content about semiconductors for a public relationship company. I barely understood the subject, yet I found myself inventing engaging details to make the articles compelling. That’s when I realized: If I can make things up about a topic I barely grasp, why not try fiction?
Growing up, my mom filled our home with books, especially romance novels. And romance quickly became my favorite genre. Full of strong female characters, exciting heroes, heartfelt emotion, high-stakes drama, and always hope in a happy ending. I began writing novels during my lunch breaks, and after a year or so, I finished my first manuscript. I could hardly believe I had finished it. A rejection arrived several months later. But with valuable feedback from a very kind editor, I revised that book and sent it elsewhere. And to my surprise, it sold!
I went on to publish with several publishers including Harlequin, Harper Collins, New American Library, and Simon & Schuster. I worked with some incredibly talented editors, agents and other publishing personnel, but in 2011, when the eBook revolution was just beginning, I made a bold pivot: I decided to go indie. It was probably one of the riskier decisions I’ve made in my career, but one I have never regretted. And that’s how Barbara Freethy Books was born…
Indie Publishing: Freedom and a ton of work…
Taking control of my publishing career meant I had to learn everything: formatting, cover design, marketing, distribution—you name it. In the early days of indie publishing, there were not the support systems in place that exist today. I had to learn how to do everything, but that knowledge helped me out later when I was able to build a support team.
My first indie bestselling novel was Summer Secrets, a women’s fiction romantic novel about three sisters, one secret, and the summer that changed everything. It soared to #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List, where it remained for several weeks. That success was quickly followed by Don’t Say A Word, about a woman who discovers she might just be the most famous orphan in the world, but she had no idea she was even adopted. That book spent twelve weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. Over the years, 26 more of my titles made the NYT and USA Today bestseller lists.
What I love most about being an indie is the freedom to write across genres, publish on my own terms, and connect directly with readers. I typically release up to four books a year across three genres: contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and mystery thriller. I love mixing it up, and I believe readers will find my same voice in every genre. There just might be a little more danger, mystery and suspense! For me, the perfect novel is one that keeps me guessing, that throws in a surprise when I least expect it and has characters I feel like I know and don’t soon forget. As a writer, I aim to achieve that in every book I publish.
Partnering with Barnes & Noble
I’m very grateful to the support I’ve gotten from Barnes and Noble since the beginning of my career and into my indie publishing era. They’ve been an essential partner. From the early days of Nook Press to today, their team has supported authors like me with intuitive publishing tools, great visibility, and a true commitment to connecting readers with books they’ll love.
I’m proud to have also been the first indie author to sell over one million books on their platform—and I’m so grateful to the readers who helped me get there.
New Books and New Deals!
Today is the release of my new book, BLAME IT ON THE BIKINI, which is part of my Ocean Shores series, which features sweet, fun romances set in a quirky, beachside apartment complex in Oceanside California where there’s plenty of friendly meddling, quirky tenants, deep emotional ties, and unexpected love stories.
In BLAME IT ON THE BIKINI, Grayson Holt—Harvard MBA, all-business, zero-fun—comes to Ocean Shores to sell the building he’s just been put in charge of. But the sexy woman in the pink bikini has other plans and sparks fly in all the wrong—and right—ways. Lexie might not be what Grayson came for. But she might be everything he needs. And what if his heart gets involved? Well, he’s just going to have to blame it on the bikini.
If you enjoy sweet, escapist, small town romance with an enemies to lovers storyline, you’ll want to check this out.
👉 Read: Blame It On the Bikini on Barnes & Noble
BOGO Deal – The Callaways Series
I’m also thrilled to announce that all month long, I am partnering with Barnes & Noble in a special BUY ONE GET ONE FREE promotion! This fan-favorite contemporary romance series follows a blended family of first responders, and everyday heroes. Expect slow-burn love stories, heart-tugging family drama, and plenty of twists and turns with mystery subplots.
👉 Browse all BOGO-eligible Callaway titles here
Thanks to B&N for inviting me here today and to all of you for taking the time to visit with me. Would love to hear your comments and I hope you’ll check out some of my books!
About Barbara Freethy
Barbara Freethy is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 90 novels. Her emotionally rich storytelling spans contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and standalone mystery thrillers, always featuring compelling characters and heartfelt narratives. From traditional publishing to indie publishing, Barbara has always been a trailblazer and continues to captivate readers with her unforgettable novels.
