Barbara’s techno-thriller “THE FRACTURING ICE” was shortlisted in the 2023 RETREAT WEST OPENING LINES CONTEST!
Barbara is a 2023 KILLER NASHVILLE CLAYMORE AWARD BEST THRILLER FINALIST FOR “THE FRACTURING ICE” ( also a finalist in 2022!)
Barbara has worn many hats in her life, including working as a Chemical Engineer, Patent Attorney, and business owner. But she always thought of herself as “Mostly Mom” and now thoroughly enjoys being Grandma to five, six now seven! wonderful grandchildren. Throughout her endeavors, WRITING has been the thread that binds. From poetry to picture books, humorous short stories to highly technical and legal documents, a day is not complete without some writing. Now focused on her thriller series, Barbara can’t wait to share her novels with the world.
Barbara and her husband, Burdell, raised their four children in Iowa, where they spent many hours working on their acreage outside Ames. It started with “building” a small lake (see header photo) and stocking it with bluegill, catfish, and bass. They also planted native prairie grasses and over one thousand trees. A few years later brought the beginning of the forever project—an *off-grid home “next to” the prairie. Barbara also enjoys travel, reading, piano, and sailing. With the one remaining jerk of a geriatric turkey, Mean Girl, passing in February (may she gobble in peace), Barbara no longer tends to backyard birds, and never will again.
*until August 10, 2020, that is, when the Iowa Derecho of 2020 (a Cat 2 equivalent hurricane with ten minutes warning) bent the wind turbine pole like a toothpick. On-grid now plus solar.
Iowa Reflections is a collection of original writings and photographs. Sometimes the photograph is the story. Sometimes the story is the photograph. Imagination fuels stories. Stories fuel imagination. Poetry becomes music. Lyrics become a poem. I hope you find something here that makes you chuckle, smile, or even say, gee-whiz. Barbara tries to find that gee-whiz moment in each and every day.