Introducing: Nina Barrett

Looking for a great romance author to read? This week I interview Nina Barrett, a fellow Wild Rose Press romance author. Here is what Nina says about herself and her writing:

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi, I’m Nina Barrett. I had a career as a public school teacher, focusing on early childhood education and am now having a blast writing contemporary romances. I’ve always wanted to be a writer. My mother read to me nightly and on long car trips – Mother Goose, Thornton Burgess, later introducing me to the classics – Little Women, Treasure Island, Heidi. I loved going to bed at night and lie there making up stories. I’d be out west with Roy and Dale or in Sherwood Forest with Robin Hood.

I live in southwest Ohio. My hometown was recently featured on the cover of Ohio magazine. I enjoy traveling – I’ve been to the top of Masada in Israel and the bottom of the great pyramid at Chichen Itza. Advocating for autism research and education is a passion.

When did you start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I completed a mystery in junior high – an Agatha Christie type mystery story and exchanged stories and poems with a high school friend. After finishing college and surviving a divorce, I began life as a single mother teaching in a small town. I loved teaching, but it wasn’t enough. Teaching was what I did; a writer was what I was.

I wrote stealthily at nights and in the car while my son was taking swimming or piano lessons. A newspaper article about the Antioch Writers’ Workshop in Yellow Springs, Ohio mentioned a scholarship being offered to an unpublished writer. I submitted a piece of writing without much in the way of expectations.

Sometime later a letter in reply arrived. Someone actually liked it.  Actually a committee and I had won the scholarship. I was privileged to attend the workshop and take a class with Sue Grafton, the writer in residence. The experience encouraged me to continue writing and submitting to agents and publishers.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

It took a while…

Rejections slips piled up. I returned to Antioch and took a class with romance writer Jennifer Crusie who is as empowering and supportive as she is talented. I had grown up relishing the novels of such writers as Phyllis Whitney, Mary Stewart and Daphne duMaurier. I began reading what was currently available in the field of romantic suspense and completed my first romantic suspense manuscript.

Which was promptly rejected. Through my local RWA chapter, I learned of a small e-publisher opening for business and soliciting for manuscripts. To my amazement, I received the call and in June 2012 my Western romance, Marriage Made in Haven was released by Musa Publications. Since then my romances Return of the Dixie Deb and A Man to Waste Time On have been published by the Wild Rose Press. On April 27^th, my latest Renegade Heart was released.

Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

Oh, yes. As Sue Grafton told us at Antioch – every writer has a suitcase full of unsold manuscripts under his bed. Mine are shelved in a closet upstairs. Maybe someday they’ll find a home.

Do you have an advice for aspiring writers?

Finish your book, write another, network, lean on others’ shoulders, never give up.

Is there anything you want to say to your readers and fans?

I’d love to hear from you. I know a lot of words, but not the ones to fully express my thanks to those of you who read and enjoy my work. You can contact me on Facebook at Nina Barrett or by email, nina@ninabarrett.net!

Can you tell us about your forthcoming book?

Renegade Heart was released on April 27^th by the Wild Rose Press. It is available through Amazon, at the Wild Rose website and as an e-book at Barnes and Noble. Below is the blurb:

As if Vegas didn’t have excitement enough, December brings the National Finals Rodeo to the city. In charge of the Imperial Hotel’s participation as a host hotel, Kerstin Hennepin is rushing to a meeting when a fall sends her tumbling into a stranger’s arms. And he’s in no hurry to let her go.

Jake Aaron is a troubleshooter for the rodeo. Or maybe he’s just plain trouble. Their attraction is electric and one close encounter leads to another, but Jake comes with questions. True he’s busy handling the offstage antics of rowdy rodeo contestants, but does his job also include romancing a young barrel rider and carrying a concealed weapon?

With the finale of the rodeo approaching, Kerstin is running out of time to find the answers she needs. But her search for the truth reveals more is going on behind the scenes than on the arena floor and she and Jake are squarely in someone’s crosshairs.

Have thoughts or questions for Nina? Post your comments below.