As I bounce back and examine my life, I try to determine what prompted me to want to write. Beyond this, it is hard to believe how my passion for writing has produced many books and short stories. I don't seem able to get enough of it.Near the end of the war, our family finally came together in north Omaha, Nebraska. Carrie Bell, my dad's mother and my grandmother was now alone and unable to take care of their house. Charles Morgan Barrie, his father and my grandfather had just passed away.This also was the year I started kindergarten at Lothrop. Sadly, I missed many days during my first four grades due to one illness after another. And then there were accidents. A car ran over me in front of our house during fifth grade, which pushed my parents to find a better neighborhood. and a better school where I was able to catch up. My new teachers helped me in a big way. An essay I wrote in the eighth grade on German heritage roots as much admired by my teacher. Piano lessons starting at five years was supposed to be my life's dream. Singing in the church choir starting in fourth grade held my interest through high school. I have always thought this gave me a rhythm to my writing.Charlie, my older brother, deaf since birth was my constant companion growing up. He was my protector, and I was his communicator. Regretfully, in my younger years, reading was not my priority. During the war there was no one to read to me or guide me to a book I might read myself. Usually, Charlie and I would hurry on by a library when on our way to a nearby movie theater not wanting to be late for the movie that day.When books became important "The Secret Garden," "The House of Green Gables" and "Little Women" were favorites. However, Willa Cather's "My Antonia" was the best. Steinback is another strong like. Because I had to change high schools three times, this became a burden to my studies. But during this time what troubled me more was how I might fit in anywhere, especially as life went along after high school. Cliques kept me from having few real friendships, which I think has become an even worse problem than when I was in high school. The idea of wanting to write came along gradually. As I was growing up, often my dad would talk about Sir James M Barrie who was the brother of Charles' father in Kirriemuir. This might have prompted some of it, but when I was a copy editor on our school newspaper my senior year, from then on, I would try to devote myself to any kind of writing project. When I started Omaha University, a stone's throw from our home, I worked part time at the university's library. This led to more reading that I ever imagined and added to any ambition I might have had to write. But all of this came to an abrupt halt when I married my first semester and had a baby.As the years passed, raising three boys left no time for any thought of a writing project, but sometimes a job required it. One job in Denver, when I wrote for a monthly magazine, my boss, a lobbyist for the Restuarant Association and a past editor for the Washington Post, taught me some necessary lessons about journalism and writing. When we lived in Lincoln. and the boys were in high school, one milestone was when i was on the Nebraska Governor's Staff. Although writing projects were sporadic, the experience was illuminating offering much insight especially politics. Also, during this time when Curt my middle boy had open heart surgery, God took a hold of me and changed me forever, especially with my writing. Raising three sons, making sure they had an upper education, I never was able to work on my own degree, that is not until later. While working at the University of Washington as a program manager for the woman who was the head of all the research, I was able to take advantage of a tuition free program available for employees. This made it possible for me to work on a writing degree. During a Russian Literature class, a favorite of mine, the professor singled me out and read one of my papers. This gave me a big boost and got me to thinking maybe I could write something worthwhile. Because it was only 6 free credits a quarter, it took me five years. Always I will be grateful to God who I am sure provided such a grand opportunity.When a serious illness weakened my lungs and kept me from working a regular job especially in a city where there is much pollution, I felt lost until I realized now, I could write full time without interruption. Struggling how it would go for me, I jumped into my first manuscript, discovering I enjoyed everything about it. As I gathered momentum, I became more confident especially when I realized this must have been God's intent for me all along. Always, he is involved with my characters and helps them to survive in a troubled world.As I strive for original thought, I am aware my writings are apart from what is normal, but as each manuscript comes together, I feel more confident that I am on the right track. Also, I strive for more history in my books. Always I have been intrigued with history of anything and I can refer back as far as eighth grade when I wrote a paper on the roots of the German people,My first book, "The Sins of Salmon River," a three-book series held my attention far beyond what is normal. About meth in the 90s, the most dangerous of them all, kept me going until I thought I had finished with it. Maybe not. Maybe there's more now. A must read; everyone needs to know what a terrible threat it is especially in the big cities. Of course, now we know what a terrible scourge it is and how millions have been affected.Most of my writings cling to topics that need attention. "Black Death" is about how I became very sick from diesel fumes to a point I could not work a regular job anymore. "Westport" suggests our penal system has some serious problems and how there are few answers for those incarcerated. "Hripsime" about a special Armenian Christian woman gives a picture of the Middle East and all its miseries. "No Love, No Way Out", my newest is an autobiography about having babies in the 50's. M heart sank when "Roe vs. Wade" was reversed. Available soon, still in the works, is an autobiographical series, "My Mothers and Me." It includes five generations of astounding historical starting in1636 when my first American ancestor landed at Jamestown.Warren my mainstay, always encourages in a loving way. When we can, traveling is our passion. In Denver, where we met, within minutes we both knew it was a match. And this has become even clearer as we keep celebrating one anniversary after another. The "Vagabonds" is a series about our adventures and will be coming out soon.Although we lived in Denver, Seattle and both of us were raised in the Midwest, we now have discovered desert life in the Southwest. Dwelling amongst the pines, along with our rescues Pawpaw, a resilient tabby and Rosie, a questionable mix, we flourish as we try to rely on the Lord for everything.Read more about this authorRead less about this author