I’m a multi-genre author. My latest novel, The Summer Springsteen’s Songs Saved Me, is a story about the healing power of music, in particular the music of Bruce Springsteen. The main character, an older woman,  is struggling to overcome a bad marriage and other losses. She finds a way to heal through the music of Springsteen. Each chapter is titled with a Springsteen song, and that song is woven into the chapter. It’s an inspiring story of rebirth.

Other novels are in the fantasy, chick lit, and paranormal genres. I’m inspired on a daily basis by the people I meet and the places I visit. I enjoy traveling and finding interesting places to set my books. But I also often use a familiar childhood neighborhood as a setting. I’m a native New Yorker, born in the Bronx, raised in Westchester and on Long Island. Currently I split time between Bradley Beach, NJ and Holmes Beach, Florida.

Ideas are everywhere. Sometimes a snippet of a passing conversation sparks a scene or a story. When I’m traveling, I enjoy learning about the mysteries of the area, and everywhere has its own fascinating story to tell. Recently I went to Sardinia, where I visited several ancient stone Nuraghi sites. No one is sure about the origin or meaning of these tall stone towers. I climbed one and was amazed at being able to use the same hand holds as someone used thousands of years ago. Those nuraghi are bound to show up at some point in a story.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

Sometimes I look to my past. As a child I wanted to be called Celeste. My character in Speed of Dark who falls from the sky and can change the weather is called Celeste. Phoebe, the lovable, pudgy dog in The Summer Springsteen’s Songs Saved Me is named after Phoebe Caulfield, Holden’s sister in Catcher in the Rye. I gave a character who instructs his daughter on his deathbed never to go to Italy the name Domenic, which is my paternal grandfather’s name.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

A story bubbles up but it’s amorphous. I can see a main character. I write the part that I know first. Usually that’s the beginning. From there I often know the ending. I write the scenes that call out to me. And then I fill in the gaps. It’s a messy process that is unnerving and agonizing. I’ve learned to trust that the story will tie together.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors? 

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them? 

Were you a big reader as a child?

When did you start to write?

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

1984…I think I’d like to have put a little hope into the ending.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

The Great Gatsby would be grand to have written.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

An Ordinary Girl

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?
 
I’d like to go down the rabbit hole and have tea with Alice in Wonderland.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on a new women’s fiction that’s tentatively titled It Can Always Get Worse. It’s the story of two women who are friends from a very early age.

Do you have a new release due?

No

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

My husband and I pop a bottle of bubbly and take silly pictures.

How can readers keep in touch with you?
 
I’m on Twitter as BarbaraQuinn and on Instagram as AuthorBarbaraQuinn

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Barbara 🙂

Thank you, Kerry for this wonderful opportunity!