  
Mystery Author Visits Purple Sage
Twenty Questions with Author Barbara Burnett
Smith
Interviewed by Rhonda Hargis
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Mystery author Barbara Burnett Smith dropped by the Sage Tribune
offices this week to pick up a copy of the Trib and ask a few questions
as "research" for her famous mystery novels which are set
here in Purple Sage. During her visit Ms. Smith, who is a past President
of Sisters in Crime, answered a few questions for this reporter:
Q: How many books have you written?
Smith: A lot! I've actually lost count, which should
tell you that I have some unpublished manuscripts in my closet. I
was a late bloomer when it came to novel writing, and I was very slow
at getting published. Probably because I didn't do it very well at
the start, but let's not spread that around. There are five in the
Purple Sage Series, and 1 stand alone called Mauve and Murder. Beyond
that I have a brand new series coming out from Berkley Bantam within
the year.
Q: Can you tell us about that? Any bodies in it
it?
Smith: Of course! It is a mystery set at a bead retreat.
The main character is Katherine Zoe Camden. (Kit-z, also known as
Kitzi) She is 57 years old, a former Texas Senator, smart, funny and
she shoots from the mouth.
Q: What is a bead retreat?
Smith: Women who love to work with beads get together
for the weekend and learn new techniques, do lots of beading, buy
beads, etc. It’s a great community of primarily women. Kitzi
attends, as do many of others and one doesn’t come home. Murder,
you know!
Q: Why beads? Do you work with beads?
Smith: Not very well, but very often! I love them.
I love the look and the feel.
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| Q: And your first published book was
nominated for an Agatha?
Smith: That's right. What's very interesting is the
story behind the winning of the Agatha for Best first Novel that year.
You see, I met Jeff Abbott through my writers group with Susan Rogers
Cooper and Jan Grape. It was Susan who talked me into writing again
after I gave up, and then Jeff and I exchanged manuscripts to do the
final read-through for each other. He made some very good suggestions
for Writers of the Purple Sage, and I hope I did the same for him. I
assume so, since he's the one who walked off with the Agatha for best
First Novel that year!
Q: That's pretty amazing! Do you still work with a
writer's group?
Smith: No, now I write pretty much on my own, although
I'm fortunate to have wonderful friends who will read my manuscripts.
Caroline Young Petrequin is one, as is my adorable husband, Gary. |
Mystery writer Barbara Burnett Smith with
husband Gary at their wedding, 1995
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Barbara Burnett Smith and son W.D. at
University graduation 1993
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Q: So, you are married. And you have
children?
Smith: Yes, I have one son, named WD, who lives in
Houston. He and his wife, Martie, have two children. Which means I have
two adorable grandchilden. Actually, I have NINE, since Gary has three
daughters who have SEVEN kids. On vacations we have lots of delightful
people to visit.
Q: Let's move back to your writing - do you spend eight
hours a day at the computer?
Smith:
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| I also own Catalyst Training
& Development and as such I do training classes and workshops for
many corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.
Q: What kind of classes?
Smith: in the area of communication. Presentation skills,
public speaking, negotiating, quality leadership, etc. It actually fits
right in with everything else I do, because it's all communication.
I consider that so important in our world today. The other reason I
enjoy it is that it allows me to work closely with people. I miss that
if I spend too much time in my office.
Q: Let's get back to your writing. Where do you get
your ideas?
Smith: Everywhere! Anywhere! For example, the idea
for Writers came when one night I lost a manuscript I was working on.
Actually, I'd only temporarily misplaced it, but I really panicked.
Especially because it was the copy with all the comments from my writers
group. I hunted like a mad-person, the whole time wondering IF it could
have been stolen. And if it had been stolen, why would someone steal
an unfinished manuscript from an unpublished writer?
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