Comment Wall
I love to hear your comments about the books or recipes or anything else. We moved them all to one page because I was losing track of what I’d read and not read. This way I know where you are!
Feel free to scribble a note, post a picture of a book club, whatever you like, and I’ll reply as often as possible.
I loved The Garden of Happy Endings. It is a wonderful, wonderful book. So glad I bought it at the VRW book signing. Can’t wait to buy some more of your books.
So glad you enjoyed it, Robin.
I loved reading about the St. Ives family. Will there be more books in this series? thanks.
I do have other books planned. Scheduling the time to write them is the problem! Stay tuned.
The Garden of Happy Endings helped me deepen my faith, and for that, I am so grateful. Thank you.
I finished the book at the hairdressers and tears flowed down my face. Such a beautiful and peaceful ending.
I just ordered two more of your books and can’t wait to get started
I’m honored, Melissa. Hope you enjoy the others.
Hi Barbara,
I loved your new book GOHE. It really touched on so many important topics. You write so well, the images and scenes stay in my head. I want to go to New Mexico and Colorado and the locations of all your books. Thanks for sharing your stories with us.
Another happy reader!
Thanks for joining the journey, Candy.
I just finished reading Garden of Happy Endings. I tried to make it last, but I just couldn’t stop reading! I was so sad that it was over. I think this is my new favorite of yours. Thank you so much for writing these books!
I’m looking forward to the next installment of the Mirror Girl online. I’m hoping that since I signed up for your email list I will receive an email when you start the next book.
Looking forward to all your future writings!!
I will definitely put the start of the next Otherlands Chronicles in my newsletter, Karen. And any other news of that sort. Thanks for your enthusiasm for both kinds of books!
Don’t know how to message you privately but wanted to let you know your “about” page lists the GOHE release as next year. I’m so glad it was this year, I’ve just started it and as always am drawn into the wonderful complexity of your story worlds.
Hi Barbara! Just discovered your book How To Bake A Perfect Life, and I am enjoying it immensely! I’m disappointed to not find the streusel muffin recipe posted, though…drat! Now I have to hand write it out
Spoiled author, I am.
Looking forward to reading more of your books, and became a Goodreads fan.
Blessing!
Barbara (in Denver)
Just finished Breaking the Rules. So many details spoke to me and I cried at the end! Thank you so much for the beautiful story.
So glad you enjoyed it, Juanita!
I read the latest excerpt. I especially loved the line about the elderly man who loved things beyond himself. That is so meaningful!
waiting patiently for your book in April….. please write more so i dont have to read anything else in between. you are the best
I am patiently (okay, not patiently maybe) waiting for the next book in April!!!
Dear Barbara,
I just finished reading my first book in English and for that I choose “How to bake a perfect life”. I found you with your french novel called “Les olives de ma grand-mère.” I swear, I must be reading that book at least once a year! I wish Jewel could be my friend! I even had a tatoo after I first read it! This week, I cooked your “hearty berry streusel muffins” that made a big hit with my friends at work as I brought them still hot. Can’t wait to read your next book! Merci! Ü
How lovely, Louise! It’s a big treat to be the first book you’ve read in English. I loved the French title for No Place Like Home. You must tell me what tattoo you had done.
Hello Dear!
I got a blue stylish flower with a yellow center on the back of my right shoulder. I love it!
I had “The lost recipe of Happiness” as my second book I’ve read in English. Can’t wait to read “The garden of happy endings”!
Bye! Ü
Wonderful, Louise!
I just finished The Lost Recipe for Happiness and let me just say that I am in love with your writing and your stories. I look forward to reading more of your books. Thank you for including the same sex relationships and the sex – both make the stories real and I LOVE this story and the characters. Ivan, Patric, Elena, Julian….I am a pastry chef and even though I work in kitchens I also love to read fiction about them. Thank you!
deep into The Lost Recipe for Happiness. Stopped on page 142 “My mother died violoently. I think I know a little about prurient interest”. Stopped to find out what a prurient interest is..”Prurient interest is a morbid, degrading and unhealthy interest in sex, as distinguished from a mere.’
Is that what you had intended to say? Odd…..
So glad to have found this blog.Have enjoyed reading you in all your pen names:Wind, Samuel, O’Neal. Have I missed any?
The chicken and lemon slices recipe sounds yummy. Have you tried mangoes and salmon grilled on the BBQ. The mango takes on a wonderful taste when slightly charred. So happy to have found you again. Can’t wait to read your next book.
That sounds fantastic, Debbie! I absolutely adore mango in any form. (And you have not missed any names. Good job tracking them all down!)
Hello! I have lost my treasured recipe for Abe’s Kick Ass Apple Pie! Please direct me to another copy! Thanks
Let me try to get that up for you in a little while, Catherine. (Making note to self). I’ll post it as a recipe here on the site.
Just HAD to drop you a line to say, “AWESOME”. I’m in the process of reading The Secret of Everything and it is truly a wonderful story.
Can’t for Aril!
Thanks for all your wonderful books.
Just as soon as I’ve finished reading one of your amazing books, I gobble up another one, as a fan with an insatiable appetite for your stories! OMG, I am so glad to have discovered your writing through Amazon.com. Your characters have found a wonderful place in my mind where they rest so comfortably.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Jan
Thank you, Jan! Glad you found them via Amazon.
Just finished Book #2 of your St. Ives historical fiction series and tried locating the rest. Loved Adriana & Cassandra’s stories, but am desperate to see Julian, Gabriel, Phoebe, Ophelia & Cleo’s stories unfold. Are they in process or have I missed them somewhere?
You have NOT missed them, Val. I discontinued the series when I changed publishers, but they are now back on the schedule. I hope to spend some time writing in the autumn this year. Check back!
I have read all your books and have loved them all. I can’t wait for the launch of your next book. I live in the UK and love dogs. I also am an artist and paint them as a living. I also love to cook. Your books are so captivating and I lose hours when reading them.
I love how you incorporate the recipes into your stories (my favorite so far being “The Lost Recipe For Happiness”) and wondered if you had considered a cook book with all the recipes. I’d buy it…or maybe a few…for gifts for my other reader friends.
I was told that you have a book based in Manitou Springs. Is this true?
Oh me too me too!!!!
Would love to read a sequel to The Lost Recipe for Happiness!
I found your books when I followed Joshilyn Jackson to TLC. Just wanted to say that I love the books. So far, my favorite is How to Bake Perfect Life, which made me miss a whole afternoon of work yesterday, because I could not put it down after I picked it up at lunch. Loved it!
Can’t wait to read more from you.
I’ve read How to Bake a Perfect Life and The Secret of Everything. I’m trying to finish “The Lost Recipe for Happiness. Of all I enjoyed the Perfect Life since it was much less graphic in the sexual nature! Not sure in what order I read them, as far as when you wrote them. But will say without the graphic detail they are great books. Don’t particularly like the same sex relationship references either!
No one is asking you to have a same sex relationship, so get over it. I would really hope people could just allow people to love those they love, because in the grand scheme of things who someone sleeps with doesn’t effect you. And really that is the only difference between a same sex relationship and an opposite sex relationship – who we sleep with. I appreciate that the author covers a wide range of relationships.
hi there. just wondering when your next book comes out! i cannot wait. hope your holidays were great. take care,
I love all of your books, and all the recipes! Can’t wait for your next book, and the next book… I enjoyed your blog about TEA. Did you know they grow tea here in the USA? If you haven’t been – it’s a fun place to visit: The Charleston Tea Plantation – outside of Charleston, SC.
Thanks for the update Barbara. I have read all your books to date and since I was born and raised in Pueblo and now live in Colorado Springs, they are extra meaningful! Keep up the good work.
Sharon
Well, if Susan Mallery recommends your books, then they must be GREAT…..I will put one on my Christmas list asap.
Merry Christmas
from
Kathi
I tried to join your email list but when I put in my info and hit submit I got the message “All comments are closed”. Did my request fail?
I see you on our email list, Pat. No worries. We’ve gotten such a great response our signup form got the hiccups!
Good luck!
I saw Susan Anderson’s message on my Facebook page and signed up just a few minutes ago….I picked up your book but am saving it for next week. From
all I’ve read here I know will be a good book to read during my chemo. this coming week….Yes, it’s my first book of yours but I figure if Susan recommends you (since I love & read all of her books)your books MUST be a great read!
I just finished “heart of a knight” , I laughed, cried and sighed a happy sigh. Thank you for such language and rich history I absolutely enjoyed every sentence. I hope you go the next step and make this a movie. I know for sure this would be a big hit. Thank you once again and I will be looking forward to reading more of your books.
Hi Barbara: I just joined your mailing list at the suggestion of Susan Anderson. I read Lost Secret for Happiness last year and really loved it. I just downloaded the new one on my Kindle and I’m looking forward to curling up with it in front of the fireplace after I coem home from the gym tonight. I’m also a writer, but as yet unpublished. I’m looking forward to reading your blog for writers.
Happy Holifays!
Best,
Janice
My son was having surgery and we stopped to get a book to read and I picked up your How to Bake A Perfect Life… I fell in love with it. I love to bake bread and became more inspired to experiment with sourdough and starters.
I have 4 different starters now and made loaves today from 2 different starters. I have tried one loaf and it worked. Thank you for inspiring me to go further into my love of bread making and for helping me to understand the complications of the mother/daughter relationship… it has truly helped me in both parts of my life.
I just got two more of your books and can’t wait to read them!
I just finished reading “Heart of a Knight”. Happy to say this was my first book of yours but it will not be my last. I could not stop reading it! I felt like I was watching this on a movie screen. Everything was so vivid in my mind. I have read a lot of historical romance books and thought they were all good but there was something about this book that had me gasping! I fell in love with Thomas and all the characters too. Cried several times and felt very silly because I knew there would be a happy outcome but I was so involved in the story I just forgot myself. I plan to post this in the reviews also for this book on the Barnes and Noble website that I published the nook book from. And the book was free! Thank you very much for helping me forget myself for a little while.
Hi Barbara,
I loved your book How to Bake a Perfect Life but I have a question about the recipe for Hearty Berry Streusel bread on page 165. When do you add the steusel? i am assuming it goes on top of the berries and gets cooked but the recipe didn’t specify. You can respond here or email me at eleni.herbert@gmail.com.
I’ve so enjoyed all three of your books, which I’ve put on my Kobo..and it’s great to have recipes to try out too! I savour, indeed, each page, and will go back and re-read these often. They make me just feel like..the things I love and believe in are also things other women love and believe in..and that’s a good thing! Thanks so much,I’m looking forward already to whatever you write next!
I read your book “How to bake a perfect life” and really enjoyed it. Especially since I just spent 7.5 months in colorado springs this year (for biz). I made your berry muffins this past weekend and really like them. I plan on getting ahold of your other two books to read in the near future. Thanks!
i am reading the recipe for lost happiness – i can tell i love this book because i am reading it a chapter at a time! i don’t want it to end – so i read a chapter – go do some life stuff – then read another chapter – etc. i am looking forward to reading your other books. I appreciate the rich words you have put into this book. i can’t wait to read what happens, but i don’t want it to end! thank you!
Oh, I’ve done that–deliberately made myself slow down to make a book last longer! Thanks for posting. I love being a part of that experience for you.
i completed the book. I really LIKE the way it ended – i won’t give it away, but i like the REASON for the ending. thank you for writing this book.
Wow…I was “loaned” (she does not give your books away) 2 of your books to read. The secret of everything and The Lost Recipe for Happiness…and I don’t usually write on blogs but I was searching for more books by you and saw the website. I loved your books….I loved how you introduced your characters and made them so real and inner connected that I felt like I was watching a master weaver building a beautiful tapestry, color by color, layer by layer, thought by thought…I found myself savoring each page, intrigued by where you were taking each character. Usually by page 10 of a book I can figure out the end and how everyone got there….your characters and story lines are so intricate that you kept me guessing until the last page and I was not once tempted to skip to the end because I knew that if I did I would miss something to tie the story together. Thank you for stories and I hope you continue to write them…I am buying my own copies so I can give back the loaners to my friend…
Sweet Gail, what a lovely note. I’m honored–and love to imagine you loaning out your own copies, too.
Hello, just wondering if you have a seaprate list or copy of all the recipe’s in your book. I want to try some and I have the kindle version of the book and its a bit of a pain to have to use my kindle to view the recipes. Thanks and Loving the book!!
Cindy, I don’t have a separate list of the recipes at the moment. Will have to think about this–there must be a solution for people who are reading digital books.
Barbara,
I read your book today – “How to Bake a Perfect Life”. Wonderful characters, deep emotions, relationships, life’s challenges and changes. Couldn’t put it down. Going through some challenges of my own just now and a bit of baking – something I’ve loved in the past, has been reawakened today. Can’t wait to try your sourdough starter and the recipes you were generous enough to share.
Looking forward to the arrival of your other two books in the mail and another sweet journey to savor.
Thank you!
Hope you’ll come back and post when you’ve tried the recipes, Rebecca.
Ive just discovered your newest book, How to Bake a Perfect Life,
right after a surgery and being sentenced to rest.
Then, I just had to get another and another
(the lost recipe and secret of everything).
You have become my new Tom Robbins (aka favorite author).
I love the way you create settings and how you juxtapose the inner character (thoughts and feelings) with the outer character (dialogue and action)this really brings the characters to life! I also love the way you use poetic devices (EX. in lost recipe — “crisp as a Cossack, ” couple of conditions,”
“splash of surprise,” and “five favorite foods”
As a poet and an aspiring children’s book writer this use of alliteration tickles my fancy. I haven’t been with my writers group in about a year but when I return,
I will suggest your GITB book!
Ill also do a review at Amazon for you.
Cant wait until your next book comes out!
Aileen in CNY
Barbara, just discovered your books and am devouring them (no pun intended
. I LOVE how you introduce your characters! I read for pleasure and I don’t want to have to “think” too much when I do. In many books, characters are introduced “cold” in a chapter just as I am getting into what is going on with the current character. It’s hard for me to switch gears and start learning about/caring about these new characters. In LRFH….you did an umbrella thing where you described all of Elena’s interactions with people…THEN you went in and gave us the back story. LOVED also how you did that in HTBAPL………I’m so far in and really caring about Ramona, THEN you go back and explain what happened when she was 15…… Am just starting TSOE…..and again, you get me emotionally interested so I’m already curious about characters and back story before getting the rundown. Its brilliant crafting and just at my pace of reading/curiosity. I also LOVED that Elena was not a “perfect” female lead. You actually made me believe she really wasn’t “beautiful” physically….not just an ugly ducking needing a makeover, but she shone from the inside. And I loved having a lead who had some physical issues that were a big problem for her and others noticed but accepted her anyway…..and seeing how she lived with those….refreshing for me on many levels in our “perfect-driven” society. Thank you for writing…..am looking forward to all your work!
So honored by your comments, Chris. Thank you for posting.
Thank you, thank you. I absolutely adore your novels and pass them around to all of my friends. I stumbled on The Lost Recipe for Happiness and read it while my husband was interviewing at a job in Colorado Springs. I didn’t realize you live in the Springs until I finished the book. I took it as a sign and sure enough, he was hired and we moved to the Springs over a year ago. I especially loved this last book, How to Bake a Perfect Life because I am a mother of two daughters and because of all the references to Colorado Springs. I am one of those crazies who races up the Ascent. Have you ever completed the Ascent? You are a phenomenal author and I can’t wait for your next novel. Oh, and I made the Hearty Berry Streusel Muffinss. Yum! Thanks for the inspiration!
Paula, what a great story. Glad your husband landed the job—and I’m impressed that you run the Ascent! Alas, I only have hiked up. My beloved has run it, and made a great showing.
You may not know that I wrote 5 novels of women’s fiction as Barbara Samuel.
I just read “The Lost Recipe for Happiness” and really enjoyed it. I did discover an editing error. On page 58, the newspaper article describing the car accident says that Isobel was driving. On page 438, it says Edwin was driving. Did I miss something?
Ah, good catch! Thanks, Sharon. If it goes back to another edition, we’ll fix it.
I’ve loved all of your books and have already purchased your
new book. Can’t wait to dive in.
Keep up your great style….
Hi Barbara–
I LOVE your new website and can’t wait to buy How to Bake a Perfect Life!!! I’ve been waiting months. I was so happy to find The Lost Recipe of Happiness and The Secret of Everything as I had read several of your books written under Barbara Samuel name. The Secret of Everything is my favorite book. It’s amazing. I’m currently pulling it apart and studying it scene by scene as a writer. I’d love to read about your writing process.
Thanks for the great reads!
Tina
Tina, thanks!
There are more craft articles at A Writer Afoot, and I write quite a lot about craft and my process at Writer Unboxed. Hoping to pull together a group of columns I wrote for Novelist’s Ink on the process, but time….time…time!
Thanks, Barbara. I’ve been reading through some of your old blog posts which are helpful!
I’m currently in Lori Wilde’s workshop/mentorship six month track program, writing my book and almost finished with WIP. Reading about your multiple drafts in the blogs reinforces that — hey, it’s alright to write a ton of drafts in order to layer in everything that’s needed to make a story GREAT.
Tina
Will your latest two books be coming out in a recorded version? If so, when?
All of my books are available through Recorded Books.
I am so happy that you are writing another book…can’t wait…loved both books…
What other name did you use for writing.