Spotlight on Linda Barrett
(Published in 2002)

By Cheryl Bolen

Linda is one of the few members of our chapter who did not traverse the RWA contest circuit on the way to publication. Though she did not final in any RWA-sponsored writing contests, Linda did garner some prestigious writing awards. She placed in the top 10 in a national short story contest sponsored by Writers Digest--out of 2,000 entrants! In addition, she finaled in some novel contests sponsored by Houston Writers League.

This month, her third novel and third Harlequin Superromance, The Apple Orchard, is being published. It will be followed by The Inn at Oak Creek in February.

In May of 2000, four years after moving to Houston and joining RWA, Linda sold her first book, Love, Money and Amanda Shaw. It was published nine months later. Her second book, True Blue Texan, followed in July of 2001.

Linda said she has written all her life. Her writing includes poems, short stories and family remembrances. Then, when her three sons (who were born in a six-year period) were growing up, she began to earn money writing resumes. "I was able to provide resumes for every friend and relative under the sun. Of course, those were gratis!" Linda said.

When she answered her persistent call to write book-length fiction, Linda targeted long contemporary. Then she zoomed in on Superromance and Silhouette Special Edition. Prior to getting published, she had written--over many years--four romance novels and one young adult novel.

Unagented, she is completely happy to be at Superromance. "The editorial staff is wonderful--very professional and nice as well. My own editor is terrific. I feel we are well matched.

"In addition to the editorial reasons, I love writing for the line. Superromance encourages a wide breadth of styles and types of stories. Mystery, romantic suspense, humor, family, poignant emotion . . .The length (80-85,000 words) allows for in-depth character development and interesting subplots."

An adult literacy teacher now, Linda earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and education from Hunter College of the City University of New York, where she grew up. She then received a master’s in education from Hunter.

"As much as I love writing, I also love being with people each day," Linda said. Her job at SEARCH allows her to try "to make a difference in the world."

Her job also provides her with necessary medical benefits. "I don’t expect to give up my day job any time soon."

Linda and husband Mike have been married 35 years. All three of their sons live out of state. Son Andrew recently wed, and Linda said she’s "happy to welcome Pauline and little Aaron to our family." Son David lives in Worcester, Mass., where the family lived for 23 years. Rich lives in New York. "Both guys have terrific girlfriends as well," Linda said. "Do you see how I’m practicing to be a perfect mother-in-law?"

Despite her heavy work load, Linda says she has no regrets. There have been times she repeated the old adage, "Be careful what you wish for," but she realizes she’s actually living her dream.