Leigh Barbour's thoughts

Irina's Quest - a science fiction romance

2010-04-02T02:55:00.000-07:00

Trailer for Jade Seas

2010-03-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

The Essence of Romance

2010-02-13T04:57:00.000-08:00

No matter what genre a movie or book is, a romance imprints the story forever in our minds. Whether the story takes place in outer space, deep in a cave, or during a war, a romance allows a story to be told where it's important to the reader what the outcome will be. In a romance, the audience always cares. No one can sit on the sidelines in a romance. They are always rooting for a happy outcome. Love involves everyone.

A story without romance is like walking through the desert without water. How can the audience latch on to the hope and the innermost feelings of the hero and heroine?

Romance readers know this. They read romance to fall in love, that's true, but they know that to be a really good story, there needs to be two people who are dying to be together.

I'd also like to point out here that overall romance is love. For example, in the movie GLORIA, the romance wasn't between adults, it was mother-son love that was blossoming. True romance readers will know what I mean. A true romance is a story where loves transcends all.

I'm proud to announce a Novel Writing Course!

2009-10-31T06:50:00.000-07:00

I'm offering a free online course on How to Write a Romance Novel that will Get Published. Listen to this:

Green

2009-01-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

I guess you could say that I'm obsessed with green, no not kelly
green or hunter green, I mean the concept that we have to be good to
this earth for it to continue allowing us to inhabit it. Yes, I said
that right. The Earth doesn't need us, we need the Earth.

We're just little parasites that bother Mother Earth. And one day
she'll let us know when she's had enough of us.

That's what happened in Irina's Quest. Mother Earth rebelled and rid
herself of human life and that's why Irina and her crew are
barreling through outer space looking for a new planet.

Don't worry, there is enough time for love and romance. Ken, an
alien from a more evolved group of humans is attracted to Irina and
joins her in her quest for a new home.

Although I don't want to give away too much, Ken lets her know that
the human race learns its lessons very slowly and that her people
may very well ruin the second planet they inhabit also.

Sad, huh? - that we are so hardheaded we'll probably pollute this
planet to the point we'll have to leave. And if you believe Ken,
it's possible we'll make the same mistake once we find out second
planet out there.

Can't we change what we're doing? Can't we evolve?

Actually, Irina has a choice. She can join Ken (he's a great lover -
alien sex is the greatest) people and enjoy life or she can lead her
people to peace and prosperity.

Which do you think she'll choose? Should she be dedicated to
teaching people who don't always listen to reason or go off with the
great lover of her life?

What I finished in 2008

2008-12-23T02:35:00.001-08:00

I'm proud to say that with all the work I've done what with starting my own technical writing company, Techni-Lingo Corporation, I was able to start and finish "Jade Seas" in 2008. In fact, I just finished it in the nick of time. And, I've subbed it to Red Rose.

All my readers will enjoy reading about Jade and her swashbuckling pirate. It's set in Annapolis and Baltimore, Maryland and features a very "green" theme when Jade opens up a solar and wind art gallery.

Even though she knows it's crazy, she falls in love with Captain Alejandro Valdivia, a pirate she summons from his grave unknowingly.

Will Jade be able to leave her gallery to join Alejandro in the Caribbean? Or will she end up in jail because of her cousin's fiance?

More in 2008

2008-12-23T02:31:00.000-08:00

Recently I signed a contract with Red Rose for a delightful story called "Raquel's Abel". Raquel's a very large woman, with a ghost with a very large crush on her. And, Raquel's grandmother thinks she's Anastasia Romanov. The old woman must be crazy - or is she?

And Abel, a World War I ghost wandering around her house, can be very mischievous. Can he persuade her not to have the gastric bypass? After all, he likes every pound of her.

So much has happened in 2008

2008-12-23T02:27:00.000-08:00

Where do I begin? First, I published my first and only science fiction novel, Irina's Quest. It was a great challenge to write, but it certainly did turn out to be an exciting story. I call it a "green" and sobering story. It's about Irina, the ship's captain, after Earth has been destroyed, well, destroyed for human life to exist there. Irina's quest is to find another inhabitable planet for her people. She has some very dangerous enemies, but the saving grace is that she finds Ken, a very hot human from another galaxy. I won't tell you the outcome, but having sex with an alien won't let you down.

Just published my second newsletter

2007-07-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying publishing a newsletter.

This time I had the privilege of interviewing Sonja Foust and I got two articles on web design, one from Nicola Beaumont on designing for different size monitors, and another from Deb Tompkins full of hints and tips for designing web pages.

I also included two articles from myself, one on making video trailers, and another on why I decided to write about a "big" heroine.

If you haven't yet, sign up for my newsletter here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CreationsbyLeigh/

My leading man's home page

2007-07-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you've heard, but it's the rage now for heroes to have their home pages, so Zebulon wanted one.

Here it is, his photo and all: http://home.nc.rr.com/rueda/LeighBarbour/zebpage.html

Leigh Barbour's publishing a newsletter

2007-07-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

Want to learn about:

designing websites,
how to write better,
what's going on in the industry,
about new and upcoming romance authors?

Well, this is the place. I'll also include some things I've got in the words, too.

Sign up for my newsletter now! http://home.nc.rr.com/rueda/LeighBarbour/newsletter.html

Just wrote an article on using color on your website

2007-07-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

I just got finished writing an article on using color in website design.

It's the second article in the series, but for those of you who have websites, these short articles just might come in handy.

http://home.nc.rr.com/rueda/LeighBarbour/webdesign.html

2007-07-08T15:56:00.001-07:00

Website design is another specialty of mine. And, I think a lot of authors could use this basic and very practical advice.
http://home.nc.rr.com/rueda/LeighBarbour/web.html

A second review from Two Lips

2007-07-06T05:20:00.000-07:00

Abigail Willis is a historian turned author. The Civil War era is her passion so when she meets a man dressed in authentic clothing from the period, she is intrigued.

Zebulon is a strikingly handsome man and one would expect that the girls would be all over him, but it seems that Abigail is the only one who can see him.

Zebulon was in fact a Civil War soldier and has roaming Richmond, Virginia ever since his death, looking for true love. As soon as he sets eyes on Abigail, he knows that his wait is over.

Zebulon is an old-fashioned, sweet romance from author Leigh Barbour. It starts out rather slow and it takes a while before the characters are lined up on the stage, making the first half of the novel drag.

Abigail and Zeb are interesting characters who manage to overcome the difficulties in their path.

The villains are truly villainous, and help move the story along nicely.

All in all, an unconventional but entertaining read.

My first review - Four Angels!!!

2007-07-02T13:18:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to get my very first review.

Zebulon is a ghost. A very handsome ghost, one who makes author Abigail Willis forget her mood swings, aches and pains and the rest of her change-of-life physical ailments. When she first meets Zeb, as she calls him, Abigail is convinced he’s playing a part.

A very convincing part, but a part, nonetheless. When her sister reminds her that their grandmother and Aunt Ruby both spoke to imaginary people, she realizes that the rest of the world can’t see Zeb. Is he really a ghost, or is she losing her mind?

Leigh Barbour has created a world where historians/authors mix freely with centuries-old men, and she’s done it convincingly.

I enjoyed Zebulon for a number of reasons, but the most pressing is that this story feels like one that any of us could have.

Gail is a heroine that could be any of us, or anyone we know. The characters, even the apparitions, are detailed, vivid and believable. Although there are points where the dialogue is stilted and the narrative’s flow stumbles, the richness of this story makes up for any flaws it has.

And when Gail’s troubles begin in earnest, I found myself rooting for her and Zebulon to succeed in a way that I hadn’t expected to. I sincerely cared for these characters.

Zebulon is a fine, satisfying read. The ending is a real kicker!

ttp://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2007/June/Carly-Zebulon.htm

My "big" heroine

2007-06-30T06:04:00.000-07:00

I wrote Raquel's Abel as a result of knowing a good friend who went through gastric bypass surgery.

By knowing her, I have learned what it's like to have a enormous problem (no pun intended) with weight. A problem that appears to be unsolvable, and surgery that offers more than a glimmer of hope.

Although the surgery initially is a godsend, many patients gain much of the weight back in spite of the fact their stomach is a fraction of the size it initially was. I hope she is successful in keeping the weight off.

Spent my day working on a trailer

2007-06-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

You're going to love it. I have so much fun doing these things.

This trailer is for Raquel's Abel. This is a story about a big heroine who has a really sexy ghost after her. And he doesn't want her doing ANYTHING about her weight.

Watch: http://home.nc.rr.com/rueda/LeighBarbour/raqtrailer.html

Zebulon is published and...

2007-06-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

One of the most exciting days of my life was the day Zebulon went live at The Wild Rose Press.

Zeb is one of the most interesting characters I've ever written about. Wounded in the Battle of Chancellorsville and later having his brother die in his arms in the Battle for Richmond has scarred him, but not for true love. The problem is he was injured and though he lived long enough to get home, the infection took him.

Abigail is a famous historian and author and can't see Zeb because he's a ghost. But Zeb is smitten. He's read every one of her books and followed her around in her neighborhood in the Fan District of Richmond, Virginia. Then, as some of her female relatives, suddenly as she reaches menopause, she begins to see ghosts.

Zeb has decided to woo her and convince her she can marry a ghost.

Get Zebulon in e-format at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/

Zebulon and other things on my plate

2006-11-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

Well, finally, Zebulon is almost ready to be published. In fact, you'll be seeing it on The Wild Rose Press very soon.

I loved writing about Zebulon. I find that I know when a romance is really right when you as the author begin to fall in love with the hero. (I'd never tell my husband that.) And I really did fall in Zebulon.

His full name is Zebulon Carrington Perry and sadly he was killed at the end of the Civil War. But he's gorgeous as a ghost. His hair is dark, fine and think and his eyes a piercing blue. Aside from that he's a gentlemen and he's sweet, just plain long sweet and he's in love with Abigail. Unfortunately, though she just can't see herself with a ghost.

If I've piqued your interest, you're going to love the podcast.

Trivia

2006-09-20T06:32:00.000-07:00

Visit my trivia page:

http://home.nc.rr.com/rueda/LeighBarbour/trivia.html

Hey everybody

2006-09-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

I'm very happy to be starting my first blog. I'm also very happy to be a part of The Wild Rose Press.