Harriette Patrick Barron has over 18 years of professional experience working with all types of challenging situations. As a Child Abuse Investigator, she witnessed the devastating effects of child abuse and neglect on youth. She also monitored children in the foster care system as a Foster Home Case manager. This allowed her to get an inside look at youth and families who felt rejected and alone. Pivoting to the Mental Health System, she assisted families who were experiencing severe mental health situations. As a Crisis Mental Health Worker she was able to link those in need of mental health treatment with community resources.

The Author also served as a youth pastor for the House of Deliverance Church in Athens, Texas. Pastor Hygia Patrick and the late Reverend William E. Patrick provided a strong spiritual foundation, as her Pastors and as her Parents. Serving as a youth pastor, she became involved and mentored fatherless young adults and their families. The Author feels that God called her to minister healing to young hurting adults. As Jesus taught in parables, she presents the gospel in a language that the youth and unchurched can understand. She graduated from Sam Houston State University, with a B.A in Sociology. The Author enjoys her family, church, and beautiful sunny Texas days.

1) First, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me! When did you know that writing is what you were called to do? What is it about being a writer that you love the most? What about being a writer frustrates you the most?

I knew that I was called to be a writer when I shared a rough copy of my first book with a co worker. She cried and told me that she had been through a similar situation, but had never told anyone about it. I helped her and didn’t even know that she had been through that situation. I love being a writer because I can tell a story without limitations. I love the fact that I can take my characters anywhere and they can do anything. The frustrating thing about being a writer is that I discovered that most people are too busy to read these days.

2) Can you tell us a little about your book(s) and where our readers can find out more about them and you?

I have my next four books already named and they are still in my head. My current novel is called, “The Wedding This Summer,” and it is a game changer. I address romantic love after trauma, forgiveness, and even embracing death when it is truly inevitable. I received a literary of excellence award for this one and I am so pleased about that. My other books are focused on everyday people doing extraordinary things. My books reach men and women no matter what journey they are on. I am on Facebook and Instagram under Harriette Patrick Barron. The best place to find my books is on my amazon page at

www.amazon.com/author/harriettebarron and my website www.harriettepatrickbarron.com

3) Where do you draw your inspiration from for the stories that you manage to weave together and the characters that you create?

I draw inspiration through my own life experiences and the experiences of others. I drew inspiration for my character, “Sampson Sweeny” from my father and my own husband’s life stories. My female characters are inspired by things that I went through in life and also people that I have met along the way.

4) Do you have a schedule for when you write? Do you outline your novels? How long does it generally take you to finish a novel? What projects are you currently working on?

I don’t have a schedule of when I write. I am a caretaker and a mother of two young children so I write when I can. I outline my novels but as I am writing, they have a tendency to go into another direction. It can take me up to one year to finish a novel because I stop at different times, but then when inspiration hits me, I can write for days at a time.

I am so excited to be working on a trilogy of a novel that has gained a literary of excellence award. I never planned to write a trilogy, but as I finished the first book, “By This Time Next Year,” the characters kept developing. I am working on the third installment of the series called, “The Winter Storm.” I am diving deeper into the characters as the story continues. I am also diving into my writing ability to be at the top of my field.

5) What’s the first book you ever read that really moved you emotionally? Who is your favorite author to read? What book are you currently reading?

When I read, “This Present Darkness” by Frank Peretti, I was completely blown away. The book moved me because he wrote characters of faith who were doing extraordinary things. He pin pointed just what I wanted to write about. My favorite author to read is “T.D. Jakes” and I have a list of books that he has written that are mind blowing. I am not currently reading anything now because I am finishing a second edition of one of my novels and completing the third installment of another one. However, the book that is on my list to read is “Disruptive Thinking,” by T.D Jakes.

6) What has been your most significant achievement as a writer thus far? Where do you see yourself within your career in the next five years?

I was excited to be honored with The Plume Award in literary excellence this year for my novel “The Wedding This Summer.” I think that was my first of many awards and I can feel myself getting better as an author. When I read my old books, I can see the improvement even from a few years ago. My style and character are becoming more enhanced, and I love it. My cousin who is also an author challenged me to write a screen play for my books. I have never written a screenplay, but that is next on my list and I plan to have my books turned into movies. In the next five years I want to be a best-selling author and screen play author. I can’t wait to read, “This movie is based on the screen play written by Harriette Patrick Barron, on the movie screen.

7) How have you dealt with rejection within your writing career? What is your advice for other writers to better be able to cope or navigate their way through the publishing process, be it traditional or self-publishing?

I hate rejections because it doesn’t feel good. It hurts when you know that your book is awesome, but someone does not understand it or like it. However, as a writer you must realize that you may not be “all of that.” Your manuscript may need work. Maybe you do need to go back to the beginning and fix some things. My advise to other writers is first to be open for criticism of your work. You will be rejected, but you will also find an audience who enjoys your writing style. Do your research when you are publishing your book and look out for scams. You are going to have to spend money to get your work properly edited. I have learned that you do need someone to help you because if you try to do everything yourself, you will become overwhelmed. Your best work could be lost in multiple mistakes if you don’t get the professional help you need for your work.

8) Do you find it hard to juggle the creative side of being a writer against the business side of being a writer, in terms of marketing and promotion and things of that nature? How hard has it been (or easy) for you to build up your author platform?

I am a creative writer, but I am still working on learning more about the business side of being an author. There is so much that I don’t know about marketing, advertising, editing, and managing social media. It has been difficult to build an author platform because I had very little income. I found out that almost everything costs, but it can be done on a small budget. I had to take it one step at a time and even market on a very small level. Eventually, I plan to do a major advertising campaign, but that will take money and the correct marketing strategy.

9) So many writers say that they hate reading their own work. Do you ever enjoy reading your own work back to yourself after it’s out there for the rest of the world?

Yes, I hate reading my own work, but I enjoy listening to it. I use my reader to check my spelling and the flow of the story. It also makes me want to do an audio book of all my novels. That is what I am working on next. Although I wrote the story, sometimes I forgot what happened and I enjoy following the characters and their journey.

10) Do you believe that there is ever a point in life where it’s too late for an aspiring writer to become successful in this industry? Do you feel a late start would hinder their chances?

It is never too late to be a successful writer. The later the start the more experience you should have to share with your readers. I hope that you have a thick skin by a certain age and one would be more familiar with rejection and acceptance that happens in life. As long as you have a great support team, nothing should hinder your chances of reaching your writing goals no matter what they may be.

11) I feel like writing is a remarkable tool to help people not only express themselves, but also to cope emotionally and mentally. I know for me I write to be and feel more authentic. What unique quality is there about you, about your art, that you feel represents your authenticity? How does writing help you to be more empowered in your purpose?

It took me a while to realize that I was creating characters who said what I wish I could say. My characters took chances that I would never take. I lived through them and I loved it. The funny thing is that I wrote my first faith based romance novel when I was separated from my own husband. I wrote the ending that I wanted for myself. I feel that my characters are authentic because they are human but still find the courage to face difficult obstacles in life. I feel that God gave me an ability to write stories that encourage people to do great things. Writing helps me develop characters that people can relate to and to tell great stores that will give others hope.