An Interview with Barbara Bietz
Q. How did you become a writer?
A. When I was a kid, I loved writing poems and songs. I was shy about my work and never really showed anyone until 7th grade when I had a poem published in my Junior High's literary journal. Even before I became a writer, I was always a reader. I have loved reading for as long as I can remember.
After college and graduate school, I had many jobs that required writing skills. I was always comfortable writing, but it took me a long time to realize that I could write stories. I took many writing classes, joined critique groups (where writers share their work with each other) and built up lots of courage before I wrote my first story.
Q. Is it hard to be a writer?
A. Being a writer is hard, but it is also fun and interesting. It requires skill, imagination, and discipline. The best part is getting to know the characters that I create. I love the creative process of writing. I was never very good at math and science, partly because you could only have one right answer. As a writer, I can decide what the right path is for my characters. It is very rewarding to finish a story.
Q. Are the characters in Like a Maccabee real people or made-up?
A. The characters I write about are mostly made-up, but they all possess traits of people that I know. For example, my son played soccer like Ben. Like Mandy, I was a pesky little sister, and my daughter took ballet and loves arts and crafts.
Q. What was your favorite book when you were a kid?
A. My favorite books were the All of a Kind Family Series by Sydney Taylor. I also loved books by Beverly Cleary. I thought of my favorite characters as friends, and I still think about them.
Q. Did you have pets when you were a kid?
A. Yes! We always had dogs. We also had chipmunks, but they weren't very friendly pets. My favorite dog was a mutt named Bagel.
Q. Do you have pets?
A. We have three dogs - Chester, Oliver, and Chloe. Chester and Oliver are brown Field Spaniels and Chloe is a white Bichon Frise. Chester and Oliver are very naughty. They like to steal food. Once I came home to find Oliver with a cereal box stuck on his head! Chloe is not really naughty, but she is super bossy!
Q. Do you have siblings?
A. I have an older sister and an older brother. Growing up, my sister was the artist and my brother was the athlete. For many years I was simply the little sister. Now that I am a grown-up, I'm the writer!
Q. Do you have kids?
A. I have two kids, Jillian and Trevor. They are both in high school.
Q. Where do you write your books?
A. I have a cozy but cluttered office with lots of photos and posters of things I love, where I do most of my writing. Usually there is at least one dog at my feet so I am never lonely. I also keep pens and pads of paper handy everywhere, including in my car. A writer should always be prepared. If an idea comes to mind, it is important to write it down right away. I even keep a pad and pen next to my bed in case an idea strikes in the middle of the night!
Q. Do you have advice for kids about becoming a writer?
A. Yes - read, read, read! The best way to be a good writer is to be a good reader. A good writer is also a good observer. Always look around you for interesting ideas and new ways to see things. Don't be afraid to jump in and start writing. A journal is a great way to start. Some writers like to keep a notebook of ideas. There are many opportunities for kids to write, from school newspapers to magazines.
If you have any questions that I didn't answer here, feel free to send me an e-mail and I will respond as quickly as possible.
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I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley in California. I am the youngest of three children. As a kid, some of my favorite activities were playing guitar, acting in plays, and of course reading! I also took piano lessons, but wasn't very good. My family had many pets, including fish, several dogs, and even chipmunks. Twice my whole family traveled cross country by car - from California to New York! Although we passed through many states, I don't remember most of them!