Why I Write Author Barb Franzen

Why I Like to Write

     I can’t remember a time when stories weren't a part of me. I remember writing a story about a farm when my mother asked me to read it to the people she was visiting with. I was eight years old and wish I had the story. She told the people that I would grow up to be a writer. A career in writing was postponed by my work as both a teacher and later a mental health therapist although I used making up stories as a means of touching attachment disordered children. I wrote stories in the form of metaphors to help them get better. I also drew pictures to go with these—a means of utilizing my minor in children’s art.

     Earlier before getting my masters as a counselor, I wrote a fair amount of poetry. I spent an entire summer down at the Platte River writing poems about life and nature. I fell in love with the process and had two of my poems published. This summer I have returned to poetry and have enough poems for a book which I intend to call Flying High With Poetry. These are both free verse and rhyming. I have been encouraged and helped by some great poets.

     In addition to poetry, I like short stories and vignettes about situations in life. I publish with Living Better at Over Fifty Plus a lovely on-line magazine and also placed third in Nebraska’s Bess Streeter Aldrich contest. My short stories are based on true life events of interest. I normally have a twist at the end—O Henry Style. Much of what I write deals with small town life and people. Having grown up in Brady Nebraska- which had 370 some people, I know the rural life.

     This year my first book, The Rag Princess came out. It is the story of a Nebraska farm girl who winds up living with an abusive aunt. In the course of her four years with this aunt, she is emotionally and sexually abused. Later she reclaims herself when she falls in love with a rancher from her past. The book is a tough read. I have had praise, but everyone who has mentioned reading the book had laid it down before finishing it. One of my goals was to portray abuse as the monster it is and at the same time show that healing is possible. The book can be bought at Amazon.com.

     In conclusion, I write to record the thoughts that come to me in unique ways and through creative eyes. Writing is a means of recording and sharing my perspectives on life and the many adventures.  As most writers would tell you, “I can’t not write.”

     To sample my poetry go to http://prairiechildhooldnebr.blogspot.com/2014/08/

     I was invited to do this blog by Kimberly Carol. Poet, writer, blogger, and dreamer, revisit her at

http://kimberlycarol.com/ Enjoy her poetry and read about her book.

I want to introduce you to our next blogger.

     Glenda Fralin dedicates her blog wordsprings.blogspot.com initially to interviews of Nebraska writers. This past year she expanded to the national and international literary world. She insists the interview may promote the author, but for her it is a constant learning process. “It’s as if the people I interview are my instructors.” Glenda is mostly home bound because of lung disease, but her love of research and memories of her Kansas and Nebraska roots in the Flint Hills along the Big Blue River feed her imagination with mental pictures and character driven stories. She is a former nurse and holds a bachelor’s degree in business with certification in writing for publication. Glenda, who writes as G. K. Fralin, is currently writing a series of novellas set in the early twentieth century. 

     Author Glenda Fralin The SEARCH print edition  

  http://www.amazon.com/Search-1-G-K-Fralin/dp/0615689442/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347940292&sr=1-1&keywords=the+search+by+g.+k.+fralin

THE SEARCH kindle books

www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=%28ASIN%3A+B005FCIQKO%29

SIX STRANGE SHORT STORIES

Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Six-Short-Strange-Stories-ebook/dp/B0095BDIAE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1347940537&sr=1-1&keywords=six+strange+short+stories

Smashwords

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/212395

Blogs

http://www.wordsprings.blogspot.com

http://www.gkfralinbooks.blogspot.com

Pastor Gooming Twelve Year Old-The Rag Princess-More Scenes

The Rag Princess-Out February by Barb Franzen-Child abused-Grows up and meet rancher  Will Temple from the past. From vicious abuse to tender love story. By child therapist Barb Franzen

 For winning he had a surprise. A red hearts necklace just happened to be in his desk. He would like to put it on her if she would like to have it. "Oh yes, she would love it!" she said finding this unbelievable. Would there be more things to come. Sylvie hadn't given her anything since she'd arrived and it was special to have something form a man that everyone was in love with. Slipping it around her neck, his hands caressed her upper arms. It felt oddly wonderful however fatherly he meant the caress. bending so that she could feel his warm breath on her neck, she reared back embarrassed, shocked. What could she do but giggle. It was just a gesture he was used to, but it had felt surprisingly good. He was saying that everything in here had to be their secret. 'oh yes, she said, that would be fine. It would e just the way she and Ginny Temple ahd done it. He reached over with a bowl of candy then set it down and took one which he placed in the palm of her hand. What a nice soft hand she ahd and maybe he would lotion it for her if she was good, That was it for tonight. He would see her next week when they would talk about her friendships and how she was feeling. Wasn't it nice of Sylvie to want this for her? And wasn't Sylvie a wonderful person. He had talked with Sylvie about all of the things they did in here. Good bye and goodnight. As she was slipping out the door he said, "hey let’s do some mentoring on a country picnic. It will be warm enough time after next."
 The second week he had a second gift. This one was awaiting her but when she reached for it, he said, "No I was just kidding." You have to prove yourself Miss. It's very expensive and the kind that Sonny told me to get for you.
  "Why" she asked. “I didn't do anything for a gift.”
    He smiled sort of looking her over--a look that make her happy and uneasy both. It seemed a little sexy or as if he was thinking of her like that. "Let's talk, “he said.