About Barbara

Many things in life can determine one’s character. Looking back, one could say my character developed in a most quiet, unassuming way. My parents, Percy and Jessie Veden, had been married for 27 years, and had six grown children and three grandchildren before I arrived on scene. Active in church and 4-H activities, they lived a typical rural lifestyle in mid-1950s fashion, farming the Veden homestead in northern Minnesota. That is when God had a little surprise in store. Yes, at the ages of 51 and 49, Percy and Jessie welcomed Baby Number Seven with open arms into their simple farmhouse.

A few years later my dad retired from farming and we “moved to town,” handing over the operation to my older brother. My parents were like grandparents, my siblings more like aunts and uncles, and my nieces and nephews were all my age. Needless to say, my family’s dynamics confused all my friends! Evenings at home with Mom and Dad were quiet, uneventful, and quite honestly, boring. After all, when I reached my teens, eager for a little excitement or adventure, my parents were in their 60s and excitement or adventures were the last thing on their minds.

My carefree summers were divided between the tree-lined boulevards in the small community of Wadena and weekend visits to the family farm. Spending time amid rows of six-foot tall corn stalks or riding the grain wagons during combining somehow brought my imagination to life. Dramas like none other played out inside the slatted walls of a corn crib or in the stuffy, sweet-smelling confines of the haymow. Without a doubt, the most thrilling “events” took place in a secluded log cabin, made with fallen tree trunks from a nearby grove. Just like in the days of the pioneers, time there was a matter of survival. I relished in the plots that came to mind in such a desolate location, with dangerous ventures lurking just beyond the wooded acreage.

I often stayed up late, writing out my stories in notebooks, page upon page, creating characters and drafting dialogue. College was not an option after high school, so I went ahead with the things in life that those around me expected at the time. Marriage and children. Then some things came along that I didn’t anticipate. Divorce and single-parenting. Rather than it being all times of difficult trials, I discovered a chance for inner growth where I learned the true meaning of trust and faith. Eventually I entered another new phase. Second chances and a blended family. All were rewarding, sometimes challenging experiences, but there was definitely no time for writing.

Finally God’s persistent nudgings pushed me into action. As with many writers, my life experiences provide a base for the mix of stories and articles I have written. Some are humorous, others heartwarming, but above all I like to believe they inspire hope. My articles have appeared in various periodicals such as Guideposts,Minnesota Monthly, and Lake Country Journal. I have also had several stories published in compilation book series such as Finding and Following God’s Will, Cup of Comfort for Mothers and Sons, and God’s Way for Christmas.

Writing my first published book was a fascinating and wonderful journey in itself. I was fortunate to spend time in the serene and quiet beauty of the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Hidden Heritage…the Story of Paul LaRoche is a spiritual legacy of one man’s ordinary life, suddenly fused with a rich, Lakota heritage that enabled him to cross boundaries far beyond his own expectations. Published by Beaver’s Pond Press in 2006, Hidden Heritage is a powerful, true story of one man’s desire to follow his dream.

My love of suspense and romance prompted me to complete my first novel, Blue Moon. Told through a blend of gripping components, the two-book set of Blue Moon and Hunter’s Moon covers the contemporary issues of single-parenting and blended families in a down-to-earth fashion, where relationships with parents, sisters, children, and God all have a genuine influence on the heroine’s moral fiber.

Family is a big part of my life as well. My husband, John, and I reside in Lakeville, Minnesota, and have a blended family of six children. The oldest five, Karli, Summer, Krissy, Emily, and John Ryan are grown and starting their own journeys through adulthood. Our youngest son, David, is in high school and still at home, along with our family dog, Abbie, a golden retriever.