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 second book, Seeds of Salton, brought me to the iron hard land of Eastern Montana where the ranches are so big they are measured in sections, 640 acres to a section, each one divided by a gravel road.  Lava scoria covered buttes are crushed and poured on the roads creating red ribbons of gravel up and down the never-ending slopes.  The breathtaking sunsets and craggy outlines of the rugged landscape captivated me unexpectedly. 

In 2008 I was selected for a writer’s residency at the Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming on the western edge of the beautiful Black Hills.  I spent a full week as a guest of the park, weaving the imagery from my trip to Montana into the pages of my manuscript.  I had the distinct sense that my being in that very place to write Seeds of Salton was no accident.  The book you see, is based on real people and real lives…a way of life that is rooted deep beneath the ground, and tells a powerful story of forgiveness and redemption, a message intended as a healing balm to those still hurting from past wrongs.

My husband John and I make our home in Lakeville, MN where we raised six children in a blended family of ‘yours, mine and ours.’  Married for 21 years we enjoy times of family get-togethers (now greatly expanded!) and travel.  Having made numerous trips westward to do research for both Hidden Heritage and Seeds of Salton, we have found a deepening appreciation and love for the American West.  Maybe one day we’ll be so fortunate to call it home.