Barbara Larriva

Travel has always been my first love. It was because of an experience in Morocco that started my writing career. I was a secretary at the time and because the Moroccan experience was rather lengthy, I typed it (yes, a real typewriter!) and passed it out to my co-workers. The comments were all quite positive so I took a Creative Writing class and dabbled in romance writing. After receiving a rejection (I still have it) that said "your book is neither romantic nor inspiring," I announced to my writers' group, "As long as I'm going to get rejected I might as well write what i want to write." So I wrote POPPY. I sent out only one query to Ballantine/Random House and they bought it. Fifteen years later, Crossings Book Club bought POPPY and made it their featured selection of the month.

WHITE BOY BLUE EYES is my latest book and although it is much longer, my readers have told me it has the same emotional impact and will touch your heart as did POPPY.