Writings

My Mother’s Bridge
Maria Barrs Maria Barrs

My Mother’s Bridge

The holidays always bring to mind those who are no longer here to celebrate with us. I'd like to share something I wrote about my Mom.

Read More
The Sound of My Words
Maria Barrs Maria Barrs

The Sound of My Words

At dinner recently, a friend said he saw my Instagram post that included a quick clip of the audiobook version of my debut mystery, Parallel Secrets. He had just read that same passage in the physical book. I asked whether it sounded like he pictured it while he read. He said, “Absolutely. She nailed it.”

Read More
How to Identify Writing Problems
Maria Barrs Maria Barrs

How to Identify Writing Problems

I was asked recently how I resolved problems I faced on my Parallel Secrets writing journey. I share some solutions here in hopes they can help another writer along the way.

Read More
Can We Take a Walk?
Maria Barrs Maria Barrs

Can We Take a Walk?

I was struggling recently with some technical difficulties and took a walk to clear my head. It reminded me of a story from my days in TV News…

Read More
Confessing Ain’t Easy
Maria Barrs Maria Barrs

Confessing Ain’t Easy

Confessing Ain’t Easy was the Winner of the San Francisco Writers Conference 2023 contest, Adult Non-Fiction category.

Read More
One Day to Go
Maria Barrs Maria Barrs

One Day to Go

My book club recently critiqued my first book, Parallel Secrets. These are very forthright readers.

Read More
Two Days to Go…
Maria Barrs Maria Barrs

Two Days to Go…

Two days until launch. And a sneak peek at the second book in the series!

Read More
Three Days to Go
Maria Barrs Maria Barrs

Three Days to Go

I was lucky enough to meet in person with the narrator of my audiobook (coming out in October 2023). Susanna Burney is an actor who has narrated and produced multiple books for ACX, the audiobook arm of Amazon-Audible. It was fascinating to talk with someone who read my book so closely.

Read More
Four Days to Go
Maria Barrs Maria Barrs

Four Days to Go

Writing fiction is, for me, a very different challenge than writing and editing television news.

Read More
Five Days To Go
Maria Barrs Maria Barrs

Five Days To Go

Five Days until my first mystery, Parallel Secrets is released, a few thoughts about starting a new career later in life.

Read More
Hello World
Trevor @ Hop Creative Trevor @ Hop Creative

Hello World

Just days until my book launch! Surely no other debut author has thought of writing about the excitement, tension, nervousness of waiting for the day people can actually buy her book

Read More
Why I'm Camera-shy
Trevor @ Hop Creative Trevor @ Hop Creative

Why I'm Camera-shy

I left local television in 2016 after almost forty years, mostly in news management. Feel free to enjoy this video of my excruciatingly bad, first-ever TV news live shot:

Read More