Barbara Witek - Blog

Everyone's Got One of these

10/23/2021

Obsessed. I am obsessed with this song. It's repeated daily on my playlist and I crank it up if I hear it in the car. In love with it!! Lee Brice never disappoints. (insert massive sigh)

so the song... MEMORY I DON'T MESS WITH. Have you heard it? It will hit you in all the feels, I promise. And I'll tell you why. I don't care who you are, but you've got 1 of these. Listen to the song with your eyes closed and you'll understand. And yes, it's the romantic in me but it's the reason songwriters do what they do! And when the right artist comes along to sing it....well that's where the magic happens and we can relate to it and feel it. The music, the lyrics, it's just beautiful storytelling.

So while some people say it's "spooky season", in Barbie's world there's always romance in the air - no spooks or spectres allowed! And to MY memory, if you happen to be reading this...thank you and well, you're welcome.

I'm attaching the youtube link below and I hope it doesn't get removed since I've given Lee Brice credit. :-) Enjoy YOUR memory.

It's Been A LOOOONG Time!

9/2/2021

If you happen to be reading this..... THANK YOU for sticking with me and checking back over the last FOUR YEARS!!!! Holy cow, has it really been that long?? I know, it has and for that I do apologize. Life took many (and that's an understatement) unexpected turns and yours truly found out she doesn't handle mounds upon mounds upon mounds of stress well. At. ALL. Nuff said there, what's done is done. It's been a very long and treacherous 4 yrs but they are over and there is NO going back!

Let's just say, I've come out of things stronger and so very blessed. I'm finding a balance, and the gratitude I feel for my life as I know it and everyone and everything that got me to where I am today fills my heart to overflowing. So whatever part you played (good, bad or undecided) Thank you for helping me grow.

I have so many things I want to share but if I do it all now this post might as well be a book! This is my check-in to let you all know how much I appreciate your support and interest in my stories. I'm writing again and it feels fantastic! I have new projects in the works and I can't wait to share them with you!

I'm committing to being more active, so make sure you check back often to the blog, and hit up my social media channels too. I've got some fun things planned on the social front as well.

Now go forth and make every day count! And read. Read all the books (mine first though). :-)

It's been a while

8/9/2016

Wow...I haven't written a blog post since Christmas! Now that's a shame. So what have I been up to, you ask? Lot's of motorcycle riding has to be tops on my list! I used to (and still do) love being the passenger, but something is so free-ing about being the driver. Every time I go out, I'm more confident. I love it and wish I'd learned sooner. My goal is to trade up my Kawasaki 500 in the spring. Which gives me the rest of this season to hone my skills even more so I can feel just as comfortable on a bigger bike. I can't wait. Because while "Thor" (yes, I named my bike) has been wonderful to learn on, I need more HP to keep up with the big boys when they take off from a stop or leave me in the dust when we go from a 35 to a 55 zone. Don't get me wrong, when I"m cruising 60-70mph I keep up just fine. But I want to do some longer distance rides and for that I need a more comfortable bike. So stay tuned for that update in the spring because I will make it happen!!!!

Writing wise I've been working on a story in a different genre. Getting in touch with my dark side and I must say it's very fun because I can get totally out of character. When all is said and done I will be subbing this under a pen name (still to be determined, as my alter ego hasn't spoken up yet). The story started as one thing, morphed into something else, and has a psychological suspense-thriller'ish feel to it. And I must say, I'm loving it! I've got other ideas brewing in my brain - hence the reason for a pen name.

Have no fear Butler's Pantry fans!! There is a second book planned and a fun novella to be released soon! I've received some great personal messages about book one and I'm glad readers have loved it as much as I do.

Stay cool for what's left of our summer!

It's Holiday Sale Time!

11/29/2015

And who doesn't LOVE a holiday sale?

Who needs Black Friday? It all starts Cyber Monday !

Check out my Amazon author page to see the fantastic holiday pricing on my romances! I mean seriously, what's not to love? It's romance!! Included are my two holiday novella's! So if you haven't read Santa Wore Combat Boots (amazon best seller) or Top Secret Santa (debut last year) now is the time to get them! Guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.

Better yet, if you've read them...REVIEW them! Show your favorite authors love by reviewing their books! It's the season of giving and receiving! And don't forget that books make great gifts - and ebooks make easy & convenient gifts for those long distance friends and relatives.

I've been blessed with amazing readers and fans. Knowing you enjoy my stories is the best present I could ever receive. Coming from me, who is sentimental about everything...this is huge! I hope to continue writing the best stories I can for your enjoyment and entertainment.

Stay safe this holiday season! And put your nose in a good book!

Tis the Season!

11/27/2015

As you all know (at least here in the U.S.) Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday rush. And I say rush because Turkey Day has somehow gotten bowled over by the commercialization of Christmas. First we had Black Friday, then Cyber Monday, and now they've named Thanksgiving Day shopping as Brown Thursday, and we've added Small Business Saturday. Are the deals any better? I really don't know. I've attempted Black Friday twice in my life and hated it. This was my third year of mother-daughter Thanksgiving eve shopping and I find it fun. Mainly because we shop the deals for ourselves. Hey, don't judge. Then men in the family are best shopped for on-line, anyway, and this guarantees we get what we really want! I'm all in on Cyber Monday, and usually on Small Business Saturday we're busy hauling out the Christmas decorations for outside and inside the house. Personally, I think if you're a savvy shopper, you'll find the deals on what you're looking for no mattter what day it is!

With all that aside, I LOVE the holiday season! Christmas is my favorite holiday ever. The decorations, the tree, the lights, the love and laughter of entertaining family and friends. And I really do have fun shopping for people and coming up with really cool gifts they never saw coming.

I'm so thankful to my friends, my readers and my fans for reading and reviewing my books and requesting more. I will be kicking off a fun-filled week tomorrow (Small Business Saturday) by spending part of the day at the Lowville Free Library, Lowville NY. They are hosting an author event and book signing. If you can make it (no snow in the forecast!) stop by and say hello. I'd love to see you and I'm looking forward to making some new author friends. I will have copies of Cracker Jacked, Twists of Fate and Daddy Wore Dog Tags available to purchase, too.

Happy Shopping! Remember, books make great gifts. e-books are awesome gifts for those long distance (no postage necessary)

The Top 5 things I learned at Bouchercon 2015

10/15/2015

First off, you can never plan too much. Our train ride of awesomeness was cancelled the afternoon before we were to leave. Talk about panic. So we rented a car. Not so bad, right? We alternated driving every 3 hours and with a couple stops and some traffic delays (we won't even mention the GPS that wouldn't recalculate in time) we arrived at our destination 11.5 hrs later (said in the voice of SpongeBob). Note to selfies: never drive more than 5 hrs. because the ride home after days of no sleep and binge drinking is not worth it.

I was still fighting a wretched cold - which I still have and is now a sinus infection - so we were stocked with a pharmacy full of supplies, a 24 pack of 5 hr energy, healthy snacks and 2 full bottles of alcohol - non of that stuff returned home.

But to continue with my conference lessons:

1.) Be healthy. All the cold medicine in the world cannot combat tons of walking, late nights and enough drinking to constitute a liver transplant.

2.) Mystery and Thriller writers are amazing, interesting in-depth people! I was so fortunate to meet so much talent. I have made new friends and become a fan of some very exciting and different stuff.

3.) Register in time to stay AT the conference hotel (this should really be #1, but if you're not 100% then where you stay doesn't matter anyway). In all of our conference years, this was the first time Kari Lee Townsend and I were "off site" and I mean 1.5 miles one-way, WALKING!!! Again, not bad if you're not sick, Oh wait...did I mention this was Raleigh, NC? and it was in the 80's with a touch of humidity?? (we know how I feel about humidity, damn Mother Nature) I was not feeling the southern hospitality, peeps. But seriously, being at the conference hotel means you really get the scoop on what's happening, you can stay out longer and it's a hell of a lot easier to slip up to your room for a power nap, create the party room, etc...

4.) Get Stuff Done! Along with networking and brainstorming, Kari and I used this as a working trip too! Impressive, huh? :-) She is busting out a new women's fiction story and I have decided (thank you Bouchercon for confirming my decision) to dabble on the dark side and write a dark women's fiction story! I'm very excited. We tweaked our synopsis' and made some serious page progress. AND I came up with another idea for when this book is complete. So stay tuned.

5.) Get Going. The last but probably the most important thing I learned is keep going to conferences. Find time to at least make 1 a year. You stay current with industry information, you keep face to face contact with your new friends (always a plus) who live far away, you keep your name out there and you recharge your creative battery!!

And there you have it! There's nothing better than a vacation, except a getaway that feeds your creative soul. And that's what conferences do for me, no matter how large or how small. There's so much creative energy in the air I want to soak it up like a sponge! Unlike my liver.....

While I'll be looking at some new conference options for 2016, I'm
Looking foward to Bouchercon 2017!

Raleigh here we come!

10/6/2015

Make sure you're following me on Twitter: @barbarawitek and Instagram: nybarbie84 because you're not going to want to miss all the fun and shenanigans happening on the road to Raleigh where my fellow author, critique partner and bestie, Kari Lee Townsend are headed this week for Bouchercon! (make sure you follow her too!)

Aside from providing hysterical entertainment DURING our road trip - and train ride (this is our first EV-ER riding of a train for both of us!! I know, who knew right??) There's a lounge car with alcohol, so it's all good people, it's all good. Why am I suddenly getting a vision of us recreating Dierks Bentley's song only it will be "Drunk on a Train"..... where are the Jager Bombs and our NYC Motor Cycle Club members when we need them? LOL. Knowing Kari and I, we will make new friends on the train! Stay tuned! Even more reason to make sure you're following us!

During the conference, Kari and I will be posting pictures of our undisclosed locations and how long we will be there. The first people to find us - Receive signed copies of our books! Fun AND Free!! You can't beat that!

My New Romantic Cozy is in the KINDLE SCOUT PROGRAM!!

2/10/2015

Organic Cafes and Dead Bodies Don't Mix

SO EXCITED to share that my debut romantic cozy mystery, Cracker Jacked, was selected to take part in Amazon's Kindle Scout Program. This program let's READERS (who know what they like/want) nominate books for potential publication. I've nominated several books and it's nice to get an email saying the book was chosen for publication.

Please click on the link below which will take you to my campaign page. There you will be able to see the book description and read part of the story. If you like what you've read, I would LOVE the nominations.
You'll even get to see my bio and read some behind the scenes answers to questions about the book.

https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/UJOW7N2C7UH

What does a nomination mean? Well, it could mean a potential FREE book for you and a contract for me! You heard me right. If Cracker Jacked receive enough nominations during my campaign (which lasts 30 days) Amazon reviews my entire book. If they select it for publication, EVERYONE who nominated the book will receive a FREE COPY 1 week before its publication date! So yes, it's FREE....AND you're getting it pre-sale before anyone else! Who wouldn't want that?!

Come get Cracker Jacked and fall in love with a feisty parrot, a needy sheepdog and our local sheriff as they drive our organic cafe owner "stir" crazy! (I couldn't resist)

It's a WIN-WIN, so LET THE NOMINATIONS BEGIN! And Please share the link if you have friends or family who love their mysteries.

Who's YOUR Daddy? (Goodreads Giveaway)

5/31/2014

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Daddy Wore Dog Tags by Barbara Witek

Daddy Wore Dog Tags

by Barbara Witek

Giveaway ends June 30, 2014.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Wow! Daddy Wore Dog Tags is off to a great start! Reviews are coming in and I'm so happy readers are enjoying the book. Max and Chelsea have a very sweet love story.

Not only am I giving away 15 copies of my book on Good Reads (enter above), but I'm giving away my grand prize of an exclusive Daddy Wore Dog Tags wine glass and dog tag wine marker plus a $50 Amazon gift card to one lucky reviewer on June 6th! Leave a review by midnight on June 5th - that's all you have to do!

Enjoy the book!

Memories of Memorial Day

5/23/2014

Memorial Day. I remember it well as a child. From the time I was little (around 5 or 6 yrs old) until I graduated High School, Memorial Day always meant going to the cemetery. At first it was taking coffee cans to fill with fresh water and adding cut lilacs and maybe tulips or daffodils that grew in our yard, to place on the graves of people I never knew. They were relatives I'd never met who had died long before I was born. Every year I went with my mother and grand-mother. I listened as they talked about those who we honored with our coffee can vases, and I remember the routine.

First we would visit the tombstone of my grandfather (Grandma's husband and my mom's father). Grandma would say a few words and I'd help her and my mom pull weeds, brush off fallen pine needles, and make sure the small rose bushes had room to bud and grow. Then we'd leave our coffee can and move on toward the front of the cemetery to find other relatives and place our coffee cans of flowers. It was always a quiet tribute, full of honor and respect and I can remember us leaving and I'd feel kind of sad, and at that time I really didn't understand the significance of the sacrifice and service my ancestors had made for our country.

Our tradition carried on through my high school years. At this point, it was something my family did without question. Only as I became older, our flowers weren't so much fresh cut lilacs and tulips as they were beautiful artificial bouquets that easily stuck into the soft earth around the headstone. No need for coffee cans or fresh water. The tribute was still the same and the feeling of respect remained even after all the passing years. Only now, I marched in our high school band who paid tribute to the fallen soldiers at the front of the cemetery by playing a couple songs and of course TAPS.

Even then, I remember not really "getting it". I was young and I knew what it all meant, but I couldn't see that bigger picture of what all of the fallen stood for in terms of our freedom and our safety. As I eventually moved away, my visits to the cemetery have stopped. Only now I have the memories of 911 to snap me back to reality. After watching network coverage in horror as the towers in NYC fell under attack, I suddenly understood what our soldiers go through and what our ancestors fought for. I really "get it" even all these years later, when terrorism is still a threat and there's the subconcsious fear of never knowing if/when someone will try again.

I may not go to the cemetery anymore, but it doesn't mean that the tribute isn't still alive in my heart and in my mind. Because it is. I hold the love of my country in the same regard as the love of my family. And to those who risk so much more than their lives to uphold this nations values and keep us safe, I speak for the many who may not completely understand your value and sacrifice, but who respect you all the same. We may never meet, exchange words or smiles, but know that you are loved and respected for what you've done and what you will continue to do.

For you, I leave this...