The Girl With the Crystal Soul by Barbara Dargan

Welcome, Barbara Dargan, author of

The Girl With the Crystal Soul.

Historical fiction with a hint of romance

and mystery.

She’s here to share a little about herself

and her first novel.

            1. What was your hardest scene to write?

It would have to be the scene/chapter where Olga described her and her family’s murder to May. It was gruesome, horrible and sad and made me feel as though I was in the room too when they were all killed.

          2.   What makes you run screaming?

I really don’t like earwigs or wasps. 

    3.   You’re about to be dropped in a remote spot for a three-week survival test. Where would you go? What three tools would you take?

I would go to a remote island in Fiji, on a beautiful beach and would take my sunscreen (of course), a box of matches and a cooking pot.

           4.   What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I got a tattoo of an elephant on my ankle done for my 40^th birthday. Back then it was a shocking thing to do, and close friends and family were amazed that I had done it! Some still are, mind you!

                     5. If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?

Adelaide, Australia, where my great, great grandfather lived.

          6. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Don’t doubt yourself. If you want to write a book, then write it! Find the time and stop procrastinating. You know that you are good enough!

7.    What does literary success look like to you?

Having people like my books and enjoying reading them. I’d love to have a following who looks forward to my next release. I’d like to make a living from writing, but to me, that is secondary to having a following.

8.    Tell us about the book you’re working on now.

This is a novel (I am 7 chapters in), about a real event that took place in Adelaide Australia. My great, great grandfather was involved in an incident where a man died in a boardinghouse. Was it suicide or murder? Years later, the daughters of both men look to try to unravel the mystery and, in the process, uncover a murderer as well as discovering who their fathers really were. It’s called ‘Fathers of Hindley Street’ and I hope to have it out before Christmas.

The Girl With The Crystal Soul

by Barbara Dargan

This is a novel based on Olga Romanov, her last few months of life, her death and burial. It is also the story of May Dawson, a forensic scientist who assists in the examination and identification of Olga and her family's remains in 1991. May feels a connection with Olga and a desire to tell her story, and to solve the mystery of the two missing children; Maria and Alexey and will not rest until Olga and her family are all reunited.

           Read my Review HERE!

*****

I have always wanted to tell Olga’s story. I have been fascinated with her for many years, ever since reading ‘The Summer Day is Done’ by Robert Tyler Stevens. It remains one of my all-time favorite books.

I spent years procrastinating and doing nothing because I didn’t think I could write before my health deteriorated and my lifestyle changed. I enrolled in a creative writing diploma course with the NZ Institute of Business Studies and doing that has given me the confidence to finally start writing.

The Girl With The Crystal Soul is my first novel and I have started my second.

I enjoy genealogy and am finding lots of inspiration for plots amongst the deeds of my ancestors.

I was born in New Zealand and have lived here all of my life. I have two grown children and two gorgeous grandchildren. I live in Opunake, a seaside town in South Taranaki and have a wonderful view of Mt Taranaki out of my front window. My best mate is my little dog Indie, who is turning 14 this week.

I enjoy gardening and raising monarch butterflies.

Find Barbara Dargan HERE!

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Congratulations, Barbara, on your first novel!

Wishing you all success and many sales!

So readers, have you ever used a place or time in history to set your novel?