Barbara was born in a small Australian town in 1942, educated for 9 years in a one-roomed school with all grades taught by a single teacher. She then left home at 14, to spend 4 years in a girls' boarding school, followed by 8 years at Universities. After marrying and raising 2 daughters, she taught in high schools, universities and adult education for 20 years. She is now widowed and has a teenage grandson.
She has been writing stories ever since childhood, her chief influences are Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and Ngaio Marsh. Her adult stories are mostly gentle romances. She also writes specifically about Australia: a memoir of growing up on a farm in the 1950s, and cosy mysteries set in scattered sites across Australia, all of which she has visited and knows well.
She has been writing stories ever since childhood, her chief influences are Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and Ngaio Marsh. Her adult stories are mostly gentle romances. She also writes specifically about Australia: a memoir of growing up on a farm in the 1950s, and cosy mysteries set in scattered sites across Australia, all of which she has visited and knows well.