Barbara Vey is a great friend of the Playground.  The Playfriends met Barbara at the RWA National Conference in Dallas, and we hope our annual Saturday morning breakfast becomes a longstanding tradition. Barbara is the lady behind the popular Beyond Her Book blog at Publisher’s Weekly , which very quickly became the place to go for all the latest happenings in Romancelandia. (And she’s also the reason Kimberly can honestly say her first sale was announced in PW.) We have a special bucket and spade for Barbara in the Sandbox and we’re just tickled she’s here!

Problem Child: Hi, Barbara, and welcome!  You have the Best. Job. Ever. For our Honorary Playfriends who don’t know this cool story, tell us again how you landed it.

Barbara Vey: Well, first thanks for inviting me and it's hard to believe a chance meeting brought me here.  I was on an Author's At Sea cruise and met Karen Holt, Deputy Editor of PW.  I thought it was a publishing house (since readers usually only care about the books) and proceeded to tell her everything I thought was wrong about the publishing industry.  She wrote an article on it and 9 months later contacted me about blogging for PW.  I said no, but after my son explained a blog to me and several calls with Karen, I finally gave in.  The rest is history. 

PC:  When you first started blogging with PW what did you think your blog would be like? How has it evolved? Any new things we should be looking forward to?  

BV:  At first I asked for a manual to explain what I should be doing, but since it was so new, I was just told to do what I wanted.  So I did!  The best advice my son gave me was to pretend I was talking to a friend over coffee and that's how I approach every blog I write.  I like to think that I write about things that others care about too.

It has evolved into a 7 day a week blog with something different everyday.  Monday is news and what authors are giving away, Tuesday and Thursdays are my day to bring up any and all topics that are happening.  Wednesday are the very popular WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs, Friday I tell what I've been reading and let the readers have "Your Turn" by commenting on the books they've been interested in lately.  Saturday I just started YA Book Blurbs where kids ages 10-22 blurb about what they've been reading and Sundays I have the Sunday Matinee where I show book videos for a different perspective on books.

Of course, during conference season, the schedule goes out the window while I blog about what's going on.  As for new ideas...let's just say I'm working some crazy Drive By Videos and have a series of blogs coming up that should prove to be very interesting.

PC: Your blog really exploded – a huge audience from pretty much day one. Were you surprised? How does it feel to be the person in the know about all things going on in Romance?

BV:  I have to say that no one was more surprised than I was about the success of the blog.  I still am.  While I can't give specific numbers, I can tell you that readership has gone up 154% in the past year.  Not bad for a grandma from South Milwaukee, WI.  <g> 
I never feel that I know everything going on in Romance, but I love learning and there is so much to learn.  I'm extremely grateful for all the help I've been given by authors (both published and unpublished), editors, publishers, agents and especially the real experts...readers.

PC: The Weight Watchers Ladies Book Blurbs was a very cool idea.  How’d you come up with that? Was it hard to convince these ladies to become book reviewers? Do you now have ladies at every meeting clamoring to sign up?

BV:  The WW Ladies Book Blurbs started when people began sending me so many books that I couldn't read them all myself.  I finally took a box to a WW meeting and asked for help.  Within minutes the box was empty.  Now it's not just limited to WW Ladies (although I keep that name).  There are many requests to join, but I have to keep it doable for myself.  It's a lot of work. I have readers from NY, OH, IN, CA and VA.  I also have a male reader and hope to expand on that also.

PC: You must get hundreds of books sent for review. How do you decide which ones get reviews? Or do you let the ladies decide?

BV:  Because reading a book is so subjective, I let the readers decide which book they want to read.  My only rule is that they can pick an author they like, but they also much take an author/genre they've never read before.  Right now I have over 1400 books in my data base with over 400 waiting to be read.

PC: Your blog requires you to travel a lot. How do you decide which events you’ll attend?  Will we be seeing you at the RWA Conference in DC this year? (Want to have breakfast Saturday morning?)

BV:  Every year I write a blog for readers to suggest what events I should attend.  Then I get out my calender and see what's new, different and doable, although there are some repeats that I'd hate to miss.  I will be at RWA and Saturday breakfast sounds delightful.  Wait...I have to write it in my calendar or I'll forget.

PC: What’s been your favorite event you’ve attended?

BV:  That's a tough one because each conference in unique in their own way.  I'd have to say RWA because there are so many authors that I've read for so many years and all in one spot.  You can't turn around without bumping into one (and I've bumped into more than my share).

PC: You also get interviews with all the big name authors.  Who was your biggest fan-girl, I-can’t-believe-I’m-interviewing-her moment?

BV:  Hands down, it was Linda Howard.  I own every one of her books, but was unable to schedule an interview with her.  I met Kelley St. John for breakfast one morning and she brought Linda along.  I could barely eat and I'm sure I slopped all over, but I couldn't stop staring and form a coherent question.  I'm sure she thought I was a dolt, but all I could think of was the joy she brought me with all the wonderful things she's written through the years and I wanted to articulate that to her.

PC: You’re such a vocal advocate for the romance genre, and I know you’re not afraid to attempt conversions of non-believers. Do you have a favorite success story?  The one person who said “I don’t read those kinds of books” and now asks you for recommendations all the time?

BV:  Actually, it's the WW Ladies.  Once they've tried a romance, they're shocked by how much they enjoy it and want more by the same author.  I explain that there's lots more where that came from and convince them again to try someone new.  I've heard from more than one that they've developed a special relationship with an author after blurbing about their book.

PC: Do you have a favorite sub-genre of romance? Can you tell us who some of your favorite authors are (or is that just dangerous)?

BV:  I can't pick a favorite genre because I read a thriller one day, a paranormal the next, then a historical and so on.  I love to mix it up to keep it exciting.  Now that I personally know so many authors, I would be hard pressed to name a favorite.  Everyone seems to have something special of their own to offer.

PC:  Other than romance, what do you like to read?

BV:  I've always enjoyed International Thrillers, mysteries and suspense, but I've found that almost every book has some kind of romance in it anyway.  I think it's just the human condition

PC: I know this will a tough question, because everything about your job is very cool, but what’s your favorite thing about being the BHB blogger?

BV:  Going to the conferences.  I love the one on one with everyone involved in the industry.  I'm a face to face kind of person and I've been fortunate enough in my travels to see some wonderful faces like Richard Dean Anderson, Adrian Paul, Joss Whedon, Dakota Fanning, the cast of Fringe, Barbara Walters, Lisa Ling, Rita Moreno, Joshua Jackson, Caroline Kennedy and even President Obama.

PC: When you’re not reading or jetting off to fabulous events, what do you do for fun?

BV:  I love the Amazing Race, Burn Notice, Dollhouse, Fringe and Lie to Me (which I watch on Hulu.com because I'm not much of a tv person).  And, boring as it may sound to some, plunking my butt down on a lounger with cool drink and a good book is my idea of the ultimate vacation.

PC: And finally, some just for fun questions:  Coffee or tea?

BV:  Tea at home and coffee on the road.

PC: Beach trip or mountain trip?

BV:   Beach (please...cabana boys?? and little umbrellas in drinks??)

PC: Polka dots or stripes?

BV:  Only vertical stripes (have nightmares thinking about wearing horizontal stripes.

PC: Paperback or hardcover?

BV:  Hardcover only because the print is bigger and it's easier to hold the book open.  But the ultimate test is the story.  I'll read it in almost any form as long as it's a great story.

Thanks to the kids at the Playground for inviting me back.  I'm all full of sand, but  a quick dunk in the pool should take care of that.
Thanks so much for coming by the Playground.  You know you’re welcome back any time – and we hope you’ll come by often! 
Visit Barbara’s blog on the PW website to keep up with all the news in Women’s Fiction.