An Interview with Barbara Lane, Author of Broken Water

Barbara Lane integrates her life experiences of being a foster child, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, speaker, child advocate, educator, ministerial counselor, and author into her writing. By sharing her own personal journey, Barbara destigmatizes the fate of child abuse survivors, leading her to write Broken Water. In addition to her twenty-five-year service in private practice as a ministerial counselor, Barbara’s educational background in human development, social sciences, and family psychology with a focus on child abuse inspires her to share her expertise on interrelated issues: the family, family separation, the foster care system, attachment and bonding, child maltreatment, relationship formation, the resilience of the human spirit, healing from trauma, and the power found in having faith in something greater than the self.

When not writing, you will find Barbara enjoying nature, reading, swimming, playing sports, and people-watching. She especially enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. Barbara lives in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia with her husband, Jim, who remains her childhood sweetheart.

You can buy Broken Water here.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I was born the ninth of eleven sisters. Our family broke up when I was three. There was one thing I carried with me throughout my life, and that was the love my older sister shared with me before we were separated through foster care placements and adoptions. Once reunited, I wanted to thank them for the tenderness and care they gave me as a child because it was enough to get me through living in a very abusive foster home. One way I knew I could thank them was to share their stories with the wider world, as they had experienced and overcame childhood abuse as well. We are a sisterhood to be reckoned with, and I wanted to share the power of it all with my readers.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

As a young woman, I worked in supportive roles: clerk typist, secretary. Things were very different back then. I didn’t pursue higher education until I was in my thirties, when psychology and spirituality drew my attention. I achieved my MA in Family Psychology and my OMC in Ministerial Counseling. I volunteered as a child advocate and next set up my practice of over twenty-five years to work with families, relationships, and children. My readers would not know that I once was a floral designer, bred Dutch warmblood horses, and ran an online seminary before I fell in love with writing. I now am busy writing as a guest writer in a variety of media outlets and blog posts.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title Broken Water took form shortly before I published it for preorder. It is a title that can take on many meanings to individual readers. Water is a font of life, the beginning of birth, rivers that change levels and direction, and waves breaking on the shore. The title was chosen for this very reason—to allow the reader to decide for themselves exactly what is meant by Broken Water.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

It took fifteen years to gather my sisters’ stories, an accomplishment that I often doubted would take place. When I held Broken Water in my hands, I recognized the power in persistence, dedication, and faith that the words found in this book can and will provide hope.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Hope Darst – “Never Walk Alone”

The Byrds – “Turn, Turn, Turn”

Oasis – “Whatever”

Bob Marley – “One Love”

The Beatles – “Imagine”

Crowded House – “Don’t Dream It’s Over”

Bob Dylan – “Blowin’ in the Wind”

Andrea Bocelli – “The Lord’s Prayer”

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

The message is that no matter your travels on this earth, there is hope; there is love; there is healing; there is God.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

Sharing stories of hope and inspiration on issues of child maltreatment in addition to learning what was, for me, an entirely new industry—that of the publishing world.

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

Soon to release an online course entitled “What Your Inner Child Knows: 9 Steps to Rescue Your Lost Inner Child.” In addition, I am working on a novel.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.