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Awards

The Adriatic Kitchen Award-winning finalist International Book Awards USA 2017
The Adriatic Kitchen Winner Cookbook Award Paris Book Festival 2017
Pater Noster Winner Short Fiction Category Writers Bill Board September 2016
Mini Cooper Winner Flash Fiction Category Writers Bill Board May 2016
Tadpoles  Winner Best Excerpt from a Published Work Englanti Editing Finland Summer 2015 
Peter Short List Fish Publishing Short Memoir 2015
Overheated Winner Flash Fiction Category Writers Bill Board Jan 2015
Peter Winner Short Fiction Category Writers Bill Board Jan 2015
Weeds in the Garden of Eden Finalist Travel/Essay Category USA Best Book Awards 2014
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing Finalist Travel/Essay Category International Book Awards 2014
Lady Chatterley's Enemy Long List Fish Memoir Competition 2014
The Long Wait Long List Fish Flash Fiction Competition 2013
Knock, knock Long List Fish Flash Fiction Competition 2013
Pea in a Pod Long List Fish Flash Fiction Competition 2013
Mummy's Boy Winner Writers Bill Board Flash Fiction Competition UK March 2013
Dust to Dust Winner First Chapter Competition WBB February 2013
Knock, knock Winner Writers Bill Board Flash Fiction Competition UK January 2013
The Long Wait Winner Writers Bill Board Flash Fiction Competition UK Dec 2012
Customs Winner Writers Bill Board Flash Fiction Competition UK July 2012
Weeds in the Garden of Eden Award-Winning Finalist Travel Essay Category International Book Awards USA 2012
Moon Walking(the book) Award-Winning Finalist Fiction Short Story Category International Book Awards USA 2012
Moon Walking(the book) Long Listed Frank O'Connor Short Story Book Award Ireland  2012
Helplessly Hoping Short listed Meridian Spring Competition UK April 2012
The Beast in the Blue Bag Long Listed Fish One Page Prize Ireland March 2012
Furry Blur Short Listed Fish One Page Prize Ireland March 2012
Furry Blur Winner Writers Billboard Flash Fiction Competition UK Feb 2012
The Beast in the Blue Bag Winner Writers Billboard Flash Fiction Competition UK Jan 2012
A Stitch in Time Winner Writers Billboard Flash Fiction Competition UK May 2011
Formidable Fred Long listed Fish One Page Prize Ireland 2011
Moon Walking Long listed Fish Short Story Prize Ireland 2010 / 11
Together Forever Winner Writer's Bill Board Flash Fiction Competition UK Jan 2011
The Blink of an Eye Winner Writer's Bill Board Flash Fiction Competition UK Dec 2010
Adriatic Sun Short Listed  Autumn Competition Meridian Writing  UK Oct 2010
Formidable Fred Winner Flash Fiction Writers Billboard Competition UK Sept 2010
The Bookworm Winner Writers Billboard Flash Fiction Competition UK August 2010
English Rose Short Listed  Meridian Competition  UK July 2010
Nadia Winner Writers Billboard Short Fiction Competition UK May 2010
The Flourish Winner Flash Fiction competition Writer's Billboard UK March 2010
The Voice Winner Flash Fiction competition Writer's Billboard UK Feb 2010
Psycho Highly commended Global Short Story Competition UK Jan 2010

Reviews for 'Adriatic Blue'

Beakman, a reader said:


A book inspired by the beautiful yet backward country of Croatia and New Zealand - the land of the Long White Cloud

Before even reading the book I was spellbound by the cover depicting beautiful imagery of a cyprus tree, bright blue sea and the crusty Croatian mountains, airbrushed by New Zealand artist Colin Unkovic and described perfectly by the author in 'Adriatic Blue'.

A collection of stories so vastly different yet all entertaining in their own unique ways. Tales such as 'The Bum' and 'A Horse of Course' will have you laughing out loud while the 'Uninvited Passenger' will have you on the edge of your seat. 'Nadia' and 'The Life of Brian' will touch you deeply while 'Dick and Larry' will shock you.

Each story is an adventure of its own. Each character so real. The author writes with such passion and imagination that it compells you to keep on reading, wondering what the next tale will have in store.

An excellent collection of short stories guaranteed to entertain all who read it. Anyone who has visited Croatia, Paris or New Zealand will particularly enjoy the author's descriptions of all these beautiful places. Highly recommeded reading from an up and coming author.

Frenchie, a reader from the UK said:

Couldn't put it down...

Thoroughly enjoyed reading Adriatic Blue. The stories keep you guessing and wanting more which inturn mean't that I couldn't put the book down. Stan and a Fool in africa are a few of my favourite stories. Adriatic Blue is a collection of beautifully written short stories that gave me hours of entertainment and light relief. Thank you and well done.

Reviews for 'Weeds in the Garden of Eden'

UK reader Carol Askew said:

Weeds in the Garden of Eden - A Real Gem!

Although I have never actually lived in Korcula I have visited many, many times and love the place with a passion.
Over 30 years I have friends there who are like family and Barbara's book is an absolutely splendid representation of life there. Even though. of course,I don't know the characters in the book I almost feel that I do........


Her descriptions are so detailed and evocative, the reader not only can imagine the sights and sounds there, they can almost taste and smell the island too!

For me, it was like actually looking at some of my own photographs of my times there,a really great little gem, thoroughly reccommended!!

John Dean, well-known UK crime author said:

An evocative read.


I love this book. The key to writing of this type is to bring a place to life, through the landscape and the characters, and Weeds in the Garden of Eden certainly does that. It is a fascinating story, embracing not just Barbara's life but also the difficult times experienced by the area in which she lived. Humour mixes with sadness, you laugh and you cry.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and would happily recommend it to anyone.

Reviews for 'Naughty Noosa Meets the New Neighbours' 

A Waterstone's reader from the UK said:


A Tasty Temptation.


My grandchildren love this book and so do I! The story is cute and the illustrations are great. The coloured cats make us all laugh and my grandchildren just love the big cat lying on the bed...and then it's always a race as to who can spot the mouse hiding on each page. We're all impatient for the next in the series to be published.

A fantastic little book to share with small children.