Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. I’m Barbara LeForge, a writer, editor, and homeschooling mother of four based in the Upstate of South Carolina. While my days are often filled with lesson plans and martial arts classes, my heart has always been in storytelling. I currently serve as the editor for The Golden Strip News, and I’m passionate about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “By Still Waters”?
A2. The greatest challenge was the emotional weight of the “detective” work involved. Balancing the needs of my four children while simultaneously digging through painful family secrets and processing the death of my mother required a level of vulnerability I hadn’t anticipated. It was a constant collision of grace and chaos.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. I’ve always been drawn to authors who aren’t afraid of the “unfiltered” truth. I find myself returning to works that explore the human condition with both wit and depth, much like Jennette McCurdy’s exploration of complex family dynamics.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. While I love my home in South Carolina, the Pacific Northwest holds a piece of my heart—specifically the Tacoma and Steilacoom areas of Washington. The mist over the Puget Sound and the rugged beauty of that coastline always felt like a place where the “still waters” weren’t just a metaphor, but a physical space where I could breathe and reflect.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘By Still Waters’?
A5. The book was born out of the raw silence left behind when my mother passed away in October 2024. I found myself standing at a crossroads of grief and discovery, realizing that to truly move forward, I had to confront the secrets of the past and embrace a journey of radical forgiveness.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘By Still Waters’?
A6. The actual writing took place throughout 2025. It was an intense year of drafting and refining, culminating in the submission of my manuscript for editing in September of that year.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. Readers can find By Still Waters through Amazon.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘By Still Waters’?
A8. The title is a reference to the 23rd Psalm, but with a twist—it’s about finding those still waters even when you are in the middle of a valley. For the cover, I wanted something that captured that duality: the peace of the water contrasted with the depth of the shadows we often have to walk through to get there.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself.
A9. I lean into the “detective” aspect of memoir writing. By staying curious about my own history and being willing to look at old family photos or heirlooms with fresh eyes, I find layers of the story I didn’t know existed. If I’m surprised by what I find, I know my readers will be too.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10. The best advice I’ve received is that you cannot edit a blank page. You have to be willing to write the “messy” version first—the one where the chaos is still visible—before you can find the grace and the structure within it.
Book is available for Pre-order
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