Barbara
Passaris
Born in Baltimore,
Maryland, Barbara is the third child of five.
A native
of Virginia, she is very familiar with the history of
this wonderful state. Barbara is a graduate of
Kempsville High School, Old Dominion University. She has
been a teacher in Virginia, Massachusetts, North
Carolina, Alabama, and Utah. Barbara is married to a
clergyman since 1983. The Passaris' have three
daughters, four cats, and two dogs. Currently, they live
in Utah.
Barbara is a seasoned educator. She is the author of
various materials for curriculum and development.
Barbara also is the author of several short stories and
poems. She is an amateur historian as an avid reader of
history and historical fiction. Most notably, Barbara is
the author of the epic novel, Through Tempest Forged
(Community Press, 2007), an epic family drama/historical
fiction of the American Revolution.
In addition to reading and writing, Barb enjoys singing,
helping her husband at church, where he is a Greek
Orthodox priest, growing an organic garden, and
traveling. She has traveled to the United Kingdom for
research and leisure. Several other trips are in the
making for work and pleasure.
She is a member of the Historical Novel Society, Fiction
Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, the
League of Utah Writers, Blue Quill Society, and the Eden
Writers’ Circle. Visit Barbara online at
http://www.barbarapassaris.com and
http://communitypresshome.com/barbara_passaris.html
Books-And-Authors.net: Where
did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who
were your earliest influences and why?
Barbara Passaris:
I was born in
Baltimore, Maryland. But the summer before I was to enter the
second grade, our family moved to Virginia Beach, VA. I grew up in
Virginia. I actually grew up in the Kempsville section of Virginia
Beach. This is the present day location of the township Kemps
Landing, which is the nearest town to the Willow Bend Farm.
Reading was always an
event in our family. My parents had a home library in our house.
Expanding the intellect was not a choice in my parents’ home: It was
an expectation. That meant reading, and to some extent writing. My
parents insisted that we learn to express ourselves with
intelligence and clarity of thought, both in reading and in
writing.
I have been weaving
tales with my pen since I was a little girl. It’s always been a
dream of mine to be a writer, though I didn’t do much about this for
a very long time. And so, as in all things, the time was right a
few years ago, and I finally set about to making that dream a
reality.
As a reader, and
eventually a writer, I read lots of books. My mother started me out
with historical pieces when I was thirteen. Anya Seton was and
remains one of my favorite authors. Her book, Katherine, opened up
a world to me: one of reading, writing, and history. Now, if
you’re not familiar with this book, it’s a well-researched
historical fiction/romance about the life of Katherine de Roet
Swynford, (and much later), the Duchess of Lancaster. She was the
sister-in-law of Geoffrey Chaucer. This book, while a romanticized
version of the events surrounding the Great Plague in England, and
the medieval court life of England, gave me great insight into the
life and times of the Plantagenet dynasty of England. I began
reading everything that I could about them….There’s a great
historian, Thomas B. Costain. His books are the standard for an
accurate look at the Plantagenets. My parents have these books in
their house. Someday, they’ll be mine.
I also read lots of
books about Arthurian legends. Naturally, Idylls of the King by
Tennyson was a favorite of mine.
I have to say that I
had three high school teachers who profoundly influenced me. Mr.
Paul Peter, who reinforced in me the need to work hard at all times,
the late Mr. John Perry, who taught me a little physics, and a whole
lot about life, and Mrs. Becky Comstock, who gave me a love for
English literature and excellence in education.
Books-And-Authors.net:
Why do you write?
Barbara Passaris:
That’s a great
question. Here’s the simple answer: Because I MUST. But, I also
love it. It is a wonderful art form. And to me, there’s nothing
like weaving magic with words.
Books-And-Authors.net:
Explain the title of your new book, "Through Tempest Forged", as it
relates to the plot.
Barbara Passaris:
Through Tempest
Forged is actually not the original title. The book was at first
called WITH METTLE FORGED. The entire time that I was writing this
book, I was never completely happy with that title. My editor,
Deana Riddle, and I spent an entire weekend rolling titles around.
And we knew that we wanted to have a storm theme to it, because
there is that TEMPEST theme that runs through the book the entire
way through it. But a TEMPEST by definition is a portion of time, a
calamity, a violent storm. It is also a violent tumultuous
outburst. The word FORGED means to move onward through difficulty,
or to build and create, as a foundry would. One of my main
characters is a blacksmith. But I wanted to go beyond that, and to
use the first definition. I put a preposition in the front, because
it described the other two words so well, and frankly, in my opinion
a preposition is very interesting when placed at the beginning of a
title—makes one think… But I literally wanted the reader to see
that this family, the Rogerses, would move onward and forward, not
only despite the difficulties and calamities, but BECAUSE of them.
Books-And-Authors.net:
"Through Tempest Forged" is a historical epic -- How much did you
have to research for this book? How did you research?
Barbara Passaris:
Oh, my gosh—so
much. I literally immersed myself in the eighteenth century. Some
of it, the local lore, etc, I knew—having grown up in that area.
But other things, such as the chronology of events, those I looked
at with great care. And the Battle of Great Bridge is an obscure
but pivotal battle in the Revolution. It took a long time for this
nation to get to Yorktown. But I also looked at books about women:
Their clothing, their lifestyle, their place within the framework of
a typical household—and that of the plantation home. I read the
history of Princess Anne County, and looked at the kinds of
plantations that were in the colony of Virginia. I studied
weaponry, and did some travel, too. I have to give my husband some
credit here, too, because he actually did a little digging for me.
And we took a trip to England so that I could get a British
perspective on the war, which of course, is vastly different from
our American perspective. I also had to be sure of my facts. For
example, I had to know what the Provost Prison was like in New York
City. And I actually had the real superintendent of the place,
Cunningham described there. Not only that, it’s tricky when a
writer has to put it all together and fit a fictional family in
there. You’ve got to get it right.
Then, there are the
things that were used to furnish homes of the poor, the moderately
moneyed, as well as the wealthy households of the time. There’s
also the problem of language and expression: How did they talk?
Well, no one knows for sure, because one did not necessarily write
the way that one spoke, especially with the wealthier and
well-educated people. But we have some clues: novels of the time,
narratives such as journals and diaries, the rhetoric of the
Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, The Bill
of Rights, the Constitution. I also read some of Jefferson’s
writings, and collected writings of Thomas Paine.
You know, the research
end of it is often tedious. But the academician in me quite enjoyed
doing the research. And once you get into it, it’s quite
invigorating.
Books-And-Authors.net:
What is it about historical fiction you enjoy?
Barbara Passaris:
I love being
completely immersed in another place and time. And I have to say,
that when I read historical fiction I often have my non-fiction
material right alongside the fiction piece as companion reading.
But I suppose that the romantic in me just loves a good story,
especially one with an interesting and complex cast of characters.
Books-And-Authors.net:
"Through Tempest Forged" is about the Rogers' family (Elizabeth and
Paul Rogers) - Discuss these characters briefly and how through the
story/conflict this family changed.
Barbara Passaris:
Elizabeth and
Paul Rogers are staunchly British in their way of thinking,
especially at the beginning of the story. They are a wealthy
traditional couple: He makes the decisions, he earns the money (or
has people who earn it for him), he does all the talking for the
family. Paul is the family’s patriarch and Elizabeth is its
matriarch. Elizabeth runs the household, tends the family garden,
embroiders, rears the children, looks beautiful almost all the
time—basically lives to make her husband happy. This was never
questioned back then. Gender roles were clearly defined. And
there’s the “public” way to behave—and even a separate code of
behavior when in the presence of offspring. But in their suite,
they were complete equals.
As the story
progresses, however, some of that changes. Elizabeth’s strength and
support are something that Paul has always counted on. But she
comes into her own more as her son is captured, her daughter raped,
her husband’s health is threatened. And when the truth of their
son’s sexuality is finally exposed, it is Elizabeth who will insist
that he be treated with dignity, “no matter what he has done.”
As with Paul’s
illness, more of the decision-making is transferred to Elizabeth, as
she is trying to protect him against the effects of stress. This
has him confounded, but he reluctantly acquiesces. Elizabeth
emerges as a pillar of strength as her family undergoes trials and
tribulations. Paul leans on her for support, even as she tries to
uphold his dignity and sense of self.
And the Rogers Family
will bond even more through difficulty, because it is in their
nature to do so. This is a big loving family—accepting of one
another, loyal, and honorable. Those traits were always there. But
when the chips are down, they become fiercely loyal, so that no one
would dare to question to allegiance to one another.
Books-And-Authors.net:
How do you relate with this family who were from a different period
of history? How has American 'family' changed? How is the American
'family' the same?
Barbara Passaris:
Well, I am from
a very big family, very much like the Rogeres. And we love each
other very much—even when we disagree….(LOL) And we have a great
tie to family traditions, with a strong matriarch and patriarch,
too.
The face of the
American family has changed quite a lot, I think…For example,
divorce was practically unheard of back then. Legislation and the
law provided for it, but culture frowned upon it. And in the rare
case of a divorce, it was assumed that it was the woman’s
fault…(Recall the big scandal when Andrew Jackson married a divorced
woman. There were placards against him at election time which read,
“We don’t want a whore for a first lady.”)
And most families are
double-income, so gender roles are far less defined in many cases,
though not all. We could have a week’s worth of discussion about
this…(LOL) Also, take into account the recent legislation allowing
homosexuals to marry in some states…And there are plenty of
homosexuals who either adopt children or have them with artificial
insemination. This is a reality of our time, I think. And even
now, being a single mother is all right, where even as little as
twenty years ago it was less so, I think. Personally, I like that
the word “ illegitimate” seems to be heard less and less. I was
always saddened by the use of it, too, as if a child could choose
parentage or the circumstances surrounding its birth.
And yet, I feel that
the essential structure of family is being threatened. And that
worries me. But then, in many ways I’m very old-fashioned.
Books-And-Authors.net:
"Through Tempest Forged" deals with 'rape' and 'homosexuality' --
Discuss briefly how these controversial themes were treated
differently during this era compared to today?
Barbara Passaris:
These were both
considered to be a scourge upon a family or individual.
Homosexuality was
considered to be an aberration, even a disability. It was thought
that if a person had this “unfortunate condition” that they could be
cured with just the right person of the opposite sex. I’m going to
go out on a limb here, and say that after doing quite a lot of
research on the subject, that it was considered to be acceptable, if
acted upon discreetly—in some very wealthy segments of society.
Whole segments of the population would turn a blind eye to it, so
long as the family was not embarrassed, or any aspersion cast upon
an individual or the group with whom they were affiliated. But
publicly, there was a completely different stance. And is was
considered illegal to be a homosexual, an offense punishable by a
torturously awful death.
The same went with
rape. If a girl was raped, the assumption was that she did
something to deserve it. And back then, if a girl wasn’t “pure” (a
virgin) she was considered to be unmarriageable, or at best, a
considerably less valuable commodity. This brings me back to the
role of women: There was a different code for the behavior of a
young man versus that of a young woman. And a girl’s “virtue” as it
was called back then, was valued very highly. And a “good girl”
could ensure a good marriage with a respectable man of some means.
This was a way of life. So, if a girl was raped, it was a family
tragedy, as well as a personal catastrophe for a young woman. You
see, a woman HAD to be married…she had very few choices. And having
an “ old maid” (someone past mid-twenties) was an embarrassment to a
family. A girl who was raped was considered to be used or “damaged”
goods.
I like to think that
in our time we are considerably more enlightened with both of these
ticklish topics. And yet, I bemoan the fact that I still see some
of the age-old misunderstandings prevalent in much of our society.
And even in the United States, in some of the very conservative
parts of this country, women are viewed in much the same way. It
angers and saddens me greatly. The same could be said for
homosexuals.
Still, I think that we
are more honest about human sexuality in our time. And we separate
acts of sexuality, from acts of violence. But “hate crimes” still
exist. And people are still taunted for being of homosexual
orientation. That has not changed, I’m afraid. Somehow, I don’t
think that it ever will, totally.
Books-And-Authors.net:
In "Through Tempest Forged" Paul Rogers made a speech at the
Harvest Ball -- Discuss this speech and his personal beliefs.
Barbara Passaris:
Paul’s speech
is about what defines a man: He says, “We are honorable because we
are men who follow a code of decency, hard work, and personal
ethics. Nobility is defined by much more than inheritance. It is a
way of living honorably in the eyes of God.” (Chapter 8)
Paul truly believes in
what he has just said. He is a man who is bound by all of the
things that he has just stated. And he is trying to protect his
family—a motivating factor in all of his great decisions, including
his choice to side with the Patriots. But Paul is a very complex
man. You see, he is a product of the English system. He’s from a
well-to-do family in which his father (William Bennett Rogers) had a
profession. He was an educated man of the highest strata of society
that could be achieved for someone NOT of noble birth. His mother
was the daughter of an English lord. But in English society of the
time, that meant nothing more than a polite nod. A person’s
parentage was accounted in a patrilineal way: Blood line, social
standing, inheritance. And Paul was never accepted by his mother’s
family, because of his paternal antecedents. He was hurt by this,
growing up. And even though he was educated along with his
“betters,” and even though he was rather wealthy, he still didn’t
descend from the Peerage. That was the biggest reason that Paul’s
father brought them over to the other side of the proverbial pond.
And even though Paul acknowledges full well that he is not a noble,
he still wants to “fit in,” whether or not he admits it to himself.
But he truly does
believe in a strong work ethic, code of morality, and “Christian”
lifestyle. And yet, he is very typical of the eighteenth century
man in his belief that there is not a more superior being on the
face of the planet than a white male with European ancestry. For
him, this is simply the way that it is, an accepted axiom of his
time.
Books-And-Authors.net:
What did you learn from writing "Through Tempest Forged"?
Barbara Passaris:
(LOL) I
learned what “burning the midnight oil” means…I mean it! But I
learned so much about the thoughts that shaped this country, the
philosophy of those times. And I gained a new and greater respect
for the people who built this nation and fought to make us a
recognized entity. This country was created on the ideas and ideals
of a group of men, but built on the backs of those who fought the
War for Independence. It makes me very proud to be part of this
country.
And I also did a lot
of reflecting as I wrote this work of literature. Some parts were
very difficult for me to write, dealt with so much in the way of
trauma. And I had to conquer one or two personal demons as I wrote
it. But we won’t go into that here. I could take days to discuss
that, but I’d rather not.
Books-And-Authors.net:
What's next?
Barbara Passaris:
Well, I am
wrapping up the sequel to Through Tempest Forged. It is
(tentatively) called, The Tempest’s Eye, but that may change. It’s
a continuation of its predecessor, and takes us through the
Revolution, with the life and times of the Rogers Family, their
struggles and triumphs. And it’s got lots of drama, a few
surprises, too. And it’s much darker than the first book, as it is
a more in-depth look at this wonderful family. I hope that it will
be out in 2008.
I’ve also started a
new book—something quite different. It’s another historical piece,
but there’s a paranormal them in there, too. The story takes place
in two time-lines: The late 1990’s in Boston, Massachusetts and the
late 1490’s in Venice, Italy. The stories are interwoven, with
plots, conflicts, and a catalyst which connects both times,
something that threatens to have history repeat itself…This book is
called The Weeping Madonna.
Books-And-Authors.net:
What was the last book you read?
Barbara Passaris:
The last book
that I read was David Starkey’s Six Wives, The Queens of Henry VIII.
Books-And-Authors.net:
Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your
writing?
Barbara Passaris:
Yes. I play
the piano and I sing. My husband and I also grow an organic garden.
I love to read…I’m a member of two writing organizations in which we
work of tweaking our writing skills. And I belong to a small
reading group that shares and discusses books. I enjoy spending
time with my husband and three daughters. I also love animals, and
we take in strays from time to time, though my husband has informed
me that we will no longer be the bleeding hearts of the homeless
shelter for dogs and cats. We have two dogs and four cats, all of
them “hard luck” cases, and all of the well-loved.
My entire life’s
experience has enhanced my writing. I’ve worked some of my personal
experience into my work, but with my writing groups, I work even
harder at the writing. And when you work in a group such as Eden
Writers, and The Blue Quill Society, you are sort of forced to
write. I laugh when I use the word, forced, because, usually it’s
the opposite for me: I have to force myself to stop, or to make it
shorter.
