Posts Tagged ‘Barb Taub’
How to be a Kid Detective
Posted on: October 13, 2025
- In: Amanda Travels | Blog Launch Tour | Books | reviews
- 37 Comments
A fun stop on the next blog tour with Barb Taub. She provides great tips on how to be a kid detective, as well as a superb review of Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog. Pop on over and be prepared to be entertained. Thank you so much, Barb!
Barb Taub is an awesome humour writer. When I’m having a bad day, I read from one of her books, and my frown turns upside down. Her trips to India with her friends are laugh-out-loud hilarious, and her collection of family stories will have you shedding tears of laughter.
In halcyon days BC (before children), Barb Taub wrote a humour column for several Midwest newspapers. With the arrival of Child #4, she veered toward the dark side (an HR career). Following a daring daytime escape to England, she’s lived in a medieval castle, a hobbit house, and a magical Scottish isle with her prince-of-a-guy and the World’s Most Spoiled AussieDog. Barb is amazed that she’s just published her sixth book, despite still struggling to communicate with her neighbours and translate from American to English. Read about her fabulous books here
The blog tour schedule, in case you miss some
October 3 – Esther Chilton
October 6 – Sally Cronin
October 9 – Yvette Prior
October 13 – Barb Taub
October 15 – Jacqui Murray
October 20 – Teri Polen, Bad Moon Rising
October 24 – Miriam Hurdle
October 28 – DL Finn
November 3 – Colleen Chesebro
November 7 – Pete Springer
November 10 – Jennifer Kelland
November 11 – Robbie Cheadle
November 14 – Marie Bailey
November 18 – Stevie Turner
Copyright ©2025 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved
- In: Art | Travel | Writing
- 113 Comments
I just returned from my annual visit to the Isle of Arran. This was the fifth year of our writer’s retreat, except it wasn’t. For all valid reasons, my fellow retreators couldn’t make it at the last minute. This year, it was me and our amazing host, Barb Taub. I missed my friends, but was treated royally and managed to do some writing and planning for my next book.
One of the fun things we did was participate in the Arran Open Studios Tour. Fifty-one artists opened their studios for visitors to drop in for a chat and view their work. Of course, it would have been impossible to visit every studio on the tour, but we managed to look in on several amazing artists. I was happy to meet many talented individuals and engage in some inspiring conversations.
Gorgeous pottery and paintings at Cladach Studio
The artist at Art at Ach Na Darach has a lily pond in her backyard. How inspiring is that?
And a swan in the stream that runs along the back of her yard! This is as close to heaven as you can get.
The artist at Underwing Studio has a view of Whiting Bay and horses grazing from her studio.
Sunflowers to inspire the creative process.
A pennyfarthing at the front gate of a studio.
Most artists have a dog, or two, on site. This is Star, and he has his own book, written and illustrated by his human artist Mom. I was lucky to meet Star and his lovely Mom, Heather, (who took the picture of Barb and me).
Life-sized bird mobiles made from re-used materials at Nick Brooker Art.
The owls are my favourite.
The view from this artist’s backyard!
Due to luggage restrictions, I was only able to purchase some cards. These two cards are printed from original hand-cut designs by Karebell Designs.
Karen designs, draws, and hand-cuts pictures from paper and card to create these amazing works of art, often depicting iconic Arran views and wildlife.
You can see how the Isle of Arran is an ideal place for artists and creative people.
And for the knitters, I spied this clever pillar-box top by the post office. Apparently, it gets changed from time to time. I have read about these but had never seen one in person.
It was an excellent couple of days visiting interesting people and viewing their work.
More about my trip to Arran and other parts of Scotland to come!
Copyright ©2025 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved
- In: Books | guest posts
- 26 Comments
Amanda is being interviewed over at Marcia Meara’s blog where she talks about her trip to Scotland and her love of travel. Check it out. Marcia is a good blogging pal, a superb writer and has a great blog filled with interesting posts. Note: I don’t have a completed cover for Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones but featured something I created on Canva as a start. (Photograph thanks to Barb Taub)
- In: friends | Inspiration | Travel | Writing
- 112 Comments
I was fortunate to be once again invited to a small intimate writing retreat on the Isle of Arran, hosted by the amazing Barb Taub. If you haven’t read her books, you are missing out. Check them out here
We made it to Scotland!!
It was an incredible week, that almost didn’t happen. You know when things tend to mushroom out of control and it looks like it’s not meant to be. First Judith got ill and couldn’t join us. 😢 Then Barb got stranded at Frankfurt airport and didn’t think she would make it back in time (this didn’t actually bother us too much as we would have just taken over her house). And then my flight leaving Spain was delayed by five hours. I checked into my hotel at Prestwick at 4:00 a.m.! The next day was better as the ferry was only delayed by two hours and not cancelled!
We forgot all about our problems the minute Barb opened the door and we met Dusk, the resident border collie. We fell in love with her immediately and fought over taking her for walks.
Dusk on one of her many walks.
My new best friend, Dusk.
Besides walking the dog, cuddling the dog, feeding the dog and talking to the dog, we did some writing, held informative workshops, met other Arran Island writers, ate (a lot), drank (a bit) and went on a fabulous paddle steamboat ride. We returned home with great memories, tons of ideas, and a size larger. We all agreed it was an amazing time. And yes, before you ask, there was chocolate!
Walking Dusk, with swans in the background, at Whiting Bay
Mysterious Holy Island
Brodick Bay
A resident cat attending a workshop. It must have been mine because she is sleeping through it.
Lunch in the garden with Georgia, Barb and Terry Tyler, an eclectic and prolific writer.
One of many fabulous desserts. Many authors carry big knives. (Don’t ask) I think this fancy Eton Mess will end up in a book one day! The lovely Georgia Rose wielding the knife.
Homemade (by the talented Barb Taub) pizza being cut with scissors. Authors know that scissors have many uses.
(Photo from a postcard, photo credit Allan Smith)
We took a trip from Brodick Bay to Lochranza and back with amazing views of the island from the water. The Waverley, built in 1947 is the world’s last seagoing paddle steamship.
Only well-behaved dogs are allowed on the Waverly, which meant Dusk could join us.
Fabulous views from the boat
Lochranza Bay with castle ruins.
Time to say goodbye to the Isle of Arran
and my Arran buddies, Barb Taub, Georgia Rose and Terry Tyler.
Check out these incredible authors and their books.
Judith Barrow who was there in spirit.
We did do a lot of writing but we didn’t take pictures of that. You just have to take my word!
Copyright ©2023 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved.
Walking Paris PLUS #BookReview Amanda In France by Darlene Foster @supermegawoman #KidDetective #humor
Posted on: October 11, 2022
- In: Books | Food | reviews | Writing
- 37 Comments
I woke up to this terrific post from Barb Taub which describes her love of Paris and the wonderful cooking experience she had there, as well as an amazing review of Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral. Please do pop over and read, you are in for a treat.
A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life.” —Thomas Jefferson
It’s possible, I suppose, that somebody somewhere doesn’t like Paris. After all, I’ve heard there are people who don’t like chocolate, and babies, and puppies. (Puppies!) But even if those people exist, they would still have to admit that Paris is one of the most walkable cities in the world. One of my favorite walks in Paris is the early morning market cooking class I’ve taken on a couple of different Paris trips. It’s different but fabulous every time. Here’s a post from a class several years ago.
“Meet at Metro Maubert-Mutualité, in front of Café le Métro” the message said.
My market cooking class was gathering at the oldest outdoor market in Paris to choose the ingredients and determine the menu we’d be cooking that day. I got there early to…
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Reach out and touch somebody’s hand. (Remembering Mary Smith) #Memories #Friendship
Posted on: July 18, 2022
- In: Books | friends | Inspiration | People
- 53 Comments
A wonderful tribute to a good blogging friend we lost last year, in honour of her birthday. She is so missed but lives on in her published books. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mary-Smith/e/B001KCD4P0?
Mary Smith: writer, poet, teacher, friend.
Over the pandemic and lockdown, many of us lost family and friends, a loss made even more difficult when we weren’t able to say goodbye.
Mary Smith, talking about her lockdown experience, quoted Diana Ross:
Reach out and touch
Somebody’s hand
Make this world a better place
If you can.
Those words have never felt so meaningful and so poignant. It’s what we all need right now. The touch of someone’s hand on ours would make the world seem a better place. Such a simple gesture and yet, many weeks ago, we allowed ourselves to be frightened into excising a huge part of our humanity, to keep ourselves and others safe. My heart breaks seeing young children file into their classrooms, keeping the regulation six feet apart, learning they mustn’t touch or hug each other. Learning to be fearful of their friends and their…
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Move over Nancy Drew… PLUS #BookReview of AMANDA IN MALTA by Darlene Foster #humor #KidDetective @supermegawoman
Posted on: May 17, 2021
- In: Blog Launch Tour | Books | guest posts
- 30 Comments
If you need a good laugh and don´t we all, you must read Barb Taub´s post and review on Amanda in Malta. Barb´s posts and her fabulous books are hilarious and worth checking out. Warning, you will laugh so don´t be drinking your tea or coffee as it may end up all over your screen. Which would also be funny!
It’s not easy being a kid detective.
You can’t make a citizen’s arrest, you can’t beat up the villains, you can’t interrogate suspects. The usual cozy mystery detective’s posse of police, doctor, lawyer won’t talk to you unless they’re your parent. And you can’t even track bad guys if it’s after your bedtime.
Sure, the adults in your life seem content to let you roam free, following criminals and risking your life.
When the bad guys catch, gag, and tie you up—and they will because they’re bigger, faster, can drive legally, and don’t have to get home in time to finish their homework—there’s only one thing you can do. (Well two things, if you forgot, again, to do one of them before you left home.) You can bang for attention. Surprisingly often, kid sleuths find themselves tied up and often gagged. Nancy Drew did it so often, it’s amazing her…
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