Barbara Jean Weber lives in Skagit County with her husband and two daughters, where she works as a speech and language therapist. Her novel, The Welcome Sign, was inspired when she was gifted a mermaid welcome sign. The more she studied the sign, the more her story evolved. She is currently an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Visit her website at https://www.barbarajeanweber.com/.
Sure, my (writers) name is Barbara Jean Weber. I’m 55 years old and love writing. I’m married, this year will be 29 years with my wonderful husband. We met in college and currently live in beautiful Skagit County, Washington with our two lovely daughters, a cat and 2 grand cats. I’m a full time Speech Language Pathologist since 2001 and enjoy writing in my spare time. Some of my hobbies include spending time with friends and family, reading, writing and being a pen-pal. I enjoy water aerobics, rubberstamping and any craft that involves a glue gun. We LOVE THE SEA and try to get to the Oregon or Washington coast at least once a year. When I was young my family lived in New Zealand. We lived there for six years and that’s where I gained a great love for mermaids and seashells. I am the youngest of three kids, having an older brother and older sister.
Can you tell us about The Welcome Sign?
The Welcome Sign’s creation began when I received a beautiful Mermaid Welcome Sign as a gift. I love mermaids and my parents had found a lovely sign with a Mermaid on it. The store was going out of business so they purchased the sign for me. After I received it as a gift, I had a series of incredible dreams that became the basis for the story “The Welcome Sign.” The Welcome Sign was written as the first book in a series of three. The second book is written but not published and the third book is still being developed and is in outline form.
The Welcome Sign begins when Molly Parmell’s grandmother mysteriously disappears. She and her mother travel to Cape Cod to take ownership of the house they inherited and begin to discover unusual things about the grandmother’s sudden disappearance. What they discover is more dangerous and life changing than they ever imaged. When Molly and her mother find a beautiful mermaid Welcome Sign in the attic and place it on the front door strange events start to happen and they are flooded with visitors who claim they knew the grandmother. They soon find out that the mysterious Welcome Sign comes with powerful magic and secrets are slowly revealed as Molly learns about her grandmothers involvement with a secret organization working to keep balance between the magical realm and the real world. The magical realms placed an invisible veil of secrecy over the world to hide their true identities from the human world allowing them to live among the humans in secret. An angry rebel group of magical beings, tired of living in hiding is tearing down and destroying the magical cloaking fabric between the two worlds. If they are not stopped the magical realm will be revealed and will no longer be safe from the rest of the world. As Molly and her mom embark on a dangerous and magical adventure throughout the magical realms to help stop the rebels, she learns of her own unique powers and her strong family heritage connected to the Welcome Sign. Along the way, she teams up with new magical friends helping to keep the realm of magic safe from the eyes of the world and discovers that her grandmother was right all along. The world she thought she knew no longer exists, but an amazing world of magic woven into their world has always been hiding in plain sight.
Can you tell us a little about the characters?
Margaret Ellen: Molly’s grandmother who disappears-In her 60’s. Descendent of the special bloodline of the first union of merfolk and humans. Molly and Angela do not know about her magical past. Margaret is a special friend to the magical beings. Worked undercover for the Rebels to find out their secrets. She has been hidden away due to the dangers increasing with the rebels. She has been working with the magical community for many years. Her husband was killed early on in their marriage in a battle with rebels.
Angela Parmell: Mom to Molly- In her late 30’s. Single/widowed mom, reserved, not adventurous at all. Very close to her daughter, very skeptical of the unknown. Angela enjoys a calm, peaceful lifestyle, nothing wild or adventurous. She also has some magical powers but doesn’t know about them. She is a very kind and generous lady. Very likable and encourages Molly to have a relationship with her grandmother.
Molly Parmell : Angela’s 10 year old daughter- adventurous, brown haired girl, always exploring, owns a cat: Cuddles. Dad left when she was 2. Very close to her mom and grandmother. Similar personality to her grandmother. She is always seeking adventure, action. Has powerful magic like her grandmother but doesn’t know it initially.
Michael Parmell (Merman)-had to leave the family due to danger of the rebels hurting them. Angela and Molly don’t know that he’s a merman. He was killed. Michael was a Protector sent to watch over Angela and Molly. Fell in love, asked to be reassigned as Angela’s guardian. When Molly was born, he knew he couldn’t reveal his true identity to them because it could potentially put them both in too much danger. Michael had just made the decision to tell Angela and Molly everything. He had even decided to stop working for the magical realm so they could finally be a real family. Died in a car accident.
Garreth Simmons: Protector of Molly and her mom. Molly and Angela’s landlord, mid 60’s, Owns the rundown house. More like a father figure to Molly and her mom. He has some history with Margaret and was asked to protect and watch over the Parmells.
Trista Deevins: One of the main Magical Guardians to Molly and Angela. She is a mermaid but now lives on land as a guardian. She is one of their neighbors-sent to keep an eye on the Parmells and keep them out of danger. Trista is stunningly beautiful and she has the same piercing green eyes as her son, Taran. Her long black hair is pulled to the side and braided over one shoulder.
Taran Deevins –Trista’s son. One of the magical guardians. He befriends Molly. Taran is very adventurous. He has long, black hair, eyes are green as the grass. He is about 11 years old.
Crystal Perkins — Investigative reporter-works for Warren Tracer. She has short, black curly hair. Crystal is tall and slender. In her early thirties.
Warren Tracer — He is investigating strange and unusual events happening in the city. He is in his mid-late 60’s. Beard, dark brown hair, handsome, rugged, in good shape.
Valis Tar — He becomes the leader of the rebel group. Tall, muscular, long dark hair. Dressed completely in black. He wears a long faded black overcoat that comes to his knees. He wears long, black boots worn and dusty, black, leather gloves.
THE CONCLAVE: Is the main council of the three magical realms (water, sky and land) .
Caylius Aquarus-Empress, Ruler of the Water Realm — Beautiful mermaid but can change to look human. Accompanied by 2 guards on each side of her. Long golden hair with highlights of light brown. Wears strands of pearls draped over her shoulders and entwined in her hair. As a human: Wears a tight fitted bodice shimmering with blue and green with a long flowing skirt of aquamarine. Attached to the back of the dress is a lightweight cape of iridescent, aquamarine colored fabric that trails elegantly behind her. She wears a small pearl covered crown, her hair swept up into a loose bun. The bun is entwined with pearls and seaweed like strands. Ringlets of hair hanging down, giving the Empress a soft, warm look. She wears a clear strand of beads like bubbles around her neck. Kind and elegant.
Atamos Nimbus — Rulers of the Sky Realm (MAN-husband to Cumular Stratus) Fairy (Ethereal figure. Graceful, exquisite and refined. His delicate iridescent wings are barely visible. Dressed in white and silver clothing, almost as if it was made from the very clouds they were traveling in and moved as if carried by the very wind itself. He wears a vest of silver against his white billowy shirt. He wears shimmery white pants and white, knee-high boots complete his royal outfit. Wears a delicate crown of silver and diamonds. He has wisps of airy clouds around them.)
Cumular Stratus Rulers of the Sky Realm — (WOMAN-wife of Atamos Nimbus) Fairy (Ethereal figure. Graceful, exquisite and refined. Her delicate iridescent wings are barely visible. Dressed in white and shimmering, flowing gossamer gown, almost as if it was made from clouds.
ProAsis Geofirma — Ruler of the Land Realm-Centaur (A regal looking centaur clad in a leather vest). heroic figure. An intricately woven crown of vines and twigs intertwined with emerald stones sits lightly on his head. Covering his back is a deep red cape and he carries a longbow over one shoulder with a quiver of red tipped arrows. Around his neck and chest hangs a necklace made from a single piece of curved wood, intricately carved with various charms. He carries a long staff of twisted wood and vines in his hands. He has long dark brown hair.
Where is this book set and why did you choose that location?
At the beginning of the story Molly and her mom are living in Popular Bluff, Missouri but as the story unfolds the location changes to the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts on Cape Cod where the grandmother lives. As I was researching good locations for the book I read about Popular Bluff, Missouri and really liked the description of it being among the Ozark foothills, filled with spring-fed streams, having a national forest, peaceful lakes and lots of farmland. Just seemed like a nice, peaceful location for Molly and Angela’s home. For the main part of the story, I knew I wanted a coastal location since the basis of the story involved mermaids. Also, Ken and I both love the coast and try to visit our Oregon and Washington coasts at least once a year. I visited Cape Cod years ago and loved the area. I had never been to Barnstable, Massachusetts but as I was researching the Cape Cod area, Barnstable sounded like the perfect small town, coastal feel for the grandmother’s beachfront lifestyle.
How can people benefit from reading The Welcome Sign?
The Welcome Sign is a fun, magical story for young-mid teen readers who enjoy realms of magic, magical powers, interesting characters, strong friendships and adventure. The Welcome Sign is full of good versus evil, intrigue and action. This book will delight and entertain readers who enjoy unique and magical characters, secrets to be revealed and discovering amazing new places.
Is The Welcome Sign your only book?
The Welcome Sign is my first book but is written as the 1st book in a series of three. The second book is written but not published and the third book is still being developed and is currently in outline form.
Thank you so much for this interview, Barbara. What’s next for you?
I am continuing to work on and develop the 3rd book in the Welcome Sign series. I am also working on finishing a book I started co-writing with my mom before she passed away. I also have an outline I am working on for another book (not related to The Welcome Sign) called “The Cinderella Effect”
Where to purchase the book:
· Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F67CL7XZ
· BookBaby — https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-welcome-sign
· Barnes & Noble — https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-welcome-sign-barbara-jean-weber/1147362361?ean=9798350987294
Where to find Barbara:
For now, you can keep up with me at: https://www.barbarajeanweber.com/
Here you will learn about new books as they come out as well as other ways to keep up with me.
