Today we talk with Barbra Annino

Barbra Annino says, "I spent a great deal of time with my Irish grandmother and her sisters when I was young. Anyone familiar with the culture of the Emerald Isle knows it is steeped in superstition, supernatural phenomenon and women who can lift bicycles over the heads without breaking a sweat. (My grandmother worked in a Schwinn factory).  Often I would imagine--listening to them wax on about the prom date that disappeared through the cemetery bars--that they were witches implementing spells into the food the were cooking--and perhaps they were. Because I believe there's a little bit of witch in every woman. Although the potions may only be as exotic as a Cabernet and the spell may come in the form of a kind ear and chocolate layer cake, still, there is strength within us that can transcend any problem. There's something magical about that. I wanted to create a character who had that kind of strength and that special form of magic. Stacy Justice, the protagonist in my gemstone series, is a strong woman who worries more about her family than her boyfriend. She's more interested in excelling at work than the latest shoe sale and above all, she tries to do the right thing. Which isn't always easy when your family is driving you crazy, your grandmother insists you are witch with a high calling and oh yeah, someone is trying to kill you.