Barb Matysik-Hopkins - October 2026 Featured Author

Barb writes the stories that she likes to read; stories filled with magic, mystery, and deep friendships. She’s an indie author with a newly-released middle grade book and has coauthored an adult paranormal series. She lives in St. Joseph, Missouri with her husband, cat, and a lot of books.

Congrats on your recently released paranormal middle grade book, Odilia and the Stones of Power, which released in September 2026. Tell us a little about it.

Thank you! Odilia and the Stones of Power is my middle grade debut and I’m incredibly excited to be able to share this book with readers. It’s a contemporary paranormal story with a blend of action-adventure, mystery, and magic elements. Odilia Murphy is starting seventh grade and is about to turn twelve-and-a-half years old—a very special birthday her family celebrates. She’s excited about her celebration until she makes an impulsive decision and breaks a family rule. Her mistake brings a wave of trouble that includes a stolen trinket box from her family’s antique store, a missing magical stone, and two interdimensional demons who are desperate to get their hands on the lost stone.

I had a lot of fun writing Odilia’s story and creating her world, a fictionalized version of a place I used to live. It’s set in a town called Normal, which is a real place in Illinois. Readers can find facts about Normal, Illinois in my author’s notes at the end of the book.

How did you get started? Did you always want to be a children's author?

I’ve always been a writer and an avid reader. For me, the two are inextricably intertwined. As a kid, my favorite subjects were English and Reading, in particular writing book reports and essays. I kept a journal where I wrote poems and then later on some very poorly written song lyrics. I started writing fiction as a teen, usually short stories that were YA. But I spent more time writing articles for the school newspaper and yearbook. I liked journalistic writing and being a children’s author wasn’t a thought at that point.

We'd love to hear more about your writing journey. What's the process been like?

I veered away from journalism in college, getting my degree in Theater with a focus on management and marketing the arts. As a marketing professional I wrote a lot but it wasn’t until I stepped away to raise a family that I turned back to fiction. The first full-length book I wrote, while my son was in preschool, was a YA thriller. It was not good. But it was a learning experience. I shelved that book and became a freelance content writer, which was great because I could work from home. I spent several years writing professionally for several different companies and private clients. My freelance work included everything from writing product descriptions (loved writing those!) to online manuals, beauty blogs, real estate listings, and ghostwriting. 

Eventually I got back to fiction once my son was in high school. I wrote a YA portal fantasy, took some online creative writing classes, and when we moved from Illinois to Missouri, I went to my first writer’s conference. It was there I met a writer from Kansas City who told me about SCBWI. I joined and began to see how much I had to learn. Years of writing in the client’s voice had stunted my own writing voice. I had no clue what my voice was as a fiction storyteller. I had to find it, and that meant a lot of practice, many drafts that never were shared with anyone, and finding my writing community so I could learn and grow as an author.  

What is your daily writing routine?

My daily writing routine varies depending on where I’m at in a project. I usually have multiple projects going so I’m juggling the business end of being an indie author with the creative side of writing stories. I always start my day off reading; even if it’s only for ten minutes. I need to read. When I get to my computer, most days I spend about an hour going through emails, updating spreadsheets, and then engaging, scheduling, and posting my social media.

On a writing day, I write for two or more hours in the morning and then another two hours in the afternoon. Writing days may include drafting, editing, and research. Often I set a timer for 45 minute sessions, but sometimes I only do 30. Interruptions happen, and I just have to try and refocus. I rarely write in the evening except for creating marketing materials.

How have you stayed connected to the writing community?

For me, writing has never been a solo thing. I need community. When I first started out, I was active on Twitter with the middle grade writing groups. It was a great way to connect with other writers; everyone was at various stages of their journey. Conferences and SCBWI events like the Abbey Retreat have been other fantastic ways to stay connected and have been especially nice for meeting in person those authors that I’ve met online. Social media is probably the main way I stay connected to the writing community; both as an indie adult author and as a kid lit author. 

Do you have a critique group? And if so, how has that group been beneficial to your career?

I cannot imagine being on this author journey without my critique groups! Back in 2020, during the pandemic, I joined our SCBWI regional online critique events and through that, I met three writers with whom I strongly connected. We formed a critique group and for five years we met monthly online sharing our works-in-progress, project ideas, industry information, and building a friendship that’s lasted beyond critiquing each other’s work.

My current critique group is also a direct result of being an active SCBWI member. The three of us met at the Abbey Retreat a few years ago. We were in the same critique group during the retreat and quickly became friends. For the last couple of years we’ve been meeting once a month online to share current WIPs, project drafts, and whatever else we need to brainstorm. Being an author without the support, patience, and friendships from my critique groups seems impossible to me.

Who would you say influences you and your writing?

For my mystery writing, Agatha Christie is my biggest influence. I write my mysteries using the fair play method, which means I layer clues so the reader has all they need to solve the mystery along with the story’s detective.


What do you do when you are not writing?

My favorite thing to do when not writing is spend time with my family. My husband and I love browsing antique shops. The family business in Odilia and the Stones of Power is an antique shop. I collect vintage Agatha Christie paperbacks, so I’m always on the hunt for new acquisitions.

I adore any time I get to spend with my young grandson, who loves going to the library and cuddling with a good book. My family and I enjoy traveling when possible, but we also love quiet time at home making a delicious meal and watching a movie. And of course, I spend a lot of my free time tucked in with my cat, coffee, and a good book.

What are you currently working on? Anything else upcoming you'd like us to know about?

Currently, I’m writing the final chapters for a YA murder mystery set at a performing arts camp. It’s Agatha Christie-inspired, and I’m anxious to finish it. I’m also plotting the sequel to Odilia and the Stones of Power. I’d always planned for it to be a duology.

I will be an author vendor at two upcoming KS/MO events: the Kansas Book Festival (Washburn University) on September 26 and the Boozy Book Fest in Kansas City on October 3. I will be signing Odilia and the Stones of Power at both events, as well as the books from my adult series. I’d love to see you there!  

You can find more at Barb’s website: https://www.barbhopkins.com/