Jailbait Novella by Barbara Kasey Smith

I am always looking for new interesting books to read. When a writer and author by the name of Barbara Kasey Smith approached me to help her publish her novella Jailbait I ended up reading something new and immensely enjoyed every bit of it.

Reading Jailbait I was transported into the world of the main character and lived her story with her from beginning to end. There were times in the story where I smiled and times where I almost started crying. Never once did I get bored or want to put the book down. I highly recommend this book! Not only is it an interesting and enjoyable read but it also sheds light on what can happen to a younger person when he/she chooses to run away from home.

What is Jailbait novella about?

Jailbait, written by Barbara Kasey Smith, tells a story of Emily, a 15-year-old girl living in a coal mining town in West Virginia. Emily's family is poor and she is ashamed of it. She doesn't want this kind of life and wishes she could escape it.

One day after getting into a fight with her mother Emily decides to run away from home. This rash decision ends up changing her life and not for the better as she becomes someone's "jailbait." When this happens Emily finds herself in a world filled with constant physical and emotional cruelty and torture that greatly affects her life.

Emily wants nothing more than to go back to the comfort of her own family, her own home. The only way for that to happen is to escape but it doesn't seem possible. Will she find a way to set herself free and see her family again?

Jailbait will leave you on the edge of your seat. The story is full of suspense and thrills and is filled with emotional moments that will tear at your heartstrings. Once you start reading this book you will not want to put it down.

Jailbait is currently available in paperback and e-book formats. Be sure to check it out as this book is a must-read, especially for teens.

About the Author

Barbara Kasey Smith was born in the hills of West Virginia in a coal mining town. She currently lives in Manassas, Virginia. She is author of three books, her latest being her novella Jailbait.

When she is not writing novels and stories, Barbara enjoys writing poetry and lyrics, fishing, flower decorating, reading, traveling and arts and crafts.

Q&A with Barbara Kasey Smith

1. What inspired you to write Jailbait?

I was inspired to write Jailbait after reports of several teenagers missing in our area. I felt teen girls/boys needed to read/hear the things that can happen to a run-away person. Many times the innocent are not aware that when they have nowhere to go they become owned by another person and horrendous things happen to them.

2. How did you go about writing your novella? What was the process? Did you face any challenges along the way?

I wrote my book during my relaxed times. I'm blessed to be able to begin writing and pick up immediately where I stopped writing the book. I have a fantastic imagination and I build a story while I'm writing it. I didn't face any challenges writing he book since actually I live in the story as I write it.

3. What do you want readers to get out of this book?

I hope there will be teenage readers who will read the book and realize what can happen

to them when they're out on the street without a home.

4. Is any part of this book inspired by your own personal experiences or something you've witnessed happen to someone you know?

This book was not written from any experience I've ever had in my life but I have had knowledge of several friends whose teens left home and the terrible experiences that happened to their children.

5. What else have you written besides Jailbait?

I've written three other books: No Goodbyes (Romance), A Stranger's Visit (Mystery), and Whispers of Faith (Thriller, Suspense).

6. Are there any new books you are currently writing and if so what are they about?

I've got several books on the back-burner—a thriller and a murder mystery.

Writing My First Novel...

I've always dreamed about writing a novel...I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull it off but in the end I wrote one and it turned out pretty good for my first attempt. The novel actually started from a title that came into my head - The Secret Life of Ashley Miles - as I was walking home from the library. The story evolved from there. 

I have been editing the story time and again and just when I think it's finally ready to be published and shared with the world I hold myself back, thinking I have to work on it some more, make some more changes, etc. I wonder... how does a writer know when it is time to say "I'm done!" when working on a novel or story?

I want very much for it to be published and that is not an issue as I will be going with the same publisher I've used for my other seven books - Lulu. The issue is figuring out what else needs to be rewritten, added to, or edited, and when it is finally time to say "the end" and call things complete.

The story that I wrote is in part based on things that I have gone through and experienced, so it is a bit personal. I think readers will be able to relate to the story and connect with it in some way...

The story centers around a girl named Ashley Miles and the things she goes through after graduating high school. Things are not easy for her. And just when everything seems to be falling into place it all comes crumbling down... But there is always hope for a better, brighter tomorrow. 

I can't wait to share this novel with the world... but until I truly feel it is ready to be out there, it will lie dormant... It is certainly not easy to make that final decision when it comes to a novel being labeled complete.

I’m a published author… Get your hands on my books at my storefront, on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble (online) and in many other places online.

Feelings Can Change...

Sometimes we love something and then time passes and we don't feel the same about that something anymore. Do we go ahead and change it? Or do we leave it as is?

I have published seven books, which was a lot of hard work and a lot of stress too. I am surely happy with my books and am very proud of them but now I wish I had done things a little differently and am wondering if I should make changes to my books and republish them... 

For one the back covers have no design on them. They are just plain one color background, which I was fine with before but am not anymore. Though the colors are bright it still makes for a plain back cover and I don't like that. Then some of my books have no author pic or have an author pic that isn't the best one. On top of that I wish the interior had some beautiful design in it. And I wish some book covers were different too...

So, now I am battling with myself. Do I go ahead and make all these changes? Or do I just simply let it go and leave everything as is? First, I tell myself to go through with it. Then I tell myself to forget about it. Then I tell myself to go through with it again... It's an ongoing battle. Back and forth between one and the other, unable to make that final decision. I wonder if this battle will ever come to an end because it is getting frustrating to say the least.

So, what should I do...? Any ideas???


I’m a published author… Get your hands on my books at my storefront, on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble (online) and in many other places online.

My Third Books of Lyrics (Melodies of the Heart) Is Out Now!!!!!!!!!!

My third book of lyrics - Melodies of the Heart - is finally published. It is available on lulu.com as a paperback and an e-book. The paperback version of the book will be available on amazon.com soon. You can preview and purchase the book at my storefront.

I am very excited about this book and about the book cover. It is beautiful! There are a little over 100 lyrics in this book. Topics include love, relationships, heartbreak, loss, personal struggles, dreams, and more. Something everyone can relate to I'm sure.

Melodies of the Heart is my 6th book to-date. I hope to write and publish many books in the future - some of them being lyric books.





I’m a published author… Get your hands on my books at my storefront, on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble (online) and in many other places online.

Books and Such

I am getting closer to nearing 100 lyrics for my third book of lyrics Melodies of the Heart. Making great progress. That is not to say I will stop at 100 lyrics. I might have more than that in the book. My goal was to have at least 100 and I will reach that number with flying colors. 

I finished writing my novel and thought it needed just some light editing. People that have read my novel gave positive feedback. They loved and enjoyed it. I was very happy to hear that. Now, I come to find that I am telling the novel rather than showing it, and that I have to do lots of editing to turn the telling into showing. Not very happy to hear that. I have not heard of this telling and showing business until now. I hope I can pull this off. I really want to publish the novel in a hardbound book...

I haven't been writing as much poetry this year as I have in the previous years. Maybe it's because when I sat down to write a poem I ended up writing a lyric instead. Have to get more into poetry writing... Poetry is what started it all for me... I will never give it up!!!!!!!!

I’m a published author… Get your hands on my books at my storefront, on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble (online) and in many other places online.

Bringing a Novel to Life...

I've always dreamed of writing a novel someday. And hopefully even publishing it at some point. Well, after many months of writing and months of hiatus in between the novel is finished. Finally!

I've let some people read my novel and I got positive feedback from them, which of course is great. I am very happy that the feedback was positive. That's a good sign.

Of course I just can't publish the novel as it is. I need to edit it. I've actually been editing here and there in the past months. Now it's time to get serious and really do a full edit.

I have to say that editing a novel is even harder than writing it. It's not that easy to know what exactly to add to the novel, what to take out of it, what to alter. Sure would be nice if someone were to edit the entire the thing for me but then it wouldn't be my novel. I am the one that has to do the editing.

Getting some help though would sure be nice. I've asked a few people to guide me. I hope that with their help I will finally be able to put an end to this editing and get my novel out there for people to enjoy. That is my final goal.

I’m a published author… Get your hands on my books at my storefront, on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble (online) and in many other places online.

A New Book of Lyrics

It was in the year of 2001 that I wrote my first song. These were just lyrics with no music to go along with them, but I came up with a way to sing the words a capella, so to me it was a song and still is. Since then I have written hundreds of lyrics (songs to me since I usually come up with a way to sing them...).

With so many lyrics under my belt I decided to publish them in a book. That's when I put together Soundtrack of My Life. Pretty much every lyric I wrote made it into the book. Of course having all the lyrics in one book couldn't be done, as there were so many of them, so I ended up splitting them up into two volumes. In turn, that gave me two books, which was even better for me... Who wouldn't want more books with their name (as the author) on it?

Soundtrack of My Life features lyrics that I have written from 2001 to 2008. The first volume contains lyrics from 2001 to part of 2004; the second volume contains lyrics from part of 2004 to 2007. I am very much proud of this two-volume book and am excited to be working on a new one.

Yes, I am putting together a new book of lyrics... It will include lyrics I've written since I published Soundtrack of My Life plus new lyrics that I am writing right now. I am not sure how many lyrics will be in the book but I will try to aim for at least 100. Finding myself with a huge amount of inspiration these past few months I should have no problem reaching the one hundred mark...

I have already come up with a title for my next book of lyrics - Melodies of the Heart. I really love this title. It is beautiful, inspirational, emotional, moving, and it seems to say a great deal...  I think people will be drawn to the title and to the book itself. I cannot wait for the finished product. I will keep you posted on the progress and on when the book will be released.

Now time to go and write more of those lyrics... :)

Have a great day!!!!!


I’m a published author… Get your hands on my books at my storefront, on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble (online) and in many other places online.

Interesting & Informative Articles...

Toward the end of 2009 I stumbled upon a great site called hubpages.com where people can write, post, and share hubs (aka articles) on any topic they choose. Readers can leave feedback and interact with each other and with the hub writers. 

Since becoming a member of this site I have written a number of hubs on a variety of topics: entertainment, music, books, authors, writing, publishing, book promotion, travel, cooking/recipes, technology, and much more. To read my hubs please head on over to HubPages. Looking forward to your feedback. 

I’m a published author… Get your hands on my books at my storefront, on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble (online) and in many other places online.

My Published Books

Here is a list of my published books to check out:

Pieces of Me (download and hardcover) - These poetic creations are the snapshots of my life, and perhaps yours too. As you dive into this book you will not only find pieces of me but also pieces of you. So get ready to transport yourself into a decade worth of emotional poetry that will leave you affected, connected, touched, melted, and craving for more...

Pieces of Me (paperback) - These poetic creations are the snapshots of my life, and perhaps yours too. As you dive into this book you will not only find pieces of me but also pieces of you. So get ready to transport yourself into a decade worth of emotional poetry that will leave you affected, connected, touched, melted, and craving for more...

Soundtrack of My Life: Volume 1 (paperback) - Get ready to burst into song and sing your heart out, as you dive into the first volume of my lyric anthology, featuring an enormous collection of lyrics that will connect with you, touch you, and leave you craving for more.

Soundtrack of My Life: Volume 2 (paperback) - Get ready to burst into song and sing your heart out, as you dive into the second volume of my lyric anthology, featuring an enormous collection of lyrics that will connect with you, touch you, and leave you craving for more.

I’m a published author… Get your hands on my books at my storefront, on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble (online) and in many other places online.