In memory of Barbara Faith

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Barbara Faith de Covarrubias (February 19, 1921, Cleveland, Ohio-October 10, 1995), was a U.S.American writer of more than 40 romance novels as Barbara Faith (her maiden name) from 1978 until the day of her death. She won a Rita Award in 1982.

"When I reached thirty-five I completely turned my life around," exclaimed the tall, blue-eyed blonde. "I'd been working at the same job-broadcasting—for ten years. I was single. My relatives were always introducing me as, 'This is my niece-Barbara-she-never-married,' like it was a part of my name! I quit my job."

Barbara's father flew in from Tennessee for the sole purpose of telling her that she was "out of her gourd to give up a job where she would get a lovely pension when she was sixty-five." With dire predictions hanging over her head, she packed typewriter, books, blue jeans, and herself in her ancient car and headed from Miami Beach to Mexico.

"I ended up in a charming colonial town named San Miguel de Allende. I rented a small two-story (with roof garden) apartment for $50 a month. I shopped in the outdoor market I took some writing courses, I wrote another bad novel, I learned a language, and—thank the lord—I met my husband," she said. "Alfonso was a bullfighter. The minute somebody said, 'Barbara, I would like you to meet Alfonso," I knew. Boy, oh boy, I really knew that he was the one." Barbara married former bullfighter Alfonso Covarrubias in Tampiaco, Mexico, on 11 November 1970.

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http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/18671316/

Comments

Barbara and Alfonso

[(Anonymous)]

When I moved to San Miguel de Allende in 1990. Barbara Faith was one of the first real friends I made. As a romance writer myself (writing as Megan Daniel), I hit it off with her immediately. Somewhat later, we were in a writing group together, meeting weekly to read our works-in-progress. I was in awe of her discipline. She would sit at the computer every morning at 8 am, work until noon, break for lunch with Alfonso, then back to work until 5 pm. Once the computer was turned off, she never thought about the work.

At the time of her death, Barbara was working on a memoir with the working title "The Bullfighter in My Bed." It was about her move to Mexico, meeting Alfonso, and their fairy-tale marriage.

Alfonso was one of the courtliest men I've ever known. He was small, wiry, with that innate matador posture and pride. When you met him, he would bend slightly at the waist, incline his head and greet you in the most beautiful, precise English. You almost thought he was going to kiss your hand. Later, when my Spanish improved, I enjoyed his regal, lyrical Spanish.

After Barbara's sudden and untimely death, Alfonso seemed a bit lost. It was not long before he left us too.

I still miss Barbara--her dry and self-deprecating sense of humor, her incisive eye for making a manuscript better, her graciousness. She was a good writer, a wonderful editor, and a great friend.

Thanks for reminding me.

Re: Barbara and Alfonso

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Thanks to you for stopping by. I really love her personal story, it was more romantic than a romance novel. And you confirmed that she was a very special woman. Elisa