ABOUT
Since she was very little, Barbara wanted to make stories in words and pictures for the whole world. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts, Salutatorian, from the School of Visual Arts, New York and spent her life learning about plants and horses and telling stories.
Big Horse Woman, first in a series of four epic novels, was a Finalist in the Leapfrog Press Literary Fiction Contest, and Winner of Chanticleer International Book Award - Prairie/First Nations, Laramie Prize for Western Fiction. Big Horse Woman, born in a dream, sparked Barbara’s interest in Ponca Language, because she wanted to Name the Plants the way Big Horse Woman would. This led to her becoming a lifetime student of the Ponca Language.
Magghie, book two, was a Finalist in Chanticleer International Book Awards, Laramie Prize for Western Fiction, and excerpts have been published in literary journals, anthologies, and Nebraska Life magazine. While writing Magghie, Barbara was also run over by a horse-drawn vehicle, and likewise, had to relearn how to walk. With the support of family and friends from four directions, she was able to move to Nebraska, continue her studies, and complete her novels. The simultaneous publication of Big Horse Woman and Magghie is the culmination of the dream that started it all.
An Herbalist, Big-Horse-keeper, and Language teacher, Barbara offers classes and consultation in traditional Plant Medicine and Horse Care, and advocates for the revitalization of native language as a core element of cultural preservation and identity. She continues to scribble in her Dream Journal, which she started keeping at age thirteen.
WRITING: Published Stories, Poems, Literary Anthologies
“After the Accident,” Barney & Me
The Lincoln Underground Literary magazine, Lincoln, NE. Quarantine Issue, July 2021.
“Deep Winter”
Winter poems, Nebraska Life Magazine, Vol 23, Number 1, Norfolk, NE. Jan/Feb 2019.
“Recovery”
Fall poems, Nebraska Life Magazine, Norfolk, NE. Sep/Oct 2019.
“Water Willow’s Dream” “A Woman!”
Short Fiction- Voices from the Plains 2nd Edition, Literary Anthology, Nebraska Writers Guild, Scotts Bluff, NE. December 2018.
Guide to More Nebraska Authors, Gerry Cox, Charlene Neely, Editors, April 2018.
“Thanksgiving Owl”
Like Light: 25 Years of Poetry and Prose by Bright Hill Poets & Writers, ed. Bertha Rogers, New York, December 2017.
“Faces” “Mormon Wife, Socks”
Misbehaving Nebraskans- an Eclectic Collection of Poetry, Stories, and Art, Concierge Marketing, Omaha, NE, November 2017.
“Seed Carrier-Wamíde Athíⁿ” (Big Horse Woman ) “The Seed” (Magghie excerpt)
Voices from the Plains, 2017 Nebraska Writers Guild Anthology, November 2017.
“Dottie’s Story, Apron Strings”
First Place, Short Story Contest, Indie Book Trailers & More, Sep 2017.
“Mississippi”
Second Place, Short Story Contest, Indie Book Trailers & More, September 2017.
“Standing Rock Prayer”
Common Root Zine, Issue One, Lincoln, NE. January 2017.
“If I Could Be a Fish” “If I Could Be a Tree” “Why I Am Still Living”
The Lincoln Underground Literary magazine, Spring 2014.
“Slam It!”
The Lincoln Underground, Summer 2013 Issue, Lincoln, NE. June 2013.
“Travelers, Familiars, Companions”
The Lincoln Underground, Lincoln. Spring 2013.
“Rock-a-bye Baby Inside You”
Walton Writers’ Works, Bookstand Publishing. Volume I, Nov 2012.
“The Heat”
Plains Song Review, Center for Great Plains Studies, University Nebraska. Vol. XIV 2012.
“Magghie and Maye” “Run Over”
Who Knew? Catskill Literary Journal, Bookstand Publishing. Volume I, Summer 2010.
“A Tree Bending”
United Plant Savers; Journal of Medicinal Plant Conservation, Winter 2007.
“Thanksgiving”
Small Farmer’s Journal, Sisters, OR. Winter 2004.
ILLUSTRATION: Published Art
Umóⁿhoⁿ Íye-tʰe, Úmóⁿhoⁿ Úshkoⁿ-tʰe - The Omaha Language and The Omaha Way – Dr. Mark Awakuni-Swetland, Omaha Language and Culture Center, Omaha Nation Public School, Macy, Nebraska, and the Omaha Language Instruction Team, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE. -Illustrations, 300 original fine line pen and ink drawings. 2018.
Mobilian Trade Language – Phrasebook & Lexicon, David V. Kaufman, Ph.D. Illustrations, 2017.
Ponca Words – Interactive Memory Game – Community Heritage Labs, Biagio Arobba, 2016.
Biloxi-English Dictionary – Second Edition – David V. Kaufman, Ph.D., Illustrations. 2016.
Ponca Words, Animals and Birds Coloring Book, Ponca Language Guide, Norfolk, NE.2014.
1 Billion Rising – Global community, local events to end Violence against Woman worldwide
“Red Dancer” Posters and social media campaign, Lincoln, NE. February 2014.
“Eagle Dancer” – Cover Art, “Buffalo” – Charcoal sketch – Plains Song Review, Center for Great Plains Studies, University Nebraska. Volume XIV 2012. Cover & p. 31. April 2012.
U.N.I.T.E. University of Nebraska Inter-Tribal Exchange, Logo, banners, T-shirt designs, 2012.
Who Knew? Catskill Literary Journal, Editor in Chief, Design, Illustrations, Photos, “Magghie” Cover Art.
“Magghie and Maye.” “Run Over.” Bookstand Publishing, Volume I, Spring 2010.
ART/GALLERY: Exhibitions
Big Horse Woman, Public Art and Book show, Verdigre Public Library, Verdigre, NE. Sept- Oct 2018.
First Annual Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Native Art and Craft Fair, Lincoln, NE. December 2017.
Big Horse Woman and Magghie, Solo show, Studio 2, Red Path Gallery, Seward, NE. March, April 2017.
“We are All Related.” Common Root, Art Calendar Exhibition, Lincoln, NE. August 2015.
“Magghie.” Delaware County Fair Art Show, Blue Ribbon winner. NY. August 2003.
BeyondDesignInc.com – Theater, Display, fabrication and design – Owner, President 1995-2010.
