News from Finch and Squirrel | Barbara Leary Author

The Value of Legacy: Encouraging the Heirloom Picture Book Author

June 17, 2026

When I finally finished writing my first children’s book, I met with agents and editors at a regional publishing conference. I had gone through about 18 drafts (no exaggeration), hired a kid lit expert to coach me through revisions, and polished the manuscript until I was confident every word had earned its place. I felt good about my story.

I did not feel so good after talking with the industry gatekeepers.

They warned me that children’s publishing was extraordinarily competitive and most manuscripts never make it out of the slush pile. Without even glancing at my work, they advised me to prepare for rejection and a long search that might not have a happy ending.

At that rate, I figured I’d be dead before I got a deal. I almost was.

Published in ALX Now, Alexandria, Virgnia

July 13, 2026

Navigating the world of book publishing can be an overwhelming task for new authors, and that’s where Alexandria resident Barbara Leary wants to step in.

Leary founded Finch & Squirrel as a literary mentorship studio providing coaching, resources and indie publishing services for writers of all skill levels. The studio recently celebrated three debut authors on publication of their first children’s books — “When There Are More Than Two” by George Mason University communications professional Buzz McClain, “Jack’s Journey: One Kitty, Three Cities” by Leary’s friend Lynn Hays and “Would a Kitten Do That?” by Alexandria Tutoring Consortium tutor Sherry Harowitz.

Published in The Zebra Press, Alexandria, Virginia

December 6, 2025

Reviewed by: Ralph Peluso, Literary Editor

Zebra Rating: 5 Stripes

On December 11, 2006, Maureen Rose Morley passed away, surrounded by her loving husband, cherished family, and friends. She had lost her battle with breast cancer. But that wasn’t the end of the story; that’s where it began. You see, Maureen left a disarrayed collection of writings from the time of her diagnosis until she was unable to write.

“Maureen and I shared a love of literature and writing,” said her sister, Barbara Leary. “When she knew she was dying, she told me she was leaving her writings to me and hoped I might be able to publish some of it. I told her I would. It felt like a sacred duty, but it took me almost 20 years to feel ready to take it on.” Leary fulfilled Maureen’s wish, sharing the emotions and deepest feelings of her final journey. Leary continued, “So much of the writing was in bits and pieces—in digital files, in boxes, in notebooks—and I couldn’t figure out how to knit it together. And part of it was that reading her work was just so painful. I still miss Maureen every day.”

Review of The Climbing Tree

Published in Northern Virginia Magazine

February 2021

By Kate Bianco

THE AUTHOR: Barbara Leary

THE BOOK: The Climbing Tree

THE GENRE: Children’s Literature

LIVES IN: Purcellville

THE STORY: A grandmother of three, Leary has written children’s books with each of her granddaughters in a starring role. Her first, The Climbing Tree, was inspired by her oldest grandaughter, Eleanor. “She had this tree that I taught her how to climb in her yard in Falls Church. She became obsessed. She was so heartbroken when they moved. I saw the book as a way of honoring those feelings and creating something together,” says Leary. The Climbing Tree was self-published, and it took home first prize (out of 1,800 entries) in the Writer’s Digest annual Self-Published Book Awards.

June 4, 2026

This show features Toni's conversation with DC-area author Barbara Leary. Barbara's work spans multiple genres, including nonfiction, short stories, flash fiction, poetry, and children's books. She is the author of four children’s books, including The Climbing Tree, which won First Place in the Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards (Early Readers/Picture Books).

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