Other writers craft words. Barbara Ballinger brings to life stories about family businesses, real estate, interior design and architecture trends, well-known personalities, entertaining, aging and more, all based on her journalism skills and life experiences as a professional writer, editor, author, blogger and speaker. And most recently she and long-time writing partner Margaret Crane wrote about their journey in becoming single after Barbara's divorce and the death of Margaret's husband; the book is Suddenly Single after 50 (Rowman & Littlefield) and their weekly blog is www.lifelessonsat50plus.com. Barbara has interviewed Tipper Gore, Rosalynn Carter, Martha Stewart, Restaurateur Danny Meyer, Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, Architect David Rockwell, Actress Lorraine Bracco, Political Advisors Mary Matalin and James Carville, and others.

She’s covered topics as varied as the crafts of Oaxaca, Mexico, the American antiques in the White House and State Department, the difficulties homeowners have in selling a house following an acrimonious divorce, and the joys and pitfalls of being a founder or scion of a family business. She’s described her personal experiences as the daughter of an aging parent and an empty nester. She also has written about building and decorating two dollhouses for her daughters.

Barbara knows how to include facts accurately, portray a story in the right tone and draw the reader into another world. She has written for newspapers, magazines, corporations and Web sites across the country, including these publications: The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, House Beautiful, Travel & Leisure, the Robb Report, Realtor®, the American Bar Association Journal, Crain’s Chicago Business, Multifamily Executive, Edible Hudson, Hudson Valley magazine, and many others.