{{Short description|American novelist (1931–2022)}} {{For|the author who sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Barbara Paul|Barbara Ovstedal}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see :Template:Infobox writer/doc --> | image = | name = Barbara Paul | pseudonym = | birth_name = Barbara Jeanne Traber | birth_date = {{birth date|1931|06|05}} | birth_place = Maysville, Kentucky, U.S. | death_date = June 6, 2022 (aged 91) | death_place = | occupation = Novelist, actress, college professor | period = | genre = | subject = | movement = | notableworks = | influences = | influenced = | website = {{URL|http://www.barbarapaul.com/}} }}
'''Barbara Jeanne Paul''' (June 5, 1931 – June 6, 2022), born '''Barbara Jeanne Traber''', also known as '''Bobbie White''', was an American college professor, actress, theatre director, and writer of detective stories and science fiction, born in Kentucky. She taught at the University of Pittsburgh, Berry College and Erskine College. Several of her stories have been the basis of television movies or episodes.
== Early life and education == Paul was born in Maysville, Kentucky in 1931, the daughter of Henry Kenneth Traber and Evelyn White Traber.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1964-10-12 |title=Duke White, Once Mayor, Dies at 86 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-independent-duke-white-once-m/197280227/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Daily Independent |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1959-10-29 |title=Trabers Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-independent-trabers-here/197280384/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Daily Independent |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1998-11-28 |title=Evelyn W. Traber |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-evelyn-w-traber/197281122/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Sacramento Bee |pages=35 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She was raised by her grandparents Duke White and Florence Snapp White.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1964-10-07 |title=Granddaughter, Daughter Visit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-independent-granddaughter-dau/197279758/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Daily Independent |pages=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1970-12-11 |title=Mrs. Florence White |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kentucky-post-mrs-florence-white/197280710/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Kentucky Post |pages=14 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1953. She earned a master's degree from the University of Redlands in 1957, and completed doctoral studies in theatre at the University of Pittsburgh in 1969.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Tenkotte |first=Paul A. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Encyclopedia_of_Northern_Kentucky/Zc0eBgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Barbara+Paul%22+Kentucky&pg=PA703&printsec=frontcover |title=The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky |last2=Claypool |first2=James C. |date=2014-10-17 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=978-0-8131-5996-6 |pages=703 |language=en}}</ref> Her dissertation was titled ''Form and Fomula; A study of Philip Massinger's tragic structure.''<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Sachs |first=Sylvia |date=1969-11-16 |title=Theatre Study Rewarding; Pitt Teacher Looking Behind Footlights |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-theatre-study-rewar/197277581/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |pages=103 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Library of Congress Copyright Office |first= |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Catalog_of_Copyright_Entries_Third_Serie/ijIhAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Forms+Formula+Massinger+Barbara+Paul&pg=PA2762&printsec=frontcover |title=Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1970: July-December |date=1973 |publisher=Copyright Office, Library of Congress |pages=2762 |language=en}}</ref> She also studied at Southern Illinois University,<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=1961-06-10 |title=Mrs. Paul Now at Erskine College |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-independent-mrs-paul-now-at-e/197279908/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Daily Independent |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and on fellowships in Oslo and Vienna.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Ellis |first=Mary |date=1962-08-03 |title=Summer Theatre students plan travel and study programs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hattiesburg-american-summer-theatre-stud/197277194/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=Hattiesburg American |pages=16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
== Career == Paul taught at the University of Pittsburgh,<ref name=":1" /> at Berry College in Georgia<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=1960-08-08 |title=Have Guests |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-independent-have-guests/197279629/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Daily Independent |pages=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and at Erskine College in South Carolina.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1961-08-06 |title=Erskine Announces Two New Professors |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-erskine-announces-tw/197282074/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Greenville News |pages=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> She was also drama director at Erskine College.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> She was a house matron and acted in several productions in 1962 at the University of Southern Mississippi's summer theatre program.<ref name=":2" />
Paul wrote more than twenty novels, in the science fiction, horror, and mystery genres. Several of her novels focus on a policewoman character, Marian Larch.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Croan |first=Robert |date=1995-04-23 |title=Barbara Paul's lady cop: Death becomes her |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-barbara-pauls-l/197278239/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |pages=90 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Croan |first=Robert |date=1993-08-15 |title=Who Done It? (review) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-who-done-it-re/197279359/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |pages=88 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She also wrote stories, and reviewed books for the ''Pittsburgh Press.''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paul |first=Barbara |date=1984-11-25 |title='Half Moon' doubles up, has 2 stories on dual lives |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-half-moon-doubles/197277881/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |pages=135 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Paul |first=Barbara |date=1974-01-27 |title=Garrett Pens New Tales |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-garrett-pens-new-ta/197282943/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |pages=101 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> A number of her novels feature in-jokes: for example ''Full Frontal Murder'' borrows various names from the British TV series ''Blake's 7''. One of her stories was the basis of ''Dream Girl,'' an episode of ''Tales from the Darkside'' (1986); and her novel ''Kill Fee'' (1985) was adapted into the television movie ''Murder C.O.D.'' (1990), starring Patrick Duffy. Her 1990 novel ''In-laws and Outlaws'' was adapted for a German television movie in 1997.
Paul had a son, Kenneth.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6" /> She died in 2022, at the age of 91.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paul, Barbara |url=https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/paul_barbara |website=SFE |access-date=June 14, 2022}}</ref>
== Publications ==
=== Science fiction novels === *''An Exercise for Madmen'' (1978)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Barbara Paul |url=https://www.worldswithoutend.com/author.asp?ID=4699 |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=Worlds Without End |language=en}}</ref> *''Pillars of Salt'' (1978)<ref name=":3" /> *''Bibblings'' (1979)<ref name=":3" /> *''Under the Canopy'' (1980)<ref name=":3" /> *''The Three-Minute Universe'' (1988) (a Star Trek novel)<ref name=":3" />
=== Mystery novels === *''The Fourth Wall'' (1979)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paul |first=Barbara |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Fourth_Wall/w9RzCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=The Fourth Wall |date=2016-03-15 |publisher=Open Road Media |isbn=978-1-5040-3237-7 |language=en}}</ref> *''Liars and Tyrants and People Who Turn Blue'' (1980)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paul |first=Barbara |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Liars_and_Tyrants_and_People_Who_Turn_Bl/fNVzCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=Liars and Tyrants and People Who Turn Blue |date=2016-03-15 |publisher=Open Road Media |isbn=978-1-5040-3238-4 |language=en}}</ref> *''First Gravedigger'' (1980)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paul |first=Barbara |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/First_Gravedigger/edRzCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=First Gravedigger |date=2016-03-15 |publisher=Open Road Media |isbn=978-1-5040-3239-1 |language=en}}</ref> *''Your Eyelids Are Growing Heavy'' (1981)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paul |first=Barbara |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Your_Eyelids_Are_Growing_Heavy/ydZzCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=Your Eyelids Are Growing Heavy |date=2016-03-15 |publisher=Open Road Media |isbn=978-1-5040-3240-7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McGough |first=Michael |date=1982-03-25 |title=A mystery in our own back yard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-a-mystery-in-our/197278738/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |pages=19 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> *''The Renewable Virgin'' (1984)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sachs |first=Sylvia |date=1985-06-11 |title=Shadyside author writes sixth successful mystery |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-shadyside-author-wr/197279481/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |pages=18 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> *''Kill Fee'' (1985) *''A Cadenza for Caruso'' (1984) *''Prima Donna at Large'' (1985) *''But He Was Already Dead When I Got There'' (1986)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paul |first=Barbara |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/But_He_Was_Already_Dead_When_I_Got_There/7tZzCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=But He Was Already Dead When I Got There |date=2016-03-15 |publisher=Open Road Media |isbn=978-1-5040-3245-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sachs |first=Sylvia |date=1986-07-17 |title=These mystery writers make their stories entertaining |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-these-mystery-write/197278512/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |pages=54 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> *''A Chorus of Detectives'' (1987) *''He Huffed and He Puffed'' (1989) *''Good King Sauerkraut'' (1989)<ref>{{Cite web |date=1989 |title=Good King Sauerkraut by Barbara Paul (review) |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780684190891 |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=Publishers Weekly}}</ref> *''In-laws and Outlaws'' (1990) (Later adapted into a 1997 TV-film ''Der Tusel der Furcht)''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paul |first=Barbara |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/In_Laws_and_Outlaws/xtVzCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=In-Laws and Outlaws |date=2016-03-15 |publisher=Open Road Media |isbn=978-1-5040-3249-0 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sachs |first=Sylvia |date=1991-01-12 |title=Pittsburgh's Barbara Paul pens another good mystery |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-pittsburghs-barbar/197278622/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |pages=24 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> *''You Have the Right To Remain Silent'' (1992)<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Barbara Paul |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/barbara-paul/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=Kirkus Reviews |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Mae Woods |date=1992-09-20 |title=Mystery writer creates one more action-packed story |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/rocky-mount-telegram-mystery-writer-crea/197277032/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=Rocky Mount Telegram |pages=20 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> *''The Apostrophe Thief'' (1993)<ref name=":4" /> *''Fare Play'' (1995)<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=1995 |title=Fare Play: A Mystery with Marian Larch by Barbara Paul (review) |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780684197159 |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=Publishers Weekly}}</ref> *''Full Frontal Murder'' (1997)<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Croan |first=Robert |date=1997-09-25 |title=An erotic thriller that keeps you turning pages |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-log-cabin-democrat-an-erotic-thrille/197282854/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Log Cabin Democrat |pages=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
=== Stories === *''Jack Be Quick and Other Crime Stories'' (1999)<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{ISFDB name|id=Barbara_Paul}} *{{IMDb name|id=0666766}} *[https://www.fantasticfiction.com/p/barbara-paul/ Barbara Paul] at ''Fantastic Fiction''
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Paul, Barbara}} Category:1931 births Category:2022 deaths Category:20th-century American novelists Category:20th-century American women novelists Category:21st-century American women Category:Novelists from Kentucky Category:Bowling Green State University alumni Category:University of Pittsburgh alumni Category:American women science fiction and fantasy writers Category:American science fiction writers Category:People from Maysville, Kentucky Category:American mystery writers Category:American women mystery writers
{{US-sf-writer-stub}} Category:University of Redlands alumni