Barbara O'Neal & The Secret of Everything

You can't go wrong with a Barbara O'Neal book--and you can treat yourself to another as THE SECRET OF EVERYTHING just hit the shelves. Luscious writing about women with provocative dilemmas set in locations just as original as they are...you'll be transported in more than one sense of the word.

I asked Barbara five questions sparked by her latest novel and this is what she had to say:

1. Most important thing first: How does food play a part in THE SECRET OF EVERYTHING?

Tessa Harlow comes to the chic foodie town of Los Ladrones to try to discover the truth of her own life. The characters gather at The 100 Breakfasts Cafe, where they connect, rest, to refuel, to discover themselves. Breakfast is my favorite meal, so it was especially fun to chase down and test recipes for the 100 Breakfasts menu.

2. The heroine, Tessa, has been leading hiking tours and I know that you are also a dedicated hiker. Can you talk about that a little? What attracts you to the endeavor?

I had such a hard time formulating my answer--because I love hiking so much it's hard to get it into words. When I think of it, I feel the sun on my head and see the fierce blue sky and vistas of trees and valleys and mountains. I feel that little buzz along my legs from good hard exercise, and tickle of sweat on my back. I get an endorphin rush just imagining it. Hiking is vigorous but not punishing, like running. I don't really think that much, so it's like a moving meditation, and refreshing. I'm enough of a geek that I like having the right gear, the performance socks and tops and boots for winter and summer, and knowing how to use it, and knowing what to do if I get lost. I love being with the trail and aware that it doesn't care about me in the slightest.

And, most importantly, it means I can have pancakes for breakfast and not feel guilty about it.

3. Tessa has a mystery in her past this is uncovered during the course of this story. Are any family secrets worth keeping or should we strive for the deepest understanding of our pasts?

That depends on the person, I bet. Some people want to let sleeping dogs lie. Others want to put the pieces together. I fall in the latter.

4. Do you set resolutions for the new year?

Goals, not resolutions, which just make me feel like a big fat failure. Last year I walked a certain number of miles; this year I want to add more. Last year, I started dancing. This year, I'm focusing on more vegetables, fewer cookies.

5. The first meal of the day is given the spotlight in this book. What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Scrambled eggs with spinach, soy sausage and a tiny bit of goat cheese.

So what did you have for breakfast this morning? I confess I just scarfed down a day-old donut. Surfer Guy was picking up the used veggie oil from the local chinese food place yesterday for our veggie car and a worker from a nearby cafe handed him 2 bags of baked goods since they'll be closed today. I thought how fun and serendipitous until later he confessed they might have taken him for a homeless person as he was in his working-on-the-car clothes!