Meet The Author

From the adventurous stock of Oregon Territory pioneers, author BARBARA KLETT is the great- granddaughter of 1875 homesteader Jesse Z. Winn. Raised in the same community as her granddad and father, Barbara’s heart beats strong for those in Eastern Oregon.

Wife, mother, educator, student, ninth-of-eleven children in her family, this closet non-reader snuck her way through school until the door to reading finally unlocked for her. Jump into A Message Across Time and enjoy the escapades of kids who uncover mysteries, face danger, and build lasting friendships told through the eyes of this extraordinary storyteller.

View Think Ink’s exclusive interview with the author!

Click the button below to read all about Barbara’s greatest inspirations, her voyage to writing A Message Across Time, what this story means to her, and so much more!

Barbara’s Scrapbook

  • Welcome to Weston!

  • Weston, Oregon, nestled along Pine Creek. What a beautiful sight!

  • Barbara's family: Grandpa George Winn with his sons and their children. Missing is Aunt Ellen and her family.

  • The Winn Family Farmhouse. Always an abundance of beautiful flowers.

  • The Winn Farmhouse where Barbara's father grew up, and her family lived before they moved into town (Weston) in 1956.

  • The Winn Family Home at the Winn Homestead (this home was destroyed long ago by the flood waters of Little Dry Creek, which runs along Winn Road).

  • L2R: Uncle Bob, Grandfather George Winn, and Peyton Winn (Barbara's father)

  • The Peyton Winn Family in 1965 (missing Karen, who was away at University of Oregon).

  • L2R: Doug, Chris, Karen, and Robin Winn, Easter Sunday on the Winn homestead.

  • L2R: Barbara (age 3), Chris, Doug, Karen, and Robin Winn, pictured in the backyard of their house in Weston. In the background is the empty lot where the Skywatch Shed was located.

  • Barbara's Parents, Chris (L), Robin (R), and Baby Barbara Winn

  • Jessie and Barbara Winn, preparing for The Potato Show in 1965

  • Jessie Winn at 98 years old (current photo)

  • Lena Blomgren, 1914 (age 18). Mrs. Blomgren lived from 1896 through 1998.

  • Lena Blomgren in 1986 (age 90), pictured with Chris Winn's children.

  • Bronc Riding. Nope, this isn't Barbara on Tinkerbell, but this is how it FELT to be on Tinkerbell.

  • Barbara, pictured at The Tinkerbell Barn in 1986

  • Woodcutter's Grave Marker (to the left of the locust tree).

  • Woodcutter's Grave Marker

  • Woodcutter's Grave Marker up close

  • Weston Library. One of the BEST places in all of Weston.

  • Margaret Sutherland, Weston Librarian from 1955-1995

  • Kathleen Schmidtgall, Current Weston Librarian (and Billy Gentry's sister)

  • The J.A. King Ranch on Wildhorse Creek (early relatives of Lori & Kim King)

  • Staggs, Coffman, and Winn Co. Wheat Thrashing Operation

  • The Dauble Family Home. One of Robin's dear friends lived in this house.

  • Lamb Weston Baseball Team. Doug as assistant coach (first person on the second row). Robin kept stats for the team (second person, first row).

  • Weston School. Notice the brick. Weston was known for its brick factory works.

  • The Methodist Church. The bottle with the note was hidden near this church.

  • The Barbie doll travel case from Chapter 9 of the book.

  • The actual Canadian goose wall art piece mentioned in Chapter 2 of the book.

  • Spring of 1966. Karen Winn's wedding to Randy. Barbara is the candlelighter. Robin and Doug stand behind Barbara.

  • The location, in Chapter 14, where Kim King set up the bottle-dissection laboratory.

  • AMAT at Christmas

    A Wonderful GIFT Idea

  • Dive in head first: Magic in process when a book is in the hands of a reader!

  • Focus in on a great story!

  • Time for lunch? No...I'm busy reading!

  • The FIRST Readers: When "A Message Across Time" was in ROUGH(est) draft form, these wonderful girls read the book and completed the "My Places" activity (presented on the Games + Activities page of this website).

  • Barbara's mother enjoying "A Message Across Time".

  • Barbara prepping her booth at Pioneer Picnic 2023

    At Pioneer Picnic, in Weston, Barbara prepared her booth at which she shared her book & a craft for kids to make Tinkerbell.

  • Working on making Tinkerbell

    What fun it was to make Tinkerbell with current Weston residents!

  • Craft Project: Tinkerbell

    We constructed a model of Tinkerbell, Lori King's famous horse!

  • Barbara with Billy Gentry, Pioneer Picnic 2023

    Pioneer Picnic 2023, Barbara with childhood friend, Billy Gentry (from Chapter 11 in the book)

  • Jessie (Barbara's Mother) in January 2024

    Barbara's mother, Jessie, passed away (February 23, 2024) three-weeks shy of her 100th birthday.

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