About

Barb Reynolds, who touched the lives of many with her kindness, heartfelt laughter, and generous spirit, passed away peacefully on April 2nd, 2025. Her final book, Quality of Life, comprised of sixty-two poignant, loving, and sometimes humorous poems, takes her readers on a journey from the point of her diagnosis with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) to her decision to embrace a chosen peaceful passing in Switzerland. 

Barb was a Pushcart-nominated poet and author of three poetry chapbooks: Boxing Without Gloves and Drawing Words (Finishing Line Press) and Quality of Life (BookBaby). She also penned the irreverent pandemic trilogy Isolation Journal, Volumes 1-3 (BookBaby). In addition to her Pushcart Nomination in 2020, she was a finalist for the Joy Harjo Award in both 2019 and 2020.

Barb Reynolds was raised in southern California and moved to the Bay Area to attend college when she was seventeen. Barb earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and spent 22 years as an Emergency Response child abuse investigator. She also traveled to Los Angeles monthly for 25 years to help with her family’s real estate business. 

Barb retired on her 50^th birthday and, although she had always written, took her very first poetry class with Jude Nutter, a poet she had long admired. Jude would become Barb’s writing mentor and teacher from then on. The first poem Barb published was Triptych for Christopher, about her stepson who died of AIDS in 2009. It became “the most read literary piece in the history of A & U Magazine.” 

She went on to publish in journals and anthologies, and she authored five books: poetry chapbooks Boxing Without Gloves and Drawing Words, both on Finishing Line Press; and the irreverent pandemic trilogy Isolation Journal, Volumes 1-3, on Bookbaby.com. 

Barb divides her time between Richmond, CA, and Provincetown, MA.