Today Michael Barrington tells us something about his writing life

 

 

  

What sort of material do you write? 

 

I write across genres but am particularly attracted to historical novels. It probably stems from my love of history as a child, influenced by a wonderful teacher. I regularly publish short stories and again, mainly fiction, some fantasy and many based on my life’s experiences. I am blessed to have enjoyed a wonderful professional life, and worked in or visited more than 70 countries

What enticed you to be a writer in the first place?  

 As a student at a boys only boarding school, we had an hour and a half every Sunday, of writing time in which we had to produce an essay. Sometimes we were given a theme or topic, but often we could choose our own. I loved this time as my imagination could soar and take me outside a very restrictive environment. I learned to dread Wednesday mornings, however, when they were returned to us and I heard those words, “Barrington, quite good work again. Come out here and read it to the class.”  I was not popular with my classmates!

 

Do you have a writing routine?  

I realized early on that I couldn’t write well without a routine. My first novel took me almost six years, and I said never again. I was working at least 50/60 hours a week as the CEO of a company, and on weekends when I intended to write, my wife usually had other things that needed attention.

 
Once I retired, I realized I did not want to play golf every day, so decided that writing would be my work. I spend at least 40 hours a week either writing, doing research or organizing my files, but always working on my craft.  If I take time off for a round of golf or a day out with my wife, I simply make up my writing time by working longer days.

 

Do you have a dedicated work space?  

 Yes, I have my den surrounded with all my stuff: two computers, external hard drives, (I learned years ago that I needed triple backup of all my writing), ipad, printers, and my stereo music set up. My books are here as I also take time every day to do some reading.

 

Do you call yourself a writer?  

For years I was embarrassed when people referred to me as a writer, even though I had already written a couple of novels and published some short stories. I felt like a fraud. Then I joined a writers' club with one hundred and sixty members and was quickly elected vice president. I had to chair meetings, organize events and my public speaking engagements increased. I was introduced and referred to as a writer, author and I decided it was true. It was my full-time work, so yes, I needed to get comfortable with the title.
I was also approached by a member who said I needed to improve my marketing materials, including my website. I had to face the reality; I was a writer!

 

How supportive are your family and friends?  

I am fortunate. My family and friends are very supportive. My wife is a professional artist, a painter, so she needs a lot of time for her work. That works out well. Most of my friends are writers. I also have a sister who lives close by; she is also a writer. We talk almost every day. My family in the UK not only buys my books, but has become quite a sales force for me.
 

Do you have any goals for the future?  

Future goals. I am currently writing a historical fiction based on the Battle of Bamber Bridge. It took place in 1943, and there was a ‘wild west’ type shootout in the village between white US military police and groups of colored soldiers. No such book currently exists.
 

In the new year, I will be working on a nonfiction book. A colleague who has been doing research for the past twenty-five years, is only interested in making short videos. He is giving me all of his research concerning recovered German dog tags from World War II. That will be exciting but quite challenging.

 

Which writers have inspired you?  
 

By the time I was eighteen, I had read all of Dickens, Jane Austen, and many of the classics — all staple, boarding school ‘food. As a schoolboy, it was the angry young men whose writings I devoured; Kingsley Amis, John Braine, and John Osborne.  I loved Edna O’Brien, for her command of vocabulary, language, and expression. She became my muse. I spent ten years in Africa and discovered an unknown treasure trove of writers, all of whom have in some way affected my writing; Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Nadine Gordimer, and Flora Nwapa.
 

I am fortunate to read in both French and Spanish, and I can remember the first time I read Antonio Machado and the poetry of Pablo Neruda. More recently, I have enjoyed works by Mario Vargas Llosa. In French, I found Claude Simon’s writing intriguing, but it was Nathalie Sarraute who shocked me with her ‘anti-novel style’ and focus on interior monologues.