charles barrow's writing

Further to my p.s. post below, in which I discuss extra author content at the back of novels. I just finished reading The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz. It's a Sherlock Holmes novel. Brave writer, Horowitz, to step into Conan Doyle's big shoes and take on the iconic and much loved detective. There seems to be a vogue for bringing dead authors' most famous characters back to life, hasn't Sophie Hannah just done it with Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot? Fans of Sherlock (legion and rabid) needn't have worried, Horowitz has written a cracking tale from start to finish and after it has finished he treats us to some detailed notes on how he went about approaching his task, in ten rules he set himself at the outset. Interesting stuff. And while I'm back on this topic... I heard a brilliant Aaron Sorkin interview on Radio 4's Front Row recently. Sorkin is a master of his craft, The West Wing and The Social Network amongst many others, and it was fascina...

I just had to write a book blurb, a short summary of the plot of The Darkening Days of John Mann for its download page at Smashwords. I had to summarise the whole story in a nutshell, I hoped for a coconut, I got a pecan. 400 characters was all I was allowed and by the time I had pointed out that this was the second story in a series I had very little room left for manoeuvre. It doesn't help that I insist on such long titles. Thank heaven then for all those precis exercises in English lessons at school. Here is what I arrived at; Part 2 of All The Days of John Mann. Continues the story that began in The Stolen Days of John Mann. Choke survivor John Mann and ally Gunnar continue their search for David through a land ravaged by the fatal virus. While Dr Russell's hunt for Mann bears fruit, an unseen net tightens around them. Danger, betrayal and death are the common coin, Mann's ability to kill or cure is the ultimate prize. A grand total of 399 characters. I might tr...

I'm happy to unveil the cover for The Darkening Days of John Mann, book 2 in the series I'm writing. The book itself will soon be available to download from Smashwords.

I like listening to authors discussing their work, Radio 4's Front Row is especially good for this. I also like reading author interviews that provide insights into their working lives, their creative process. I want to hear a description of their desk too. I like to compare notes with my own routines, 'oh, I do that too.' or 'I must try that technique.' Recently I read two novels in the back of which were additional pages of author notes and information. 'Life After Life' by Kate Atkinson and 'When God Was a Rabbit' by Sarah Winman. Atkinson writes a short essay on why and how she wrote her story, and her research for it, with interesting insights into what is historically accurate and what is her own invention. I find that kind of detail fascinating. Winman has also written a short piece on her inspiration for this, her first novel, and other pieces titled 'Life as a writer', 'My day' and 'My tips'. All short but sterling ...

I'm editing Book 2 at the moment. I'm making hard choices. Kill your darlings, they say. Sometimes that is easier said than done. Take, 'A feint taint of woodsmoke.' It's writerly rubbish and trying too hard. Yet it survived several passes of my red pen, although each time I read it it snagged at me and caused me to pause for a fraction on the road past, like black ice might cause a tyre to lose traction. I always knew it was wrong and its days were always numbered. Eventually I returned to it and scored it through. Gone. Other edits are much harder. One sentence I really liked that had come to me in a bright moment, was a big sacrifice. It's wrongness remained hidden for a long while and even when I realised that I fought to keep it, would not admit it didn't work. I admired it, loved it even but it didn't belong in this story so out came the red pen again. It died hard. Editing can be a chore, can be fun, can be painful in equal measures but if y...

I mentioned a while back that a cover redesign was in the works. Jess has worked hard on it and I'm thrilled with the results. Please welcome the new cover for The Stolen Days of John Mann.

Now that the evenings will be drawing in I've lined up my Autumn reading.