Ask the Author: Barbara Bayes
Answered Questions (3)
Barbara Bayes
What happens when you find yourself in a senior’s facility, sharing a room with the woman who used to be your best friend? What if that same woman also stole your husband and ruined your life more than fifty years ago?
That was the question I first asked myself before starting to write. It’s not surprising that my mind went there. Senior’s homes have been on the minds of most Canadians during Covid-19 as we so miserably failed to take care of our elderly during the pandemic. It seemed inevitable that I would set part of my new novel in that environment.
I also felt it important to write a novel that belies an all too prevalent ageism in our society. I can attest to it firsthand now folks – getting older does not mean one is ‘past it’ in any sense. The envelope may age, but the letter inside is still fresh. All the emotions of passion, love, hate...all the likes and dislikes....they’re all still alive and well, despite our aging exteriors.
What happens when you find yourself in a senior’s facility, sharing a room with the woman who used to be your best friend? What if that same woman also stole your husband and ruined your life more than fifty years ago?
That was the question I first asked myself before starting to write. It’s not surprising that my mind went there. Senior’s homes have been on the minds of most Canadians during Covid-19 as we so miserably failed to take care of our elderly during the pandemic. It seemed inevitable that I would set part of my new novel in that environment.
I also felt it important to write a novel that belies an all too prevalent ageism in our society. I can attest to it firsthand now folks – getting older does not mean one is ‘past it’ in any sense. The envelope may age, but the letter inside is still fresh. All the emotions of passion, love, hate...all the likes and dislikes....they’re all still alive and well, despite our aging exteriors.
Barbara Bayes
This one's easy. Being a writer allows you the comfort of knowing that even the worst catastrophe will have an ultimate purpose and use i.e. fodder for your next book.
Barbara Bayes
If you had asked me this question six months ago, I would have honestly been able to answer that I had, in forty years of writing, never experienced writer's block. But, after completion of my most recent thriller, Locust Hill, the dreaded block suddenly reared its ugly head. I sat down to write and there it was...absolutely nothing, nada, zip.
I know most authors say that the best way out is through, and that to conquer writer's block one must just sit down and just plug away, writing absolutely anything, trusting that the words and ideas will eventually flow. Unfortunately, as I've recently learned, that just doesn't cut it for me. I need that one kernel, that one inspired idea on which to build.
So for six months I waited. And waited some more. During that period, I kept my eyes and ears open, tried to experience as much of the world as I could, and most importantly kept the faith, telling myself that it was just a temporary condition. I'm happy to say that it the inspiration finally came, while I was brushing my teeth of all things, and I've now begun my next domestic suspense novel.
I know most authors say that the best way out is through, and that to conquer writer's block one must just sit down and just plug away, writing absolutely anything, trusting that the words and ideas will eventually flow. Unfortunately, as I've recently learned, that just doesn't cut it for me. I need that one kernel, that one inspired idea on which to build.
So for six months I waited. And waited some more. During that period, I kept my eyes and ears open, tried to experience as much of the world as I could, and most importantly kept the faith, telling myself that it was just a temporary condition. I'm happy to say that it the inspiration finally came, while I was brushing my teeth of all things, and I've now begun my next domestic suspense novel.
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