Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Italy, as Barbara Saulini where I lived until the age of 19, when I moved to London.
I was never a typical Italian, I never really fitted within the culture, definitely born at the wrong place at the wrong time. After I left, I started reading and writing exclusively in English and today – after spending most of my adult life in Britain – I would say this has definitely become my first language. I could not imagine writing the way I do in Italian anymore, it would be impossible.
I moved out of London a couple of years ago and I now live in Hove, East Sussex, with my husband, our two lovely kids and a boxful of characters at the back of my wardrobe.
I have written about six novels, all of them unfinished and fully formed at the same time, a boxful of ideas that refuse to go away. I will put them to sleep for a few years, then go back to open the box and find them all awake, demanding attention. One day in the near future they will all be out there, on someone’s shelf, or sombody’s kindle.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Innocent Monsters is my first novel and it was published last month on Amazon. The title is inspired by a personal interest in evil and how it manifests itself in people who consider themselves good. I believe the two natures are constantly at war within each of us, and we all have the power to choose which one will win. We ultimately become whatever we want to be the most.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am not sure it’s unusual, but I like to pick a soundtrack for each story I write. And it has to be instrumental. Listening to the right kind of music helps me to set the mood and get in the right frame of mind to write the particular events I am trying to create.
While writing Innocent Monsters I only listened to Zbigniew Preisner. For my second novel I have chosen Ludovico Einaudi
What authors, or books have influenced you?
There isn’t any one author or book which has influenced me. In different ways, they all have inspired me and driven me to write and continue to do so.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a short story called In a Dream, which explores the power of the subconscious… What we plant in the deepest, darkest corners of our mind, with nourish and belief can one day become reality.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have personally only just started, but I am finding Facebook a powerful tool. With a little ‘social media’ effort, anything and everything can be promoted.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If it’s their intention to try traditional publishing, I would recommend any new author to be very careful not to sign away their work for life and NOT to be put off by criticism. Personally, I believe self publishing has become a very real option, it is not the vanity trip that was once looked down upon. If you believe in what you have written, give it a shot!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Get on with it!
What are you reading now?
Grandmother’s footsteps: Journey in search of Penelope Betjeman, by Imogen Lycett Green. A poetic, inspiring and powerful journey through India.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I simply plan to keep writing what I enjoy writing, the way I enjoy writing it, bring some of those characters in my box to life. I hope there are enough people out there looking forward to hearing about them.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Really hard to decide. I think I have a favourite and then I read another incredible book and I have to reconsider. So I update my best book of all time regularly. At the moment, it’s The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls because it made me see my relationship with my own father and the rest of the family under a different light. I appreciated the courage it must have taken the author to write about her life in such devastating details.
Author Websites and Profiles
Barbara Doherty Amazon Profile
Barbara Doherty’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
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