Today I am pleased to welcome back Judith Barrow, a favourite of mine. Welcome to Welsh Wednesdays and thank you for agreeing to another interview.
Thank you, Christoph. And thank you for inviting me here. I feel we’ve known one another quite a while on-line but it was lovely to actually meet you in person at the Tenby Book Fair.
Very likewise, Judith. First up, please tell us about your connection to Wales.
I was born and brought up in a village at the base of the Pennines but I’ve lived in Pembrokeshire for the last thirty-eight years. We came to Tenby on holiday, fell in love with the county, saw a half-built house in a field and, throwing caution to the wind, bought it. Best move we ever made even though we eventually moved in on one of the coldest days I can remember in November, to a house with no electricity, no heating and three children under three. We all got colds!
Tell us a little about yourself as writer and as person.
Being a little isolated where we lived, I both read and wrote a lot as a child (earliest story I can remember was of a teapot that fell of a table, broke its spout and died– hmm!) In the past I’ve had various poems, stories published and a couple of plays performed. But it took me until six years ago to pluck up courage to send out one of the books, Pattern of Shadows, to Honno, my publisher.
Why did you decide to write in your chosen genre(s)?
I don’t think I did the deciding; it chose me. I write family sagas (love stories, life stories) which have been described as gritty, sometimes dark, but with humour. Not sure what that says about me–or about how I view life. I do write humorous poetry sometimes though.
What is your life like outside of writing?
Outside my own writing, I tutor creative writing, either privately on day workshops or in classes for Pembrokeshire County Council. I also give talks on various aspects of writing and on the research I’ve done for my books (people seem especially interested in the research I carried out for the background of my trilogy, on prisoner of war camps during the Second World War )
Our three children are all adults now but I love when they visit with their children (and relish in the peace when they’ve gone–but don’t print that–hahaha)
Other than that I potter in the garden; giving instructions to my patient husband (who takes no notice whatsoever!), I read a lot, enjoy walking the glorious Pembrokeshire coastline, and looking after our holiday apartment which we let all year round these days.
What makes me laugh? My husband; we’ve been together for forty-five years and share the same kind of humour–the ridiculousness of life, silly jokes and quick-wittedness. Which is also something I treasure in my friends. What makes me cry? Cruelty, mostly; to children, to animals, to people who can’t fight back, injustice on all levels, including personal injustice. On the same level, it also makes me angry.
Which Welsh person would you like to invite for dinner and what would you serve?
Oh… Firstly, Shirley Bassey; wonderful singer, feisty lady, with a taste in clothes only she could carry in her younger days. Lynn Davies, the athlete, because he once came to the primary school where my children attended (I can’t even remember why and perhaps it was a publicity stunt his agent made him do) but he was so grumpy and bored it upset a lot of the kids. I’d want him to be there to tell him what effect he’d had on them and to see if he is actually quite a nice person and was just having a bad day! John Humphries–funnily enough he makes me laugh because he doesn’t suffer fools easily and he’s quick-witted. I’d put him next to Lynn Davies because he’s so tenacious he’d soon suss him out. Rob Brydon, all-round entertainer. We saw him once in the small theatre in Tenby called the De-Valance. He was hilarious and at one point said it was the first place he’d performed in that was named after a piece of bed linen. Gillian Clarke, poet and playwright, because I love her work and because she also once came to our children’s school and she marked a poem (which I’ve still got) by our youngest daughter, with kind and encouraging words, and I’d like to thank her for the smile she put on our daughter’s face for days. Sorry, I’ve gone on a bit there.
As for food; I’d ask them all what was their favourite dishes, put the answers in a hat and draw one out. I have to say, I’m not a bad cook, so whatever it was, they’d enjoy it! They would … they would…
What is the best thing about Wales?
Growing up I loved the moors and the vast expanse of sky above the Pennines. But I have to say I think the coastline and the countryside of Pembrokeshire is unsurpassable. Also, for me, it’s the peace and quiet around here and the friendliness of the people– best place to have brought up the children.
I’m working on the prequel to the trilogy. When I wrote Pattern of Shadows I never intended it to be the first of a trilogy but as I was finishing it I realised I wanted to know what happened next, so I wrote the sequel, Changing Patterns. It seemed natural then to finish off with the last book, Living in the Shadows, which was published in July this year. Although they are all stand-alone books, they have the same characters and are also linked. As I wrote the last paragraph of Living in the Shadows, I realised that this family was not going to leave me alone; that there is another story to be told. So it’s a work in progress and its working title is Foreshadowing.
What are the best and the worst aspects of writing?
Best aspects? The actual writing – I could write all day if it wasn’t for domestic trivia.
Worst? Having to stop writing to do domestic trivia.
How do you handle criticism of your work?
In the same way I tell my students; always remember it’s someone’s subjective opinion. And never answer it–unless it’s your editor–and then it’ll be constructive– so then you listen.
Judith was crowned Woman of the Week on this blog, I reviewed her work and interviewed her before, I just can’t get enough.
You can connect with Judith here:
@barrow_judith – Twitter
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Reblogged this on Daily Echo.
Thank you Sue ❤
Always a pleasure, Christoph. Especially for Judith.
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
The lovely Judith Barrow interviewed for Welsh Wednesday by Christoph Fischer.. have read all Judith’s books and can recommend them all. Great interview.
Thank you Sally ❤
Another wonderful writer in Wales! So nice to know a little more about Judith. Hugs to you both! And have a wonderful Wednesday. 🙂
Thanks Teagan – you, too ❤
Great post, I loved reading it 🙂
Reblogged this on .
Thank you Cathy ❤
My pleasure 🙂
Great interview and good to learn a little more about Judith. I loved the trilogy so am delighted to know there will be another book coming.
Thanks Mary. I can’t wait for the new book 🙂
Smashing interview with Judith, Christoph. She’s somebody whom I have come to admire very much over the little time I have known her from her blog. She is so supportive of all writers and I’m certainly looking forward to meeting her one day.
Thanks Hugh. She is very supportive of others and such a great author. Many thanks for the visit, from the North of our beautiful Wales today 🙂
Hi! Such a nice interview. I see Judith on Rosie Amber’s site – a great supporter of writers – and I am so happy to learn more about her. I’ll read her books. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Kimberly 🙂
Love the story of the teapot and love Judith for sure. And Hugh is very right. She´s also a great supporter of other writers. And fantastic reviewer too. Thanks so much!
Thanks Olga 🙂
This is an interesting idea, Christoph. I wonder how many Welsh authors there really are and who will be next.
Judith, this is a fascinating interview. You are more than interesting and I enjoy learning more about you. I don’t see boring anywhere. 😀 😀 You’re a remarkable woman.
I agree. Judith is remarkable! 🙂
❤ ❤
Great interview and I do love Judith’s books. It was great to learn more about her, and I also love the coat of Wales. The beaches are great and the water warm, even in the early fall.
Thanks Noelle 🙂
So nice to get to know Judith a little better!
Thanks Pat 🙂
What a great interview by both! It’s always lovely getting to know more about our author friends here! 🙂
Thank you Debby 🙂
What a wonderful interview with Judith! It’s a pleasure to learn more about her.
Lovely interview. A writing friend of mine – Jan Baynham – is a great fan of Judith’s and has told me lots about her books, which I intend to start reading very soon. [I would also invite Gillian Clarke to to dinner. She was one of the first women writers to really inspire me.] Keep up the good work!
Thank you 🙂
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