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dbarker22000.bsky.social
Author of cli-fi thrillers, children's adventure books and pantomime scripts. Published by Bloodhound Books, Tiny Tree & Lazy Bee respectively. Tennis, golf, am-dram and surfing when not writing.
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Started a new project last week Pantsing it out No idea of the plot yet No idea of the age range I'm aiming for Just enjoying the writing Feels very strange but quite enjoyable #amwriting

A quick visit to Ivybridge bookshop to say hello to Matt and sign copies of our books. Here's Fiona with her latest brill Do Not Eat The Egg Copies of Pax are in store too @tinytreebooks.bsky.social @fionawritesbooks.bsky.social

The father of vertical farming, Dickson Despommier died this month. His ideas fed into my dystopian middle grade adventures, the London Falling series, described as Harry Potter meets 1984 @tinytreebooks.bsky.social Buy a copy (at Bookshop.org) & find out more bit.ly/3X92m2R bit.ly/3U5xuPh

Just finished this fab follow up to Mission Microraptor. Another great adventure full of humour and action. Bravo Philip Kavvadias 👏 @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social

Congratulations to my amazing writing friend, @thomasleedsbooks.bsky.social on the publication of the third part in the Jayben series Jayben and the Dragon Stone is out today! @hodderfiction.bsky.social

Congratulations on the book birthday of Cloud Nine Sue 🥳👏📘

Happy 8th book birthday to my amazing wife, @fionawritesbooks.bsky.social Do Not Eat The Egg is out today! 🥳👏😍

Feeling rather jaded this morning after staying up to watch Superbowl LIX but what a win for the Eagles. Amazing performance from them and worthy winners. #SuperBowlLIX #Eagles

Off to do a hygge style author visit this afternoon for Esher High School. Chilled out audience, drinking hot chocolates, snuggled in blankets. Sounds great. Just hope I can try to emulate their relaxed vibe. Wish me luck! #schoolvisit davidbarkerauthor.co.uk/events/

Who's seen Alien: Romulus? Best one in the series for a long time #scifi #film

My latest monthly newsletter is now available to read on Substack dabwrites.substack.com/p/episode-ni... Keep up to date on all my writing (and non-writing pursuits) Enjoy

Blue Gold, my thriller about water security tensions in Asia, is coming true... China is building a massive hydro-dam in Tibet, threatening the flow of water to India & Bangladesh. Find out more here: davidbarkerauthor.co.uk/books/bluego... @bloodhoundbooks.bsky.social

A dystopian adventure series that grips & won't let go Gone on, you know you want to Get a copy of Pax & The Missing Head and/or Pax & The Forgotten Pincher & see what all the kids have been queuing up to buy at my author events this month bit.ly/40ogw2v bit.ly/3XN5G4N @tinytreebooks.bsky.social

I had a fab time meeting all your enthusiastic and attentive pupils. Some great questions. And getting mobbed for signed books afterwards... wow!

The glamorous side of school visits... a box full of books to be delivered to @fernhillprimary.org for this afternoon's talk. Looking forward to meeting pupils and inspiring their reading and writing

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I've been a bit quiet on here recently, because I've been stuck inside a theatre, tucked away in the gallery operating sound and projections for the wonderful cast of Goldilocks & The Three Bears. 6 shows in 4 days, phew! Come and see our wonderful show next week: quinceplayers.com

Year 5 pupil to teacher after listening/taking part in my session: "Can I join the year 6s and sit in again?" Job done

Boosting 👍

You just can't keep a good crocheter down! Fiona in her happy place 😁

It's a new year and a new term which means it's time for a new set of school visits. Starting today with St Mary's Catholic Primary Looking forward to talking to the year 5s and 6s, hopefully inspiring their reading and their own creative writing #edutwitter

My final post of the year - what I've been reading in December davidbarkerauthor.co.uk/reading/ 42 books in total in 2024 My favourites this year: Predator's Gold @philipreeve.bsky.social A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towles Artemis Fowl Eoin Colfer #amreading

My latest monthly newsletter is now available to read on substack and it's free! Full of reading, writing and gaming news 😀📚🎲 dabwrites.substack.com/p/episode-ei... Please enjoy and if you like it, don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes

When editing, I have 3 things in mind: 1) enrich the world or characters 2) add flow or embellishment to the plot 3) make the story more commercially viable As a plotter who writes light first drafts, option 1) is important for me, 2) is satisfying and 3) is important but mehh #amediting

have been busy with other life stuff, so missed this post! Thanks, Jamie, for your support Have a very merry Christmas 🎄🎁☃️

Learn more about the world Pax and Scholastic Parliament by reading the blog, or visiting my website: davidbarkerauthor.co.uk/books/ There are also buy links, hint hint 😉

Obligatory 20 minute early photo of me arriving for my last school visit of the year. Thorpe Lea Primary, let's get ready to rumble! Or apple crumble, take your pick... #schoolvisit

Had a fab time catching up with @sarahmcintyre.bsky.social and taking a peek around her wonderful studio. Even got a sneak preview of the next Adventure Mice book 🤩. Thank you for showing us around, Sarah! @fionawritesbooks.bsky.social

A late update on last month's reading: three more fab books, all middle-grade this time davidbarkerauthor.co.uk/reading/ Skyfleet @strangelymagic.bsky.social Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer Black Hole Cinema Club @christopheredge.bsky.social #amreading

Yesterday we managed to get to Castle Howard and enjoy the beautiful festive lights. Having lunch in the large marquee was quite an experience with the roof dancing the fandango above our heads! @castlehoward.bsky.social

Just caught up with the latest episode in the Lit Picking podcast. Well worth a listen 👍 shows.acast.com/lit-picking/... @litpickpod.bsky.social #podcast

Lovely to be featured in my local village magazine this month Some fun questions. See article below

Last month, one of the schools I visited was my old school up in Cheshire. It was a real treat for me to see how much the place has evolved and to meet so many enthusiastic readers and writers. www.kingschester.co.uk/news/juniors... #schoolvisits #edutwitter

After a few days of school visits and some Christmas partying it's back down to the business of finishing the first draft of my latest #WIP I have prevaricated for 2 hours this morning... including posting this See ya later #amwriting

A couple of lovely reviews have been added to the river place for Pax & The Forgotten Pincher, book 2 in the London Falling series Why not give it a go and find out for yourself? Exciting middle-grade adventure Harry Potter meets 1984 Buy link: bit.ly/3XN5G4N @tinytreebooks.bsky.social

@fionawritesbooks.bsky.social living her best life at the end of the Kidlit party last night @meltaylorbessent.bsky.social @authorfy.bsky.social