Interview with Barry Eva, author of “The Bathroom Book of Romance”

ABOUT BARRY EVA

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

My book is called “The Bathroom Book of Romance” stories, it is the first in a series of books with short stories, short enough to read over a cup of tea or coffee, or whenever you have some time to yourself, yet long enough to bring a tear to your eye or a smile to your face.

In fact some people call them “bathroom stories” as that might be the only place you get five minutes peace and quiet to yourself.”

The stories were written over a number of years and at first published on the internet but now being grouped into several E-Books.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?

The stories have been created over many years, some related to personal events, emotional ups and downs, others from an idea, a couple even written upon request about a readers own story. I have been often asked to create a book of these short stories and finally I’ve got around to it.

In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?

I have gained a huge amount of experience from my radio show “A Book and a Chat”, with authors from local bloggers to multimillion selling best sellers. I’ve done nearly 475 shows and have learned and am still learning from every show. I believe you never stop learning, never stop improving your skills; however one thing I have learned and I bring up all the time, is “learn, but never lose your own voice.”

I have had several authors on the show and met many others who write a book, which for a first draft is pretty good, they then go to some seminar, writers conference to, and a guess speak tells them.. They need to write in such and such format voice etc. The author then goes home re-writes their novel, and six months later go to another conference where a different guest speak might put forward a different process. The worry is that in the end a lot of the writers own voice might have been lost, therefore by the time the authors looks to publishing there might be little of their own voice left.

One thing I always tell authors is “Have faith and be proud of your own work.”

Do you have any advice for writers?

Do not expect huge success overnight, I’ve actually had people give up their jobs on the pretext they are going to become an overnight million selling author. One adage I support is…

Publicity=exposure

Exposure=name recognition

Name recognition MAY equal book sales

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?

Every email, review, or comment about my work makes it worthwhile, good or bad. Read your bad reviews and learn. I think the 120+ reviews for “Across the Pond”, the fact that many people have asked about a second and third book is an achievement. Though when I think about it, the fact I actually wrote the book and it got published and now these romance stories are being shared is the main achievement.

What do you feel is your biggest strength?

I am a story teller, rather than an author, I enjoy chatting as anybody who has listened or been a guest on “A Book and a Chat” will validate. I am a good guest (or so I’ve been told) on shows, done TV and radio work, so can keep a chat going and of course the English accent and sense of humor help

Biggest weakness?

Spelling (thank goodness for spell check) and the lack of time to do anything. With a full time job, the radio shows, my nights at karaoke, family etc time is something that is very limited. I should be doing more writing for  follow up books etc.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island.  What book would you bring with you and why?

Being practical, well sort of, and wanting to make the most of being on a desert island, I would not take like many others books they enjoy reading… We want to get off the island or make the most of living on it right? So I would take “Scouting for Boys” by Lord Baden Powell. This would help my build or sorts of items building survival, knots etc.

If we are talking books just to read… There is a book/film “Reach for the Sky” about a WWII hero Sir Douglas Bader, I think reading his words of courage that not only kept him going after losing both legs in  plane crash, but enabled him not only to fly again, lead a flight of spitfires and then when captured escape several time on his “tin legs”. Such courage would I’m sure keep me going.

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

Life it too short to worry… though I always do. You never know when your time is up, and in many cases you have no choice when you will be called to that big library in the sky. So look back on your life, have you made a difference, and have to change a person’s life, if so then what more can you ask for?

When it comes to romance as with my “Bathroom Book of Romance” stories, I learned a long time ago, perhaps the hard way and now live by my favorite saying, a line ina song by the famous French singer Charles Aznavour (most famous perhaps for the song “She”)…

“You have to learn to leave the table, when loves no longer being served”.

Perhaps too many people live on like this afraid or whatever to move on..

What is your favorite past-time?

I love sport, those these days I am more a couch sportsman, having played most sports in my life, from playing rugby for 40 years, playing tennis at Wimbledon and running marathons (on costume).

My other loves are having a good sing and having a good laugh. A smile takes a lot less muscles than a frown, so why waste energy?

ABOUT THE BATHROOM BOOK OF ROMANCE – BOOK 1