About Terence Victor Barnes:
I really enjoyed my childhood, even school! I was given so much freedom to do as I wanted. I was never a child that liked to be stuck indoors, that's probably why I didn't do well academically. I would always be outside, playing football and tennis on local parks, fishing and unlike the normal cliché/fashionable thing to say, I wasn't rubbish at all sports, I was good!!! I was, and to some degree still am, a shy person. This introvert persona changed to some degree after several years in a Commando Unit following my initial training at The Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM). During my time at university and teaching my confidence grew and with it the ability to talk to people. However a little bit of shyness still remained and I found it difficult to express my feelings verbally. With an improvement in my literacy, I gained the tools to allow me to communicate my feelings with pen and paper. Writing a book is and was such an achievement; I never thought I had it in me and I would recommend it to anyone; if I can you can!
What inspires you to write?
I love reading, mainly nonfiction. My family and friends, particularly my wife, have helped me gain education qualifications therefore allowing me to better express myself. I have always wanted to put down in writing the varied heritage of my Anglo-Indian family and my life leading up to, during and after my involvement in the Falklands War. My fellow Royal Marines Commandos got very little coverage and respect that they deserved; this was part of the reason for writing our story. Also I wanted to pass on to my daughter and other family something tangible for them to keep.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Tom Sharpe, Terry Pratchett, Frank Gardner.
Tell us about your writing process.
I first began my autobiography over eight years ago, but due to work commitments and motivation I paused at only 12,000 words. Gathering information on my heritage and getting the dates and statistical information was very time consuming. Eight years on, in under a year, and driving the rest off my family potty with my persistence, I finished the project at 146,000 word count.
What advice would you give other writers?
Take your time, make rough notes, even bullet points to help guide you to where you want to go.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
As a first time author, it was very difficult to get contacts, let alone replies from both agents and publishers. Time was running out and I wanted to get my book out before 2022, the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands War. I decided on self publishing via amazon; watch out for vanity publishers!
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I hope that both on line and book stores will continue to be available. Both outlets have their uses, though I am concerned with the demise of book shops on the high street; I hope they do not completely vanish in the future.
What genres do you write?: autobiography
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Link To Terence Victor Barnes Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
