Barry S. Brunswick

I am so proud to bring you my interview with the incredibly talented Barry S. Brunswick! Barry is probably best known for his highly-rated series Dreamland (loved by both children and adults alike!), but there are many more gifts to explore within his mind. From poetry to music to a whole library of other books.

The final book in the Dreamland trilogy will be released this December – just in time for Christmas! And you should check out the links at the bottom of the page to see the whole list of his many offerings. One thing’s for sure – Barry has something for everyone! With his limitless abilities, the catalog is sure to keep growing, so check in with him often.

I know there aren’t too many people in this world who can say one of their best friends is a wizard and I am very grateful to have this wonderful, wand-wielding warlock in my corner. My love and thanks to you, Sir Brunswick!

Now, without further ado…

When did you realize being an author was the direction you wanted to take in life?

Someone else persuaded me to write a book based around some characters me and a friend made up while I was doing up his house. Really, we were just clowning around. Turns out our worksite fun, turned out to be a cool story. The War of the Turnips, if you’re wondering. The moment I started writing it, I knew that it was what I was born to do. Five years down the track and I cannot even imagine not doing it.

Was YA fantasy always your genre of choice?

At the risk of sounding a little like a beret and cravat wearing kind of author, I don’t consider myself a YA or MG writer. I write books for everyone. Adventures and tales that everyone will love, but without any sex or swears. I’d actually use the term child-friendly books myself. This is a good thing, as it turns out most of my readers are adult women.

Do you really live under a mushroom cap?

I used to, but the damp in the winter months was tough and the cold breeze got right up my robe. Now I rent it out to the fae for a magic acorn a month. I still spend some weekends in the summer there, though.

Do you write in other genres?

Yes, I do, many. I am certainly a cross-genre author. Poetry for adults under the name B Brunswick. My book Inner Outer: A Poetry Collection has been hanging in the charts. Under Barry S. Brunswick is all my kid friendly stuff where I’ve written comedy, fantasy, comedy horror, modern fairytales, fables and even gritty urban stuff at times. Certainly keep an eye out for a nonfiction that I’ve had in the works for a while too, to branch out even further.

What does a day in the life of Barry S. Brunswick look like?

Being an Englishman, it always starts with a nice cup of tea. Then I check my emails, social media etc. Then I sit down to create. After about half an hour, I get bored and grab a coffee and go for a walk on the beach. I get home, create some more, then procrastinate and play on Twitter for a while. I have lunch at maybe 12 and then day drink for the rest of the afternoon. Sometimes I can be seen creating magical lands, fantastical adventures and amazing characters for the world to enjoy, and maybe even conducting business, too. I love playing guitar and ukulele, and the evenings, being the social sort, I love gigs, restaurants, sporting events, and cocktails, but those things are not really happening at the moment, unfortunately.

You’ve just completed the last book in the Dreamland trilogy, set for release this December…what’s next?

A project I’m super excited about, a sci fi fantasy that is completely crazy. I’m sorry I couldn’t even begin to explain (yes, it’s that crazy!). I guess you’ll just have to wait and see. But you can expect to get at least three titles from me a year, so there’s always stuff in the pipeline. Keep your eyes peeled.

Did you find writing a trilogy more rewarding than writing a standalone novel?

For pure sense of achievement, yes, for sure. It’s a long hard road and a lot of work. To be perfectly honest, this was never supposed to be a trilogy. Originally it was one book, but was too long, so I added some more cool stuff and turned it into a trilogy. It turns out it’s the form Dreamland is supposed to be and it kind of led me rather than the other way round. I’m unlikely to write another trilogy in the future. Spoiler alert – my next book could be a two-book series, though it depends on which of the two cool endings I use. We’ll just have to see how it goes.

As an author, what kind of goals do you set for yourself?

Well, as with everything I ever do, I aim to be the best. I want to reach as many people as possible and spread my message of love and hope and laughter and fun. I wouldn’t put a limit on what I can achieve, but I’m going to test myself to the limit and it’s sure going to be a wild ride getting there. I can’t wait!

Tell us a secret!

There’s a nineteen-sixties London city banker gnome that lives in my cupboard called Reginald. He eats my wife’s rice crackers and comes alive at nighttime where he does vital environmental surveying work. He can sometimes be seen mushroom bouncing and on occasion playing an enchanted loot. But shhh, it’s a secret!

Barry’s links:

Website

Amazon. Com Author page kid friendly

Poetry book (adult)

Twitter

Facebook