Ian Barker
Bolton, United Kingdom Email: IDBarker@gmail.com
Home page: http://www.barker-home.demon.co.uk
"A competent command of the language." – School report, aged 9
". . . an easy style and interesting ideas." – School report aged 12
So I went on to have a glittering career as a famous writer? Well, no, not exactly. I ran away to become a local government officer. This led me to a nineteen-year career in information technology, and eventually to a role as staff writer for a string of computer magazines. So I suppose I made it in the end.
Of course, I continued to write in the interim. Over the years I have produced lots of comic verse, for things like office Christmas cards, most of which is collected on a website at:
www.barker-home.demon.co.uk
In the mid '90s, I made regular, unpaid, contributions to Martin Kelner for his late-night radio show in northern England. Moving to the north-west in 1996, I continued to contribute items to Martin's Manchester based Jazz FM breakfast show. Again, some of this material is on my website.
My first cash-in-the-bank publishing credit was a Laughter the Best Medicine gag for Reader's Digest in 1998.
Since then, I have gone on to write topical comedy sketches for BBC Radio's The News Huddlines, and short stories for Evergreen magazine. I also have two short stories in the WritersNet Anthology. In my day job I am now editor of PC Tools magazine and a regular contributor to PC Utilities and PC Explorer.
". . . told with assurance and flair and maintains its entertainment level throughout." – Writer's Forum magazine, reader's report September 2002, ‘highly commended' short story.
I have recently completed my first full length novel - as yet unpublished - and have started work on a second.
IB September 2005
Interests: Comedy, Thrillers, Cars, Motor Sport, I.T.
Published writer: Yes
Freelance: Yes |
