Posted on June 14, 2019 at 8:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Today we’re interviewing thriller author Tom Barber.

Born in Sydney, Australia, and raised in England and Brunei, Barber has always had a passion for writing and storytelling. It took him to Nottingham University, England, where he graduated in 2009 with a 2:1 BA Hons in English Studies. 

Post-graduation, Barber moved to New York City and completed the two-year Meisner acting training program at The William Esper Studio, furthering his love of acting and screenwriting.

Upon his return to the UK in late 2011, he set to work on his debut novel, Nine Lives, which has since become a five-star-rated Amazon UK Kindle hit. 

The following books in the series — The Getaway, Blackout, Silent Night, One Way, Return Fire, Green Light, Last Breath, Jump Seat, and Cleared Hot — have been equally successful, garnering five-star reviews in the US, UK, France, Australia, and Canada. 

The Sam Archer series has sold over 86,000 books worldwide, and each title is currently being adapted into audiobook format.

SADYE: How did you come to see yourself as a writer, and what inspired you to seek publication?

TOM: As my bio says, storytelling has always been a great passion of mine.

In 2012, at twenty-four years old, I was pursuing a career in screenwriting and put together a five-part teleplay about a terrorist attack in London over New Year’s Eve.

After the BBC showed interest but ultimately decided the series wouldn’t make it to camera, I rewrote the story as a novel and discovered I could self-publish it on Kindle.

Nine Lives did extremely well very quickly, and I’ve never looked back since!

Nine novels and a novella collection later, I’ve sold close to 100,000 books, received Hollywood interest and have had downloads in over 150 different countries.

SADYE: Tell us something about your writing process that’s unusual or that you haven’t revealed before.

TOM: Much of the series has been based upon losing my father at twenty years old, after a torrid seven-year battle with several terminal illnesses.

I’ve tried to channel my feelings concerning that struggle into something creative, and combine technique with education to write an action-packed book series that has more layers to it than might first appear.

SADYE: What have been the most surprising, rewarding, and challenging parts of your writing career?

TOM: Surprising: Being able to pursue it as a career without mainstream support has been a blessing.

Rewarding: At thirty-two years old, I’ve already been writing full time for seven years, which I never take for granted. And connecting with people all over the world who enjoy my stories never gets old.

Challenging: Not only meeting their expectations, but surpassing them with each new title.

SADYE: What has been the most touching or memorable piece of reader feedback you’ve received?

TOM: Two instances come to mind.

The first was a message from a soldier embedded in a squad serving on the frontline in Afghanistan, saying how the men were all passing around my books on a couple of Kindles they were sharing on duty.

And the second came from a female retired professor based in the US, who told me my books helped her recover from the death of her husband.

Both were very meaningful in different ways.

SADYE: What message or theme would you like readers to take away from your work?

TOM: We’re here for a very short amount of time, and life is for living, so go make the most of it.

And while you’re doing so, buy my next book! I think you’ll love it.

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Learn more about Tom Barber on his website, where his books can also be purchased; like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

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Categories: Author Interview

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