John Byrne Barry, Author at BAIPA

About John Byrne Barry

John Byrne Barry is author of three "page-turners with a conscience" — When I Killed My Father: An Assisted-Suicide Family Thriller, Bones in the Wash: Politics is Tough. Family is Tougher, and Wasted, a "green noir" mystery set in the Berkeley recycling world. He's also an actor, bicycle tour leader, and crossing guard. He lives in Mill Valley.

John Byrne Barry Talks About Character Voice, Setting, Humor and More on #badasswriters Podcast

December 17, 2022 by John Byrne Barry

Back in October, Kathleen Foxx, the Canada-based host of #badasswriters podcast, interviewed me, and we had a fun and stimulating conversation about character voice, memorable setting, and injecting humor into difficult subjects, like in my most … [Read more...]

Reminder: BAIPA Book Cover Contest Deadline is November 21

November 12, 2022 by John Byrne Barry

Don't forget to submit your book cover to our contest by November 21. We have accepted late submissions for previous contests, but that resulted in some mixups, so we're not accepting anything after November 21. You see all the specifications … [Read more...]

Submit Your Book Cover to BAIPA Contest by November 21

November 5, 2022 by John Byrne Barry

David Kudler will lead a presentation on cover design at our December meeting and once again we will hold our annual book cover contest. (This is our fifth year, so it's now practically an institution!) Since we're not meeting in person, here's … [Read more...]

Join Us for ‘Setting That Works’ Workshop on October 15 @ 10 am

October 3, 2022 by John Byrne Barry

Setting That Works How Memorable Setting Can Advance Plot, Reveal Character, Echo Theme, and More Flash Flood In my first novel — Bones in the Wash: Politics is Tough. Family is Tougher. — my protagonist, Tomas Zamara, the mayor of … [Read more...]

REMINDER: Sept. 5 is Last Day to Submit for BAIPA Title Contest

September 3, 2022 by John Byrne Barry

We ran our first book blurb contest in the spring, modeled after our cover contest. Now we're seeking submissions for a title contest. Thanks to all of you who submitted titles already. We have about a dozen entries. This is last call. Deadline is … [Read more...]

Submit Your Title for BAIPA Contest

August 20, 2022 by John Byrne Barry

We ran our first book blurb contest in the spring, modeled after our cover contest. Now we're seeking submissions for a title contest. The contest is open to current BAIPA member, for a title (and subtitle) that is not yet published. (You can … [Read more...]

Engaging Conversation About Exploring End-of-Life Controversies Through Fiction

July 30, 2022 by John Byrne Barry

How many times at BAIPA meetings have we been encouraged to get ourselves on podcasts? Lo and behold, I am thrilled to share this engaging conversation, with hospice doctor Karen Wyatt, about addressing end-of-life challenges through fiction. She … [Read more...]

Reading My Own Novel, Nine Years After Writing It

July 10, 2022 by John Byrne Barry

In June, I hiked and hung out with my brother-in-law at his family’s off-the-grid cabin at Echo Lake, and one evening, impatient with the library book I was reading on my tablet, I scrolled through what other books I had downloaded and there was my … [Read more...]

My Novel Takes Place in Sausalito, but I’m Calling it ‘Sausalypso.’ Is That a Good Idea?

June 1, 2022 by John Byrne Barry

I’m rewriting my fourth novel and I have a problem with the title. Or rather, others do. My tentative title is Sausalypso Houseboat Wars Murder Mystery or maybe I leave off the last word and call it Sausalypso Houseboat Wars Murder. I like it, … [Read more...]

Whose Book Blurbs Will Win the BAIPA Book Blurb Contest?

May 4, 2022 by John Byrne Barry

Thanks to those of you who submitted your book blurbs for our contest. Unlike the cover contest, we are sharing the slides in advance because it takes more time and attention to evaluate a blurb than a cover. We'll be voting on the blurbs at the … [Read more...]