Interview with Judith Barrow
Author of
The Memory,
Published by Honno Press
19/3/2020
Today I’d like to welcome to the blog Judith Barrow, whose new novel ‘The Memory’ is published by Honno Press on Thursday March 19th 2020. I’ve loved Judith’s Howarth trilogy of historical family sagas, so I wanted to ask her about this new departure in her writing.
Many people have asked what was the inspiration for The Memory and my answer is always memories: memories of being a carer for two of my aunts who lived with us, memories of losing a friend in my childhood; a friend who, although at the time I didn’t realise, was a Downs’ Syndrome child. But why I actually started to write the story; a story so different from my other four books, I can’t remember. Because it was something I’d begun years ago and was based around the journal I’d kept during that decade of looking after my relatives.
But what did begin to evolve when I settled down to writing The Memory was the realisation of why I’d been so reluctant to delve too far into the manuscript. The isolation, the loneliness, that Irene Hargreaves, the protagonist, endures; despite being married to Sam, her loving husband, dragged up my own feelings of being alone so much as a child. That awareness of always being on the outside; looking in on other families, relationships and friendships had followed me; had hidden deep inside my subconscious. And, as a contented wife and mother, with steady enduring friendships, it unsettled me.
Many people (and, as a creative writing tutor I’m one) say that writing is cathartic. Working through Irene’s memories; especially that one memory that has ruled her life, made me acknowledge my own. And that’s fine. I always say to my students, if you don’t feel the emotions as you write, then neither will your reader. In The Memory I’m hoping the reader will sense the poignant, sad times with Irene, but will also rejoice with her in the happier memories.
Thank you Judith for your insights into The Memory. This is a wonderfully personal story – just the kind to curl up with!
The Memory is available from the following:
Kindle UK HERE
Kindle USA HERE
The paperback can still be ordered from Honno Press HERE
Judith Barrow, originally from Saddleworth, a group of villages on the edge of the Pennines, has lived in Pembrokeshire, Wales, for forty years.
She has an MA in Creative Writing with the University of Wales Trinity St David’s College, Carmarthen.
As well as a BA (Hons) in Literature with the Open University, a Diploma in Drama from Swansea University and she has had short stories, plays, reviews and articles, published throughout the British Isles and has won several poetry competitions.
Judith is a Creative Writing tutor for Pembrokeshire County Council and holds private one to one workshops on all genres.
Reblogged this on Judith Barrow.
Thank you so much for inviting me here, Juliet.
I love Judith’s work and found this interview fascinating. I’ve pre-ordered The Memory and am really looking forwad to reading it.
Ooh, it’s tomorrow – yay 🙂
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