Barry has existed for over half a century. When it came to that critical teenage career-decision juncture, he could not make up his mind whether to continue as a rock 'n' roll musician, write fantasy fiction or become a famous fashion photographer or a Formula One world championship racing driver ... so he went into a business career. Luckily, two-and-a-half decades later, he emerged from the commercial world relatively unscathed, but considerably tougher, and now does what he should have years ago: write fiction...and play rock music.

Parts of his brain stubbornly refuses to age at the same rate as the rest of it. This allows him to produce a rich blend of surreal comedic fantasy which appeals to readers of all ages ... and he can still give the drum set a good workout at Saturday night gigs. Barry is now making up for lost writing time. He loves writing so much that he forgets mealtimes, days, months … where he lives...

Favourite writers: Robert Rankin, Terry Pratchett, Tom Holt (although he swears that he'd never heard of any of them until he had finished the fifth novel) & Stephen Fry. Spike Milligan is his Almighty.

Favourite music: Pink Floyd, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, the (British) James Taylor Quartet...and Mahler.

Pet hates: British winters, gold plated bathtaps, politicians &...politicians. Likes: Moggy cats, Maserati cars, anything Mediterranean.

Favourite place: The Carmargue.

Would like to meet (from the past) Jon Paul Sartre – to cheer him up – and the ******* who dented his beloved Alfa Romeo in a car park last week.