Born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, Barry Eva, also known as “Storyheart,” left his beloved England in 2000, moving to the USA to be with the woman he’d met and fallen in love with on the Internet.
Perhaps better known for his short romance stories, both on the net, and in his book Stories from the Heart. Barry is popular for narrating his stories on local TV or as a guest on other media stations, where his whit, oratory, and old-fashioned English charm make him a popular interviewee. At present, Barry is living in Connecticut, with his wife and two children.
Barry will be on virtual book tour in February ’09 to promote his latest young adult romance novel, Across the Pond. We interviewed him to find out more about his wonderful new book.
Q: Thank you for this interview, Barry. Can we begin by having you tell us why you chose young adult to write?
A: When I was much younger I wrote a few songs and even a couple of small plays for children, then went on to start writing my short romance stories. Across the Pond is a mix of the two, a novel for young adults, which includes romance, education, humor and adventure.
While it was written for a young adult audience it seems to be being enjoyed by all ages, the young and the young at heart.
Q: Did you outline before you wrote your book or did you just go with the flow?
A: I had a story line idea, and wanted to have the language difference as a thread throughout the book. Once started though and getting past the first few opening chapters and the numerous re-writes, it just started to flow. I think the short story background helped me with hooks at the end of each chapter so that many find they can’t stop once they start reading the book.
Q: Who was your favorite character in Across the Pond and why?
A: Oh without a doubt Fred. They say write about what you know and there is much of me in Fred, all be it many years younger. Some of the situations and issues I have run into since moving “across the pond” I have written into Fred’s adventures.
As one person wrote: “Sharp, humorous and sweet, this book is what young adult fiction is all about: good story, likeable characters, drama and heart-fluttering romance.”
Q: Who was your least favorite character?
A: There always has to be the villain, the one the audience boos in a play. In this book it’s Steve Harris, bully, letch, and general “bad egg”, with his Aunt no far behind. Of course in the end they both get their comeuppance though in different ways.
Q: Can you tell us about the setting and why you chose it?
A: I now live in Connecticut so based the type of area I live in, the airports being the ones I know in New York, and the mall adventure base din Boston, which I also know a little about. I really class myself more as a story teller than a writer, so as I was creating the book, I was taking part in the story, in some ways I became Fred. So I included adventures and surroundings that I could relate to.
Q: What was the hardest part to write?
A: Not counting the first three chapters, which were a learning curve after previously doing short stories, it was the end. I wanted to end the book with a couple of possible follow up options, yet leave it in a way that people would finish reading with a smile on their face.
Q: What was the inspiration behind the story? Where were you when you came up with the idea?
A: I moved to the U.S.A in 2000, so know first hand what sort of issues one runs into. That and wanting to write something for teens/YA and include my romance side as well.
Q: Do you plan on writing more young adult romance novels?
A: The door is open for two possible follow-ups, as several readers have mentioned. But people will have to read this book to guess what they might be.
Q: Thank you for this interview, Barry. Can you tell us where we can find out more about you and your wonderful new book?
A: It has been my pleasure. You can find out all about me and the book and meet a couple of the characters at across-t-pond.com.
The book is available at all the online book stores Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders even at Target. You might want to check out the reviews at Amazon.
Just look for Across the Pond by Storyheart.