Writing

Writing Retreat in France - Summer 2015

Writers: Escape to France! Writing Retreat 28th June – 3rd July 2015 Come and spend a week with me in the Dordogne this summer on a fully-catered writing retreat. Each morning there will be workshops focusing on some of the key elements of good fiction.  Then we break for lunch, usually by the pool if the […]Read More »

The Best Present

Like many writers, I have used my family as material more often than they probably would have liked. For me, poetry began as a way to find out who I was, and why I was who I was, and to process difficult experiences. Through our families we discover and construct who we are, both in […]Read More »

Depression and the suicide of Robin Williams

The last few night I’ve slept badly; blessed with a nuisance daughter, a nuisance cat, and a time-pressured commission that keeps me gnawing at it in my head when I should be sleeping.  At 3am I found myself on Twitter – and there was the kicker.  The news that Robin Williams has killed himself. For the […]Read More »

First Fictions Festival 11-13th April 2014

First Fictions is a bi-annual boutique literary festival designed to celebrate and champion new writing and innovation in fiction, organised by Myriad Editions and the University of Sussex. I’ll be resident all weekend at the First Fictions Festival at West Dean College Chichester, and taking part in two events. Sat 12th April 9.30-10.45am NEW FORMS […]Read More »

2013: A dream come true and a pain in the arse

No question about it, I had an extraordinary year. On my birthday in January I was given one of the best presents I have ever had: I was asked to step in and teach a week at Arvon Lumb Bank, Yorkshire, at short notice. Coincidentally I was just setting off that morning to spend my […]Read More »

Cheltenham Literature Festival with Charles Nicholl

Friday 4th October 2013 Cheltenham Literature Festival The Studio, Imperial Square In celebration of the Desmond Elliott Prize 2013, we welcome Ros Barber to share her prizewinning verse novel The Marlowe Papers. Joining her is historian and author of The Reckoning Charles Nicholl, to discuss the treachery, conspiracies and real-life intrigue surrounding literary figures such as playwright Christopher Marlowe. 8.45pm […]Read More »

London Reading: Gypsy Hill Tavern

Beyond Words, Gypsy Hill Tavern, South London http://beyondwordspoetrylondon.co.uk Ros Barber reading from The Marlowe Papers. Gypsy Hill mainline station is 25 mins rail journey from Victoria or London Bridge and just 15 mins from Clapham Junction. The Gipsy Hill Tavern is literally 100yds from the station entrance, and trains run back up to Clapham Junction […]Read More »

Authors' Club First Novel Award 2013 Reading At Foyles

Wednesday 15th May 2013 Foyles, Charing Cross Road All the shortlisted authors of the Author’s Club First Novel Award (including me) will be reading from their books, and answering questions. Chaired by Suzy Feay. http://www.foyles.co.uk/Public/Events/Detail.aspx?eventId=1933 FREERead More »

Prosopagnosia

Recently someone came here looking for ‘ros barber prosopagnosia poem’.  Although it wasn’t called that, I know exactly what they were looking for – an unpublished poem I wrote at the end of the last millennium about the embarrassing affliction of face-blindness.  I wasn’t aware there was a scientific name for my condition in those days, so […]Read More »

The Marlowe Papers in Cheltenham

On Saturday 27th April I’ll be reading from The Marlowe Papers at the Cheltenham Poetry Festival, with support from the poets of Buzzwords. Should be fun. Tickets and booking here: http://www.cheltenhampoetryfest.co.uk/eventdetail.php?ID=36Read More »

Marlowe in Stratford-upon-Avon

On the afternoon of Friday 26th April I’ll be appearing at the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival alongside Professor Stanley Wells and Dr Paul Edmondson of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to discuss the works and lives of Shakespeare and Marlowe. Those of you thinking this might turn into a bun flight will be happy to know tea […]Read More »

The Marlowe Papers at Oxford Literary Festival 2013

Nice chunk one-hour slot for reading and talk about The Marlowe Papers (with Q & A) at Oxford Literary Festival on Tuesday 19th March. My first public appearance since the book was long-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Do come! Full details and ticket booking here.Read More »

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