A Dundee grandmother is working on her second book after fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a published author at the age of 87.
Margaret Barry’s debut novel, Of Time and Tides, has been a sell-out success since it was released in February.
The gran-of-nine, who originally penned the war-torn romance more than 20 years ago, says its publication “still hasn’t sunk in”.
Margaret, who has always been a keen writer, says she decided to revisit her old manuscripts following her husband Andy’s death in 2010.
Debut book sold out in six hours
She told The Courier: “After my husband died, I decided that I would go back over the work I did and started editing and rewriting everything.
“Then my son came over, and I said, ‘You’ll never guess what – I’ve finished editing and rewriting my very first book.'”
Her son encouraged her to send the novel to a few publishers – and just six days later, she was “shocked” to receive three contract offers.
And she has been blown away by the response to the book, which sold out on Amazon less than six hours after it was published.
Margaret, who published her book under the name ‘Patsy’ – her late dad’s nickname for her – discovered her joy for writing at a young age.
She said: “I used to get the top marks for school essays – I can still remember the very first one that I wrote.
“And the teacher told my mother, ‘Margaret is a born writer’.
“But my mother didn’t believe her – I was always told I was dim-witted.”
After getting married, having five children, working two jobs, and surviving on “four of five hours of sleep” for many years, Margaret says it was hard to find the time for her passion.
A tale inspired by her grandparents’ love story
But she was inspired to put pen to paper at the age of 59 when her mother told her about her grandparents, who she had never known.
Margaret learned the couple had met as patients together in Dundee Royal Infirmary during the First World War.
Tragically, after marrying and having children, her grandfather was killed in a ship bombing.
Margaret said: “That started it – I borrowed a typewriter and I started writing.
“I built a story around what my mother had told me.”
Margaret then enrolled in a creative writing course at Dundee University and went on to write eight more books.
What’s next?
Margaret is hoping to see her second book – The House on Juniper Drive – which has been sent to her publisher, in print soon.
The novel, which follows the various occupants of a mysterious house over several years, is her granddaughter’s personal favourite.
Margaret said: “My granddaughter is an avid reader, she’s never without a book, and I gave her The House on Juniper Drive, and she has read it eight times.
“I would really like it to be published, for her.”
Conversation