Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Barili.
Hi Chris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Quite a bit has happened since our last talk. The biggest was a nearly two-year hiatus I took from writing in order to clear my headspace following the rough 2020-2021 time frame. That period of time, in my opinion, did more to drive Americans apart than any other time I can think of. I lost good friends over political or philosophical differences. As my views grew and matured, my writing needed to follow suit, but that kind of tune-up can be pretty tough to do. And just as I was about to get started, just as I was about to dive back into the world of Frank Butcher (Hell’s Marshal), I received word that my novel Shadow Blade was being removed from the shelves and allowed to go out of print. The news crushed me, and at that point, I nearly retired from writing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, not smooth at all. I am a mountain biker, so I am used to rough trails, but the one I took the last few years has been truly Jeep-worthy.
The worst of it all came two summers ago. I was driving an SUV that was destined for my fiance’s daughter. Was going to replace a part of the exhaust. I looked too long in the rearview mirror and accidentally ran a red light. A motorcycle with two riders struck me, and the rest is still a blur to this day. I was charged with careless driving and running a red light. Among other punishments, I was remanded to 50 hours of community service at a place called the National Mill Dog Rescue (NMDR.org). Once I finished my community service, I switched over to volunteer status and continue there as a volunteer today.
This incident sparked some serious changes, and in a way, turned my life around.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Can you call yourself a writer if you do not write anything?
As I said earlier, I stopped writing for over two years. I was burned out, for one thing, and ticked off at another. During the heat of COVID and the strife that followed, I was ostracized by many writers because of my INDEPENDETN status as a voter: I lost many friends, and decided that I didn’t really want to be part of that crowd anymore. I pulled back socially, and I pulled back professionally, No more conferences, no more seminars. No more writer parties.
I was done with that world.
Until I wasn’t. An Editor I know ha purchased the rights to the “Dragon’s Hoad” anthology wanted to know if she could run my short story “Meltdown”–about a Dragon living in a nuclear power p[lant. Not technically a sale, but it still boosted the ego a bit. And that same editor wanted my story “Shadhavar: for an antho on magical horses. So that was two. And then that same week, another editor wanted my story “Shaklen” for a Halloween anthology titled “Midnight Roost.”
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Writing is tough, especially when you work a full day beforehand. When you get home, working in front of the monitors would wear out even the fittest of athletes. So the next time your favorite struggling author talks about their book, Be supportive, but not overbearingly so. And if you can, but their book, or read in the library and tell me all the things you liked about the books, and what I should avoid. But whatever you do, do NOT them to take a break, a nap, or anything else of that variety.
Contact Info:
- Website: My website: www.authorchrisbarili.ink
- Instagram: @authorchrisbarili
- Twitter: @authorchrisbarili
- Youtube: shakenshred
