Colin Barrett on his novel 'Wild Houses' and writing about County Mayo

'Wild Houses': A Revenge Kidnapping in Rural Ireland

• 🎯 The novel 'Wild Houses' is set in County Mayo, the region where author Colin Barrett grew up, making the location a crucial element.
• ⚡ The story centers on a revenge kidnapping involving a teenage boy and a young man named Dev, whose isolated life is disrupted by the plot.
• ⏳ The narrative unfolds over three days, detailing the unraveling events of the kidnapping.

The Power of Place in Writing

• ✍️ Barrett explains that as a writer, the location and subjects choose you, rather than the other way around.
• 💡 He found his writing voice and authenticity when he began focusing on his hometown and the people there.
• 🌍 Despite the specific setting, readers from diverse backgrounds connect with the universal themes and recognizable human dynamics in his work.

From Short Stories to Novels

• 📚 Barrett, who previously published two short story collections, always intended to write a novel when a story felt substantial enough.
• 💡 The opening scene of 'Wild Houses', featuring a nighttime knock on Dev's door by gangsters with a kidnapped boy, was the initial spark for the novel.
• ⏳ He emphasizes that a novel requires following through on premises and characters over a longer scale, a key difference from short stories.

The Writing Process and Character Development

• 🧩 Barrett acknowledges that writing is a solitary pursuit, requiring deep focus and time to work out story particulars.
• 🧠 He trusts in his faith in the characters to guide him through the writing process, even when it's challenging.
• 🎭 Characters are not based on single individuals but are composites and types of people he has encountered, often with elements of himself woven in.

Future Projects

• 🚀 Colin Barrett is currently working on another novel, which will also be set in the west of Ireland.
• 🌟 While geographically similar, this new work will feature older characters and offer a different tone and perspective compared to 'Wild Houses'.