Adrian Barnes
Instructor, English in School of University Arts and Sciences
Credentials:BA, BEd - English (UBC), MA - Creative Writing/English (Manchester Metropolitan University), English, NISOD 2007
Room O-020
Direct: 250.365.1377
Tel: 1.888.953.1133 Ext. 377
Bio
I was born in Blackpool, England but emigrated to Canada during the Summer of Love, arriving in the New World in time for the fabled Adamsian Summer of ‘69. Or something like that. I’ve enjoyed a long and often-chequered academic career, having studied, at various times, philosophy, English, writing, film, Russian, computer programming, and goodness knows what else. My biggest problem in life is that I think everything is interesting (and it is!). In other words, I’m either a generalist or a dilettante—take your pick. I will assert, though, that specialization is looking to be the curse of the new millennium, so either way I’m glad to be what I am.
In my life I’ve worked as a gardener, construction worker, croupier, casino manager, restaurant equipment salesman, high school teacher, financial planner—and goodness knows what else. After first working at Selkirk College as a tutor in the Writing Centre, I was inspired to complete a Masters in Creative Writing.
In addition to my work at the college, I am a partner in Lone Sheep Publishing, a West Kootenay-based new media company that owns four online newspapers in the region. In addition to writing Op/Ed material for those publications, I continue to pursue my interests in writing fiction and music.
Publications
A virtually endless stream of columns and articles for Lone Sheep Publishing. Go to one of our sites and search my name in the archives.
Two self-published novels, Neverhasbeen (2010) and Satan A La Mode (2008). I’m currently completing work on my latest novel, not-at-all tentatively-titled, Nod.
“An overripe tomato.” Short story published in MUSE5, Manchester, England (2009).
Hobbies and Interests
As noted above, I have a life-long passion for writing that began in the 1970s with the composition of my first poem in grade one. Written in honour of Mother’s Day, it went as follows: “A mother’s a mother, skinny or fat/She shouts loud and long, all through the day/but I like her that way”. Needless to say, I peaked early and it’s all been downhill since then. Favourite novelist, Dickens. Favourite poet, Rilke. Favourite human being, Shakespeare.
I also am very interested in the whole cultural/political/media thing we’re all enmeshed in and pursue my interests through Lone Sheep, in the classroom, and across the dinner table.
I’m a big fan of music—tending to favour the singer-songwriter who has something urgent to say over all other forms of expression (Ray Davies, Guy Garvey, Morrissey, Bob Dylan, and so on). The limits of pop forms are what interest me most—and how the urge to express oneself strains at those limits. I also play and write for my own amusement.
Beyond that, I’m a big fan of movies (Mike Leigh, Michael Mann—all the Mikes, really); I enjoy making wine from local plants; I love playing poker; and am really into Nordic skiing (in the winters, mostly).
Memorable Moment at Selkirk College
I have to say that I found working at the Writing Centre very rewarding. Students often have massive self-confidence issues around writing. Helping often-anxious students achieve success in their first year of post-secondary study was a real pleasure and made me feel I’d made a difference.
In terms of specific moments, I always gravitate toward the collective ‘a ha’ experiences that sometimes pop up in the classroom. For example, I often do an exercise with my English classes where I demonstrate the universal nature of Story by having the class compose a group narrative with myself as recorder. Once I remember the class came up with a wonderful story about former Doors singer Jim Morrison. Morrison, the story went, didn’t die at the end of the 1960s. Instead, he faked his own death and went to seek enlightenment in India. The story took place in the early 2000s when Jim has become a wise old man, far, far removed from his rock and roll past. But then a young journalist encounters him in a small Indian village and must decide what to do about the massive scoop which has just fallen into his lap…When we finished telling the story everyone in the room was convinced we had a hit movie on our hands, and several students pledged to write a script. I’m still waiting for my invitation to the premier, though!
