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Welcome

I started this blog in 2013 to share my reflections on reading, writing and psychology, along with my journey to become a published novelist.​  I soon graduated to about twenty book reviews a month and a weekly 99-word story. Ten years later, I've transferred my writing / publication updates to my new website but will continue here with occasional reviews and flash fiction pieces, and maybe the odd personal post.

ANNE GOODWIN'S WRITING NEWS

Psychologist Write: Barbara Fagan Speake

13/8/2015

 
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For my third post in this series, I’m delighted to welcome Barbara Speake to Annecdotal. After an accomplished career as a research and clinical psychologist, Barbara is well on the way to publishing her fifth novel. Here’s Barbara in her own words: 

How did you come to writing fiction? 

I came to fiction writing through the discipline of writing non-fiction. I was very fortunate to have had two major psychology careers spanning nearly four decades, firstly as a research psychologist and then, after further training, as a clinical psychologist and NHS manager. During my academic career, I authored or co-authored numerous journal articles, book chapters, government reports, a PhD thesis and two books for parents and staff, both published by Souvenir Press. When I later qualified as a clinical psychologist, my writing was mainly of a clinical nature, service reports, and court reports, firstly in primary care, then in learning disability services, autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and forensic services.

 Of course, like many authors, who have written non-fiction, I always wondered if I had a fiction book in me.

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What fiction do you write?

I started to write crime fiction some fifteen years ago and all five of my books have both a whodunit and a whydunit element. They are set in Connecticut, (where I was born and raised) in the fictional Westford police department, and they include British and American characters. My debut novel, Secrets Only Sleep (2005) investigates the murder of a bag lady. This psychological suspense novel deals with issues of bereavement, revenge, and ruined lives.

With my second book, Primed by the Past (2011), I started a crime fiction series, featuring Scottish detective, Annie Macpherson, who is on an exchange with the Westford Police. This book explores the impact of stalking. In my third book, Programmed to Kill (2012), Annie becomes involved in the investigation of a murdered priest but the killing doesn’t stop with the first victim. This is the first book in which I delve into the mind of the murderer and deals with issues of moral ambiguity. My fourth novel, Past Deception (2014) deals with historical abuse and its impact on one family, decades after it happened. 

I am currently completing my fifth book, Scared to Tell, the fourth in the Detective Annie Macpherson series, which will be published in November.

What impact does being a psychologist have on your fiction writing?  

Having been a research psychologist means that I enjoy doing research for a novel and my clinical work brought me into contact with people with a range of clinical conditions. I always stress that I never use any real cases in my books, but use psychological themes, such as those already mentioned, including: bereavement, psychopathy, stalking, relationship issues, trauma, abuse etc. As psychologists, we are trained to observe people, to understand motivation and to help people work through issues – all good skills to have in developing characters and plots.  

My years of management have also paid off in my writing career as I am highly organised, engage in continuous professional development with regards to writing and do my own personal development plan every year, just as I did when I was working. One real find has been the free Future Learn on-line learning courses and I have now completed five of these, mainly dealing with forensics, forensic psychology and creative writing. I was also media trained during my career and gave numerous presentations. Now I am building up a speaker profile locally, receiving invitations from a wide range of groups to talk about writing crime fiction.  

I thought I was busy when I was a consultant psychologist and clinical director in the NHS, but I never seem to have a spare minute now I am retired. In addition to my writing, I am a member of two writing groups, one of which I facilitate and I write short stories for these groups. In 2016, I will publish my first collection of short stories and flash fiction. I am also a trustee for a local voluntary group, which continues to use my psychology skills.  

More information about my books can be found on my website www.barbarafaganspeake.com.

Please also look up my Facebook author page which I update regularly:

Barbara Fagan Speake Writer.  Please Like and Share.

Paperbacks are available by contacting me via the website and e-books via Amazon.

Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
Annecdotist
14/8/2015 06:45:23 am

Thanks for this interesting post, Barbara. I’m really impressed at your output!
I know what you mean about being busier than ever, but at least for me now it feels a bit more under control.
I’ve also done a couple of FeatureLearn courses and was really impressed by the standard. Unfortunately (that time thing again) I wasn’t able to invest in them as much as I’d hoped, although the second one I did – on cognitive poetics – was particularly interesting to me as a reader, writer and psychologist, and I was intending to do a blog post about it, but might need to go back and do it again before I can mobilise my thoughts to say anything coherent about it.

Barbara Speake link
15/8/2015 04:47:40 am

Hi Anne, Thanks so much for featuring me in your Psychologist Write feature. So glad that we have made contact...Will keep checking your blog. All the best for Sugar and Snails. Warm regards, Barbara

Annecdotist
15/8/2015 08:38:31 am

Oops, FeatureLearn! Might be a good name for a training programme but of course it's FutureLearn I meant.

Charli Mills
14/8/2015 01:30:35 pm

I want to be Barabara Fagan Speake when I grow up as a writer! How inspiring to me, to read about a writer who has evolved from her former career into a satisfying writing career and who continues to learn and develop professionally. Not only will I check out her books, but also Future Learn. Thanks for hosting Barbara! And Barbara, we have a small and talented literary group online (the Rough Writers) and we practice craft with a weekly online flash fiction challenge at CarrotRanch.com. We'd welcome a round from you if you ever want to ride over to our ranch!

Barbara Speake link
15/8/2015 04:42:20 am

Hi Charli...thanks for your comments. I have looked up Carrot Ranch and hope to indulge one of these days in the flash fiction competition. I hope you will look up my books. I always welcome feedback. Having lived in the UK for over 40 years, I still have Americans checking my books to make sure that I don't put British expressions in American mouths...I will keep monitoring your site...Warm regards, Barbara

Annecdotist
15/8/2015 08:35:02 am

Our intercontinental links are great fun, Barbara, and it's always fascinating the words or phrases that don't cross the pond and take us by surprise.

Annecdotist
15/8/2015 08:36:22 am

I agree, Charli, the professionalism we've had in our former careers can transfer into managing our writing, as you are showing so well on the Ranch.

Nora link
15/8/2015 03:43:37 am

Thanks for introducing us to Barbara, Anne. Initially I was surprised that this wasn't part of your psychologist series, then I was surprised that Barbara was writing whodunits. Then it twigged: of course the psychologist is able to delve into the criminal mind. I was interested that Barbara didn't use any particular cases but was able to use generalisations and understandings. It's great to know that she treats her writing as a profession and has a planned program of professional development and learning too. There are some great habits that would be worth emulating. Thanks for sharing.

Annecdotist
15/8/2015 08:42:37 am

Well you know I like to keep you on your toes, Norah, but this is the series to showcase professional psychologists who have turned to fiction (as you've figured out) and glad you approve – as you would – of Barbara's commitment to lifelong learning.
Just to add, I'd be surprised if a psychologist writer used the actual stories of people they'd met in their work – it just doesn't sit comfortably with what we're taught about confidentiality, even if it were well disguised.

Barbara Speake link
15/8/2015 04:49:34 am

Hi Nora, Glad you enjoyed my post. Hope you will check out one of my books! Warm regards, Barbara


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