April 19th 2024.
Barry Hutchison, also known as JD Kirk, is a talented writer who has been deeply influenced by some of the greatest authors of our time. At the age of eleven, he discovered the work of Terry Pratchett and fell in love with his unique style of storytelling. It was not long before he was also inspired by the works of Neil Gaiman, a versatile author who has written in various genres and mediums. However, not every book has captured Barry's attention, and he has his own rule of giving a book a hundred pages to impress him before he decides to continue reading or not.
Barry's love for reading began with the book Wagstaffe the Wind-Up Boy by Jan Needle. Before that, he was mostly into comics, but his local librarian managed to entice him with this funny yet dark novel. He read it over and over again, and it left a lasting impression on him. As he grew older, he discovered the works of Terry Pratchett, thanks to a recommendation from his mother's friend. Despite their age difference, they both shared a love for Pratchett's writing, and Barry has been recommending his books to everyone he knows ever since. He also mentions that it's getting harder to introduce Pratchett's work to people because almost everyone has already read it.
When asked about the best books he has read in the past year, Barry mentions No More Games by Gordon J. Brown, a crime novel set in Glasgow that is both gripping and humorous, and 42: The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams, a collection of materials from the archives of the renowned author of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He also includes The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris, which made him realize that he was working too hard. However, not every book has been able to capture Barry's attention, and he admits that he often does not finish books that do not intrigue him within the first hundred pages.
Neil Gaiman is one of the authors who has inspired Barry with his unique ability to write across genres and mediums. He admires Gaiman's versatility and the way his writing always has a touch of his personality, regardless of the subject or medium. Barry believes that a writer's hand should be invisible, but in Gaiman's case, it is allowed to shine through.
As a writer and a reader, Barry's favorite place to read is on a train headed home from Glasgow along the West Highland line, with the beautiful scenery passing by and the sound of rain against the windows. It is a peaceful and inspiring spot that allows him to fully immerse himself in the stories he reads.
Barry Hutchison, who lives with his wife and two children in Fort William, has written more than 140 books for children and 15 books for adults. His latest book, DCI Logan Where the Pieces Lie, is available for purchase. For more book recommendations, check out his column, The Good Books, and be sure to subscribe for the latest issue of Scottish Field.
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