Category Archives: Hazel Barker

The finalists in the Biography or Memoir category are:
• The Sides of Heaven by Hazel Barker
• Hudson Taylor and China: A Dramatic Biography by David Bennett
• Hidden Thorns by Marie-Rose Fox

sides of heaven_front

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Filed under Australian author, Australian literature, author, Hazel Barker, Hazel Barker author, Uncategorized

Tagged as Australian literature, CALEB 2019 Competition Finalists, Omega Writers, writing

March 22, 2019 · 11:21 pm

Interview by Michelle/Share Your Story

Meet Hazel Barker

Hazel Barker lives in Brisbane with her husband Colin. She taught in Perth, Canberra and Brisbane for over a quarter of a century and now devotes her time to reading, writing and bushwalking. From her early years in Burma, her passion for books drew her to authors like Walter Scott and Charles Dickens. Her love for historical novels sprang from Scott, and the love of literary novels, from Dickens. Her short stories have won awards and been published in magazines and anthologies.
Hazel’s debut novel Chocolate Soldier was released by Rhiza Press in October, 2016. Book One of her memoirs Heaven Tempers the Wind was published by Armour Books in August, 2016. Both books are set during World War Two – the former in England and the Far East; the latter in Burma.
Part 2 of her memoirs, The Sides of Heaven, was released in February, 2018.

What has your background been before you starting writing?
I taught English and History at high schools in Perth, Canberra and Brisbane.

How were you introduced to writing?
I literally started writing at three when my mother held my hands to form the first words of the alphabet. Mum used to read to me even before I went to school and I grew to love books. I wanted to be an author ever since I read ‘Little Women’ at the age of eight. My love of books led to my love of writing.

I’ve always been a bashful child. Becoming an author has made me love talking. I love to speak to others who have the same taste for books and I’m no longer embarrassed when giving talks about my books.

How is your writing making a difference for you right now?
Right now, writing occupies a large part of my time. However, I try to divide my time between my other loves – my husband Colin and my hobbies.

As a child, what was your relationship with books?
As a child of two, Mum gave me picture books. I remember them being made of cloth so I couldn’t tear them accidently as I turned the pages and they were washable too. Later, I moved from picture books with large letters to fairy tales, then on to adventure stories, the classics and romance.

What is the most important thing about what you want to do?
I want to enjoy a healthy life with my husband and get the rest of my manuscripts published.

Do you believe books can change the world?
I have no doubt that books can change the world. This is the reason why thousands of books were burned by the Communists in Russia and China. Books by Jewish authors and anti-Nazi books were also burned by the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s. The latest burnings to date have been those by ISIS in Iraq, Syria and Libya. Fear of their influence on people led to such destruction.

What do you hope people will take away from your writing?
I hope that my readers will realise the value of faith, hope and prayer and that they will learn from my mistakes.

What is your ultimate goal?
My ultimate goal is to please the Lord and live a blissful life with my dear husband.

Has Share Your Story helped you in any way?
I have only joined Share Your Story for a few months, and I’m already reaping the benefits of joining by being able to share my stories with others.

What results have you experienced, good or bad, about being a part of the publishing industry?
I’ll start with the bad. I was too impatient to get my books published and sent my manuscripts to publishers too early, with the result that I had so many reject ions at first. The good is that since 2013, when my short story was included in the Redlitzer Anthology and I received a trophy from the mayor, my writing career went ahead by leaps and bounds. After that, many other short stories have been selected for publication in anthologies. In 2016 Part One of my memoir, Heaven Tempers the Wind. Story of a War Child was published by Armour Books, and my debut novel, Chocolate Soldier. The Story of a Conchie was taken up by Rhiza Press. In 2018, Part 2 of my memoir, The Sides of Heaven was published by Armour Books.

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
Peace. Peace in the world through the love of God.

Contact Hazel
https://hazelmbarker.wordpress.com

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Filed under Australian author, Australian literature, author, Author Interviews, Hazel Barker, Hazel Barker author, Uncategorized

Tagged as Action, Armour Books, Asia, Chocolate Soldier. The Story of a Conchie., Christianity, Debut Novel, England, faith, Family, friends, Heaven Tempers the Wind by Hazel Barker, history, hope, Interview, Literature, Michelle, Novel, Prayer, Rhiza Press, Share your Story, short stories, Survival, Talk, The Sides of Heaven by Hazel Barker, Wombat Books, writing

July 13, 2018 · 12:42 am

WeR1

GUEST SPEAKER: Hazel Barker from Burma
DATE: Friday July 27, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
VENUE: Redland Museum, 60 Smith Street, Cleveland

12 056

Join Hazel as she shares her story of life in Burma with you.

Hazel Barker arrived in Australia from Burma in 1967. She completed her Arts degree at the University of Western Australia. After teaching English and History at various high schools she took early retirement to devote her time to writing.

Hazel’s memoir, Heaven Tempers the Wind: Story of a War Child was shortlisted in the Australia and New Zealand-wide CALEB Competition 2017.

Its sequel The Sides of Heaven was released in March 2018 by Armour Books.

Fear holds her a prisoner. Hope sets her free. She longs for freedom – then she dedicates her newly-won freedom to God!

Hazel’s debut novel, The Chocolate Soldier. The Story of a Conchie was published in 2016 by Rhiza Press.

Her short stories have won in various competitions and have been published in several anthologies.

Hazel’s books will be available for sale at the discounted price of $20 each.

***

“The Sides of Heaven” by Hazel Barker reviewed by Beverley Asmus

INSIGHTFUL JOURNEY OF SELF DISCOVERY

Beautifully written in her trademark, intimate style, Hazel Barker takes the reader inside the cloistered world of those who have dedicated their lives to God. However, as interesting as this background may be for some readers, for me it was her personal struggles towards self-discovery that enthralled me the most.
The prequel to this part of Barker’s memoir, “Heaven Tempers the Wind”, shed light on what it was to be a child of war during the occupation of Burma. While everything familiar was breaking down around her once sheltered life, Barker drew strength on her unwavering faith in God for her survival, always believing in a better future to come.
Unfortunately, that better life did not arrive with the end of war. Family battles, specifically with a brutal father, had to be fought and more sibling lives lost. Although she is able to complete her education, finding friendship and possible romance, Barker feels called to offer her services to the Church. In many ways this is where her biggest life challenges begin, as important issues are raised about spirituality versus religiosity.
Barker’s honesty makes this compelling reading and leaves us wanting to read more about her incredible life journey

The Sides of Heaven is the sequel to Heaven Tempers the Wind: Story of a War Child, which was shortlisted in the Australia and New Zealand-wide CALEB Competition of 2017.