Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Barry Harden
Book Title: Ada & Eddie
Released: 03/01/25
Genre: Crime Thriller
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Ada & Eddie”?
Harden: I wrote Ada & Eddie out of my deep concern for people who live at the edges of public life and how easily their stories are ignored or erased. The novel grew from a desire to place those lives at the centre of a political narrative and to ask what happens when ordinary decency collides with institutional power.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Harden: The name of Ada was inspired by British comedian Naomi Paxton’s alter ego, Ada Campe, hence my protagonist, Ada Gampe. Eddie Dew’s name was more complicated. My homeless male character is very fond of cats, and the word Katmandu came to mind. I played with the name Edward, took the first three letters (Edw) and created an anagram for his last name. Thus, Eddie Dew was born. It’s just how my mind works.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process, or your book?
Harden: I draw most of my characters from my own experiences, and I live the character as I’m writing. As in some of my short stories, I can be a dog or cat. So that's how I write my characters. They are actually part of me. And even if I'm looking down as some ancient god, I am that god for that moment.
I am, in many respects, Eddie. My own upbringing was not structurally sound. The character of Eddie was unconsciously created from my own experiences growing up alone from a very early age. Sure, I had family around me, but I was ignored and ostracized. I had a home but was spiritually homeless. Nature and animals became my companions, and my observations fueled my imagination. I have great sympathy for those who live a solitary existence. I am also an observer, a lover of nature, and am always grateful when I discover sincerity in others. As a result of feeling aligned with Eddie, I wrote Ada as the character who embodied my ideal companion. I actually found my Ada late in life, but that's another story.
If "Ada & Eddie" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Harden: That's an interesting question! Possibly Helen Mirren as Ada. I admire her acting skills and versatility in portraying people from all walks of life. I can see a mature Christian Bale playing Eddie. He can look rough but still show his soft side.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Harden: I lose focus when other things occupy my mind, so I resolve those issues first, then sit quietly with a glass of Corbières and let my imagination run free.
What is your favorite book, genre, and/or author?
Harden: Thomas Mallory, Montague Summers, and J.R.R. Tolkien have been very influential in my writing journey. Their works are fantasy yet historical in their own concepts … nothing is as we see it.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Harden: Having strong basic writing skills is a must. Open your story with a strong hook, regardless of the genre. A simple statement like, “His teeth were black, and he smelled like an old sock.” Something to grab a reader's attention. Never take advice from family and friends unless they’re avid readers and can critique your work objectively. Grow a thick skin when approaching agents and publishers, and never give up. Many popular writers (Stephen King, J.K. Rowling) received dozens of rejections before catching a break. So did I until I struck gold with a publisher who accepted two of my manuscripts.
What are you working on next?
Harden: I recently finished a thriller called Carney in which all the heroes are of Jamaican origin, a tribute to the kindness and warmth my wife and I experienced when we visited the island.
Want to Learn More About the Author and Ada & Eddie?
Author website: barryhardenauthor.com
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
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