Meet Our New Columnists
January 19, 2011Please welcome our two new columnists!
Ian Barker
Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Ian grew up in north-east England and gained a business degree from Teesside Polytechnic in the early ’80s. In the ‘real world’ he is editor of a computer magazine and has spent over twenty-five years working in information technology. He currently lives in Bolton, Greater Manchester and doesn’t own a dishwasher. Over the years Ian has produced lots of comic verse, for things like office Christmas cards, most of which is collected on his website.
In the mid ’90s he made regular contributions to Martin Kelner for a late night show on BBC radio in northern England. Moving to the north-west in 1996, he continued to contribute items to Martin’s Manchester based Jazz FM breakfast show; again some of this material is on his website.
His first cash-in-the-bank publishing credit was a Laughter the Best Medicine gag for Reader’s Digest in 1998. Since then he has gone on to write topical comedy sketches for BBC Radio’s The News Huddlines, and has had short stories published both online and in print. In his day job he is editor of PC Utilities magazine and a regular contributor to sister publications. His debut novel Fallen Star was released by Rebel ePublishers in November 2010.
Keith Cronin
Author of the novel ME AGAIN, coming in August 2011 from Five Star/Gale, Keith Cronin is a corporate speechwriter and professional rock drummer who has performed and recorded with artists including Bruce Springsteen, Clarence Clemons, and Pat Travers. Keith’s fiction has appeared in Carve Magazine, Amarillo Bay, Zinos, and a University of Phoenix management course. A native of South Florida, Keith spends his free time serenading local ducks and squirrels with his ukulele.
