Jo Barker
banner
joannebarker.bsky.social
Jo Barker
@joannebarker.bsky.social

Woman with words.
comms pro, author, celebrant #freelance
30 years #PublicSectorComms 📣
Ex Birmingham Mail journo 🖊️
Shortlisted debut novel The Joy of Jars. 📚
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08TQCXY37
#writing #walking #weddings
Beth smoothed down her apron. The caller was squeezed into a frayed, black, woollen coat, the bright silver buttons straining at the effort. The woman spoke in a lilting Irish accent. “I’m Fred’s wife.” Beth took a startled breath. “You better come in,” she said. “The baby’s sleeping.” #WriteCBC
June 6, 2025 at 6:44 AM
”Hello?” He looked at her as though she were a stranger, not someone he’d shared a bed with just two nights before. “Hello? Is that all you can say?” she almost screamed. He sighed a deep, long, sigh. “I think you want my identical twin brother, Simon. I don’t suppose he mentioned me.”
May 9, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Yes, no problem for you to share. Pic is of me doing my best to raise awareness at this morning’s Parkrun. Helps that I run very slowly!
February 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I always used to wonder why my mum took SO long to get out of the car and come into to the house to feed her three hungry teenagers after she got home from work.
January 31, 2025 at 5:28 PM
To take a #LeapOfFaith, leaving behind a 30+ year career in comms, before simultaneously finishing my first full rom com and becoming a wedding celebrant, so couples can trust me to write their #LoveStory
January 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Mum’s hair blew wildly around her face. ‘He’s my brother, Jack!’ The fire and wind subsided, sunshine breaking through. ‘One winter he wouldn’t let go. Mother Nature trapped him under the earth. Dreams of a White Christmas gave him strength to return. Now you have saved us, Ella.’ #5ActFestiveStory
December 14, 2024 at 10:09 AM
The fire! Ella had spent a decade denying her power, now she needed all her strength to ignite it once more. Her body regained its warmth and the rug crackled, setting the door alight. A high pitched squeal from the other side, then silence. Mum took Ella’s hand. ‘You did it!’ #5ActFestiveStory
December 13, 2024 at 8:35 AM
Ice started cracking the windows, obscuring their view of the world outside. ‘He’s close! There’s no time!’, her mother half screamed, rushing to the back door and turning the key. The last thing Ella remembered was seeing her face, as white as the wall of snow blocking their way.
#5ActFestiveStory
December 12, 2024 at 6:47 AM
Her mother stayed silent, slowly turning the card. Peering over her shoulder, Ella saw a stately home, the house and surrounding land shrouded in fog. ‘Where’s that?’, she asked this time. ‘Home’ her mother whispered, then more loudly, drowning out the hyms, ‘and we must go today’. #5ActFestiveStory
December 10, 2024 at 10:46 PM
She ripped it into pieces that fluttered onto the ground like the perpetual snow outside. How had they found her? She had told no one where she was going and no one sharing this cramped and cold B&B knew where she had come from. #5ActFestiveStory
December 10, 2024 at 10:02 AM