Warlock Asylum: Greetings and thank you so much for sharing a glimpse of your life with our readers. In your own words, how would you describe your being and career path?
Barbara Long: I have always considered myself to be a writer and an avid reader but not until recently have I thought of myself as an Author. I’ve written various forms of poetry my entire life but this is the first project I have ever published. My sense of humor isn’t for everyone. My own mother thinks I’ve lost my marbles for writing this book and actually going through the publishing process with it. Then again, nothing surprises her anymore because I’ve always done things my way.
I’ve been married to my husband, David, for 23 years and we have 2 teenage children who were definitely part of the inspiration for this book. I am also a registered nurse who believes that laughter is truly the best medicine. David is an emergency medicine physician and my biggest fan. Our twisted sense of humor is part of what binds us.
Warlock Asylum: What was your life experience during your formative years and how did it shape the perspective you have on the world today?
Barbara Long: My formative childhood years were filled with uncertainty and family brokenness. My adult life is filled with the complete opposite. I’m thankful for both. My role models tend to be positive, strong women. This does not necessarily mean CEOs or anyone famous. To me, it means women who are steadfast yet humble, kind while being assertive, honest without being hurtful, and courageous beyond measure. I was raised by a woman like this and though she isn’t the biggest fan of my book, she is a big fan of me and she did teach me all of these things.
Warlock Asylum: Your book Wake the F**K UP has received tremendous accolades. What inspired you to write such a unique work?
Barbara Long: Like many of us, the year 2020 has offered me a tremendous amount of time at home with my family. I found myself doing anything and everything I could creatively to pass the time while my children slept. They had quickly become night owls and were finding ways to enjoy themselves as well. It was then that I decided to sit down and write what many other parents must be thinking. Wake the F##k Up! I wrote, erased, and wrote again while laughing hysterically until I thought I had a completed project. The feedback was so positive that I eventually decided to find a reputable publisher and took the leap to become a published author. At first, I was scared of what some people might think of this book but then I remembered what I learned by reading Mark Manson’s, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F#ck and haven’t let that fearful thinking interfere since. There is an inspiration that can be found in almost anything. I am most inspired by kindness, humility, honesty, and strength. Creatively, I am inspired by my own sense of humor, nature, and life experiences.
Warlock Asylum: Wake the F**K UP is described as a text that is based on humor and satire that is based on life as a teenager. Can you share with our readers a bit more about the book’s theme?
Barbara Long: There have been many books published about toddlers and what people refer to as, “the terrible two’s.” When our children are small, there are class parties, playgroups, and playgrounds that bring parents together. As children grow older, parents can feel a bit more isolated. This book is a gentle reminder that we may not gather around playgrounds anymore but we are all still in this together. Wake the F**k Up is a book for the parents of teenagers, anyone who has been a teenager or just knows one for that matter. Using comedy and sarcasm, it illustrates the daily struggle that surrounds parenting while reminding us we are not alone on this journey. It reads like a children’s book but is meant for a mature audience.
Warlock Asylum: In what ways did your experience as a parent of a teenager reflects some of the life lessons you experienced during youth?
Barbara Long: The parallel between the teenagers of today and those of us from yesteryear may have their similarities because of chronological age, but are vastly different as well. Times have changed and I could not be more thankful that my teenage antics were only captured on a polaroid camera. Can I get an Amen!?
Warlock Asylum: Amen!!! 🙂 What are some of the things that readers can expect to gain from Wake the F**K UP?
Barbara Long: Hopefully you get a really good laugh but more importantly, Wake the F**k Up tends to promote dialogue among teenagers and parents alike. Raising teenagers takes place in a very lonely world for many of us. What has fascinated me most, is how much this book has brought parents together to discuss the trials we face while raising teens today.
Warlock Asylum: How has family life changed since you’ve published the book? What feedback have you received on the book so far?
Barbara Long: Although this is my project, it has become somewhat of a family affair. While our home is usually filled with laughter and warped senses of humor, publishing Wake the F**K Up has brought those things to a whole new level. The material and subject matter came to me fairly easy for this project. The hard part was to balance what may be going through a parent’s mind without making them sound like a complete lunatic, along with writing something teenagers will find funny and not offensive. I got the full seal of approval from my own teens. That was really important to me.
Warlock Asylum: What can we expect from Barbara Long in the near future? Any final thoughts?
Barbara Long: There will be more books. I am currently working on another satirical project but hope to dive into more serious topics in the future. I’m just getting started.
*On behalf of Warlock Asylum International News, I would like to wish Barbara Long all the best in her personal and career endeavors.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraLongBooks https://twitter.com/WaketheF_kUp https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChmrP4q6k68VyGthdNs2C9w https://www.instagram.com/BarbaraLongBooks/ https://www.pinterest.com/barbaraIong/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/barbaralong/
