Hello aligned authors!
I'm Valerie Ihsan, and this is Episode 224 of the podcast and it's October 15, 2026 as I record this.
Main Topic: Finding Your Voice Within Your Writing Process, with David Barnett
PATREON:
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And you can support my friend and colleague and Visiting Co-Host author Erick Mertz at Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.
Announcements/Author Updates:
What are you reading?
Holy Fuck by Amanda Frances
Just finished:
Cultish : The Language of Fanaticism (Amanda Montell)
Creative Act (Rick Rubin)
Fiction:
Unlikely Animals (Annie Hartnett)
(Main Topic):
David Barnett, a former lead singer in a mediocre rock band, is releasing his award-winning debut memoir, “Foxtail” (November 9, 2026). It chronicles the story of a young man troubled by the world around him and his desperate search for peace. Intermixed with musings on music and pop culture, Barnett explores whether the selves we create to survive the fire are the very ones destined to burn us down.
At age 16, with his home life shattered following his mother’s breast cancer diagnosis, David Barnett’s lust for the limelight took over, and he set out to create his own rock band. As he escaped into the underground music scene – with substances and temptations awaiting him – he underwent a fundamental shift in perspective, ultimately fracturing his relationship with his childhood best friend, the quintessential “golden boy” who possessed a latent rebellious streak.
In a high-intensity, coming-of-age memoir rooted in 90s counterculture that defined the turn of the 21st century, Barnett traverses treacherous terrain as he conducts an honest autopsy of his failed ambitions and the collateral damage he's caused. He subverts the traditional “addiction memoir” genre by playing with timelines and exploring concepts through an atemporal lens.
Ranging from his transformative first experience with drugs to the disruptive nature of ego, "Foxtail" takes readers on a journey through the pains of adolescence and the heavy music that became his salvation. Featuring lyrics from bands and artists like Slayer, Static-X and Lil’ Keke, music serves not just as a background soundtrack, but as a holy text throughout, making this sonically-saturated story perfect for those who find sanctuary in music of any genre.
1. You talked of a synergy and co-creation during concerts (crowds); How do you get that from writing?
Flow state of performing on stage. Catch the current of creativity. Just singing without the guitar gives me an altered state of consciousness.
Writing completely different: riding white-water rapids. ADHD worked for this type of writing.
Version of outlining: bullet points in head.
During a "boat jam" (metaphor), write a tangent. Ends up using the "interludes" in different points of the book.
2. What was the inception of this book?
Music always a big part of my life. Goldies 103.5 in Austin. Stumbled into writing.
27 Club (musicians that have died at the age of 27). Turned 28 and knew done with music. Went to school. Writing became life-affirming and exploration.
Reflection, excavation, exploration. Heal.
Notion to write the book came four years later.
October 2018 lost a friendship and used writing as an exercise to exorcise the anger demons.
Heard the arrogance in the rough draft. (Written in a year during FT course load.) Finished by 2020.
Refined my skills and became more humble until I could make it good. Crafting skills along the way. Loving the process made the revision process not demoralizing. Healthy way to channel neurodivergence into something productive and fun.
College helped him with processing trauma. Alters the way in which reality is perceived.
3. Say more about Finding Voice:
Hit a plateau, finding voice and locked in to the authentic, (it's a process. Rewrite five times. Excavation. Seeking with pure intentions. Voice = who you are but cultivating vocabulary. What is the exact word? Synonyns. TIP for finding your voice. There are no exact synonyms. Subtle nuances. Find the right word that is TRUE. Nurture your voice by expanding your vocabulary, better equipped to explain your circumstances.
4. Say more about "whether the selves we create to survive the fire are the very ones destined to burn us down."
Gave up purpose for living. Irony not lost of me. Blamed the universe for failures. Anger/arrogant/entitled "fatal flaw" ... profound darkness and sadness. Struggle with ego.
Archetype of Rock Star (ego) (front man job divorced from the creative process.) Became a parody of myself. Burned out.
Release party Nov 7; heavy metal spoken word show; EVENT BRITE link; $25 includes the book and the show in Austin, TX.
Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan
Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor
Tools:
ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)
