Written by Thea Martynska
We met with Tutku Barbaros, an author who is releasing her debut book, ‘All The Women She Knows’ out on the 15th of February. She spoke to us about her life, her upcoming book and her writing courses which she hosts every last Sunday of the month at Canvas and Creams in Forest Hill!
Tuts grew up in Lewisham and studied English lit and Drama at university which originally launched her into theatre work in her early career. After leaving university she did some devising and performing with companies she co-founded, ‘I really enjoyed that, but I’ve always been a writer, like literally always. Year 3 writing competitions, I was all over those’, she explains to us. She works part time in her Mums’ hairdressers in Honor Oak Park which she describes as ‘a mine of storytelling opportunities’, it is one of the many places where she’s able to meet lots of fun and interesting people and gain inspiration for her characters.
We asked Tuts how working in a people facing job inspired the plot in her upcoming book and I found her answer inspiring. She seems to have this amazing way of looking at the people around her and understanding that there is so much beauty in ordinary things happening to ordinary people. ‘You meet so many amazing women all the time right? Of all different ages in all different settings and I’m at the point in my life where I’ve started to see all those soul sisters properly’. She was very honest with us about the genre, she has written a book that doesn’t need twists and turns and a shocking ending, ‘literally nothing happens in this book, there’s no thriller, there’s no murder, it’s just women doing things! And I’ve always been really fascinated by that’
Tuts describes her writing process as unhinged, and fluid. It’s important to her not to force writing when she doesn’t feel in the zone. In the past she has always left the house to write although with ‘All the women she knows’ she wrote mostly from home which gave her the opportunity to write completely on her own terms. Working from the comfort of her own home means she can blast the music or do a workout whenever she needs a break. Music is a big part of writing for tuts and she often has different playlists for when she is trying to tap into particular characters, which is important for this book as it is very character-led.
The women in ‘All the women she knows’ vary in age although Tuts especially wanted to write women in their thirties. ‘I think there’s this narrative of, she’s hit 30 and she’s single and hasn’t got her own house, how devastating, now I’m in my thirties things have started happening to me, I’ve stepped into my confidence and let the pressure come off a bit. So, I was really interested in writing about women striving’. ‘All the women she knows’ is a reminder that life doesn’t have a timeline and the most important thing is what fulfils us day to day, the little things that make us happy! Tuts is a huge advocate for finding enjoyment in life ‘I snatch joy with both hands’ she tells us and from the way she talks about the things she loves in life you can tell she’s not lying. ‘For me I feel most at ease when I’m just able to be completely myself. Not needing to please anyone and I can just be raw and honest and silly
We asked Tuts what genres she may like to venture into with future books, she’s finding herself drawn to myths, fantasy and magic realism a lot at the moment. When it comes to what she likes to read she’s got lots of favourites, “Fiction wise a few that come to mind are A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseni, Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid proper had me page turning and I love the uniqueness of Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson. But also I am a big nonfiction fiction person too – Natives by Akala is incredible. As is The Good Immigrant. Black & British by David Olusoga is also just such a chunky important book. I’ve also been listening to Miriam Margoyles autobiography for ages – I keep revisiting it as though I’m meeting a friend for coffee because the way she reads it makes you feel like that’s exactly what’s happening. I love poetry too: Nikita Gill, Salena Godden, Caleb Femi and Yrsa Daley Ward are some of my faves.”
Every last Sunday of the month Tuts Hosts writing workshops in Forest Hill which allow attendees to tap into their creativity and really let their imaginations flow. With your ticket you get a cocktail/mocktail and some cake and you spend an afternoon creative writing! You can book your space in by Dming Tuts on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tutku_barbaros/.
All the women she knows is available for pre-order from Dear Damsels website (https://deardamsels.com/product/all-the-women-she-knows-stories-growth-change-sisterhood/) and is out on the 15th of February.
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