THE LIFE OF A WRITER

You'll spot it all over town right now. A 366 page book "of sea and sand", brimming with love for the desert, the mountains and the sea which hug San Felipe. How did it come to be? Bruce Barber discovered an affinity for words while working in the US Navy. With a background in construction and engineering, one of his assigned duties was the editing of technical books for the engineering department. He found the instructions so poorly written he began re-writing most of the material. The income of a freelance writer notoriously minimal, when his Naval Service was finished Bruce continued to enjoy the writing craft but only as a hobby. He pursued a successful career as a Maintenance Management Engineer throughout his civilian years but upon retirement, mentioned to his wife, Freda, he would like to know if his written works could be publishable. . Waving goodbye to work and family, Bruce and Freda bought a new RV and headed south. Examining Ensenada, they were not impressed but Bruce remembered visiting San Felipe as a teenager and they pushed on over. Inspired by what they saw, San Felipe's population increased by two. Bruce spotted an ad for writers in the San Felipe Newsletter and went in to talk things over. Founder and publisher Guy Parker took him on and sent him around to see a local woman who had much information to share about the town and the surrounding desert. Amongst the materials she turned over to him was a 1980 desert magazine, which alluded to the fact that Balboa was not the first European to visit Baja and stirred up a mystery that haunts our author to this day. He immersed himself in the study of a Spaniard named Diaz who had walked through Southwest history. In the early 1500's. Historians agree the man explored on this side of the border but then argue over how far south he travelled, and why and where he disappeared. So now Bruce had a fascination with the writing craft, a love of the desert, and a mystery to pursue. Three sections of his life were meshing together. Roaming his surroundings and fascinated with the visual treasure he had unearthed, he shared it all. Writing for the newsletter for six months, he then began submitting articles to the English section of La Gaviota, a Mexican magazine. His passion for exploration shone through every article he wrote and after two years of working together this editor suggested that Bruce start his own magazine. He put together a team and published Gateway Magazine, later to become San Felipe Magazine. Now he was able to share his photography as well as his words. A first rate periodical was the result but he was unable to achieve financial independence for the magazine and it folded after 12 issues. Bruce continued to explore his surroundings. He conducted desert tours for anyone interested, his bellowing, base voiced lectures free to all within hearing. Writing for a variety of newspapers and magazines about the magic he found everywhere he took his desert rail, he eventually authored 186 articles which Freda nagged him more than once to gather into a book. Bruce retired to his basement office. It took four months to gather all his materials together and begin to index what he had. In the process, he found most of the work outdated. While yesterday's manuscripts were moldering in a drawer Bruce had been out learning and gathering further nuggets of information Eventually he compiled an outline, then produced three separate drafts of the book that was to be. In love with the work he was doing, Bruce kept a daily schedule for "book business" confining himself "to quarters" from 7 to 4 over the next four months. His fondest companion was Google. This, the world's number one internet search engine led him to over 1000 necessary pages of instruction in the art of composition, the mechanics of editing, and the acquisition of a publisher. Bruce says he often emerged at the end of the day, his head swimming with all the mental juggling he was attempting. Like a kid discovering ice cream, he couldn't leave it alone. Eventually the book was complete but his work had only begun. Twelve editing phases followed as he searched for typos, spelling and grammatical errors. He checked for clarity, a comfortable word flow, and the over use of adverbs. He rooted for his personal "seven bad words" which noticeably peppered his prose with boring repetition. Standing tall, shoulders squared in military fashion, he beams, "Today I'm thrilled. I've learned so much and seen so much, and now," the beam widens, "I again have the honor of sharing." Though he already sees changes he would make for a second printing, he feels there are no mistakes. Acknowledging that the desert demands respect, he says, "I wish I had stressed personal safety more. The desert can be dangerous." And will there be a second book? A broad smile brightens the boyish face but Bruce remains silent. Later he calls to say he wants to add a line or two to this article, about another book. Perhaps about the Sierra Pinacate, the Sierra Santa Isabel or possibly Rio Blanca·.. Bruce Barber has so much more to share, if he can only find the time.

by Loralie Cecotti