Write What You Know: My Journey from Music to Mystery by David Barber – Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 7:00 pm (EDT).

I’ve been a musician since boyhood, even graduated university with a music degree. I’ve also always wanted to be a writer – and for many years was able to combine those two pursuits. But only more recently have I been able to achieve another lifelong goal – that of becoming a mystery writer.

David W. Barber is a journalist and musician and the internationally bestselling author of more than a dozen books of music (including Accidentals on Purpose; Bach, Beethoven and the Boys; When the Fat Lady Sings; Getting a Handel on Messiah, Bach, Beethoven and the Grrrls) and literature (including Quotable Sherlock, Quotable Alice and Atonement and other stories). He’s also written two Dugan Heywood murder mysteries, Hedshot and Mugshot. Formerly a writer and entertainment editor of the Kingston Whig-Standard, editor of Broadcast Week magazine at the Toronto Globe and Mail and the assistant editor of arts and life for Postmedia newspapers, he is currently a freelance writer, editor, musician and composer. As a composer, his works include two symphonies, a jazz mass based on the music of Dave Brubeck, a Requiem, several short choral and chamber works and various vocal-jazz songs and arrangements. He sings with the Toronto Chamber Choir and various other choirs on occasion. In a varied career, among his more interesting jobs have been short stints as a roadie for Pope John Paul II, a publicist for Prince Rainier of Monaco and a backup singer for Avril Lavigne.