My name is Ian Barker. Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, I grew up in the north-east. I have an honours degree in business studies from what is now Teesside University. I currently live in Westhoughton, near Bolton in Greater Manchester.

From 1983 I worked in information technology before discovering that writing about computers was easier than fixing them. In a spectacular leap sideways I moved to Live Publishing in 2003 as a staff writer on a range of computer magazines including the late lamented PC Extreme. I then attained the dizzy heights of editor on the Magnesium Media magazine PC Utilities and was a regular contributor to sister publications. You can find my work online at sites like TechRadar, BetaNews, IT Pro Portal and LatestGadgets.

For more years than I care to remember I’ve been writing, primarily for my own and colleague's amusement, and as a contribution to radio shows.

I’ve succeeded in getting a few sketches broadcast on BBC Radio 2's The News Huddlines. I’ve also had short stories in magazines, and two pieces accepted for the WritersNet Anthology, published in autumn 2002. Further short stories have been published in the Web zines Starving Arts, and the now defunct Crime Scene Scotland, along with a co-written tale in Admit Two. A collection of my short stories, Late Show, is available on Kindle and Smashwords.

I’ve written two novels, both out now - see the Books page. I’m also the author of several non-fiction technology books.

Ian Barker - January 2024