information about author paul A. Barra
BIOGRAPHY
Paul A. Barra is a local South Carolina writer who currently resides in Columbia. His works focus on thrill, mystery, and mayhem. Barra enjoys writing about maniacal plots of murder and crime, paired with tough, no-nonsense main characters who unravel the mysteries one at a time. Before becoming a full-time author, Barra served as the senior staff writer for the Diocese of Charleston as well as serving time in the Navy. His books have been shortlisted for numerous awards, including the Thriller Award of the International Thriller Writers and the Tuscany Prize. Barra shares his unique perspectives, acquired from a life fully lived, through his writing.
"Past regrets may not be correctable, but sometimes for a writer the pain of his or her failure can be softened by the work of his hand" - Paul A. Barra. Barra has insightful knowledge to the lives we live, as he curates his past experiences into novels. During his time in the Navy at the Mekong Delta, Paul Barra earned a bronze star with Valor "V" along with the Combat Action Ribbon and numerous other awards. Barra graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Niagara University and a Master of Science from Loyola University in New Orleans. From there he became the senior staff writer at the Diocese of Charleston and continued to gain many freelance accolades. Moving to the south, Barra took care of a multitude of animals, such as Cletus the burro, featured in his logo. He has eight children and a lovely wife Joan. Since then, he gained the title "Papa" and is now a great grandfather. His novel "Westfarrow Island" was given a finalist award for the Killer Nashville Best Action or Adventure Novel. With a new series on Kindle and two new works coming out in the fall, Barra continues to use his life experiences to write.
RECENT RELEASES
SGT. FORD'S WIDOW
STRANGERS AND SOJOURNERS
SGT. FORD'S WIDOW
It's 1967, Tran Thi Linh wants to partner with Gil Ford as the PI tries to solve the Case of the Pigeon-Blood Rubies in the wilds of eastern Wyoming. An obstacle stands in her way: she is dying in the Mekong delta. Ford rescues her, however, and so begins the tale known as SGT. FORD'S WIDOW, a modern Western and an oddball love story set
It's 1967, Tran Thi Linh wants to partner with Gil Ford as the PI tries to solve the Case of the Pigeon-Blood Rubies in the wilds of eastern Wyoming. An obstacle stands in her way: she is dying in the Mekong delta. Ford rescues her, however, and so begins the tale known as SGT. FORD'S WIDOW, a modern Western and an oddball love story set in a milieu of action and danger. By the end of their adventure, Linh is a criminal justice legend locally, who bows to fellow westerners—and has them bowing back...
CARDINAL SINS
STRANGERS AND SOJOURNERS
SGT. FORD'S WIDOW
A racetrack chaplain seeking his own redemption assists police to investigate a paddock death caused by an unruly stallion—or maybe a cunning denizen of the backstretch did the killing. He unearths a tale of lust, race fixing, murder, and high drama in the Adirondack Mountains.
STRANGERS AND SOJOURNERS
STRANGERS AND SOJOURNERS
STRANGERS AND SOJOURNERS
Fixer Big Percy Pletcher sails from Maine with his Giant Schnauzer Ethyl to foil a Russian-American plot to create disorder in Sheepshead Bay, while his wife journeys to Belmont Park to race her filly. Separately and together they face high drama, death and mayhem.
"Book review: sgt. ford's widow"
"A compelling, suspenseful and moving novel... the writing is so evocative you can hear the silence, feel the heat, sense the danger, anticipate the final joy" - Joan Baum, NPR
The Rap Sheet 2021
"Story Behind the Story: Out of the Fog of War"
Find a sense of the inspiration for the soon to be released Sgt. Ford's Widow directly from Barra himself. In this guest blog, Barra speaks of memories from his naval past that set forth the ideas for the new novel.
Mysteries to Die For: A TG Wolff Podcast
"A Scent of Murder"
It’s August, 1968 and the rural community of Titus Town, South Carolina is looking forward to the cow bingo fundraiser. But before Katie Hammet’s Jersey cow can do her thing, Deputy Sandy Buford has to figure out who snuffed out the local hip-pocket lender and emptied his till.