Warwick author Susan Mackie on the Barrington series, being an independent writer and the best creative advice

An adored regional Queensland author has revealed her ‘dirty little secret’ while issuing a call to arms for creatives everywhere.

Warwick author Susan Mackie (Photo: NRM)

In a tan room adorned with colourful paintings and hundreds of books, Susan Mackie spends her free time in a world all her own.

The Warwick author’s grand sprawling rural romance book series Barrington is set in a semi-fictional country town in the middle of NSW.

Ms Mackie’s Barrington exists in her mind, with a rotating cast of characters taking up space in her imagination and spreadsheets, an amalgam of various places Ms Mackie has called home in her life.

Warwick author Susan Mackie (Photo: NRM)

With the eighth book in the series out in the world and boasting tens of thousands of readers, the former journalist, resort owner and publisher is planning on becoming a full-time author.

Ms Mackie said she loved being an independent author as it was just like running a small business.

Since the series started in early 2020 with Charlie’s Will, the Barrington universe has expanded to eight books featuring a rotating cast of characters - so many that the author has to put a guide of who’s who in the latest instalment.

“When Charlie’s Will came out I sat on the couch and thought I would only sell eight books, I had no idea this thing would take off which motivated me to keep writing,” Ms Mackie said.

The eighth book in the Barrington series, The Barrington Book Club, sees the rotating group of characters at a book club which has 'more than girl-chat and paperbacks.' (Photo: Susan Mackie)

“I thought if I was going to build it into a business and give up my dayjob, I need to do it seven days. I’m a business person, I like running my business.

“I’m excited as much by the business as I am by the writing, and doing it all myself gives me the freedom to either do the creative or business stuff.”

Ms Mackie said her love of the country was one of the reasons that inspired the setting of her novel series.

“I’ve always been a country girl, I grew up riding horses and motorbikes, and I fell in love with that area in the Hunter Valley where Barrington is set,” she said.

“When I started writing the first book I was living here in Warwick and would drive to Toowoomba for work, and I’d see in my mind’s eye a homestead that was in Barrington.

“This business is one I am so freaking passionate about, and my only regret is that I didn’t do it earlier.”

Arriving in Warwick a little under a decade ago, Ms Mackie said the town has given her much inspiration for the fictional Barrington universe.

“In the book I’m writing now, there’s a bit of a hoo-har in the council about the development of a saleyards, so sometimes there’s a few small details that I steal from here,” she said.

Where the magic happens- Susan Mackie's writing room. (Photo: supplied)

Ms Mackie’s biggest advice to would-be authors or any creative is to not wait.

“It is like a dirty little secret, I think as women we do this a lot where the stuff we want and what we’re passionate about comes after we’ve serviced the family,” she said.

“The biggest piece of advice I can give is just do it now, even if it’s an hour a day or whatever, you just need to carve out some time.

“No one will starve to death or disappear, just carve out some time to give yourself a chance to do it, because my biggest regret is that I could have been doing it for the last 30 years.”

Keen readers can expect a new book in the Barrington series early 2025.