Meet the author

Who: Ashley J. Barnard, author of a trilogy of contemporary fantasy novels

When: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 29

Where: The Avid Reader, 617 Second St., followed by conversation at Our House, 808 Second St.

The idea of returning to one’s hometown can be a scary thought for some. For writer Ashley J. Barnard, however, the prospect of coming back to the city where she grew up is a welcome one.

Born and raised in Davis, Barnard, 37, has lived in Phoenix for the past 17 years with her husband James and daughter Alexandria. In that time, she has been busy finding different outlets to satisfy her need to work creatively.

For 10 years, Barnard ran a Shakespearean theater company with her husband in Tempe, Ariz., publishing three stage plays of her own. Work in the theater runs in her family: Her aunt and uncle, Germaine and Howard Hupe, live in Davis and operate the Winters Community Theater.

An award-winning author of short fiction, Barnard more recently began work on her first novel. That novel, “Shadow Fox,” was published in October, the first entry in a trilogy of contemporary fantasy novels. The book has received overwhelmingly positive reader reviews on Amazon.com and recently received the Novel of the Year Award for 2010 from Barnard’s publisher, Champagne Books.

The trilogy tells the story of Jared Bruin, a fencing master from another world, abandoned as a child in modern-day St. Louis. Twenty years later, Jared struggles to uncover his identity and the reasons for his violent tendencies.

Over the course of the novel, Barnard deals with some very difficult and dark subject matter, including drug addiction, violence and suicide.

“Shadow Fox” joins many other books that have found success in the emerging e-book market. In December, “Shadow Fox” was the No. 2 bestseller on Fictionwise, the popular e-book distributor owned by Barnes & Noble.

“I’m blown away by how e-book readership has taken over,” Barnard said in a telephone interview.

The second novel in the trilogy, “Fox Rising,” was released in April and is available in electronic form as well. The same will be true of the final installment, “Night of the Fox,” set to be released in December.

All of Barnard’s books also are available in standard book form.

Next week, Barnard will sign copies of “Shadow Fox” and “Fox Rising” at The Avid Reader, where she is no stranger.

“I bought my first books at The Avid Reader, and I’m excited to be able to come back as an author myself,” she said.

Barnard’s appearance will run from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 29, at the bookstore, 617 Second St. in downtown Davis.

Following the signing, Barnard will be at Our House, a restaurant at 808 Second St. downtown, for questions and general conversation. Her sister, Cary Arnold, is one of the owners of the restaurant.

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Ashley Barnard, formerly of Davis, lives in Phoenix. Courtesy photo

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