Location: South Africa
Member Since:
Nov. 12, 2014
Barbara Castle-Farmer
Biography
Barbara Castle had a varied career changing jobs almost every year since her working life began in 1965. Although she trained as a journalist her father insisted she start out on something ‘safe.’ And so her first job was with the Cape Town City Council as a draughtsman. And you don’t get much safer than that.
From there she went on to being a doctor’s receptionist, factory manager, TV sales consultant, personnel officer, mall manager’s secretary, personnel placement consultant, financial advisor, National Bird Ringing Unit of SA’s secretary and other rather odd jobs.
Although her paid working life was thoroughly haphazard there is one thing that she has always done. And that is to write. At age 15 Barbara was first published in the Cape Times and since then her insightful, thought-provoking and often humorous articles have been published in magazines and newspapers both locally and internationally – including Cosmopolitan, Curve, Caravan & Outdoor Life, Fairlady, You, and Diva.
In 1983 she finally found a working home at Reader’s Digest as a junior copywriter. She remained there for 16 years and, on being made creative director, was fortunate to work in their many offices throughout the world.
Barbara left the Digest in 1997 and has since worked as a freelance editor, written for and edited numerous trade publications and worked as a freelance advertising copywriter with some of South Africa’s top agencies.
In 2009 she and her life-partner of 32 years, Sandy Farmer, moved permanently to Prince Albert in the Great Karoo. There she served as editor of the Prince Albert Friend/Vriend newspaper for three years, after which she stepped away from deadlines and the daily grind and now writes whatever she likes for the sheer joy of the written word.
From there she went on to being a doctor’s receptionist, factory manager, TV sales consultant, personnel officer, mall manager’s secretary, personnel placement consultant, financial advisor, National Bird Ringing Unit of SA’s secretary and other rather odd jobs.
Although her paid working life was thoroughly haphazard there is one thing that she has always done. And that is to write. At age 15 Barbara was first published in the Cape Times and since then her insightful, thought-provoking and often humorous articles have been published in magazines and newspapers both locally and internationally – including Cosmopolitan, Curve, Caravan & Outdoor Life, Fairlady, You, and Diva.
In 1983 she finally found a working home at Reader’s Digest as a junior copywriter. She remained there for 16 years and, on being made creative director, was fortunate to work in their many offices throughout the world.
Barbara left the Digest in 1997 and has since worked as a freelance editor, written for and edited numerous trade publications and worked as a freelance advertising copywriter with some of South Africa’s top agencies.
In 2009 she and her life-partner of 32 years, Sandy Farmer, moved permanently to Prince Albert in the Great Karoo. There she served as editor of the Prince Albert Friend/Vriend newspaper for three years, after which she stepped away from deadlines and the daily grind and now writes whatever she likes for the sheer joy of the written word.
Smashwords Interview
Where to find Barbara Castle-Farmer online
Website: http://happyandgay.yolasite.com
Where to buy in print
Books
Finding my Own Way to Happy and Gay
by Barbara Castle-Farmer
Price:
$4.99 USD.
Words: 70,970.
Language:
Commonwealth English.
Published: November 24, 2014
.
Categories:
Nonfiction » LGBTQ+ » Coming out, Nonfiction » Relationships & Family » Life stages / adolescence
An often hilarious often heartbreaking account of coming out by a young lesbian in 60s South Africa. It wasn’t all sliding along on buttered feet ... there was angst & anguish along the way, battles won, hopes lost, and many laughably embarrassing moments. And in spite of all the available reading, it’s no easier coming out today than it was last century - no matter where you live!
Barbara Castle-Farmer's tag cloud
christianity and lesbianism
educators
for parents and family and friends of gay people
gay lesbian biography
hilarious lesbian memoire
lesbian sexual identity issues explained
medical counseling
psychology for social worker
psychology general selfhelp general science general
youngsters struggling with sexual identity