Barry Maher has built a career on what he calls “a truly impressive lack of planning.” Yet, decades later, that winding path has produced six published books, a nationally syndicated column, and more than twenty years of professional speaking experience .
Born August 10, 1947, and based in the United States, Barry Maher is the author of:
- The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon
- Filling the Glass: The Skeptic’s Guide to Positive Thinking
- No Lie: Truth Is the Ultimate Sales Tool
- The Prentice Hall Marketing Yearbook
- Getting the Most from Your Yellow Pages Advertising
- Legend
Across genres—from business and sales psychology to supernatural thrillers—Barry Maher has consistently explored human motivation, ambition, and the messy realities of professional life. However, as our recent interview reveals, his journey into writing was anything but conventional.
How Barry Maher Became a Writer (Without a Plan)
When asked how his writing journey began, Barry didn’t offer a tidy origin story. Instead, he quoted his high school guidance counselor, who described his future as “a truly impressive lack of planning” .
“At seventeen,” he says, “what I wanted to do was to have sex with Cindy Caperstan… ‘I’ll figure it out in college,’ I said. I didn’t.”
He hustled through college—even selling plasma to get by—and eventually hitchhiked to Santa Barbara, where he recalls living not on the beach, but literally on the beach .
Then came the turning point.
“Three hours into a truly excremental job… holding the frayed cord of a toilet de-rooter — I finally came up with a career plan. I’d simply write a best-selling, critically-acclaimed novel.”
He adds, with characteristic wit:
“Think Harry Potter meets Hamlet, if Ophelia was oversexed, homicidal and undead.”
That novel became Legend. It took two years to write. And yet, despite the effort, no agent would read it.
“Apparently a degree in literature means nothing to literary agents. Nobody even asked about my grade point average.”
Barry Maher on Rejection, Publishing, and the National Book Award Dream
After years of submissions, Legend eventually landed with a book packager who promised, quoting Freud, “wealth, fame and beautiful lovers” .
He also promised the National Book Award.
“If you’re about to check,” Maher says dryly, “not only did I not win the National Book Award, I never even got the full advance.”
Ultimately, the book was released under a tiny imprint with “a world-class ugly cover that misspelled the word ‘hindrance.’”
For aspiring authors searching how to deal with rejection in publishing or what happens after a bad book contract, Barry Maher’s experience underscores a core industry truth: early setbacks are common, but they don’t define a career.
Barry Maher’s Writing Process: Discipline Over Inspiration
When asked what motivates him to write when it gets hard, Barry Maher offers a simple answer:
“I write. It’s my job and it’s my hobby. When it’s easy, I write. When it gets hard I write, but slower.”
His daily routine is structured and intentional:
“I wake up and eat breakfast… Then I pick up my laptop, sit down in my recliner overlooking Santa Barbara… Then I write or rewrite or rewrite some more until lunch.”
After lunch? More writing. After dinner? Reading.
He reads approximately 25 books per year, ranging from Shakespeare and Proust to Lee Child. That breadth reinforces a pattern we consistently see in our research: prolific authors are also consistent readers.
Between Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing
When writing The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon, Barry Maher initially intended to self-publish.
However, he reconsidered:
“Once I realized that would entail learning an entirely new business I set about looking for an aggressive independent publisher who would push the book and give me an excellent split on the profits.”
He chose Crystal Lake Publishing and describes the experience as “first rate”.
Notably, he emphasizes editorial collaboration:
“They must have proofread the manuscript three different times. Nothing was done without my okay.”
Furthermore, he highlights something many authors crave:
“It’s the first time I’ve had a publisher get my input on the layout and the book description.”
For authors searching best publishing platforms for authors or independent publisher vs self-publishing, Maher’s decision reflects a strategic tradeoff: control vs operational complexity.
Barry Maher on AI in Writing and Publishing
One of the most direct parts of our interview came when we asked about AI tools in publishing.
“I am against using AI tools.”
He continues:
“I get numerous emails written by AI from book promoters trying to sell their services. They all read astonishingly alike. It’s not a creative tool.”
Although he has used AI to explore marketing questions, such as whether certain ads work for book sales, he remains skeptical of its creative value .
Given the rising search volume around AI in publishing and should authors use AI, Barry’s stance adds an important counterpoint: technology may assist logistics, but voice and originality remain human domains.
His Biggest Challenge: Book Marketing and Visibility
Despite decades of experience, Barry Maher identifies one recurring obstacle:
“Getting the word out is the biggest challenge I’ve faced as an author, as a columnist and as a speaker.”
This aligns directly with what we’ve analyzed in our own research on discoverability and reader trust. In fact, visibility without credibility rarely converts. That’s why positioning matters, especially for independent authors. We explored this dynamic in depth in our article on how indie authors build reader trust by positioning their books as low-risk.
Marketing isn’t optional. It’s structural.
Inside The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon
Maher’s latest novel is described as:
“A supernatural thriller with a rich vein of dark humor.”
Set in 1982, it follows Steve Witowski, a former hero turned failed songwriter who has just killed a man:
“almost accidentally saving a woman from what seemed to be the strongest, most blood-thirsty wino in California.”
As crypts open and dark forces gather, one reviewer called it a:
“wickedly funny… hot, sweaty, magic-and murder-infused rollercoaster.”
The novel blends crime, dark humor, and supernatural suspense, expanding Barry’s catalog beyond business nonfiction into narrative fiction.
Barry Maher’s Legacy as an Author
When asked what legacy he hopes to leave, Barry answers simply:
“I’d love my work to entertain and help people deal with our common humanity even after I’m gone.”
That sentiment connects his business books and fiction alike: whether discussing sales truth or supernatural demons, the core remains human behavior.
Final Thoughts: What Writers Can Learn from Barry Maher
Barry Maher’s career illustrates several publishing truths:
- Rejection is normal.
- Writing is discipline, not mood.
- Publishing models require strategic thinking.
- Marketing is the ongoing challenge.
- Technology cannot replace creative voice.
Above all, his story reinforces a central lesson for aspiring authors searching how to become a successful author: consistency compounds.
As he puts it:
“When it’s easy, I write. When it gets hard I write, but slower.”
And sometimes, that’s the entire craft.
