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Biography

Erin K. Barnes is a Denver-based author and writer of memoir, speculative fiction, music journalism, and travel. A synesthete, PR wing woman, mother, and Colorado native, Erin splits her time between writing projects and managing PR for the largest exhibition of the immersive arts and entertainment company, Meow Wolf, in Denver. Erin revisited her rebellious youth with a low art exploration of the Fort Collins punk scene of the ‘90s, Glory Guitars: Memoir of a Teenage Degenerate. The scene’s wastoid punks and sexual nihilism provide no shortage of cheap thrills, as well as a sharp lens to explore gender stereotypes that bind us all. Glory Guitars straddles this dichotomy like it's a live rocket: joyful, explosive, visceral, manic, and gut-punchingly heartbreaking. It was released by Portland indie press University of Hell on October 11, 2022. She penned a travel book of quick escapes from the city called Easy Weekend Getaways from Denver and Boulder, out May 19 through Countryman Press/W.W. Norton. It’s an easy guide to romantic getaways, boozy stopovers, foodie indulgences, wild adventures, and spiritual journeys. Erin collected unique destinations and the stories behind them like the gleaming keys that hang from the Baldpate Inn. She was most interested in the wild and dogged Gold Rush spirit that lives on in Colorado eccentrics who’ve forged spaces for themselves, like the metalcrafted dragon of Bishop Castle, the alpine charm of Carousel of Happiness, the Victorian gothic grit of haunted mining towns, the glowing kitsch of Neon Alley, the majestic weirdness of the San Luis Valley, and other triumphs of determination. While nursing her son, Erin wrote a bedtime novel to lull readers to sleep with fantastical dreamworld imagery. The result is Tintabula, an oxytocin-soaked psychic meditation on her family’s differently-wired brains. While her children won’t be able to read it for some time, she wrote this YA speculative fiction for them. In the mid-aughts, Erin used her English/Writing degree to form an award-winning blog and writerly collective called the Donnybrook Writing Academy. As Headmistress, she oversaw the everyday operation of a tongue-in-cheek society blog by established Denver scribes under preposterous pen names. Erin's most interesting job title was acting as Burrito Fairy for the beloved offbeat burrito joint, Illegal Pete’s: writing, PR, and most importantly, feeding touring musicians and artists for free through their Starving Artists program. She was also lead storyteller and public relations madame for the Black Monarch Hotel, a haunted bordello-turned-boutique hotel in the sleepy mining town of Victor, Colorado. She led the Black Monarch to international acclaim with her PR efforts, landing features in Travel + Leisure, The Daily Mail, Lonely Planet, Refinery29, and the Metro UK, which declared it “one of the US’s most haunted hotels, located in one of its most ghostly towns.” Erin teamed up with Runner’s High/Vice writer Josiah Hesse in Feb of 2021 to cofound and lead The Haunted Writer’s Retreat, a five-day immersive horror writing workshop at the Black Monarch Hotel in the dead of winter. Erin has led numerous branding and writing workshops for musicians at the Fort Collins incubator, the Music District, as well as a writing workshop at the annual Englewood Public Library curated by author Jason Heller. Recent bylines include a rant in Syfy about being sorted in Slytherine house, and a practical guide to recreating synesthesia for OK Whatever. Erin was honored as one of Westword’s 100 Colorado Creatives and 303 Magazine’s 70 Colorado Creatives. To learn more, visit www.erinkbarnes.com.

Content

Total articles 7

• Available on paid plans

  Attract Top Talent To Your Startup

  By Erin Barnes

  Oct. 27, 2023

• Available on paid plans

  My Husband Has A Girlfriend…and I Love Her

  By Erin Barnes

  Dec. 14, 2020

• Available on paid plans

  I'm Friends With My Metamour, My Polyamorous Husband's Girlfriend

  By Erin Barnes

  Sep. 24, 2020

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Company Info

Freelance

Freelancer.com is the largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace in the world, connecting over 81 million employers and freelancers across more than 247 countries. Founded in 2009 and based in Sydney, Australia, the platform allows employers to post jobs while freelancers can bid on these projects. It is publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN. The platform supports a variety of work categories, including software development, writing, design, and marketing. Freelancer.com also offers contests for creative work, where employers can award prize money to winning entries. Users can choose from different membership plans, including free and paid subscriptions, which provide various benefits. The mobile app enhances project management and communication for users on the go. With a diverse customer base that includes individuals, small businesses, and large enterprises, Freelancer.com plays a significant role in the global online economy.