The Lost Harp Book Launch - A Day I’ll Never Forget

The Lost Harp Book Launch at Explorium National Science Centre

Sunday, May 25th, 2025 - One of the most challenging and rewarding days of my life.

After years of dreaming, writing, rewriting (and a lot of self-doubt), The Lost Harp finally made its way into the world. I stood in front of a full auditorium of people who mean the world to me, family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Some have known me my whole life, others only recently, but every single person there had been in my corner, supporting me from the start. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so surrounded by kindness and support in one place. It was honestly overwhelming, in the best possible way.

The Lost Harp began as a seed of an idea, slowly growing on walks through the mountains, journaled in notebooks and pieced together during quiet moments of reflection. It’s a story that’s deeply personal. A story about loss, and finding the strength to carry on. About courage, and how sometimes, courage begins with the help of others.

Author Barry Coleman reading The Lost Harp

The talk touched on those ideas, and it meant a lot to speak so openly. I shared memories of childhood hikes with my dad, the real-life events that inspired the story, and how watching my nieces and nephews grow helped me understand the kind of book I wanted to write. One that gently helps children (and their grown-ups) talk about life’s more difficult moments.

To everyone who’s waited so patiently and stuck with me along the way, from the early days when I barely had a story, to the following years of editing and self-doubt - thank you. People seemed to resonate with the story even when it was still just a rough idea, and that belief helped carry me through.

If you’d like to be among the first to get your hands on a limited first-edition print of The Lost Harp, you can now order it online here: The Lost Harp - Children's Book

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for helping me bring The Lost Harp to life. It feels like I can finally turn the page on this chapter of my life, and open a hopefully very exciting new one.

Mise le meas, Barry