Hollow Earth Meet the Authors

Carole E. Barrowman works at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a Professor of English and Director of Creative Studies in Writing. She also writes newspaper columns, articles and reviews. Once or twice a month, she chats about books on regional television show The Morning Blend.

Carole has written two books, Anything Goes and I Am What I Am, with her brother, John Barrowman, as well as a Torchwood comic, Captain Jack and The Selkie. Carole has also also written a screenplay, Damaged Goods, which was a semi-finalist in an international screenplay contest, and her essay 'Time is Relative' is featured in the award-winning anthology, Chicks Dig Time Lords.

Born in Glasgow, where he spent his early years, John Barrowman moved with his family — including big sister Carole — to Illinois in the United States. In 1989, he landed his first professional role starring in the musical Anything Goes.

Since then, John has starred in many West End shows, hosted his own primetime Saturday night BBC1 entertainment show, Tonight’s The Night, been a judge on television programmes seeking new West End stars, and guest-starred in Desperate Housewives. His most famous television role is that of sci-fi hero Captain Jack Harkness, whose first appearance in the revamped Doctor Who created such an impact that he was given his own spin off series, Torchwood. The show has been broadcast around the world. He also hosts the children's show, Animals At Work, which is broadcast on BBC2 and CBBC.

John has recorded three solo albums and toured for each record, and 2011-12 sees his sixth panto outing. In collaboration with Carole, John has released two volumes of his autobiography, Anything Goes (a number 2 bestseller) and I Am What I Am.

Carole and John have been friends, well, since John was born, despite Carole trying to sell her baby brother to a neighbour when he wouldn't stop crying. They both read all kinds of books, especially sci fi, fantasy, comics and mysteries. They've been making up stories together since they were kids. They also enjoy watching movies, although sometimes they sit with a seat between them because Carole has a tendency to whisper comments and John laughs too loud. They love art - looking at it and creating it, and whenever they visit a new city they try to visit its art museum. John still has many of his original Star Wars action figures and Carole has a collection of Camberwick Green ones that adorn her desk. Over the years, Carole's children, Clare and Turner, have learned lots of important things from their mum and their Uncle John, including how to appreciate (and annoy) your sibling.

Here's a great interview with John and Carole about Hollow Earth on the Primary Times website.