Remarkably, the collection of poems released to the public was 30 years in the making.
“Last year, I was at a crossroads in my life and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” the 50-year-old said.
“Then, I got out my old notebook from when I used to write in my early 20s and that helped me to re-discover my passion for writing.
“Being able to write has always given me peace of mind. I sent the book to the publishers (Shawline Publishing Group) in June and I had a lot of anxiety through the process until it was released.
“To have a book published is something I never thought would happen.”
Ms Barker's passion for writing covers a wide range of topic, while she also enjoys research the topics her book explores.
“A lot of the poems are based on everyday experiences in the world which have helped to shape our culture,” she said.
“I enjoy turning factual news articles into my own words, along with some research I’ve found.
“In the past, I’ve written about events and people including the Bali bombings, Ned Kelly and 9/11 attacks in America.”
Despite her book being released just weeks ago, Ms Barker is already working on her next project.
“I’m writing a fiction novel in the form of a crime thriller,” she said.
“I am aiming to write some true crime stories in future, so I think this is a good way to take a step forward.”
Emotives is available for purchase online through several different book shops.