Spotlight: Foxtail by David Barnett

At age 16, with his home life shattered following his mother’s breast cancer diagnosis, David Barnett’s lust for the limelight took over, and he set out to create his own rock band. As he escaped into the underground music scene – with substances and temptations awaiting him – he underwent a fundamental shift in perspective, ultimately fracturing his relationship with his childhood best friend, the quintessential “golden boy” who possessed a latent rebellious streak.

In a high-intensity, coming-of-age memoir rooted in 90s counterculture that defined the turn of the 21st century, Barnett traverses treacherous terrain as he conducts an honest autopsy of his failed ambitions and the collateral damage he's caused. He subverts the traditional “addiction memoir” genre by playing with timelines and exploring concepts through an atemporal lens.

Ranging from his transformative first experience with drugs to the disruptive nature of ego, "Foxtail" takes readers on a journey through the pains of adolescence and the heavy music that became his salvation. Featuring lyrics from bands and artists like Slayer, Static-X and Lil’ Keke, music serves not just as a background soundtrack, but as a holy text throughout, making this sonically-saturated story perfect for those who find sanctuary in music of any genre.

In this unflinching memoir, Barnett explores whether the selves we create to survive the fire are the very ones destined to burn us down.

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About the Author

David Barnett is a Texas-based author, and washed up, burned out musician. After years of toiling within the underground music scene and a scorched-earth lifestyle of indulgence, Barnett learned to harness the power of his ghosts, channeling his legacy of reckless abandon and outlandish antics into the art that saved his life. His debut memoir “Foxtail” won the 2025 WriterCon First Place award for Memoir. Find out more about him at his website.