AUTHOR FLESHES OUT MERLIN'S CHILDHOOD.

Byline: Phil Davis Staff Writer

A decade ago, Colorado author T.A. Barron stumbled across a surprising gap in the volumes of lore about the legendary King Arthur: Merlin, the wise wizard who guided the boy king, had no childhood of his own.

``We have this beautiful, glowing tapestry of myth about this character Merlin, and there's a huge hole in it,'' Barron said. ``That's the time of life when the most important decisions and forces come to play - when you figure out who you really are, discover what your life may be about and your gifts and passions.''

The 47-year-old father of five from Boulder, Colo., wasted little time filling that hole with a lively series of sword-and-sorcery quest novels with inspirational and environmental twists. His first of five Merlin books, ``The Lost Years of Merlin'' (Berkley Publishing; $5.99), is a national best seller.

The fourth and most recent novel in the young adult series, ``The Mirror of Merlin'' (Philomel Books; $19.99), went on sale this month.

Barron recently paused from a national book tour - which brings him to the Pasadena area on Tuesday - to talk about his books:

Q: What can we learn from young Merlin?

A: I have the feeling that, in the idea of Merlin gaining in his own power and discovering his own magic, it's a metaphor for all of us. Everyone, I really believe, has a wizard inside of them. This gives us a way to discover our own magic as we watch Merlin do it.

Q: You've said young Merlin teaches by following his passions, exploring new worlds and riding out the tough storms of childhood. Are we encouraging children to do that in our society?

A: Not nearly enough. There's a constant drone of messages from the media that you are only a number, and you don't really matter. That's really debilitating. And then there's another kind of message that comes from Madison Avenue that says you are what you wear, or what you own, instead of who you are down inside. And that contributes to a feeling of helplessness, too.

I think people are really powerful. I think individuals can really make a difference. But people need to be encouraged to do that. Unless parents, teachers and community leaders connect with kids and help them understand they have the power of making choices that matter, of making a difference, then we've lost the battle.

Q: When Merlin finds his homeland of Fincayra, it is dying, and its occupants seem to be in denial of the danger. Is there a real-world metaphor there?

A: You bet. I do believe our world is saveable - but not without real tough choices and real hardships along the way. In that way, in the end, I am making a hopeful statement. But it's not just something you say. It has to be won.

Q: Does your family provide inspiration for your books as well?

A: Definitely The best inspiration the kids give me is their constant sense of wonder and honesty, as well as a strong dose of humor. I really need that sometimes to get back down to Earth when I've been writing too much. It's great when someone with an irreverent sense of humor brings a goat up to my writing room to say `Hi' to me.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

A: No. 1 is follow your passions. Keep at it. There are tremendous reasons to stop and give it up, but it's so wonderful if you can follow your passion for words and stories. And even if no one ever reads a page of what you write, there are still great adventures in store.

The facts

Who: Author T.A. Barron.

What: Book signing and discussion.

Where: San Marino Toy & Book Shop, 2424 Huntington Drive, San Marino.

When: 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Cost: Free.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1) T.A. Barron says he writes about the wizard Merlin's childhood because that is when character is formed.

(2) no caption (The Mirror of Merlin)