Meet fellow Clean Indie Reads author Chrys Cymri

Hi Chris! Thank you for joining me here as the second of my fellow Clean Indie Reads authors feature. So, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Priest by day, writer at odd times of the day and night, I live with a small green parrot called Tilly because the upkeep for a dragon is beyond my current budget. Plus I’m responsible for making good any flame damage to church property. I love ‘Doctor Who’, landscape photography, single malt whisky, and my job, in no particular order. When I’m not looking after a small parish church in the Midlands (England) I like to go on far flung adventures to places like Peru, New Zealand, the Arctic, and North Korea. You can read about my trips on my travel blog, http://www.travellinghopefully.co.uk

Wow, what an exciting life you lead! So, I’d love to hear about your books, but first I’ll just get you to answer a couple of questions so we can get to know you a bit better.

What inspired you to become an author, and how old were you at the time?

I wrote my first short story when I was seven years old, and in a way I’ve just never stopped. It’s something that has chosen me, rather than me choosing it. If I don’t write, the characters seem to gang up on me, demanding that I get them out and onto paper.

Ah, a familiar background, if I do say so myself. Next question, tell me, who are your favourite authors, and why?

My favourite book is ‘The Riddle of Stars’ by Patricia McKillip. When I was a young teenager, Susan Cooper’s ‘The Dark is Rising’ series inspired me to write. I sent her a letter when I was fifteen or so, and I still have her response. But what I return to, time and again, are ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ by C S Lewis. I’d love to meet Aslan!

Narnia! I didn’t discover them until the first movie came out! I don’t know how I missed them as a kids, but I must admit I, too, devoured the books once discovered. Okay, last question. What was the inspiration for your latest book?

Although I would highly advise reading the ‘Penny White’ books in order (the first one is ‘The Temptation of Dragons’), I’ve just finished the fifth one. Colonies of vampires are trying to leave the magical country of Lloegyr, where the other species have made them feel unwelcome. The vampires think that England is a paradise in comparison. The book draws upon current debates about immigration and integration, through a fantasy lens.

Now,  a bit more about your books …

I’ve written several fantasy and science fiction books–all ‘clean’! At the moment, I’m working on my urban fantasy ‘Penny White’ series. Penny White is a full time Christian minister whose life changed forever when she stumbled across a dying dragon–and he asked her to give him the last rites. She does her best to serve God and her congregation although she is very distracted by the wonders of the magical world of Lloegyr.

Sounds like a great series, Chrys. Thanks for joining me here, and all the best for the new book! Here’s where you can find all of Chrys’ books:  Chrys Cymri Author Profile

COVER: First book in the Penny White series.  Get it FREE on 1st & 2nd February.