A Slice of Cake With... Chrys Cymri

This week I am delighted to have a slice of cake with Chrys Cymri.

Chrys wrote her first short story when she was seven years old. Ever since that time she's been hooked on words, on how to wrestle with the inefficiencies of the human language to express our common struggles with love, life, and the universe.

Her first dream was to earn my living as a full-time writer. But her practical side realised that many try, and few succeed. So Chrys obtained her degree in English and went to work in a bank. She wrote in her free time, and her first two novels (Dragons Can Only Rust and Dragon Reforged) were picked up by an international publisher. The advance was small, the sales equally so, and her resulting disappointment (plus the pressures of daily life) meant that the subsequent novels she wrote were left slumbering on her computer’s hard drive.

But in the twenty years since those two novels went out of print, we have seen a revolution in the book industry. Chrys now works in a role which she finds immensely rewarding (emotionally and spiritually, certainly not monetarily). So now she has a second dream. She enjoys the worlds she explores through her writing and likes to share those worlds with others.

What kind of books do you write?

My books are fantasy but cover a wide range. The Four Kingdoms are epic fantasy, Gonard’s Journey is science fantasy, and my main range, the Penny White series, is contemporary fantasy. My focus, in the midst of dragons, unicorns, and other mythical beings, is on exploring the interaction between different cultures and personal relationships. With doses of humour!

Can you describe your writing why?

I write because the scenes in my head demand to come out and the characters want their stories to be told. I also like the challenge. Penny White is my first attempt at a long series. I'm working on the seventh book of a nine book series, each book existing as a stand-alone (no nasty cliffhangers) but also with overall arcs for the situations and the characters. 

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

I’d only just sat down again before a loud crash resounded through the house, followed by loud swearing in Welsh. My spoon clattered to the floor as I rushed from kitchen to living room.

The scene that met my eyes was almost unbelievable. Lights were on the floor and tangled over shredded Christmas cards. The tree was slumped against the bay window, decorations scattered in all directions. I glanced at the tank, noting that the lid was off, and then looked for Clyde. And found the snail, under a tree branch, a half-chewed bauble poking out of his mouth. He spat it out when he saw me. ‘Christmas,’ he said happily.

Peter and Alf were right behind me. ‘That’s it, mate,’ Peter told the snail. ‘You wait until my mum gets here. She doesn’t take to anyone misbehaving.’

‘Yup,’ said Alf with commendable aplomb. ‘You’re in for it now. I suggest you think up your apologies sharpish.’

Clyde’s eyespots swivelled between us. Then he bumped the ornament away, slid under a branch, and drew in all but his tentacles. As Mags entered the room, he shivered. And then, to my amazement, he let out a pitiful cry. ‘Tree fell.’

Mags hurried over and fell onto her knees. ‘You poor little thing,’ she said soothingly. ‘How frightening for you. Are you okay?’

Clyde slowly extended his body, trembling as he did so. ‘Scared,’ he whimpered. ‘Tree fell.’

Mags gathered the snail into her arms and glared up at us. ‘Penny, Peter, you should know better than to let him out when there’s no one to keep watch! What if he’d been hurt?’

I was torn between amazement and annoyance at Clyde’s acting ability. Brown waves of satisfaction were pulsing along his body. ‘But--’ Peter started to protest.

‘I’m taking him through to the kitchen,’ Mags announced. ‘I’m certain something to drink will help.’

‘Beer?’ Clyde suggested. Then he let out a small groan.

‘Is beer good for him?’ Mags asked.

‘He’s had it before,’ I said. Mags headed out of the room. As the snail was carried past me, I shot him a glare. I might have lost this battle, but the war was far from over.

Tell us about your latest project

Penny White is the main character of the series which bears her name. She is a full-time minister in the Church of England. Although she’s a science fiction and fantasy geek, she is still shocked when she comes across a dying dragon who asks her for the last rites. This is her introduction to Lloegyr, a magical country which exists on a world parallel to our own. She has to balance her duties in her small village church with helping the beings which accidentally cross over from Lloegyr. This includes the darkly beautiful dragon, Raven, who keeps turning up where she least expects him. She copes by watching Doctor Who and breaking into her supply of red wine and single malt whisky.

What is your favourite cake?

Double chocolate whisky cake!

You can keep up to date with all of Chrys's writing news on her website, follow her on Facebook and Twitter. All her books are on Amazon.

Join me next week when I'll be having a slice of cake with Rose Montague.

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find all her books on Amazon. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop.