An interview with a spider-writer
July 2025
I’ve taken some time off from writing my blog but I hope to be chatting away once again from now. I must follow the advice of Theodore Roosevelt: ‘With self-discipline most anything is possible.’ Of course, I doubt he had to fit in the washing, ironing, cooking, cleaning, shopping, repairing umpteen things, commuting, emailing, social media and all the other things in modern day life that we all end up doing.
Let me introduce you to Chris Horn. He is someone who is not only an accomplished author but also an inspirational help to many authors in his locality. Earlier in June, for instance, he had a bookstall in the grounds of Bleak House which is situated on the Kent coast and is where Charles Dickens wrote some of his books. He shared it with about 16 other local authors during a popular Dickens weekend. He kindly invited me and I was over the moon as Bleak House actually features in One Dark Soul (as Fort Lodge).
Hello Chris, good to have you on the blog. Tell us about yourself.
Why and when did you start writing?
I started writing in 2020, kind of by accident! I ended up following the Waterstones Swansea Twitter (X) account, due to them being funny and book related. In late 2020 they held a short story contest, which lead to Alice the Albino spider appearing in her first story, all of 500 words. In 2021, I decided that there was more to the story and 500 words turned into book 1. Five years later there are 7 books in the series, dozens of characters and adventures and has ended up with myself meeting some wonderful local authors and so much more.
Who do you write for?
My series "The Word Spider" is aimed at children aged 8 plus.
When did you publish your first book? What is it about?
My first book was published in 2021, as an indie/self published author. "The Word Spider" follows Alice the Albino spider as she ventures far from her home under the floorboards of the old bookshop. Once she is beyond the perpetual gloom of her home, she finds a world full of insects and secrets. Books 1 to 3 follow her and her friends as she travels further across the land, facing challenges, meeting new insects and discovering herself. Books 4 to 6 follows Kurt the slug, a fan favourite from the original trilogy, as he finds himself far from home and being pursued by Arthur the general of an army of ants. Arthur then stars in his own story (book 7) a chance for redemption, and a darker look at the world of The Word Spider.
What is your biggest source of inspiration for your writing?
I find inspiration everywhere, from news articles, to days out and a love of cultures.
Which genres do you like to read?
I am pretty poor at reading! Work, family and selling books takes up a lot of my time. I did go through a stage of reading genres that I wouldn’t normally try, Horror, Murder Mystery, but I am sad to say this year I have only read one book.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in life and how did you overcome it?
Separation, but if it hadn't happened I wouldn't have been skimming through social media and probably wouldn't have found the Swansea Waterstones account, and Alice wouldn't have been created.
Writing has helped me get on with life, it has kept me busy, and now I run "The Pop-Up Bookshop" alongside my full-time job on the railway. Idol hands and all that.
If you could choose to be born again as a living or dead personality, who would it be and why?
I would put a famous writer, but that's a bit of a cliché! I think someone from Victorian times as the world was expanding and so much of it was new to the civilized world. Discovering new lands and writing new stories for the people would have been amazing.
What has been your favourite holiday?
I love the Netherlands, the people, the vegan food choices, the scenery. I love travelling there and seeing the country from their double-decker trains.
What is your favourite food?
I became vegan in 2020 and so love any plant-based food. This year I have tried to eat more healthily as well, cutting processed food and eating more fresh fruit and veg. But I do love a pizza and Pizza Hut do a cracking vegan one.
Tell us about the last book you have published and give us a Goodreads link please.
So the last one was Book 7 in "The Word Spider" series, following Arthur Artilious the disgraced general of the great colony of ants. Alone and far from his kind, he searches for a way forward. Will he find kinship with a band of warriors on their own quest, or will his distrust of other species be his downfall?
First book:
Latest book:
Chris Horn's Goodreads page: Chris Horn
Thank you for allowing us to get to know you a little better and I can honestly say that a thought went through my mind as I read what your books are about: I wish I’d had those books available when I was 8 years old.
From Friday 27th June,
Mistake in Time is on sale in the US and UK for 0.99 for 7 days. If you like Time Travel with some romance thrown in, you might like to pick it up while it is going cheap! You can also have the AI Audio Book for a bargain price (only available in the US at the moment).
Mistake in Time 0.99 until 3rd July
And another thought-provoking quotation to round off June’s blog:
A wise man lays a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him.’
I’ve taken some time off from writing my blog but I hope to be chatting away once again from now. I must follow the advice of Theodore Roosevelt: ‘With self-discipline most anything is possible.’ Of course, I doubt he had to fit in the washing, ironing, cooking, cleaning, shopping, repairing umpteen things, commuting, emailing, social media and all the other things in modern day life that we all end up doing.
Let me introduce you to Chris Horn. He is someone who is not only an accomplished author but also an inspirational help to many authors in his locality. Earlier in June, for instance, he had a bookstall in the grounds of Bleak House which is situated on the Kent coast and is where Charles Dickens wrote some of his books. He shared it with about 16 other local authors during a popular Dickens weekend. He kindly invited me and I was over the moon as Bleak House actually features in One Dark Soul (as Fort Lodge).
Hello Chris, good to have you on the blog. Tell us about yourself.
Why and when did you start writing?
I started writing in 2020, kind of by accident! I ended up following the Waterstones Swansea Twitter (X) account, due to them being funny and book related. In late 2020 they held a short story contest, which lead to Alice the Albino spider appearing in her first story, all of 500 words. In 2021, I decided that there was more to the story and 500 words turned into book 1. Five years later there are 7 books in the series, dozens of characters and adventures and has ended up with myself meeting some wonderful local authors and so much more.
Who do you write for?
My series "The Word Spider" is aimed at children aged 8 plus.
When did you publish your first book? What is it about?
My first book was published in 2021, as an indie/self published author. "The Word Spider" follows Alice the Albino spider as she ventures far from her home under the floorboards of the old bookshop. Once she is beyond the perpetual gloom of her home, she finds a world full of insects and secrets. Books 1 to 3 follow her and her friends as she travels further across the land, facing challenges, meeting new insects and discovering herself. Books 4 to 6 follows Kurt the slug, a fan favourite from the original trilogy, as he finds himself far from home and being pursued by Arthur the general of an army of ants. Arthur then stars in his own story (book 7) a chance for redemption, and a darker look at the world of The Word Spider.
What is your biggest source of inspiration for your writing?
I find inspiration everywhere, from news articles, to days out and a love of cultures.
Which genres do you like to read?
I am pretty poor at reading! Work, family and selling books takes up a lot of my time. I did go through a stage of reading genres that I wouldn’t normally try, Horror, Murder Mystery, but I am sad to say this year I have only read one book.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in life and how did you overcome it?
Separation, but if it hadn't happened I wouldn't have been skimming through social media and probably wouldn't have found the Swansea Waterstones account, and Alice wouldn't have been created.
Writing has helped me get on with life, it has kept me busy, and now I run "The Pop-Up Bookshop" alongside my full-time job on the railway. Idol hands and all that.
If you could choose to be born again as a living or dead personality, who would it be and why?
I would put a famous writer, but that's a bit of a cliché! I think someone from Victorian times as the world was expanding and so much of it was new to the civilized world. Discovering new lands and writing new stories for the people would have been amazing.
What has been your favourite holiday?
I love the Netherlands, the people, the vegan food choices, the scenery. I love travelling there and seeing the country from their double-decker trains.
What is your favourite food?
I became vegan in 2020 and so love any plant-based food. This year I have tried to eat more healthily as well, cutting processed food and eating more fresh fruit and veg. But I do love a pizza and Pizza Hut do a cracking vegan one.
Tell us about the last book you have published and give us a Goodreads link please.
So the last one was Book 7 in "The Word Spider" series, following Arthur Artilious the disgraced general of the great colony of ants. Alone and far from his kind, he searches for a way forward. Will he find kinship with a band of warriors on their own quest, or will his distrust of other species be his downfall?
First book:
Latest book:
Chris Horn's Goodreads page: Chris Horn
Thank you for allowing us to get to know you a little better and I can honestly say that a thought went through my mind as I read what your books are about: I wish I’d had those books available when I was 8 years old.
From Friday 27th June,
Mistake in Time is on sale in the US and UK for 0.99 for 7 days. If you like Time Travel with some romance thrown in, you might like to pick it up while it is going cheap! You can also have the AI Audio Book for a bargain price (only available in the US at the moment).
Mistake in Time 0.99 until 3rd July
And another thought-provoking quotation to round off June’s blog:
A wise man lays a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him.’
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Chris
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Jun 28, 2025 04:13AM
Thank you Anna, for inviting to talk about my books.
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Thanks for letting us know more about you and your books.
Well done Chris - how seldom insects, slugs and spiders feature as main characters in fiction! My daughter would have loved your stories when she was little.Anna, I think a better quote than Roosevelt's is Arthur Ashe: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."
