An Interview with Chris May
Chris May trained initially as an engineer before forging a career in healthcare. He founded health tech company Mayden in 2000, which today employs one hundred and fifty people and is based in Bath.
His writing explores big ideas in philosophy, science, theology, and psychology using fiction, usually in the form of page-turning mystery thrillers. He likes to create circumstances in which his characters wrestle with the major challenges of what it means to be human and looking for meaning in the world.
His first novel, Silent Light, which rose sharply in the UK Amazon chart when it was released in 2000, is also now available on Kindle.
His second novel, The Son of Man, was released in August 2025.
His first non-fiction work, as the instigator and contributor to Made without Managers, was released in 2023 and achieved a Highly Commended accolade in the UK Business Book Awards.
A second non-fiction title on data inspired healthcare is due to be published in 2026.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
Throughout my life, I’ve been fascinated by both theology and science, particularly cosmology and quantum physics. But they paint very different views of the world. Partly, I wanted to share that fascination, and partly I wanted to see if I could make the two worldviews clash and reconcile into a cohesive whole.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
Although I always claim that my titles are working titles when I’m in the middle of a project, I’ve yet to change my mind at the end. While Jesus is generally referred to as the Son of God, he actually referred to himself as the Son of Man. Since the novel’s protagonist is believed, by the church, to be the returned Messiah but is also clearly fully human, the title is perfect. But most people miss the reference. Is he, or isn’t he? I’m not telling you. All is revealed at the end.
Describe your dream book cover.
I love the cover of The Son of Man. I played with some prompts using AI and it came up with something interesting that inspired me. The final cover looks very different to the AI version, but the designer did a brilliant job of translating my thoughts into graphics.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
That’s a good question. When I wrote my first novel, Silent Light, I had a whole soundtrack to go with it. I even included lyrics in the text until I realised I needed to seek copyright permission for every one. So, I took them out. For The Son of Man, I don’t have a soundtrack in mind, but it would be something grand and sweeping and in a minor key. Survival/Ice by Camel would be the perfect closing theme.
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
I’m trying Amazon ads and the unexpected benefit is finding lots of books and authors I’ve never heard of whose books would sit neatly alongside mine in a bookshop (the key question you should ask when launching an ad campaign apparently). An example is Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel, which is on my 2026 reading list. Otherwise, I tend to read books that are both beautifully written and have compulsive plots. I’ve recently finished The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, The Romantic by William Boyd, and The Names by Florence Knapp.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I have a chequered CV. I began my career designing and building chocolate production lines for Cadbury but have spent the last thirty-five years in healthcare. I founded a health tech company in 2000, and we’ve been fortunate to work on some great projects that have really made a difference to the lives of clinicians and patients.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
As a child, my family had very little materially so I had to use my imagination to entertain myself. Not having all the toys was possibly the best thing that ever happened to me. But I do live in my head a lot. Writing is a way in which I get it out there. It also empties my brain so I can fill it up with other things.
Where is your favorite place to write?
I bought a place near the coast in Cornwall. On the Salt Path. It’s my writing retreat. It’s next door to where Daphne Du Maurier used to live and work. So, it’s both an inspiration and a pressure. I also like to go to the places I’m setting my novels in and write there. At least half of The Son of Man was written in Chicago. The sequel will be set primarily in Rome, so I’ll be heading there in the new year to research and imbibe.
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
If you want your books to sell and be read, the marketing effort required shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s harder than the writing. And while you can do everything yourself, subcontract all the editing, cover design, and publishing to the professionals. You’ll get a much better result.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
To answer that honestly would require spoilers, but so many reviewers say the thoughts it provokes stay with them long after they’ve reached the end. I couldn’t ask for anything more really. Except to ask them to say that in a verified review on Amazon and then tell all their friends.
Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.
Atmosphere Press is a selective hybrid publisher founded in 2015 on the principles of Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, Kindness, and Making Your Book Awesome. Our books have won dozens of awards and sold tens of thousands of copies. If you’re interested in learning more, or seeking publication for your own work, please explore the links below.