An Interview with Chester Prior

Chester is a young trans man from Hertfordshire, England. With an overactive imagination, he has always used writing to bring the worlds and ideas in his head alive, even when he was still small and just learning to write! To have his words printed in books is a massive achievement that he’s entirely honoured by.

---

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I’ve always had an overactive imagination, so I enjoy writing my stories down. But after writing my first book, it really spurred me on to keep writing. It was the proof I needed that not only could I write a novel length story, but that I could get it through a publisher. It inspires me to keep creating. I’ll always be a storyteller, so if I can share that with people, that’s wonderful!

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

My book titles are usually the last thing that I pick. The document will have some vague description of what’s written in it and that’s about it. I find a title that fits the book and the final vibe. I’m particularly proud of Cursed Crown; I think it gives enough away to entice people while also being clever.

Another one I’m working on is called Thawing Heart, which is the same slightly intriguing, slightly clever kind of title, and a long way from the working title of Snowy Strong Ladies XD — yes, the XD was in the title!

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

I’ve thought about the types of music that would play if it was a TV show or something. I’m a massive fan of Sleep Token, who are a nu metal band. They’ve got an incredibly powerful, almost love ballad style of music, that’s sung beautifully while also having a heavier feel to it. Blood Sport is one of my favourites and I could see it in a powerful and heartbreaking scene in one of my novels.

Also, there’s a particular part in one of my WIPs that would fit Oliver Tree’s Cowboys Don’t Cry and I can imagine beat for beat how it would look. I enjoy songs that are a little heartbreaking, which is probably why lots of my stories are heartbreaking, too.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

I enjoy horror novels the most. Mostly because I’m too much of a baby to watch horror movies, but I enjoy the concepts in the horror genre.

The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling is haunting but such a wonderful book. It really strays from the usual tropes and concepts in horror and gives you a genuinely claustrophobic and horrific experience.

I’m also currently reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Cowboys are a guilty pleasure of mine and this was recommended to me. It’s really showing me how you can sit in a scene for a long time without making it boring. He packs so much description and background into a single scene that goes on for pages, yet I don’t feel it dragging at all.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’ve spent my entire working career on horse yards as a groom. And I do try to incorporate some of my horse knowledge into my books. A pet peeve of mine is when you can tell a writer has clearly never been around a horse in their life, even worse so on screen. If Cursed Crown made it to the screen, because there are a lot of horses in it, I’d ensure it was done properly and it looked as natural as possible. All my books end up with some kind of animal in them, if not a horse, then a dog, like in An End’s Beginning. And don’t worry, the dog doesn’t die!

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

Do it sooner! I wish I had written something of novel length sooner, but I was so afraid to show people my work. Do it scared, because I quickly found out that I love talking to people about my work.

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

The love. My books are full of love, queer love specifically. Though they aren’t romance novels, love holds the characters up through their darkest moments. I hope that there are people that see it and feel the comfort it brings. I also think it’s important for young, queer people to see love from characters that look like them. There’s a lot of terrible things in this world but I want them to believe that love like that exists and that it is unconditional.

---

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.