C. C. Thybro

What was your favorite book as a child?

I had a lot of favourite books, and once I’d devoured all horse-related books in my vicinity, I went straight on to Goosebumps. But I think one of the first books that really set my imagination alight back then and which I could truly differentiate from everything else I  read, was Lost World by Michael Crichton. For some reason I read the sequel first (possibly because of the cool cover with a giant T-Rex skeleton on it), and Jurassic Park later on.

Something about the story about two kids in an autocamper on an island roaming with primordial beings really stuck with me, and I re-read it quite a few times. Maybe I felt like dinosaurs were like big horses with sharp teeth? Either way, that’s a book that really stood out to me, at the tender age of 10 and which few have topped since with its incredible concept and striking characters.

What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

I’ve always been telling stories. I think I began writing them down, once I stopped playing out these wild, fantastical storylines in the backyard.

Realising that it was a real craft — and one that I could learn to master — came much later, but my reason for pursuing it pretty much remained the same: I love telling stories.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

Riding the pony I had through my childhood and teen years, through the forest in summertimes at full trot was amazing. I don’t know how it ranks as big and thrilling for everyone else, but discovering new paths through the undergrowth always felt like being out on an adventure with my best friend.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

I rarely listen to music when I write. If there’s a lot of background noise, I’ll put on some instrumental music to drown it out, but other than that I prefer silence. I’m not sure why this is, except that I’m easily distracted and if I listen to something with lyrics, I’ll quickly end up singing along instead of writing.