Chris Leonard Writing
Born in 1953, Chris enjoyed writing as a child and would silence nosy adults who asked what she wanted to be when she grew up by replying, ‘An Authoress.’
She gained an honours degree in English and Theology from Southampton University in 1975 but, lacking the necessary private income to become ‘An Authoress’ trained as a Chartered Librarian. Shelving books instead of writing them, she reached the dizzy heights of Branch Librarian with Surrey County.
Learning to write
Chris met her husband, John, at Southampton and their children were born in 1980 and 1983. When they were small, her church needed articles for its monthly news-sheet and for several years Chris interviewed people – leaders, new arrivals, those who’d done something interesting, anyone brave enough to let her near them. The results got published on A4 sheets stapled at one corner, but Chris said it was a good way to learn to write, ‘Because I knew the people who read my articles – and they told me what they liked and didn’t like.’
She gained an honours degree in English and Theology from Southampton University in 1975 but, lacking the necessary private income to become ‘An Authoress’ trained as a Chartered Librarian. Shelving books instead of writing them, she reached the dizzy heights of Branch Librarian with Surrey County.
Learning to write
Chris met her husband, John, at Southampton and their children were born in 1980 and 1983. When they were small, her church needed articles for its monthly news-sheet and for several years Chris interviewed people – leaders, new arrivals, those who’d done something interesting, anyone brave enough to let her near them. The results got published on A4 sheets stapled at one corner, but Chris said it was a good way to learn to write, ‘Because I knew the people who read my articles – and they told me what they liked and didn’t like.’
First book
When her second child was small, two Ghanaians came to speak at a meeting organised by her church. Chris intended to write it up as an article but sat open-mouthed thinking ‘this isn’t an article, it’s a book!’ How Chris came to write this, her first book, is a very long story. Sufficient here to mention that all advice says, ‘Write about what you know’ and Chris knew nothing about Ghana. Or about writing a biography-cum-church history. Despite the steep learning curve, Chris found she loved research and when she finally finished, she had the ‘writing bug’ good and proper. Finding a publisher wasn’t easy but A Giant in Ghana was published in 1989 in the UK – and subsequently in Ghana too. The Ghanaian church has grown hugely and spread across the globe far more since then. You can find out more about Chris’ other books on the Books page of this website.
When her second child was small, two Ghanaians came to speak at a meeting organised by her church. Chris intended to write it up as an article but sat open-mouthed thinking ‘this isn’t an article, it’s a book!’ How Chris came to write this, her first book, is a very long story. Sufficient here to mention that all advice says, ‘Write about what you know’ and Chris knew nothing about Ghana. Or about writing a biography-cum-church history. Despite the steep learning curve, Chris found she loved research and when she finally finished, she had the ‘writing bug’ good and proper. Finding a publisher wasn’t easy but A Giant in Ghana was published in 1989 in the UK – and subsequently in Ghana too. The Ghanaian church has grown hugely and spread across the globe far more since then. You can find out more about Chris’ other books on the Books page of this website.
Helping others to write
Chris hadn’t many more books to her name when she was approached by the Association of Christian Writers (ACW) in 1995: ‘Would you consider being on our committee?’ She said, ‘Yes’ out of sheer surprise – and her five year term became another series of steep learning curves. They put her in charge of ‘experienced writers!’ Later, as Vice President, she was one of the first three Trustees and Directors of the 1000-strong incorporated charity and led the ‘raising the profile’ team, liaising with external organisations. She led a 5-day writing course on behalf of ACW at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) in 1999, 2000 and 2002 and 2003 and a MasterSun writing holiday in Turkey in 1999.
Chris hadn’t many more books to her name when she was approached by the Association of Christian Writers (ACW) in 1995: ‘Would you consider being on our committee?’ She said, ‘Yes’ out of sheer surprise – and her five year term became another series of steep learning curves. They put her in charge of ‘experienced writers!’ Later, as Vice President, she was one of the first three Trustees and Directors of the 1000-strong incorporated charity and led the ‘raising the profile’ team, liaising with external organisations. She led a 5-day writing course on behalf of ACW at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) in 1999, 2000 and 2002 and 2003 and a MasterSun writing holiday in Turkey in 1999.
‘I realised how much I enjoyed helping others to write,’ Chris said, ‘especially seeing their confidence increase. They grow as people too and you get to know each other really quickly.’ Wanting to do more after her fixed ACW committee term ended, Chris began leading creative writing holidays at Ashburnham Place, a Christian conference centre in Sussex. ‘The ACW/LICC course is about how to get published. It’s very good but hard work and non-residential, in central London,’ Chris says. ‘On an Ashburnham creative writing holiday people discovered depths of creativity, within a beautiful, relaxed setting.’ Chris led these holidays in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and two in 2004 and 2005. In 2006 there were two in Devon, one in Crete and one in Jersey and in 2007 ones in Mallorca, Devon, Jersey and Ashburnham. From 2008 until now Chris has led between two and four writing holidays a year in different venues (reduced to one in 2020’s lockdowns) so the total number up to 2024 is 60 (pause while Chris thinks: ‘However did that many happen!’)
After coming off the national ACW committee Chris also wanted to do something more local. Since 2000 she has been running writing courses initially through Mole Valley District Council Arts Development and a similar course in Bookham weekly in school term time, plus groups for people with on-going writing projects. She has led other one-off writing days, locally and further afield, taken part in Arts Festivals, and given numerous talks about her books and related subjects.
In 2018 and 2019 she enjoyed leading some writing workshops in a women’s prison - and then Covid brought more changes when summer writing days stopped happening too. Happily, Ashburnham writing holidays continued when regulations allowed (we were classified as ‘education’) and Chris arranged monthly online meetings via Zoom for regulars stuck at home during the long first strict lockdown. Chris’ Thursday night writing group continued for 18 months via Zoom right through everyone’s ups and downs, a bright spot in all our weeks. ‘Write On’ still has three members on Zoom and the rest meeting in person, while ‘Writing from Life’ is back to autumn and spring terms, meeting in person only.
Chris had written shorter things but no book for a while until, in 2022, she was asked to write two. Chris has reached state retirement age but, as you can see, has not retired. Happily, her husband, having retired from a career in IT, has more time to be her technician, computer whizz, website maintainer, roadie, chauffeur, musician and incredible all-round help!
After coming off the national ACW committee Chris also wanted to do something more local. Since 2000 she has been running writing courses initially through Mole Valley District Council Arts Development and a similar course in Bookham weekly in school term time, plus groups for people with on-going writing projects. She has led other one-off writing days, locally and further afield, taken part in Arts Festivals, and given numerous talks about her books and related subjects.
In 2018 and 2019 she enjoyed leading some writing workshops in a women’s prison - and then Covid brought more changes when summer writing days stopped happening too. Happily, Ashburnham writing holidays continued when regulations allowed (we were classified as ‘education’) and Chris arranged monthly online meetings via Zoom for regulars stuck at home during the long first strict lockdown. Chris’ Thursday night writing group continued for 18 months via Zoom right through everyone’s ups and downs, a bright spot in all our weeks. ‘Write On’ still has three members on Zoom and the rest meeting in person, while ‘Writing from Life’ is back to autumn and spring terms, meeting in person only.
Chris had written shorter things but no book for a while until, in 2022, she was asked to write two. Chris has reached state retirement age but, as you can see, has not retired. Happily, her husband, having retired from a career in IT, has more time to be her technician, computer whizz, website maintainer, roadie, chauffeur, musician and incredible all-round help!
Other interests
Chris enjoys: gardening, photography, the countryside, walking, bird-watching (not twitching) reading, a good laugh and chatting with friends. Now her husband, John, has retired and they have grandchildren, a great joy. Chris and John are involved in two local churches where Chris leads communion and the non-musical side of worship sometimes.
Chris dislikes: driving, housework – especially clearing up, hype and formulae.
Chris enjoys: gardening, photography, the countryside, walking, bird-watching (not twitching) reading, a good laugh and chatting with friends. Now her husband, John, has retired and they have grandchildren, a great joy. Chris and John are involved in two local churches where Chris leads communion and the non-musical side of worship sometimes.
Chris dislikes: driving, housework – especially clearing up, hype and formulae.