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 The
Reverend Graham Taylor is a country vicar who has become an overnight
international literary sensation. His debut novel, Shadowmancer,
has already sold 250,000 copies and features in the top ten children’s
books in the UK, rivalled only by J K Rowling’s Harry Potter.
Shadowmancer, a tale of vicars and sorcery, is set in 18th century
Yorkshire and has been described as ‘darker than magic, and
more powerful than witchcraft’. His second novel, Wormwood,
is to be launched in June and he is in negotiations for a film
of Shadowmancer.
Graham Taylor has led a colourful and eventful life and was a punk
rocker when he left school, living in a tower block in London with
20 other punks, blasting out the music of the Sex Pistols and Clash
all night long. Eventually, he returned to Yorkshire, was reconciled
with his parents and at 25 joined the Police Force. He studied theology
part-time at Durham University and was ordained while still in the
force and now divides his time between writing and his parish.
Graham spoke to us recently about his life and work.
Q. What was your childhood like?
A. I grew up in a council house on a large estate; my father was
a shoemaker and my mother a canteen cook – so it was a pretty
normal childhood.
Q. Did you enjoy school?
A. No-I was expelled from school for been stupid and getting into
trouble. I was very rebellious and now regret that very much. I finally
left school with 4 O levels, and now realise that all the kids who
towed the line, now have the best jobs and the biggest houses.
Q. What jobs have you had since leaving school?
A. My first job was a glass collector in a night club. Since then,
I’ve worked as a Police Officer, Priest and Author
Q. How does a high school drop out become a bestselling author?
By waiting a long time and studying life. Every experience you
have in life is never wasted. Without those experiences, I wouldn’t
be a best selling author. It’s been a long hard road shared
with a really good companion.
Q. What instigated you to become a Vicar?
A. I just knew it was what God had for my life. You can only run
so far away from God before he grabs you by the scruff of the neck
and pulls you back. As I grew up, he let me grow through the rebellion
and just kept waiting for me. He was there on every street corner
picking me up and dusting me off and then waited till I fell off
the road again. Eventually, I had to listen to Him. He was a very
loud voice and you can’t get away.
 Q. Have you always been interested in religion and the occult?
A. Yes, since a very early age – there has to be something
after death and that is something that I have been exploring.
Q. Where did you get the idea for Shadowmancer?
A. I really don’t know – it happened one night. The
story just came to me
Q. Has being in the public eye affected your family?
A. No, because I’m a very private person and don’t
let my family get involved
Q. Do people treat you differently?
A. They do and not always in a positive way – people are
obsessed about money and want to know how much you earn.
Q. I understand that you recently had a health scare. How will this
affect your future plans?
A. I will be leaving my post as clergyman in the next year to concentrate
on writing, to get healthy and write six more books. My ideal scenario
in life would be living in a small house with a nice garden surrounded
by family and friends and eating chocolate without any calories.
Q. You have three per-teenage daughters, what will you tell them
when they ask you about your rebel teenage years?
A. I am very open about my early life – all my skeletons are
on the outside of the cupboard. My children often ask what it was
like to be a weird kid so I tell them; now, it’s like talking
about another person because I have been transformed so much
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