Carys Shannon’s Biography - for media use
Short bio:
Carys Shannon is originally from North Gower, Swansea, and now lives in the Spanish Pyrenees with her partner and rescue cat. She has had short stories published by Honno Press, Parthian Books and Mslexia Magazine, as well as broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Her debut novel, Truth Like Water, is published by Parthian Books in September, 2025. When not writing, Carys is happiest enjoying slow time in big nature.
Full bio:
Carys Shannon is originally from rural North Gower in Swansea and now works between Wales and Spain as a writer and creative coach.
She studied Drama at Aberystwyth University before starting out in arts marketing, she then became a theatre producer, working for over a decade with companies like National Theatre Wales, Sgript Cymru, Volcano Theatre Company and other socially engaged arts projects. In 2013, after going freelance, Carys wrote and performed I’m Listening – A Case for Empathy, a solo performance based on grief and active listening.
Later in 2013, in what she describes as, “a very late coming of age experience”, Carys moved to Spain for what was meant to be a year but turned into a new life entirely. One day she’d like to write about it. Since moving, she’s always worked between Wales and Spain.
In 2017, Carys graduated from the University of South Wales with an MPhil in Writing. She has had short stories published in anthologies by Honno Press and Parthian Books, as well as Mslexia Magazine. She was shortlisted for the 2021 Rhys Davies Short Story Award and the 2012 Terry Hetherington Award. Nonfiction publications include WomanKind magazine, YES Magazine and International House Journal. Her latest short story Pwca’s Garden was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2023.
Carys’ first novel, Truth Like Water, was awarded a Literature Wales development grant and has been longlisted for the Bath and Mslexia Novel Awards and shortlisted for the Caledonia Novel Award. In 2020 the first five-hundred words of the novel won the Jericho Writers Festival of Writing Prize.
Carys now lives in the Spanish Pyrenees with her partner and rescue cat. When she’s not writing, she’s happiest outside, enjoying slow time in big nature, or helping out at the local animal shelter.
Author photo (C) Carys Shannon.
Hello, I’m Carys - here’s a little about me:
I grew up in a tiny Welsh hamlet that overlooked a cockle-filled estuary.
The library van came once a week and the butchers van every other, mostly the ice-cream van didn’t bother at all. The nearest city, Swansea, felt far away. In my world there were wild ponies, the marsh, dangerous rising tides, and hidden secrets in the mud. Seeing friends meant an hour’s walk. Getting to town felt impossible. There were books too, magical doorways into other worlds, where exciting adventures happened.
Writing, nature, and creativity have always been the through lines of my life, but it wasn’t easy to claim my voice as a writer. I didn’t feel like I belonged.
For years, I struggled to write what was truest for me and believe in myself. It took time, encouragement and many, many drafts to develop the confidence, consistency, and resilience required to get my work into the hands of readers.
Now, I feel lucky to say that my work has been broadcast by the BBC and published by Parthian Books, Honno Press and Mslexia Magazine. My debut novel for adults, Truth Like Water, inspired by the estuary I grew up, on will be published in 2025.
I’ve always written (and loved reading), but it took me a long time to call myself a writer and believe that my voice matters. I offer creative support sessions to help other writers and creatives find their way to their work and their audience.
Remember: the myth of the lone genius artist is just that - it takes a village, and it’s never too late to start!