About Chris G. Thelen
After working 35 years as a writer in advertising and public relations, Chris is now writing novels and blogging. He lives in Frankfort, Michigan and enjoys kayaking, biking, hiking and cross-country skiing. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from Michigan State University and a Master’s Degree from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He has been married to his wife Joanne for 41 years. The couple has two children.
On your nightstand now:
All Creatures Great and Small.
Favorite book when you were a child:
Harry the Dirty Dog. My older sister worked at a library. The book was being discarded so she brought it home to me. It was the first book I owned.
Your top five authors:
I don’t have a list of top authors, but there are books I’ve read because of the author. Doris Kearns Goodwin, Malcolm Gladwell, John Steinbeck, and Timothy Keller are a few that come to mind.
Book you’ve faked reading:
My family is a big fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I never read the books, but thanks to the movies, I pretend I read the books and converse with them about the characters and storyline.
Book you’re an evangelist for: Islands of Deception of course.
Book you’ve bought for the cover:
The Aviators by Winston Groom. The dramatic cover photo of a bomber intrigued me and then the list of aviators listed on the cover caught my attention.
Book you hid from your parents:
The books I read growing up were checked out from the school library or purchased through Scholastic book sales. There was nothing to hide.
Book that changed your life:
I read The Camera Never Blinks in high school. That book influenced my decision to major in broadcasting my first year of college. I eventually switched my major to journalism and news writing.
Favorite line from a book:
“And so, it begins.” Okay, so that’s a line from a “Lord of the Rings” movie, but I pretend I read it in the book.
Five books you’ll never part with:
When my wife and I moved to Frankfort, we downsized. While I did get rid of a lot of books, I must admit there are a lot more than five books that I’m finding hard to part with. A sampling of a few that remain on my shelf: Team of Rivals, Dune, Robert Kennedy and His Times, Prodigal God, Steve Jobs, First Love, and The Heart. I could go on, but that’s more than five.
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman.
