BY GREGG KELLY

AFTER years of battling negativity and self-doubt, Chris Morris is getting the final word.

The 29-year-old Renfrewshire man is about to release his debut novel Warriors of Piathos: The Circle of Destiny under his pen name, Chrys KM.

It has been quite a journey for Chris, who has had to cope with non-epileptic seizures, dyspraxia and Tourette syndrome – a neurological disorder characterised by repetitive involuntary movements and vocalisations.

He has always had a passion for the fantastical, which helped him dream up the Warriors of Piathos universe.

In his book, which is aimed at teens and young adults, Chris tells of 10 humans who are bestowed with an ancient power that must be protected at all costs.

He told The Gazette: “I used to create these characters while playing with my friends and, even though we all grew up, the characters stayed with me and, as I got older, I developed them.

“I’ve been finishing this book for nearly two years, whilst also dealing with other students and lecturers telling me to get my head out of the clouds.

“It was those clouds and other worlds that inspired the Warriors of Piathos.

“The characters are the heart of the story. Whether gods, angels or magical beings, the more mystical the character, the more human I tried to make them.

“I spent a bit of time studying psychology to help me write from inside their mind. I tried to make them more than just characters.”

With plans to create an eight-novel, three-arc story, Chris is hoping Warriors Of Piathos, which deals with the universal themes of power, love, betrayal and death, will be the start of something special.

In the meantime, he is about to start a new challenge as a teaching assistant and is hoping to open FrostBite Comics – a “hang-out spot” where other comic book enthusiasts and writers can feel inspired.

Chris, who attended Mary Russell School, in Paisley, from a young age all the way through to sixth year, said: “I want to be like the guys who helped to inspire me – people like my loyal friend Andrew Clark, who pushed me on, or my editor Corbin Miles, who gave me tough love when I needed it.

“I’m nervously excited about the book launch, as it’s such a huge part of my life, and this is only the first book – there’s a whole universe to explore.”

Warriors of Piathos: The Circle of Destiny will be published on Friday, June 28.

The following day, Chris will stage a meet-and-greet event in conjunction with the book launch at the Comicrazy coffee bar, in Old Sneddon Street, Paisley, from 4pm until 5.30pm.

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond