By: Azad Karimi
I had many years of not doing creative stuff and under that time I sometimes felt like I was lost. But it also makes me frustrated. So it’s absolutely a mix but I wouldn't want to be without it.
Interview
Swedish Author/Novelist Marit Sahlström
By Azad Karimi
Ms. Marit and I are close friends and colleagues. She is a Swedish writer and novelist.
When she came to Snåsa in Northern Trøndelag area I was in refugee’s camp. Ine ,my dear friend was camp’s advisor. She recommended me meet Marit Sahlström.
I met Marit and she gave me her new book Och runt mig faller världen (And around me the world falls).She told me :Azad! You are my first friend from Kurdistan-Iran. I have many kurdish friends from Turkey,Iraq and Syria.
Thank you dear Marit, You have been a source of inspiration to me over the years and I am very proud that you have allowed me to be friends with you. God Bless you!
I wish Marit a long life with success and most of her literary flourishing in the world arena. I hope Kurdish and other language translators will translate her works and make the literature of their nation richer with it.
Thank you!
Vestland-Norway
1- Please present yourself (Name, education, job, Civil status and…)
.Marit Sahlström, lives in Stockholm but are born in the north of Sweden. I'm an author and educator. I'm married and have two wild kids.
2-what is your cultural specialize?
.I write novels and theatre plays. I have written two novels, the first one”Och runt mig faller världen” (The world falls around me) and the second one”Skred” (Slide). Both my novels treats difficulties in life, I want to take away shame and guilt around mental health issues and illness.
3- When and how did you become interested in this field of culture?
.I read very much as a child, it was my escape way when life was messy. And I started to write as very young, but did not give it a real chance until I was older.
4- Who was your motivator?
A friend of mine was the first one that I showed my novel to and she supported me very strongly, that meant a lot for me. I think that without her support I might not dared to send it to a publisher.
5- What was your parent's reaction?
. My dad is very proud I think, my mum died before my first novel was published but when I wrote for stage and was acting she was always there to see me. But I also know that she was worried about me choosing culture work because of the financial difficulties it brings. And she was right, it’s sometimes very hard, but I'm still happy about it.
6- When started you such as a professional Author, Poet?
. In 2000 I, together with a friend, wrote a theatre piece that was put on stage. My first novel was published in 2015, it took me 11 years to finish it, my second came 2019.
7- Are you thankful and happy because of your activities as an Author- Writer-Poet?
.I'm happy because it keeps me alive inside, in contact with what’s important. I had many years of not doing creative stuff and under that time I sometimes felt like I was lost. But it also makes me frustrated. So it’s absolutely a mix but I wouldn't want to be without it.
8- How you see the view, the future of literature, culture?
. You are a writer; you should have a opinion… I think that culture is very important for a society, both for people to create themselves in school and on their spare time and professional. There is a great changing power in culture, such as movies, plays, novels and so one, to show other worlds and thoughts. I think a society without culture is a dangerous place, where it’s hard to breathe.
9- Can you become one part of the cultural movement for motivation in youth or new generation in your country and so than?
. I would like to. I work with young people whom have problems in school and I also have courses in creative writing, so I think our youngsters and kids are really important. And also it’s so fun to work with them.
10- How can you help our world become a better place for living?
. I often wish I did more but sometimes my own life takes all my energy and sometimes I don't know how and where stop start.
I try to be kind and help others. My novels are about mental health issues and I want to question how we as a society sees and sometimes judge people, for example we easily blame the parents if a child have mental health problems but the situation is often so complex, many different reasons can effect. And is this society we live in right now made for people? I think that sometimes efficiency and consuming makes it in to an inhumane world.
11- Have you more word to say or suggestion for our readers?
.It's easy to think that writing is just for some people, so many let their internal criticism stop them. Find what story that is important to you and it will also be important for others. And even if you don't show the text to anyone it changes you, gives you a new perspective to write it down and read it.
