The author of the blog Kraina Czytania
(The Land of Reading) talks to the writer – Agnes Steur – about literature, her
new book “The War in Jangblisia. In That World” and her emigration experience.
Agnes, first of all I would like to
ask you, what exactly happened in your life that made you decide to devote
yourself to writing literature? I think, the desire to tell various stories to
the other must have its origin somewhere?
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| Photo by Arnold Nienhuis |
It seems to me that writing
has always been a part of me. My desire to recount has no source in a specific
event of my life. Certain topics have their source, but not creation, it is in
me. It is not the result, but rather content. On the one hand, it is an
internal need to shed thoughts, ideas upon paper, and on the other hand the
desire to meet another person in this unique way, thanks to what I do. Since
being a little girl I changed my dreams into stories and shed them on paper. In
this way they became true. When I went abroad, writing has gained one more
dimension, it has become a very important that accentuate my identity. I am
writing in Polish, and therefore I do not lose what I left behind.
Recently, your
debut novel has been released, entitled “The War in Jangblisia. In That World”.
It is a fantasy novel aimed primarily to young people. Why did you choose this
group of readers as recipients of your work?
Each stage of human life
has its magic, but it seems to me that stepping into adulthood is a sensitive
and unique moment. There is a lot of decision-making during that period. Young
people are no longer children, but they still believe in fairy tales. No peak
is too high, but the real world is now perceived with all senses. Rebellion,
questioning of the values and searching for their own path, these are very
important. My children are now facing the border of this stage, and I will
watch their way with great curiosity. How they will handle the changes. I
really wish that they could preserve something of their childishness, but also
enter the new phase of life with certainty. Sometimes I think that I also do
not want to lose this particle of innocence that is in me, which makes me like
children’s and youth literature.
I must admit that
when I was reading your story I was pleasantly surprised by its originality.
Mostly it is so that the characters of “our world” in some magical way get into
the world of fairy tales, where they meet a variety of creatures. It is the
other way around in your case. How did you come up with this idea to send
foreign entities on a journey to the world of men?
For many years I have been
living outside the Polish border. I became an emigrant, and at one point I was
terrified by the fact, that this one word somehow defines me as a whole person.
In those experiences I found and inspiration for my book. The problem of being
an alien is very fascinating to me. I have figured out long time ago that his
feeling is a state of mind in large extent. Alienation is often the inner part
of a man, and not something exterior. This consciousness is not comforting. In
addition, living in another country has convinced me that sometimes, what is
obvious may become strange, and everyday life of other people can really
surprise us. I wanted to show the known world, as a stranger. The reverse
process was very important to me. Thanks to that, Jangblisians came to the
reader, or the reader discovered Jangblisia in himself/herself. After all,
there is plenty of “ordinariness” around us that we do not understand. We do
not have to leave to ask ourselves the question: why is it just the way it is,
and why (horror of horrors!) so many people agree on it in silence?
Your novel contains
a number of universal values such as love, friendship, tolerance, but also there
is no shortage of what is bad. Why do you think so many writers still focus on
the battle between Good and Evil? This problem, discussed in so many
publications, may prove to be dull and wordy for many readers. Weren’t you
afraid of this kind of criticism while creating the plot for your novel?
While creating Jangblisia I
was afraid of criticism, but it is not on this topic. I firmly believe that
there is content that will never become boring. Maybe it is cliché, but the
struggle between Good and Evil takes place in each of us. I do not mean extreme
situations like war, but those quite ordinary. We make decisions every day,
that in some way affect us and the others. It is important to allow the Good to
win in this area. These are universal themes. It is a bit like asking whether a
book about love ever become boring, or criminal stories, or vampires and magic.
The next generations will be fascinated about them, and while for some these
themes are a bit wordy, they should be repeated.
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| Photo by Arnold Nienhuis |
The world of
Jangblisians that you created is on the one hand a world very similar to ours,
but on the other hand it can also be deducted that it significantly differs
from the reality that surrounds people. Of course, I have in mind mainly the
residents of Jangblisia. How did you manage to create such original characters
with very peculiar appearance and tastes?
I let my imagination run
wild. I realize that to come up with something new is almost impossible. New
things are usually a mix of what is already there. But I really wanted
something on my own. My work is dictated by what is happening in my life. One
day the children asked about evolution and what different people say about it.
In response to their various questions I came up with an idea that maybe I will
create a story, in which evolution will develop in different directions.
Everyone ask themselves, what if. My response has become the story of another
place.
Let’s also recall that
your novel has been born by the extraordinary illustrations of Ewa Kieńko
Gawlik. Where did the idea come from to enrich the visuals of your book?
I have known Ewa for many
years. I have always admired her work. Working with her is a pleasure, and I am
sure that we will show up as a duo again more than once. She is a very gentle
person with an unusual strength. The most painful is that we live so far apart.
Every encounter with Ewa is very inspirational to me. It is a pity that there
are not so many meetings. The moment, when the queen Zara emerged in my head, I
knew that Ewa must create the visual part of the book. The drawings themselves
were changing during the draw. First, we wanted them to be sketches, but Ewa
suggested adding some colours. I told her how I saw the images and she just
poured them onto the paper and each time she surprised me, because what she
created was more beautiful than how I had imagined them.
As an emigrant you
are actively working for Polish community in the Netherlands. Could you tell
the readers what this activity is about, and what it brings to your life and the
Poles living abroad?
It deals with various
Polish activities. Very often, these are actions related to culture. Currently
I am a member of the jury in the competition of poetry for children “I Would
Like To Be Like Tuwim!”, organized by The Literary Correspondence Club of The Young
Polish. I receive wonderful poems written by children living outside Polish
borders. Involvement gives me great joy, but also makes me worried, because I
have to make a decision. The kids are fantastic, but I have to say, that one is
better, and someone else is worse – a huge responsibility. The subject of
bilingual children in Netherlands is very important to me. There are parents
that neglect Polish language of their children, but also those, who have a lot
of doubts in this matter. I also meet parents, who only have to hear that there
are others who have to face the same problems. I get involved in the Polish
community meetings and talk about bilingualism and its good sides. Thanks to
that, I also get to know wonderful people. These are unforgettable moments.
You also won
several literary awards and honors, among which is the distinction of Marshal
of the Senate of the Republic of Poland himself for Polish and Polish Diaspora
Journalists. It must be an extraordinary prize for you, isn’t it? Do you
remember how you felt, when you found out that it was you to be granted?
It was my first award in a
foreign land. I was very proud because I got it for my journalistic debut. I
was also very pleased, when I had the opportunity to meet the Marshal of the
Senate personally. Then also for the first time I understood, what the
author-reader relationship is. After the publication or the winning texts I
began to receive letters from people, who experienced “something” while reading
them. When I hear or read that my works raised feelings or gave something, this
is the greatest reward.
A short literary
form is also not a stranger to you because you can indeed write a fantastic
story with an original message. It is also planned to publish a collection of
your essays. Can you tell the readers what topics you discuss in them, and to
whom they are addressed?
My first texts that have
been published in the Polish community press were essays concerning life on
emigration. Eventually, I began to write about everything. For several years I
have been working with the “Polish Stage” in Netherlands. Also writing for Lejdiz Magazine
in England is a reason to be proud. When in 2011 I worked with PNKV in
Netherlands, I was offered to release my essays, which then have quite
accumulated, in the form of a book. This project is very important to me
because it will be a bilingual edition and will be called “Words for internal
use”. Reading my words in a different language is strange, exciting and a
little unreal.
You have already
had your first author meeting, which took place in your hometown in Poland. Was
it a very stressful event for you as a debutant?
The first author meeting
was a very stressful experience for me. I must admit to you that there were
times, when I thought that I would be the first ever debutant, who will pass away
during this kind of meeting. Now when I have it over with, I can, with hand on
my heart, say that evening in Walbrzych in the Library beneath
Atlanteans will remain one of the most pleasant memories. I met so many nice
and warm people. Not only people from my past came to the meeting, but also
strangers, who shook my hands and shared their experiences.
Are you planning to
do more author meetings, for example in the Netherlands?
Meetings with readers are
wonderful and certainly, as soon as opportunity arises, will be organized. In
the nearest future there will be meetings in Netherlands with the readers of my second book,
a collection of essays.
Perhaps it is still
too early to ask you about this, but I am curious whether you want to write
just for the youth, or maybe are you planning to write a novel addressed to
adult readers?
At the moment I am absorbed
by the further fate of Jangblisians, I also began a series of fairy tales for
children. I have a lot of ideas in my head. I think one day I will write
something addressed to adults. Now, however, I will remain for some time in the
world of fairy tales and fantasy.
As far as I know, “The
War in Jangblisia. In That World” was released at the same time in Poland, the Netherlands and England. Is there a difference between
retrieval of the book by readers from these three countries? Or maybe their
tastes are the same everywhere?
This is true. The reception
varies greatly, but the difference of tastes is not the reason. Emigrants are
adult people, who work hard and often do not have the time to journey into the
world of fantasy. They come abroad with children, who go to school here and
very quickly begin to read in language of the country. Youth living in the Netherlands read practically only in Dutch, so maybe
if I can translate my book, I will get more readers. Of course, this is not a
rule, but unfortunately it is true for majority. Anyway, seeing “Jangblisia”
published in Dutch is my next dream to be realized.
I know that your
debut novel is just the beginning of the story of Jangblisians. This story is
supposed to be a trilogy. Therefore, when can we expect a continuation of this
unique tale?
I wish that the second part
will be published a year after releasing of the first one. I hope that I will
cope with the challenge. I know already that this book will be more extensive. The
characters live in my head and force me to write. “The War In Jangblisia. In
That World”, it is just the beginning. In the next part, the storylines develops
and the answers of the earlier questions come.
Agnes, I would like
to thank you for your time and I wish you every success at the threshold of
your literary career.
Thank you for this
conversation and the opportunity to be your guest.
This interview is published also on Link to Poland - click here
If you want to read this interview in Polish, please click here
