Interview Bronagh Curran - English version
op 30 april 2016
door
In het spoor van de eclips
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Hier kan je het orginele interview vinden met Bronagh Curran! Liever in het Nederlands? Die vind je op de We love Ya site binnen hebban. Om er te komen kunt u op deze link klikken https://www.hebban.nl/p/weloveya/nieuws/interview-met-bronagh-curran
What has been your trigger to write this story. If you look at thes actual themes like bullying, friendship and death?
There wasn’t one particular trigger that set this story in motion for me, but a few ideas coming together at the same time. I remember sitting at my desk in work one day and just feeling compelled to google astronomy, I never had any interest in it but once I read about the total solar eclipse set for Kentucky in 2017 I instantly thought it would make a great backdrop for a novel. At the time I was in the middle of writing the third installment of a series of books that I have been trying to get published for three years. Once the eclipse got into my head I had to abandon what I was working on and dedicate my writing time to this new idea. I knew I wanted the story to be more about friendship than romance and I have always loved stories about friendships between young and old – they have so much to teach each other and the reader. I started off with my protagonist, who was originally called Albie, but then I saw a movie called Stuck in Love and the character played by Nat Wolff so embodied the character I wanted to create, I changed his name to Nat. The image of the old recluse in his house came to me next and as I traveled further through the story it all just clicked into place.
How do you feel about the comparison with John Green?
When I read The Fault in Our Stars I struggled with conflicting reactions, on one hand I felt inspired and compelled to write in the hope of one day creating something that could possibly make a reader feel the way John Green made me feel. But then I doubted that I ever could come close to his genius and there was no point in even trying. So when I saw Gottmer were promoting me ‘for fans of John Green’ I was overwhelmed. It was the greatest honour I could have imagined. Writers are readers too and like you we have our heroes – Mr. Green is mine and any comparisons to him will always be greatly appreciated
A lot of people want to know how you end up here in The Netherlands. Did you send your book to Gottmer or found Gottmer you?
I have an agent here in Ireland who looks after my English rights and a foreign rights agent who looks after my foreign language rights. Both agents attend different book fairs throughout the year and in spring 2015 my foreign agent sold the Dutch rights to Gottmer at the Bologna Book Fair. It was very unusual as most books sell in their native language first and although other countries were interested, The Netherlands were the only ones willing to take a chance on an unknown writer from Ireland who had never been published in her own language. I can not even put into words how much that meant to me and how grateful I am.
Did you have inspiration for this book?
Inspirations for the book came from various places, the idea of one little lie having a ripple effect on lots of lives came from Ian McKeown’s Atonement, the little book of foreign words came from an article on Metal Floss, the Neil Diamond song On the Way to the Sky represents William’s story. I had so much fun researching this book, I made a Pinterest board and a Spotify playlist, I taught myself how to play chess in theory. I even asked my scientist friend to recommend a ‘romantic’ physic experiment and she came up with the sunset in a glass. I loved every minute of writing this book, I’m still sad it’s over.
How did you come up witch the idea of Nat stutter?
I gave Nat a stutter as I wanted him to have some physical impairment so as to create common ground with Quincy. The first conversation I wrote between the two of them was the cup breaking scene, where Nat asks Quincy ‘what’s wrong with you anyway?’ By likening his condition to Nats, Quincy instantly connects them. I also wanted the stutter to represent Nat’s frustration at not being able to communicate with the world around him and as he grew in Quincy’s friendship and learned how to be himself, the stutter abated. In fact throughout all the conversations between Nat and Quincy, I intentionally reduced the stuttering.
You live in Ireland and the story takes place in the USA. Is that because of the eclips or is the USA just a place you like to write about?
Of course Kentucky was chosen as that is where the real eclipse will take place, Montana was then chosen as that is the place where the last USA eclipse occurred and I liked the idea of Quincy’s story beginning and ending between those two events. I have written a previous book set in Boston but my first book – the series- is set in Dublin. So the place really depends on the idea – I would write about any place if that’s where the story takes me.
Eventhough the rights aren't sold yet in the UK. Do you think you gonna write a prequel or sequel? Or write another book?
I will absolutely write another book – and I really hope the ones I have already written will be published too someday. But as far as a sequel or prequel to The Path of Totality – right now I think the story has ended for these characters. But you never know, maybe if a really great idea for Nat and Celeste hit me I would give it a try.
A lot of people liked the cover. Did you pick this cover or had this idea to make this cover or was it somebody els?
I wish I could take credit for the cover but no, it was nothing to do with me. It is all the work of the extremely talented artist Helin Tazelaar. When Gottmer emailed me the image I couldn’t believe how perfect it was, I couldn’t have imagined anything better. Maybe I am biased but I think it is one of the most beautiful book covers I’ve ever seen.
What is your favorite book?
There is one book that will forever be my favourite. Pride and Prejudice. I read it first when I was 14 and forming all my views on the world and I can honestly say it shaped my whole life. I read it while also watching a now famous BBC adaption and the whole experience had such a profound effect on me that I decided I wanted to adapt books for the screen for a living, four years later I even chose to study media in the hope of getting into this line of work. Every time I go back to it I discover new nuances in Austen's sublime and clever prose, I adore her.
What do you think of the Dutch title 'In het spoor van de eclips'? (In the wake of the eclips)
I think In Het Spoor Van de Eclips is a great title as it is more literal to the content of the story. But The Path of Totality for me has two meanings, one being the obvious astronomical occurrence, the other being the journey each character completes within the story.
When did you know that you wanted to write? Is that something that you wanted to do als a child or did it develop in the years?
I always liked to write and English was always my strongest subject at school. My mother has a great imagination and she always made up stories for us as kids. I wrote bad poetry as a teenager but apart from my school work I never wrote any fiction. The truth is I never felt I had anything worth saying. I worked as a journalist for six years after college and writing for a living took any love for it away. But a few years after giving that up I was in the children’s section of my local library and I commented to my friend how bad the books were, that some writers treat children like they’re stupid and why don’t they credit them with more intelligence. My friend, being the practical straight talker she is, said, ‘why don’t you write one then.’ So as silly as it sounds, I tried it. I wrote my first book in three months and haven’t stopped since.
With which 3 words would you describe your book?
The three words I would use to describe the book are: Hopeful, Compassionate and Liberating.
Is there any message that you tried to bring in this book? So yes what message?
There are lots of messages in the book I suppose - don't judge others or assume you know things about them, don't waste your life and love on someone who is not worthy of it and most importantly simply be yourself – bad parts and all. The right people will love you in spite of them.
Are you coming to Holland any time soon?
I would love to come to Holland, especially to meet all you wonderful Hebban bookclubbers. I have no plans at the moment but I promise you’ll be the first to know if I do. Thank you guys so much for making this such a wonderful experience for me. And thank you to Holland for taking my book under its wing! You are all zo mooi
