Writer Ana T. Kralj chats with me today about her new literary fiction hybrid novel, The Visit.
Bio:
Ana T. Kralj is a writer and translator. In her work, she touches on the themes of war and societal change, coming of age, an individual’s place in the society and the wider sense of belonging. She explores the concept of time, looking for spaces where past and present coexist, as well as broader notions of human freedom or lack thereof. Her work has appeared in BlazeVOX journal and Tupelo Quarterly. Ana was born and raised in Slovenia. The Visit is her debut novel.
Welcome, Ana. Please tell us about your current release.
In the words of the poet Carla Drysdale: “In The Visit, Ana T. Kralj has created a profound and deftly braided portrayal of what it means to be both fragile and powerful. The interweave of pristine prose and an echoing poem bind the reader with Luna through the barren and lush landscapes of Finland and Slovenia as she navigates the narrows to selfhood. Survival isn’t guaranteed. As Luna deals with the grief of war, the challenges of university life and the complexities of love, friendship and family, she discovers what there is to live for.”
What inspired you to write this book?
It started with a state of mind. I had quit my job, and suddenly felt a kind of freedom I didn’t remember ever feeling before in my life. There was a children’s party happening somewhere, and balloons were tied in a bunch outside the door. One of the balloons got loose and started floating up. I stood on the street, a quiet street in a small town in New York, watching the balloon go up, and I felt immense freedom, immense happiness. I still remember that moment very clearly. That was the first spark. It’s right there, on the first page. But after that, of course, when I started working on the actual story, lots of things sneaked in. Like the war we lived in the 90s, and the struggles of becoming an adult … all this came later.
Excerpt from The Visit:
Empty road opens before me. Flat and long, it stretches out, into the distance. It’s a November-gray day, and I am by myself. In my hand, I hold a ribbon with a blue balloon attached to it.
I open my fist. The ribbon slides from my hand. The balloon flies up, toward the large, gray clouds that hang low in the sky, and is gone.
I am free.
What exciting project are you working on next?
I’m working on a sort of a prequel to The Visit, at least as far as setting is concerned. It takes place in a small town in Yugoslavia, in the 70s and 80s, when the breakup of the country was unimaginable. A novel of regret and missed opportunities, I was told by my critique partners (laugh).
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I was five and learned to read.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I am lucky to be writing full time, since the day I quit my job (laugh). Here is my ideal writing day: I write all day, then I go for a run, which is also part of my writing process. When I have ideas, I am just transcribing what’s going on in my mind. In a way, that’s a very technical thing. I love that stage of writing as I get surprised all the time, but it also means I am emotionally unavailable for those around me and snappy if disturbed. On the other hand, when I am putting together a novel, working on transitions, editing and polishing, I seem more relaxed, as I am not worried an idea will run away before I’ll be able to record it. But in reality, I don’t like this stage. It’s hard work, and there are days you don’t see any good results.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I get most of my writing-related questions resolved when I run. The answers just appear and all I need is to record them on my phone. So if for some reason I can’t run, I get severely stuck and moody, too.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I’d love to write a funny book. That’s my long term writing goal. But so far, nothing I write comes out funny, at least not for the reader. What I mean is, I may find stuff in my stories funny, but others don’t…
Thank you, Lisa, for hosting me! It was lovely chatting with you.