Exclusive Author Interview: A Brief Exploration of a Remarkable Poetic Universe
Original Publication Details: First published by Julia Kalman, in the NEW LITERARY SOCIETY, on June 14, 2024, in Romanian.
Dear Community, please delve into an exclusive interview with Ania Vilal, one of Romania’s finest contemporary poets. I’ve translated it into English just for you, featuring a profound poem, opening the volume “The Heart at Max.” Love it? Clap, comment, and share your thoughts on bringing the entire volume to English. Your feedback is invaluable to Ania, her publisher, and me. Prefer not to be tagged? Let us know. And don’t forget to follow our publication! Thanks! Happy reading!
Motto: I Am Here for Human.
That Special Moment
One fine day, you started writing poems/stories. How did it happen exactly?
AV: In the seventh or eighth grade, my essays in Romanian language class were praised for their sensitivity, earning me high marks.
It was then that my deskmate challenged me, believing I might also be a talented poet.
Art Is Work
What does your work as a writer consist of? What are the biggest challenges of the present?
AV: Calling it “work’” feels too strong.
Writing helps me find balance.
Challenges abound, not just at present.
Time remains the biggest and most persistent challenge.
To manage, I’ve established a flexible writing and transcription schedule to meet my deadlines.
Without Projects, There Is No Future
What are your representative projects? What projects are you working on?
AV: I’m currently completing a science fiction manuscript.
The Scent of Creation
Describe a scent that immediately transports you to a moment of inspiration or creativity. What emotions does it evoke, and how does it influence your creative process?
AV: Personally, scent isn’t a powerful enough trigger for my writing.
Instead, it’s sound — like music — or the absence of it.
I am most creative and can hear myself best when I’m alone.
Ink and Intimacy
If your writing style were a tactile experience, what texture would it be? How does the act of putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard make you feel on a deeply personal level?
AV: My writing style’s texture has no fixed shape; its sole mandate is to imbue a blank page with functionality.
How does the act of putting the pen on paper or fingers on the keyboard make you feel, at a deeply personal level?
AV: Joy and liberation.
The Harmony of Silence
Think about a moment when silence spoke louder than words in your creative journey. What were the circumstances, and how did it shape your understanding of your craft?
AV: In my opinion, silence is one of a writer’s greatest allies.
It illuminates the subtleties of reality.
There are invaluable moments of quiet, especially in the pauses between sentences.
I’ve had profound experiences with silence, but to explain them would diminish their significance.
The Palette of Dreams
Imagine your creative mind as a painter’s palette. What colors dominate your artistic spectrum, and how do they represent the different facets of your imagination?
AV: For me, blue holds the strongest representation because of my lifelong connection to water.
The Quill of Vulnerability
If your creative expression were a handwritten letter to your inner self, what truths and vulnerabilities would it unveil? How does the act of exposing your innermost thoughts contribute to your artistic identity?
AV: In my opinion, silence is as vital as speaking. I strive for simplicity and avoid getting bogged down in details.
My ‘weapon’ of choice for confronting a blank page is honesty.
Therefore, I embrace vulnerability in theory, believing it gives readers — or anyone else — space to embrace their own vulnerabilities.
Symphony of Shadows
Consider a character or theme in your work that embodies the shadows of your own psyche. What does this shadow teach you about your fears, desires, or unexplored dimensions of your creativity?
Is that the case?
AV: In my opinion, anxiety is both a theme and a character in my work.
I delve into a spectrum of fears, ranging from profound to minor, which are inherent to human experience and enrich our comprehension of ourselves and others.
Echoes of Childhood Whispers
Recall a childhood memory that resonates with you as a writer. How do the echoes of your early experiences manifest in your work today?
AV: As a child, I dreamed of becoming a doctor to help others.
Although I didn’t pursue that path, I believe my writing fulfills that aspiration in its own way.
The strong feminine figures in my life — particularly my mother and maternal grandmother — significantly influenced my childhood and adolescence.
They continue to inspire and appear prominently in my poetry volumes Me, the Strong Mom, and You and The Heart at Max.
Melodies of Memory
If your memories were composed as a musical score, what instrument would represent your most cherished creative recollections? How does the melody of your past influence the composition of your present work?
AV: For me, the piano and violin are the most inspiring instruments during my creative process.
I draw inspiration from a variety of musicians, including classical composers like Debussy and Bach, as well as contemporary artists such as Sigur Rós.
Their music has profoundly influenced several poems in my book ‘The Heart at Max.’
Additionally, works by Ólafur Arnalds, Max Richter, Röyksopp, and others continue to stimulate my creative endeavors.
The Dance of Words
If your writing style were a dance, what would be the rhythm and tempo? How does the cadence of your sentences mirror the beating of your creative heart?
AV: My writing style is akin to a slow dance — deliberately unhurried.
I derive joy from taking my time.
Admiration Exercises
Which writers do you admire? What are your favorite books?
AV: Marguerite Duras (“The Malady of Death”), Nora Iuga (“The Swan with Two Entrances”), José Saramago (“Blindness”).
An Indiscreet Question
With which influential author or inspirational figure from life, past or present, would you most like to share a cup of tea and a captivating conversation?
AV: I would love the opportunity to learn more about Marguerite Duras’ approach to adapting her stories for the big screen.
A Story in Ten Words
AV: Near its heart, an unidentified organism guards a black cube.
A Favorite Fragment from Your Works
AV: The poem opening the volume “The Heart at Max”:
I am a wound,
here, here,
encircling you,
I know not where to rest,
where to bleed anew.
grant me purpose,
and I shall render you human.
Contact Information
How can you be contacted?
AV: E-mail: poeziadelangatine@yahoo.com
Blog/Author Page/Social Media Profile
AV: Blog: Poem (thelastpoemstanding.blogspot.com
Profil FB: Facebook
Where can we read your stories?
AV: You can find my most recent volume, still available for sale, at the following links:
AV: Additionally, the poetry collection Me, the Strong Mom, and You has been released in French by Edilivre Publishing, based in Paris.
What exactly would you like to convey to a fellow writer/editor/screenwriter/film producer?
Present your writings in a few words.
AV: Sure.
· Me, the Strong Mom, and You: The central themes revolve around the mother’s presence and the father’s absence in the family narrative, addressing challenging topics related to trauma and abuse which can be more easily supported by empathetic individuals.
· The Heart at Max: This second poetry collection explores profound emotions and experiences inspired by music and endangered languages.
It is structured into three chapters, each focusing on the exploration and development of inner worlds.
· The Wall, Then the Sole Sea on Earth: A micro-novel that explores personal and familial journeys.
It follows a family through a mysterious forest in pursuit of a deeper calling — the sea — leaving behind their shared sense of security.
Embers of Endings
Envision the conclusion of a significant project. How do you feel as you pen the final words or brush the last strokes? What is the emotional resonance of completion, and how does it influence your anticipation for the next artistic endeavor?
AV: A mix of happiness, relief, and anxiety — emotions heightened by what I believe my readers are about to experience.
Julia Kalman 