Q: Can you tell us a bit about Tarnish: Bridge over Clouds?
A: The Tarnish characters’ psychological pressures are put to the test, no character is more important than another and the language itself changes with situations. There is a sense of individuality about Tarnish in that my presence is felt as another layer beneath the other layers. I hope that Tarnish: Bridge over Clouds is an original breath of fresh air.
Q: How has your cultural background affected your writing?
A: The Tarnish landscape is an exaggerated metaphor of favourite places situated in my natal country, Romania. I suppose there is also a sense of religious wandering and confusion echoing what I have felt as an outsider.
Q: What plans do you have for the future?
A: Fakery: Bridge over Clouds, the sequel to Tarnish, will be coming out by the middle of June 2001. I find it very tempting to write a third in the series and turn Bridge over Clouds into a trilogy. Firstly I will experiment with different genres like short stories, poetry and ‘modern stagnation’.
Q: What has been your major inspiration sources?
A: The driving source has been to prove myself as the first international Romanian writer. The Communist era dried up most of our souls so I am glad to have this chance. There are too many creative sources to name as inspiration so I will do the sensible thing and mention Mihai Eminescu and Ion Creanga.
Q: In your opinion, what is the hardest thing about writing?
A: Persuading yourself, as a writer, that you are saying something worthwhile. If you’re aiming high then pleasing the inner devil can be a difficult task. Blank paper is also intimidating.
Q: What music, if any, most inspires you to write? What do you like to listen to while writing?
A: Experience made me paranoid of silence so I am always listening to music while writing. This is the appropriate time to pay my dues to Jimi Hendrix for his ‘yonder’ influence on Tarnish.
Q: What has the Internet meant for you as an author?
A: Internet has opened up the introductory path that might otherwise have taken me a much longer time to find. I agree – a lot of the time the Internet is frustrating and you wait for the apple to fall but there’s always bits and pieces to brighten and create temporary enthusiasm.
