Interview with a Writer

I inserted the tape, and pressed 'play'.

So, first things first. Tell me, are you writing under a pen name, or is this your real name?

It is my name.

Is it your real name then? I mean, were you given this name by your parents, or down the years, you decided to give yourself this name…

What's in a name? A rose that we call by any other, would smell as sweet.

You are evading the question.

Is this really that important to you?

Yes.

It is my name. My real name.

-

Are you happy now?

It is not about that.

Look, we know I don't do interviews. And I know I am probably the last writer you want to be interviewing. But since we are here, let's just get the job done all right?

All right. So let's talk about your work. It has won critical acclaim all over the world, especially in this country, because it is a story set in the time of the Revolution, about reconciliation, and that resonates with the people. You say the work is semi-autobiographical. Tell me, which part is true, which part isn't.

That is too personal, don't you think?

Perhaps. But I am really interested to know, to what extent this work is based on your own life, your own experiences.

To some extent.

That isn't really very useful.

Maybe you have to ask specific questions. Or did you even read the book?

I did. I had to. For this assignment.

You make it sound like it was a torture.

It was. But you want specific. In the book, the protagonist claimed that his dream was to be a journalist. Does that apply to you?

I have always wanted to be a writer.

Of books?

Do you know what the difference between a writer and a journalist is?

You tell me.

A journalist distorts facts to please his superiors; a writer distorts facts to suit himself.

So what they do is essentially the same.

You can say that. Tell me, was it your dream to be a journalist?

No…

Why did you become one then?

I am the one doing the interviewing.

Sorry. I got carried away.

So in your novel, the protagonist was betrayed by his best friend. Or at least that seemed to be the case. After that, he developed a distrust of people. Do you share his distrust, and did you have a similar life-changing experience?

Yes I did. If you were in my shoes, you would understand why I trust no one, not even myself.

You don't trust people, yet you write about them.

One of Life's ironies.

In the story, there was also a love triangle between the protagonist, his girlfriend and his best friend. Do you think jealousy was the main driving force behind the betrayal?

Yes.

What is jealousy to you?

It is when the line between hate and love is blurred. And out of it, obsession is born. It is a fire that consumes and condemns you.

You seem to understand jealousy quite well.

I have had 10 years to reflect on the matter.

In the conclusion of the story, the best friend was forgiven. Is that a fact that you distorted?

I have never forgiven the best friend.

But you wish the protagonist could.

I think it is no longer relevant.

So in the story, the protagonist forgave the best friend, and it was happily ever after for him and his girlfriend.

Yes, that's the story.

Tell me: in the real story, the protagonist died, didn't he?

I switched off the player, and began to write.

…He claimed that writers distort facts to suit themselves. Although that may be harsh on his own profession, there might be a ring of truth to that.

After all, as I watched him stare at the television with the sound turned off, I saw someone writing in search of the person he lost years ago.

Perhaps with this work, he can finally find peace within himself.

If that is what he wants.

'Because you can never rewrite history,' I whispered.