“ I ’ m not interested in having a career as a writer , but I am interested in writing books that I think are good and worthwhile .”
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OWEN MARTELL
Gareth Ludkin chats to Owen Martell about the trials and tribulations of professional writing .
In an age of fast fiction , self-published e-books and internet blogging , it would seem that it has never been easier to become a published writer . Having said this , not everyone is necessarily able to leave a permanent mark on the publishing industry , and it still takes considerable talent and determination to make writing a legitimate and fulltime career . For Pontneddfechan-raised author Owen Martell , winning the Welsh Book Of The Year Award in 2001 with his first novel Cadw Dy Ffydd , was the start of a long journey which has taken in two further Welsh language novels ( Dyn Yr Eiliad and Dolenni Hud ), plus several short stories and his latest novel – and first in the English language – Intermission . Despite his growing success and recognition as a published author , Owen remains modest about his achievements , preferring instead to let his writing do the talking . “ I ’ m not so interested in being a successful writer as much as I ’ m interested in writing good books ,” explains Owen as I catch him just before he boards the Megabus for an appointment in London . “ What made me want to write was reading good books and being in love with literature and the way in which literature found a place in my life . So in that sense I ’ m not interested in having a career as a writer , but I am interested in writing books that I think are good and worthwhile .” Intermission , Owen ’ s brand new English language novel , successfully takes on the ambitious challenge of imagining the thoughts , feelings and character of post-war jazz pianist Bill Evans following the tragic loss of his good friend and band partner Scott LeFaro . Owen ’ s fictional interpretation of Evans ’ time spent in seclusion is an adept , imaginative and evocative portrayal of one man ’ s talent and his tumultuous lifestyle . Instead of facts , or biographical accuracy , Owen explains how he is motivated by “ the details that only fiction can uncover ,” the empty space between truth , and minute details that aren ’ t covered in any great depth in biographical accounts of Evans ’ life . “ I was fascinated by the way such an
BUZZ 32 ordinary , respectable looking musician could have such incredible music within him . And also the disparity between his respectable appearance and , in some ways – with his heroin addiction – his tortured character ; one didn ’ t seem to suggest the other .” Whilst Intermission suggests a more determined
“ I ’ m not interested in having a career as a writer , but I am interested in writing books that I think are good and worthwhile .”
move toward a career as a writer , Owen chuckles at the suggestion that he is by any stretch a professional writer . “ I don ’ t think I could describe myself as a professional writer . I ’ ve mainly written in Welsh until now , and of course , if you want to make money , you don ’ t necessarily choose to write in Welsh . In a sense I think of myself as a writer , and writing is what I do , or what I think I do best , but that said , I ’ m a writer when I ’ ve got something to write .” To this end , Owen holds down other commitments alongside his writing to help pay the bills , and the pic : © JUSTE PECIULYTE
thought of becoming a full-time writer has slowly moved into the background . “ The way writing is constructed as an industry is quite a bubble in some ways , and I think you can get lost in that bubble . I quite like the fact that I have other things to do and I think that the more influences you have around you , the better your writing will be .” Cadw Dy Ffydd , Owen ’ s award-winning debut novel , was written whilst still studying at Aberystwyth University , and he continues to write in Welsh , praising the richness of the language which continues to excite him and hold well the things he is interested in . “ Writing in Welsh is a fabulous thing and a fabulous opportunity to have because it ’ s such an incredibly rich , challenging and complex terrain ,” says Owen . “ I think it ’ s quite a different content , and a much more thrilling context in some ways , than writing in English where so much of the preparatory work has already been done and the language itself is a really fantastic , subtle and malleable thing . Of course that ’ s true of Welsh as well , but it demands more of a writer and it keeps you on your toes much more .” Modest about his achievements and future projects as a writer , Owen hopes that the gap between his next novel won ’ t quite be the five years seen between his last two , and with a notebook filled with ideas , we can only hope that Owen ’ s next novel isn ’ t too far off . With his obvious talent and passion for literature , Owen Martell is one wordsmith with a bright future ahead of him .
Intermission , published by Heinemann , is available now in all good bookshops . Info : www . owenmartell . com