Interview
Conversation between Kristian Carlsson and Paata Shamugia
“How does it feel to be the first poet to be awarded twice with the national Saba Prize for best poetry collection of the year?”
“The first time I was really nervous—it was with my third book. ‘Have I really accomplished something meaningful!?’ I asked myself. Meanwhile I felt a lot of tension due to all the surrounding commotion. The following year, when I received the prize for the second time, I was completely calm and thought to myself, ‘Okay, this is good.’”
Author: Kristian Carlsson
Paata Samugia: I write to meet myself in language
Until now I had no contact with the Greek public, however, I know Greek literature well, I love it and I am indebted to it. Consequently, I come to Greece whom I consider my generous creditor, to whom I was indeed late in repaying my debt, but he never complained about it. I am sure that modern Greeks also love poetry and especially modern poetry. Poems are double agents: they convey the writer's story to the reader, but they also convey the reader's stories, feelings, and impressions to the writer. So me and the Greek audience already know some things about each other. But we'll keep it a secret.
Author: Angeliki Dimopoulou