Sjon

Source of picture: Sjon's publisher Bjartur (www.bjartur.is)

I am just passing by my website as I have been neglecting it lately. The website and my fiction writing... But that's life, isn't it?
I am resuming writing today at last!

In the meantime, I would like to introduce one of the authors who was speaking at the Shorelines festival and who is the one who has made the biggest impression on me.
Sjon is a real original, a passionate person who has been writing since forever. He is also a poet and has been one of Bjork's oldest collaborators (and he has written the lyrics to some of my favourite songs ever!). Hearing him speak about his latest book, "From the Mouth of the Whale" (which I intend to read as soon as I can get my hands on one, as they had sold out at the festival and I was unable to buy one copy then) was captivating.
I managed to buy "The Blue Fox" though and got it signed!

Sjon has also written the lyrics of Lars Von Triers'"Dancer in the Dark", a deeply moving movie in which Bjork had the main role and was simply stupendous. I can't stand musicals, but somehow, thanks to the talent of the people involved, it worked for me.

I felt a connection with his ideas, with his influences and way of thinking. As someone who's always wanted to be a writer, Sjon stands as the embodiment of success: a long, successful, meaningful career spent writing and being involved in literature and the arts.
Moreover, Sjon is a youthful, warm, friendly man whom I wouldn't mind spending a few hours with in a cafe. Or have as a neighbour.

I have a passion for Scandinavia and have always associated Iceland with it somehow. Here are incredibly intriguing countries full of legends and stories, whose relationship with Nature is miles away from ours. I crave the bleak empty spaces and the long never ending night of the Scandinavian winter. Their world view is closer to mine than the terribly consumerist society that surrounds me.

I wish I could speak Icelandic so I could read Sjon's oeuvre as he has written it...

Anyhow, here's a link to Sjon's wikipedia page: Sjon

Here's Sjon's page on Bjork's website: Sjon Page

A fascinating interview with Sjon on Fabulous Iceland: Sjon interview

And here's a link to a lengthy review of "From the Mouth of the Whale":
From the Mouth of the Whale