Linne Dhomhain
An innis thu dhuinn beagan mu do dheidhinn fhèin airson toiseach tòiseachaidh / Carson a dh’ ionnsaich thu Gàidhlig sa chiad dol a-mach?
B' e balach a' bhaile mhòir a bh' annam bho thùs is mi air mo thogail ann an Glaschu.
Bhon uairsin shiubhail mi gu diofar cheàrnan an cois diofair obraichean. Am measg eile tha mi air a bhith nam dhealbhadair is nam neach iùil do luchd-turais. San latha an-diugh 's e gàirnealair a th' annam. Sheatlaig mi còmhla ri mo theaghlach ann an Eilean Arainn o chionn beagan is fichead bliadhna is thogadh mo chuid chloinn san eilean, sin balach agus nighean.
Nuair a ghluais mi dhan eilean ghabh mi ùidh ann an eachdraidh, dualchas is ceòl an àite; a h-uile rud gu dearbh aig an robh ceangal ris a' Ghàidhlig; ach gun a' Ghàidhlig i fhèin a bhith agam. Mu dheireadh thall cha robh dol às ann; b' fheudar dhomh aghaidh a chur air cànan dùthchail an eilein. Cho luath 's theann mi ri Gàidhlig ionnsachadh b' e gaol aig a' chiad èisteachd a bh' ann.
Dè thug ort an leabhar a sgrìobhadh?
Chòrd an cànan rium cho mòr 's gun deach mo ghluasad gu bhith a' feuchainn air a chleachdadh ann an dòigh chruthachail, dìreach mar dibhearsan 's a chiad dol a-mach. Theann mi ri sgrìobhadh gu cunbhalach is, an dràsta 's a rithist, chuirinn pìosan a-steach don iris air loidhne Dàna. An ceann ùine bha cruinneachadh agam a lìonadh leabhar.
Cò mu dheidhinn a tha an leabhar?
'S ann a tha e mu dheidhinn daoine àbhaisteach ann an suidheachan àbhaisteach às an tig rudeigin neo-àbhaisteach. Le aon char beag ann am freastal thèid an àbhaist na h-iongantas.
Lorgaidh na caractaran iad fhèin ann an saoghal an os-fhìreachais, an os-nàdarrachd is na mìorbhaile far an tèid iad an gleac ris na deamhain aca. Uaireannan 's iadsan a gheibh buaidh. Uaireannan 's e beatha a gheibh buaidh orra.
Cò ris a bha am pròiseas sgrìobhaidh coltach? Dè cho fada ‘s a thug e airson an leabhar a sgrìobhadh?
Dhomhsa tha an dà chuid àgh is dòrainn an lùib sgrìobhaidh. Tha e na thlachd a bhith a' cruthachadh saoghal nad inntinn agus a bhith beò ann greis leis na caractairean a chruthaich thu fhèin. Ach mura dèan na caractairean mar a thogras tu no mura tàrmaich an saoghal agad mar bu mhiann leat, thèid do chiùrradh gus an tig rèiteachadh.
A bheil caractar as fheàrr agad bhon leabhar?
Tha taobh math is taobh dorcha aig gach charactar san leabhar. Chan urrainnear a bhith measail gu iomlan air fear seach fear aca ach, aig an aon àm, chan urrainnear gràin iomlan a bhith agad orra.
Translation
Can you tell us a bit about yourself? And why you first decided to learn Gaelic?
I was originally a city boy brought up in Glasgow. Since then I have travelled to different corners of the world because of various jobs. Among other things I have been a designer and tourist guide. I am a gardener now. I settled with my family on the Isle of Arran a little over 20 years and raised my children on the island, a boy and a girl.
When I moved to the island, I became interested in the history, heritage and music of the place; indeed, everything connected to Gaelic; but without having Gaelic myself. Eventually, there was no escaping; I had to face the native language of the island. As soon as I began to learn Gaelic, it was love at first listen!
What made you want to start writing?
I enjoyed the language so much that I wanted to try to use it creatively, just for fun at first. I started writing regularly and from time to time I would contribute to the online magazine Dàna. After a while, I had such a collection that could fill a book.
What is the book about?
The book is about unordinary things happening to ordinary people in ordinary situations. With a small twist in fate, the ordinary becomes a surprise. The characters find themselves in a world of surrealism, supernaturalism and miracles where they wrestle with their demons. Sometimes they win. Sometimes their lives take over.
What was the writing process like? How long did it take you to write the book?
For me, writing is both joyful and boring. It is a delight to create a world in your own mind and to live in it for a while with the characters you created yourself. But if the characters don’t do as you want or of your world doesn’t turn out the way you want, you’ll be tortured until it is resolved.
Do you have a favourite character from the book?
Each character in the book has a good side and a dark side. None of them can be completely loved but, at the same time, you cannot have a complete hatred of them.