Close encounters

Soul to soul chats with David Blacker and Vivimarie VanderPoorten:

The first time I saw David Blacker was at the State Literary Festival 2006, held in Anuradhapura when his book, 'A Cause Untrue' was judged the best English novel of the year.

Seated two rows behind him I gazed at the spectacles on his forehead trying to figure why they were there. Had he forgotten they were there? Would he walk up to the stage with them still precariously placed on his forehead? Should someone tell him about them so that he could take them off and place them in his pocket? Today, staring at his picture, I am glad no one ventured to do so, for I realize wearing those spectacles on his forehead is David's signature. But why? Why wear them on his forehead?

I hope someone will raise the question at this month's 'Book Buzz - when David will talk about 'A Cause Untrue'. Having failed in my attempts to reach him, through the phone and via email, I have no option but to re-produce the press release sent by the British Council about this month's Book Buzz. Born in Colombo, and having lived in Sri Lanka most of his life Blacker has served in the Sri Lanka Army in the early '90s, seeing combat for the first time as a 19-year-old rifleman at Elephant Pass.

He has worked in advertising for the past 15 years as an illustrator, art director, and creative director. He has also travelled widely in Europe and in a two-year stay in Germany he wrote his first novel, 'A Cause Untrue' at the age of 32.

He claims that the inspiration for 'A Cause Untrue' was a desire to tell a story about Sri Lanka's war that would be relevant to westerners.

Blacker scoffs at the suggestion that his novel is the definitive work on the war, instead pointing out that it's just one story, and nothing more.

The manuscript for 'A Cause Untrue' was short listed for the Gratiaen Prize in 2004, and won Sri Lanka's leading literary accolade, the State Literary Award for Best English novel in 2006. It has also been long listed for this year's The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

Unlike her counterpart, Vivimarie VanderPoorten was ever willing to talk with me about her forth coming 'performance' at the British Council. Saying she feels honored to be featured on Book Buzz she explained that she was planning to read sixteen or seventeen poems from her book 'Nothing Prepares You'.

Asked if these were her favorites she denied that she had favorites among her poems. 'Each poem represents some part of my life or an observation I have made. So, it's difficult to point out a single poem as my favorite".

After a brief pause, however, she admits she likes the poem 'Gentle Giants' a lot. Explaining why she does not write prose Vivimarie says "I don't have the energy required for writing prose.

My creative imagination is in sharp images which suits poetry." Though she is looking forward to the event she admits she has butterflies in her stomach when it comes to facing an audience to discuss her work. "I'm terrified of public speaking. But I hope I will pull it through".

Which she undoubtedly will. To find out more about these two writers, be there at the British Council on Thursday, May 31, at 6.00. p.m. The event is open to all and free of charge on a first-come-first-served basis.

Aditha