A week ago, Irma Rissanen, Finnish book blogger got in touch with me, as she had blogged about Team Trinity. Now, she’s interviewed Fiona Snyckers, and I thought you might enjoy reading the interview, in English and in Finnish.
1.Needless to say, Trinity is my favorite chick lit character. How did you come up with such a brilliant concept?
I was interested in how the new generation of South Africans is growing up – the ones who were born after Apartheid ended, or who were too young to remember it. Would they have the same priorities as their parents’ generation? Or would they be more focused on the future? Trinity is my way of speculating what the young breed of South Africans might be like.
2. Team Trinity is a light, funny and really, really entertaining book. But it also deals with darker themes and more serious issues than the first two Trinity books.
One of my Finnish readers would like to know whether discussing these darker themes in the third book (instead of introducing them in the first two) was a conscious decision on your part? (I’m not sure I understand her question correctly myself, but I assume what she implies is that once readers got to know and love Trinity in the first two books, did it feel easier for you to introduce these darker themes in the third book?)
Actually, I have always included dark themes in the Trinity books. Trinity Rising deals with anorexia, and Trinity On Air deals with xenophobia (in particular the dislike and suspicion that Nigerians are sometimes faced with in South Africa). So it felt natural for me to include the issue of abusive relationships in Team Trinity. I always try not to let the dark theme overwhelm the stories. As you say, they are primarily light and funny.
3. Trinity is quite a lot younger than her European / American chick lit counterparts (such as Bridget Jones, Shopaholic etc). Did you ever consider writing about an older “chick”?
I hope to follow Trinity’s life as she grows older in subsequent books. I would like to take her through her twenties at least.
4. In Finland, there has been a lot of talk about the term “chick” which some women find derogatory. I have tried to explain in my blog that the term has many other implications as well, but to no avail. In the US and Australia, for example, the term is non-offensive, non-deragotary and (so I’ve been told…) is a nice and respectful (!) way to refer to women (of any age. Not just young women)
Have you had this same kind of conversation about the term chick lit in South Africa? What kind of implications does the term chick have in South Africa? Is chick lit perceived as “young women’s literature” or is it read by women of all ages?.
Yes! Even in Anglo-American fiction, chick-lit is a very controversial term. Many people consider it to be derogatory. I am not one of them. I think it is a neat way of describing a certain genre of light women’s fiction. I think that a lot of really good fiction has come out in the guise of chick-lit. Marion Keyes and Jennifer Weiner are two authors who manage to include a lot of social commentary in stories that are otherwise humorous and fun.
5. Is chick lit a popular genre in South Africa? Do people mostly read local chick lit or foreign chick lit?
It is still widely read, although it is not as popular as it was about 10 years ago. There is very little local chick-lit available so fans of the genre are forced to turn to foreign titles to get their fix!
6. What do you enjoy most, writing YA, chick lit or for adults?I tend to enjoy whatever type of book I am currently writing. I am not a natural YA writer, as some authors are. I am more comfortable writing for adults, although I did love writing Team Trinity and will probably do another book about Trinity as a teenager.
7. What are you working on next? Will there be a fourth Trinity book? Team Trinity ended in such a brilliant cliffhanger that I can’t wait for a sequel…
I am currently writing a book for adults set in the extremely competitive and over-heated world of private-school mothers and daughters. There will definitely be a fourth Trinity book, though. Most likely a direct sequel to Team Trinity.
8. Do you think that you might some day write a sequel to Trinity on Air?
Yes, definitely. I know exactly where I want to take the story of Trinity and Farouk!
9. Who are your favorite chick lit authors?
Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, Carole Matthews, Jane Green and Jennifer Weiner.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this!
And here is Irma’s interview with Fiona in Finnish
Fiona Snyckers on Etelä-Afrikan suosituin chick lit -kirjailija, jonka käsialaa on valloittava Trinity -sarja. Fiona on myös arvostettu toimittaja ja kolmen lapsen äiti. Johannesburgissa asuvaan perheeseen kuuluu niin ikään neljä kissaa.
Kirjoitin Trinity-kirjoista blogissani viime sunnuntaina, koska toivoisin kovasti myös suomalaisten lukijoiden löytävän ne. Hauskojen ja mukaansatempaavien kirjojen päähenkilö Trinity on kuin Himoshopppaajan tai Bridget Jonesin nuorempi versio. Kirjoissa kuitenkin sivutaan myös tummempia sävyjä, kuten anoreksiaa, parisuhdeväkivaltaa, muukalaispelkoa ja rasismia. Fiona Snyckers on siis Etelä-Afrikan vastine Marian Keyesille!
Pari päivää sitten haastattelin Fionaa blogiani varten. Lue siis, mitä kirjailija itse ajattelee päähenkilöstään, työstään ja chick litistä!
To read the whole interview, click here
Book details
- Team Trinity by Fiona Snyckers
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EAN: 9781920590376
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