Marie Macaulay
What was the first book you had published?
Teàrlag agus na Spàinean (1998)
Do you have a daily writing routine? How do you go about it?
Chan e obair làn ùine a th’ ann a bhith a’ sgrìobhadh ann an Gàidhlig. Chan eil mi cho trang ri sin, ach nuair a bhithinn a’ dèanamh sgrìoptaichean dha Dòtaman, aon uair ’s a gheibhinn beachdan no smaointean, shuidhinn sìos agus dheànainn an rud a bh’agam ri dheànamh. Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gur h-e beachd no smuain fhaighinn as duilich. Às deidh sin tha thu dìreach a’ cur na feòla air na cnàmhan.
Writing in Gaelic is not a full-time job. I’m not kept busy writing in Gaelic, but when I wrote scripts for Dòtaman, once I got a good idea, I would sit down and just get on with writing it. Getting a good idea is the hard part. After that you’re just putting flesh on the bones.
What would you do if you weren’t a writer?
Mar a thuirt mi, chan e obair làn ùine a th’ ann – tha obair làn ùine agam ach tha dùil agam mo dhreuchd a leigeil dhìom a dh’aithghearr is dòcha barrachd sgrìobhaidh a dhèanamh.
As I said above, writing in Gaelic is not a full time job – I do work full time but intend retiring shortly and hopefully will do some more writing.
What was your favourite book as a child?
Leabhar a fhuair mi mar duais anns an sgoil: Sally Travels to School - bha e mar saoghal eile dhòmhsa.
A book I was given as a prize in school: Sally Travels to School – it was like reading about something that happened in another world.
Who is your favourite author?
Aig an ìre seo nam bheath, chan eil ùghdar ann a tha còrdadh rium a bharrachd air fear eile – tha mi leughadh rud sam bith cha mhòr.
I don’t think I have one now. I enjoy reading and will sit down with any book.
What are you working on at the moment?
Bu chaomh leam sreath bheag de sgeulachdan a’ deànamh le Uspaig agus S-S air eachdraidh nan cinneadh as ainmeil ann an Alba.
I’m hoping to write a series of stories using Uspaig agus S S where they go and visit the seats of the most famous clans in Scotland.
You won the Gaelic Book Award at the Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children’s Books last year, how did that make you feel?
Bha mi uabhasach toilichte duais a’ Phuist Rìoghail a bhuannachadh airson Uspaig agus S S agus uabhasach toilichte cuideachd gun do chuir Urras Leabhraichean na h-Alba an fharpais seo air adhart airson leabhraichean Gàidhlig a bhrosnachadh.
It was a great honour to win this award for Uspaig agus S S and I’m delighted that Scottish Book Trust are interested in Gaelic books.
Are there any differences in telling a story in English or Gaelic?
Chan eil mise dol a ràdh gu bheil – tha sgeulachdan uabhasach inntinneach againn anns a’ Bheurla, tha fios aig a h-uile duine air a sin. Ach ma tha mi gu bhith ag innse sgeulachd anns an dualchas agam fhìn, tha mi cinnteach gu bheil e nas fheàrr agus nas beothail anns a’ Ghàidhlig.
I’m not going to list any differences – there are excellent stories in English, we are all aware of that. But if I was telling a story from my own Gaelic background I’m sure the story would come across much livelier in Gaelic.
What is the best aspect of the Gaelic language?
Nuair a bha mise beag, ’s e Gàidhlig a’ chainnt a bh’ aig a h uile duine – airson cluich, airson broinn an taigh, airson obair - agus bha sin na rud prìseil. Mura tig an cànan gun an ìre far a bheil i gu bhith gha bruidhinn gu nàdarra thèid beartas, bòidhchead agus ruitheam na Gàidhlig a chall, agus cha bhi rud sam bith sònraichte no eadar dhealaichte mu dheidhinn a’ chànain.
When I was a little girl everyone round about me spoke only Gaelic – it was the language of play, in the home and for work – and that was something very, very precious. If the language does not progress to the stage where it is spoken naturally all the richness, beauty and rhythm will be lost, and it will not have any distinguishing aspects.
What was the inspiration behind your Uspaig agus S-S story for the creative writing competition?
Bha mi fhìn agus Kathleen NicAonghais, a rinn na deilbh airson Uspaig agus S-S, air tòiseachadh a’ beachdachadh air sgeulachd bheag a’ chruthachadh far an robh Uspaig agus S-S a’ smaoineachadh air falbh air turasan inntinneach. Bha na sgeulachdan gu bhith stèidht ann an Alba agus le sin cha robh e duilich sgeulachd bheag a chruthachadh.
After winning the competition, Kathleen MacInnes - who illustrated the book - and I had already started creating another adventure for Uspaig agus S S. The story was to be set in Scotland, so I had a head start.
You will be involved in judging the competition. What are you hoping to see in the children’s entries to the Creative Writing Competition?
Tha mi gu bhith lorg rudeigin uabhasach àraid, rudeigin nach smaoinichinn fhìn air ann am mìle bliadhna. Rudeigin anns a bheil brìgh, ge b’ e fìor no ficsean.
I’m looking for something different – something that I would not have thought of in a thousand years. An ending with a twist, whether it be fact or fiction.
Could you give us some tips for young people interested in becoming writers?
Feumaidh iad a bhith a’ leughadh anns a chiad àite, agus ag èisteachd agus a’ cluinntinn. A bhith mothachail dha na rudan a tha tachairt timcheall orra fad na tìde. Rudan aig amannan uabhasach sìmplidh ach ’s dòcha às an tig sgeulachd èibhinn no iongantach.
They have to read a lot in the first place and use their listening and hearing skills. Be aware of what is happening round about them all the time. Sometimes the simplest situations can give rise to humorous and amazing stories.
Links:
