Newcomer Lucineh Danielian cleverly weaves together the stories of six women to create a moving anthology on issues pertinent to modern day life. What do all of these women have in common?
We spoke with Lucineh about her love of classic literature, her ability to speak a multitude of languages and the creative freedom that writing an anthology of short stories gave her.
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As a passionate bibliophile and a talented author, with a particular passion for books of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, why do you think it is important to study the ways of older authors? How has this helped you in your writing?
Nineteenth and twentieth century literature have always held a special place for me, and I often reflect upon this fascinating period of change and turbulence. These eras have enriched my life in countless ways, enabling me to travel into the past and live vicariously through the lives of many characters and authors alike, always with a view of studying emotion, behaviour and the overall psychology of each character.
Authors of the past have taught us so much and yet, as individuals - both readers and writers - we have so much left to learn. I love to walk the same streets as literary geniuses such as Maupassant, Hugo and Balzac. In doing so, it is possible to recreate and revisit the past and follow in their footsteps as it were. Authors of the past have been my inspiration for as long as I can remember and have without a doubt ignited a spark within me: the spark of creativity.
I strongly believe that in order to move forward: to grow, to evolve and to grasp our own identity, it is key to study the past. As an author of Armenian origin and a descendent of the Armenian Genocide, I have often reflected upon the past of my own people in order to gain a deeper understand of my own identity. I believe that within the unique world of writing, one must explore the past to best comprehend one’s own uniqueness as an individual and writer and focus on the power of expression and creativity.
These literary geniuses are timeless and continue to live on through us all. Ultimately, they have built a lifelong legacy, which I myself hope to achieve as both an author and writer.
You are the Head of Department at an international school, specialising in the study of modern languages, allowing you to understand a variety of cultures as well as conversing with people around the world. What has the ability to speak several languages brought to your writing?
This is a great question and one that I have found myself reflecting upon on many occasions. A language is so much more than the linguistic characteristics that it is connected to. A language is an essential part of culture and key in connecting with others. Working in a multilingual environment has without a doubt enabled me to build relationships with others and to widen my own horizons.
It continues to bring new perspectives and enables me to study social norms across the world. It has also led me to consider the power of language, and the impact of the words used when communicating with others. This is a skill I have perfected working with so many individuals daily and it is one I would definitely encourage others to think about.
Yet, growing up in a multicultural city has given me the gift of open-mindedness. There is so much beauty in learning a language and discovering a culture. In the many years I have spent in education, I have been privileged in the friendships that I have built and the many students that I have taught - each one bringing a unique perspective and story.
I have widened my network over the years and do hope to extend my story writing to other languages and cultures. I write not only from one cultural perspective but from many, striving to reach readers across the globe.
Lost Souls is an emotive and thematically rich collection of short stories, sharing with readers a myriad of stories and characters. Did you always plan to pen a collection of short stories? Why did you ultimately settle with this method of storytelling for your book?
In many ways, I fell into the art of short stories immediately, immersing myself in the experience of telling a variety of stories in one anthology, each one carrying a unique message. Storytelling is such an enriching experience, one which has given me perspective and has enabled me to take on the role of each character and give them the voice that he or she deserves.
There are many issues which we as individuals shy away from or are afraid to confront. So often, we miss the opportunity given to us to use the voice that we have been empowered with. This unique genre has encouraged and led me to speak out on a number of themes: notably cultural and honour-based traditions, mental and physical health, adoption and other critical societal issues.
Yet, these same issues are often less discussed in society. Lost Souls is a platform open to all readers. It is one which I hope will make readers not only reflect on their own experiences but open the floor to much needed discussions.
You’re keen to use these stories to have important discussions with readers, encouraging and showing awareness to key issues in our modern world. Which story do you think is the most important one for readers to engage with?
Each story carries its own purpose, meaning and key message; therefore, it is not an easy choice to make, as I am attached to many of my characters.
Yet if I had to choose a particular story, A Cruel Plight is the story that truly resonates with me. This story is centred on Alzheimer’s disease and the life-changing impact of this illness on those closely affected by it. This illness is very much close to my heart. It is also one which I strongly believe urgently deserves a platform. Although this illness is increasingly discussed in society, it is one that is still misunderstood, and I hope that this story will resonate with readers and lead them to ask questions and inform themselves further.
Yet, I must come back to Nobody Noticed, centred on the young female character Lauren. The ordeal that Lauren faces is one that many young people in society will sadly struggle to overcome. I believe that now more than ever, open discussions are necessary within society. Encouraging our younger generation not only to speak but also to speak out will enable them to seek support in a world that is confusing and often difficult to navigate and comprehend. Community engagement and discussion are key to communicating with those around us and making sense of the situations and struggles that we are constantly faced with.
With Lost Souls being your debut anthology, do you hope to expand upon the journeys of your six lead heroines in future work? Or are you intending to creatively head elsewhere?
This is an exciting question, as I have actually started the next chapter of these six heroines!
There is so much to come still for these stories; for some, journeys have only just begun. In the first anthology, my aim was to focus on the female perspective and base each story around the journey of the heroine, testing each female’s boundaries and strength. In the next anthology, the stories will take a different turn, and more characters will be involved, taking centre stage. I will not reveal any spoilers for the time being! As an author, I have truly appreciated the art of short stories, and I am eager to explore this genre further in the next anthology.
I am also looking towards future projects and have been writing my first novella over the past year. I will say no more about this for the moment.
Finally, I have many ideas for my first published novel in the future. I believe that an author should never have too many writing projects on the go!
Lost Souls is available now in paperback and on the Kindle Store.