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During the presentation of the book on Friday in the Book Square (moderated by Jurgita Ludavičien directo, director of the editorial project of the publishing house Tyto alba), R. Kmita stated that although this book is not a continuation of the “Chronicle of the South”, there are connections between novels. The place of the action is Šiauliai, the time is similar, although this time R. Kmita will invite readers to go back to a slightly earlier year: 1988-1993.
“When I promised people there would be a sequel to The Southern Chronicle, they constantly reminded me that I was interested in the other half of that time. If I wrote about a hilarious comic longevity On the other hand, I am also interested in another – gloomy, dark, dramatic experience, which at that time many people, if not traumatized, left a deep mark, “said the writer.
What is Remyga? “Remyga is a guy who came back from the army, from the war in Afghanistan, he was employed in the military, he had to change his uniform to a policeman and he was trying to make a living during those difficult times,” Kmita said in a presentation.
15 minutes When asked if the success of the first book and the growing expectations of readers for it did not overwhelm me when writing a new novel, the author said: “When I started writing a new work, I thought that success was something that I would not plan for. nor, more importantly, would I repeat.
However, writing Remygas was even more difficult than writing the first book. Because when you write the first book, you don’t risk anything. If it fails, it will fail. And when you are successful, you want to prove yourself. Anyway, a normal career writer should write a sequel, trying not to make it worse than the first book and all. But I tried to prove to myself that I could write a different book and do it differently. But yeah, I felt the pressure. “
R. Kmita stated that the theme of the book crystallized from various ideas in his mind.
“First of all, it’s Šiauliai. It’s my hometown, I suppose I should be used to it, but for me it still amazes me. Šiauliai is a strange city, even when it comes to painting walls in public buildings. Let’s say a Buratin is drawn in the wall of the Savings Bank, burying money. This is an advertisement for a Savings Bank. And you think: how could that have happened? (laughs) <...> I was interested in finding answers among the strange signs of Šiauliai, building threads and creating a novel, ”said the writer, who also mentioned during the presentation that the book literally surpasses the cultural memory of Šiauliai.
Žygimantas Gedvila / 15min photo / Presentation of a new novel by Rimantas Kmita
The second idea, the last to write the novel, according to R. Kmita, was like the image of a man born out of nowhere changing the police uniform for a policeman. The writer later said that he understood that it would be necessary to include both Sąjūdis and January 13 in the work. events.
“When I created the character, I thought of those people who were silent, forgotten, unnecessary during the Sąjūdis year. When we created the Sąjūdis, it seemed that many things would be made public, that there would be enough space for everyone, but when we restored Independence, many participants became redundant, ”said R. Kmita at the presentation.
Remyga also served in the Soviet Army during the Afghanistan War. This is the third motive against which the novel was written.
“While researching the tipping point literature, I became interested in who and how had written about it. It was interesting to me that those people who were returning from the war, who were not interested in anyone, who were ashamed and defeated, were traumatized, and no one understood that, it did not help them, and at that time they had not had the opportunity to help “, R. Kmita said.
Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / Rimantas Kmita
The process of writing the book, according to the author, was also longer this time than writing the first novel.
“I was approached by the Šiauliai Dramatic Theater, who agreed with Oskars Koršunovs that I would perform a performance in the theater. They offered me to write a play, the theater wanted a performance for the residents of Šiauliai about Šiauliai. That’s where it all started. I thought you had an idea, you could try doing a play.
But as I was writing the play, I immediately realized that I would not put everything in it. Once I gave up the work, I started to write prose because it seemed to me that the director would develop the text of the work as he sees and understands, and I also want to build my own interpretation where I myself would be the director, the composer, the illustrator and everyone. roles I could play (laughs).
Since the creation of the play was also part of the writing of the novel, as was the research – files, meetings and conversations with people – the whole process took three years, if not more ”, 15 minutes R. Kmita said.
The premiere of Oskaras Koršunovas’ performance “Remyga”, based on a play by R. Kmita, at the Šiauliai State Drama Theater will take place from 18 to 19 September. The Remyga novel should hit bookstore shelves this fall.
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