Danish writer Mette Vedsø: “I write about issues and things that are close to me” | Culture

Since her debut in 2010, she has published many books for children and teenagers that have been warmly appreciated by literary critics. One of them – a wonderful work full of humor about Pia’s life with an anxiety disorder – was presented to readers in Lithuania by the publishing house Debesų ganyklos. The book “130 beats per minute”, although intended for young people, does not leave adults indifferent either.

– Tell us about your path as a writer. When did you start creating? Have you always wanted to be a writer?

– It was quite a long journey. When I was younger, I didn’t consider becoming a writer, even though I always enjoyed writing letters and other texts. Coming from a family of scientists, I thought it would be easiest to follow a similar professional path as my parents and brother. I studied chemistry and biotechnology and worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 10 years. Overall, I didn’t really like my job.

Now I understand it even more clearly. Maturity, the birth of children, further life – the “new me” took over and at some point you just had to choose again. I decided to quit my full-time job and start freelancing. For more than 10 years, I combined two activities – freelance work (I did medical assignments) and writing. Until finally I started to live only from writing.

– How did you get the idea to write the book “130 beats per minute”?

– I usually write about what interests me, what I can’t stop thinking about. It can be related to personal experiences or what I observe more from the side. Before I start writing, there is almost always a long period of time when I have a topic in my mind. I read about it and discuss with my friends. I think that was the case with this book. I have had many different experiences and felt I had something to say on this topic.

– What is this book about?

– There are many themes in this book. Mental health, family, relationship with other people, life balance, self-knowledge and self-confidence.

– What main message do you want to convey to the readers with this work?

“I didn’t really think about it.” Sometimes the reader remembers the theme of the book, sometimes the characters, and sometimes a sentence that makes sense to that particular reader.

In general, life is changeable – it goes up, it goes down. When you’re at your lowest point like Piya, it seems like it’s going to last forever. But usually these periods change each other and they shape our personalities.

– Have you yourself encountered the problems that arise for the main character of the book, Pia?

– I had several personal experiences in my life, so I felt quite confident when writing about it. I write about issues and things that are close to me. People often ask if a story is “personal” and I find it quite difficult to answer. The end of the book is completely fictional, but it is obvious that my life experiences sometimes jump into its text.

– In the book, you talk about very serious topics with the help of humor. Why did you choose this way of storytelling?

– That’s a good question. I didn’t really think about it, but it was obvious that I had to find some kind of balance. I wrote a small part of the book quite early on that had a certain mood, and I realized that this short text set the tone for the whole book.

– What advice would you give to young people experiencing an anxiety disorder?

– It depends on the specific personal history. It is quite difficult to give general advice. But one thing I have been thinking about is expressing my feelings and problems. Adults sometimes expect from young people a well-developed vocabulary and experience that they do not yet have. Perhaps young people are sometimes difficult to understand because they have not yet mastered the ability to succinctly and accurately explain personal problems and physical sensations. It comes through experience as well as through reading.

– You translated the book “130 beats per minute” from Danish. What did she remember for you?

Gold Beatrice Katarskytė: What impressed me the most was the simplicity and sensitivity with which the characters’ feelings and relationships are portrayed. The main character’s meetings with the neighbors, especially with the pensioner Jillian Brown, are so bright and warm that you want to knock on the neighbors’ doors yourself.

The novel reminds us how important even completely different and little-known people can be to each other. And that sometimes you just need to exchange a few words, share a cake or help deliver a package to make yourself feel better and brighten the mood of another. In addition, the writer does not shy away from such complex existential topics as illness, loss and death.

– Who would you recommend to read this book?

Gold Beatrice Katarskytė: I think this book doesn’t really have an age limit. I can be happy that my grandmother also read it with pleasure. A teenager will probably see one meaning of the book, and an older person – another.

– How do you think this work can be valuable for young people?

Gold Beatrice Katarskytė: The book describes very vividly, but carefully, what an anxiety disorder can look like. The main character at first does not understand what is happening to her – maybe it is just fatigue? The great concern of her parents is also well described, which often manifests itself in completely inappropriate ways and only worsens the situation. I think that it is this lack of communication between the girl and her parents, which is beautifully resolved at the end of the book, that can help the reader find words to name new, perhaps not yet understood, feelings.