2 nóiméad le… Tristan Rosenstock

Tá naimhde gránna Inis Mara, an Santóir agus Smugairle Rónán, ar ais arís agus plean nua acu chun éirí níos saibhre ná riamh. Cuireann an damáiste a chruthaíonn siad saol an oileáin i gcruachás uafásach. Ní raibh muintir Inis Mara i mbaol chomh huafásach go dtí seo – ach ar sheachain a laoch óg Éabha dúshlán riamh? Scéal tráthúil é seo, a bhaineann leis an inbhuanaitheacht agus le haire a thabhairt don dúlra do na glúnta atá le teacht.

It was an absolute pleasure having a quick catch-up recently with author Tristan Rosenstock about his new book, the third in the highly popular ‘Inis Mara’ series, which explores pressing issues of sustainability and caring for the natural world for future generations.  

Seo hé an tríú leabhar sa tsraith ‘Inis Mara’. Cad as a dtáinig an bunsmaoineamh? / This is the third in the ‘Inis Mara’ series. Where did the initial idea come from? 

Is breá liom an seanfhocal ‘ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine’. It suggests how intertwined our lives are – we’re living in each other’s shadows. Agus feiceann tú é sin go háirithe ar oileáin na hÉireann. So, what if an island decides to go it alone and cut themselves off from everyone else? I was also blown away by Greta Thunberg’s ability to mobilise young people all over the world to demand action on climate change. Bhí sé chomh spreagúil daoine óga a fheiceáil ar fud an domhain agus a nglórtha á n-úsáid acu. I hope the series empowers young readers and makes them realise that their voice matters.

An dóigh leat go spreagann an ficsean léitheoirí (idir óg agus aosta) chun dul i ngleic le ceisteanna móra ár linne, an t-athrú aeráide san áireamh? / How do you feel works of fiction inspire readers (both young and old) to address pressing issues of our time, including climate change? 

Tá an-mhuinín agam i léitheoirí óga na tíre seo. Tá siad breá ábalta ceisteanna móra a chíoradh. My encounters with young readers at festivals and various events have reassured me that they genuinely care about climate change, and don’t want to be spoken down to. Seachnaím i gcónaí labhairt uasal le híseal leo. Fiction leaves a lasting impression on our imagination in a way that news reports on rising temperatures and devastating data simply don’t. Agus tá dóchas sna leabhair freisin as the people of Inis Mara forge a new path, a new future. 

Tá an-chion againn ar Éabha, laoch na sraithe. Inis dúinn cúig fhocal a dhéanann cur síos uirthi. / We love Éabha as a character. What five key words would you use to describe her? 

Cróga. Cliste. Cineálta. Empathy. Fearless.

Inis Mara 3 is published by LeabhairCOMHAR. Cóipeanna ar fáil anseo!

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