Ask the Author: Ruth Bonetti
Answered Questions (23)
Ruth Bonetti
Where did I come from? As a child I felt a cuckoo in the nest.
Why do I respond in ways, triggered by family patterns of generations past?
Actually... I already went there in my trilogy Midnight Sun to Southern Cross.
But let's look ahead;
I hope for therapy away from restriction of family looking over my shoulder as I write. To venture into fiction, drawing on often (ouch!) best remembered (but camouflaged) instances in my fledgling musical journey.
Do I dare? Watch this space....
Why do I respond in ways, triggered by family patterns of generations past?
Actually... I already went there in my trilogy Midnight Sun to Southern Cross.
But let's look ahead;
I hope for therapy away from restriction of family looking over my shoulder as I write. To venture into fiction, drawing on often (ouch!) best remembered (but camouflaged) instances in my fledgling musical journey.
Do I dare? Watch this space....
Ruth Bonetti
No, and thanks to drawing my attention to this.
Ruth Bonetti
The magical Moomin world that was evocatively captured by Finnish author/artist Tove Jansson. What a genius of words and art she was!
Ruth Bonetti
The Light Between Oceans looks my kind of book. And there will be many more when life calms down...
Ruth Bonetti
"It was an accident, Pappa, the kettle slipped in my hands." But our chubby sister was laid in the frozen earth, alone and cold in the dark she always dreaded.
(Bear with me for adding another sentence):
Pappa would not forgive me, so why would the Almighty?
Excerpt from "Burn My Letters."
(Bear with me for adding another sentence):
Pappa would not forgive me, so why would the Almighty?
Excerpt from "Burn My Letters."
Ruth Bonetti
Interesting question, thank you, Adele. It was a challenge to structure diverse time-frames, cultures and hemispheres without losing readers in the oceans between! At first I resisted being a "character" in the story until I realised my discovery of the stories would become a unifying thread. This became more fun when I embraced magical realism. My "conversations" freed me to discuss with, even gently interrogate my deceased relatives! If I didn't have proof that one was involved in a certain event, I could pose the question, but leave it dangling unanswered. It touched my heart to put myself into the shoes of my great grandmother especially and imagine her pain to lose fo many offspring to the other side of the world or to early graves. S my original form developed new depths and resonances.
Ruth Bonetti
I was ecstatic! It's like birthing a baby though I couldn't count toes. But I could flip through the pages and appreciate the balance of text, maps and photographs. Then read sections and think "What lyrical, visual and emotional range, did I really write this?"
Ruth Bonetti
My primary profession as musician and educator led to music books (Enjoy Playing the Clarinet) and those to encourage positive, thoughtful practice and confident performance. "We teach what we needed to learn." Then I expanded into public speaking. My recent books indulged a passion for heritage. I like exploring motivations and challenges, putting flesh on the bones of decayed forebears.
Ruth Bonetti
Ah, that's a fun question. My research showed me that no sheep is entirely black or white. It allowed me to give credence to Great-Uncle Karl Johan, whose own book pleaded (in caps) "GIVE ALL MEN THEIR DUE!"
I knew there had to be a reason why Russian military policy looked for him in Suez as he fled Finland for Australia. A clue came from his letters when he described himself as a "pen-fighter." During the Oppression of Finns 1899-1908 the Russian overlords shut down many newspapers.
Finnish family give "KJ" more credit than do my Aussie relatives who dismissed him as an eccentric black sheep, whereas Granddad was revered by family and peers, as the Migrant-Made-Good. I identify with both through (magical realism) conversations, but have a soft-spot affinity and odd relationship with KJ. His photo graces my author events and through our Facebook page "Burn My Letters: Karl Johan Back" he enjoys posthumous PR for his books published in 1918 and 1920.
I knew there had to be a reason why Russian military policy looked for him in Suez as he fled Finland for Australia. A clue came from his letters when he described himself as a "pen-fighter." During the Oppression of Finns 1899-1908 the Russian overlords shut down many newspapers.
Finnish family give "KJ" more credit than do my Aussie relatives who dismissed him as an eccentric black sheep, whereas Granddad was revered by family and peers, as the Migrant-Made-Good. I identify with both through (magical realism) conversations, but have a soft-spot affinity and odd relationship with KJ. His photo graces my author events and through our Facebook page "Burn My Letters: Karl Johan Back" he enjoys posthumous PR for his books published in 1918 and 1920.
Ruth Bonetti
Thanks for the interesting question, Christine. In the final pages of Midnight Sun I reflected:
"What have I learned from the brothers? How do their strengths and
weaknesses emerge in my life? We are all mixtures of personality traits.
Granddad has passed on his ingenuity, vision and breadth of experience.
Often I quote his motto of ‘Just do it.’ He had faith and an ability to turn
difficult situations to positives, to innovate and find opportunities at every turn.
I feel an affinity with KJ because he was an author, and a self–published one.
Granddad took seriously his role as patriarch and had a genuine
care for his flock of descendants, relatives and emigrant Finns. He was
concerned to establish his sons and grandsons. WA inspired us all with
his generosity and enterprise."
"What have I learned from the brothers? How do their strengths and
weaknesses emerge in my life? We are all mixtures of personality traits.
Granddad has passed on his ingenuity, vision and breadth of experience.
Often I quote his motto of ‘Just do it.’ He had faith and an ability to turn
difficult situations to positives, to innovate and find opportunities at every turn.
I feel an affinity with KJ because he was an author, and a self–published one.
Granddad took seriously his role as patriarch and had a genuine
care for his flock of descendants, relatives and emigrant Finns. He was
concerned to establish his sons and grandsons. WA inspired us all with
his generosity and enterprise."
Ruth Bonetti
Interesting question, Nola! Yes, it's been so immense that the knowledge of my forebears has quite changed my life. Especially valuable to realise why I react in certain situations. It's been sobering to find myself replicating generational patterns. Through understanding and forgiveness I now can move on to greater freedom, for myself, and I hope, for coming generations.
Ruth Bonetti
I am awed and humbled that my ancestors seemed to call on me to chronicle their amazing, inspiring feats. They would shrug them off as just doing their bit to save their country (Finland) from more oppression. From the safety of Australia, a country surrounded by water and so relatively impervious to occupation, this challenged me. How could I put myself into their winter boots? But I did my best, and in the process, came to appreciate the resilience and fortitude and yes, sisu (this unique word is explained in my books) of the amazing Finnish spirit. I am so grateful for this strong spirit that flows through my bloodstream, and that of my sons. Go, Finns!
Ruth Bonetti
Sometimes a topic presents itself with such urgency that one has to explore further. I don't see it so much as inspiration, as calling. Why me? Why did fate propel me to the nordic reaches of the globe and ancestors who shared a treasure trove of letters and parish records? I just followed the prompts, feeling honoured to be chosen.
Ruth Bonetti
Thanks for asking, Adele. Finnish and Swedish people suggest translations in time for the Centenary of Finnish Independence. If so, I'd scale the two books of the series into one shorter book. Otherwise I'll leave the Nordic landscapes. A noir novel in a global, contemporary setting is simmering. But my brain needs a rest!
Ruth Bonetti
My study has a large desk but it faces into the wall. So for any creative writing, I migrate to the deck, amongst trees and serenaded by birds. Where, after first drafts with pen and paper, I bring out my laptop for subsequent edits. Sometimes I sit by the waterfront, either river or sea, to read print-out drafts and proofs. Fresh air stirs my creative juices.
Ruth Bonetti
Yes, it started "The sun rose slowly, majestically above the horizon." I've since learned to cull adverbs! As I wrote in Burn My Letters: "A voracious reader and scribbler of poems, I had been electrified to hear my compositions read on the Argonaut’s Club radio program, the highlight of country afternoons."
I wonder if others were prompted to write by this ABC program, back in the 60's?
I wonder if others were prompted to write by this ABC program, back in the 60's?
Ruth Bonetti
Sibelius any day! I sit on my deck with birds singing along to The Swan of Tuonela (Finnish cor anglais player Emily Salonen gave a moving performance of this at my latest book launch). Or, as I wrote in Midnight Sun to Southern Cross "When the Sibelius Violin Concerto is programmed for Brisbane
Symphony Orchestra in which I play clarinet, rehearsals are illumined with
poignant and teasing thoughts: "Sibelius was writing this around the time
Granddad left Finland."
Symphony Orchestra in which I play clarinet, rehearsals are illumined with
poignant and teasing thoughts: "Sibelius was writing this around the time
Granddad left Finland."
Ruth Bonetti
Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, for their spirited, witty repartee.
Ruth Bonetti
Go for a walk. Journal. Be kind to myself. Talk with my writing buddies. Pray. Juggle all the other things in my life until the time is right.
Ruth Bonetti
One can write anywhere, cribbing spare minutes between busy schedules.
Then, when the time is right, join the scribbled bits together, sort, juggle, tweak. It's like a collage.
Lots of redrafts, rewrites and polish–and eventually you have a book.
Then, when the time is right, join the scribbled bits together, sort, juggle, tweak. It's like a collage.
Lots of redrafts, rewrites and polish–and eventually you have a book.
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