What inspired you to set part of Niels Larsen’s transformative journey in Spain, specifically in Seville? Could you elaborate on how the location acts as more than just a backdrop, perhaps even as a character in itself, within the story? I like to write about places and subjects that interest me, as Spain does. Beyond that, after learning the secret of his origins, Niels effectively deconstructs himself and assumes a peripatetic life in a container ship, a hard, static, colorless environment. When he arrives in Seville, he enters a warm, dynamic city full of color and passion, conditions which inspire renewal and regeneration. A place where his phoenix can rise out of the ashes. Tiago, the enigmatic gypsy guitarist in Spain, plays a pivotal role in Niels’ journey. How did you conceptualize this character, and what does he symbolize? I don’t consciously conceptualize characters. They just sort of present themselves, as the gitano guitarist did. He serves as a kind of spirit guide for Niels on his inward journey. Niels Larsen finds himself at a crossroads, torn between a newfound life in Spain and his roots in Canada. Could you discuss the inspiration behind using this geographical dilemma as a lens through which to explore Niels’ deeper internal conflicts? 85 Rhapsody in a Minor Mode is about a young man’s search for identity after learning a shocking secret about his origins. Questioning the basis and even the fact of his existence, and realizing that his life to that point has been shaped by others’ ideas of who and what he should be, he abandons his studies, his soul-mate, and his family to embark on a journey of self-discovery. So, let‘s begin. What is Rhapsody in a Minor Mode about? In my previous book, The Lighthouse, others know Niels’ secret but he does not. After completing that book, I wondered how Niels would react if he ever found out, and that is the point of departure for Rhapsody in a Minor Mode. Life can turn on what on the surface appear to be innocuous or inconsequential comments, events, or experiences. The significance of the phenomenon isn’t always immediately apparent and often its effect can be benign or beneficial, like when you suddenly gain an understanding about someone or something. But sometimes it challenges everything you know and value and tears you apart, as happens to Niels. The life of your main character, Niels Larsen, changes dramatically due to a shocking secret revealed by a casual remark at a New Year’s party. Can you discuss how you decided on this particular revelation as a plot point, and also speak to the power of seemingly inconsequential moments serving as catalysts for life-altering changes? It’s the universal dilemma of anyone who has left home to transcend the constraints of their past–especially the persona assigned to them by the assumptions, definitions, and expectations of their family and cultural context. Years after he set off on his journey, Niels recognizes that it is through his experiences in Spain that he became the man he is and lives the life he does, both of which he values greatly. Yet the pull back to home and family is strong—paradoxically, it’s in Spain that he comes to fully understand the meaning and importance of family. The contrast between the misty, blue-gray dreaminess of Pacific Canada and the heat, earthy colors, and vibrancy of Andalusia underline this tension.
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