Episode Release Date 31st October 2020:
Winner of the EU Prize for Literature in 2019, Ballymena born author, Jan Carson, delves into her own imagination as well as a number of places that have had an important impact on her creativity. Be transported by Jan’s gentle voice as she considers the formative effects of her hometown Ballymena, how it contrasted with the Belfast of her university days and learn how she desperately needed to leave an environment that these days she loves
Follow her to Portland, Oregon, where she ended up living by accident. A place for Jan that was “the maddest culture shock and it was wonderful.” In fact, she didn’t want to leave at all but this couldn’t be avoided.
Leaving behind a cultural hub that she loved, not long afterwards Jan could be spotted writing her first book, the Portland inspired novel, Malcolm Orange Disappears. in the coffee shop at Tesco’s in Ballymena.
Jan’s journey also takes you to St. Andrews in Scotland and Karmøy in Norway.
So, we were always heading off for what in Ballymena you call a “wee run in the car”. And we’d usually be down in the glens or riding the north coast or forests and climbing Slemish and all sorts of things like that. So I’m very, very grateful for that.
This episode of Creative Places & Faces is sponsored by the Property Insurance Centre.
The transcription with images is available at Travel Inspires Jan Carson: Belfast, Portland and more
