Tristan Marajh is a young emerging writer who as of this interview is unpublished (but not un-awarded for his short stories). He is a Toronto-based short story writer with work appearing in the Canadian journals The New Quarterly, Ricepaper Magazine, Existere, Blank Spaces Magazine and The Nashwaak Review. His accolades include winning 1st-Prize in both The Stratford Writing Competition (Canada) and The Free Association Books Short Fiction Competition (England), 2nd-Prize in The Scugog Arts Council’s Ekphrastic Writing Competition (Canada) and 3rd-Prize in the William Faulkner Literary Competition (USA).
He recently reached out to The Miramichi Reader to enquire about getting one of his short fiction pieces published here. He submitted two, and “The Lesser Man” was chosen as the first fiction ever published here at TMR. A serious and polite young man, I thought Tristan would be a good interview candidate. Here is the result.
Miramichi Reader: Tell us a bit about your background, education, employment, etc.
I was born in and spent half my life in the Caribbean island known as Kairi, Iere or Trinidad and Tobago; the other half in the region popularly known as Toronto. I did primary and secondary school in the former; some high school then university in the latter. I currently work at a public library near the city.
“You’re a human being first before you’re a writer. Devote your energies and efforts into making the former a masterpiece, before trying to write one. The rest should come into place.”
MR: Tell us about some of the books or authors or other people (such as teachers) that may have influenced you to become a writer.
I’ve enjoyed quite a few books, authors – even speakers – who fanned the writerly flames, though it is the condition of being human that has compelled me the most.
MR: Tristan, as an emerging and as of this interview, unpublished writer, can you tell us about your approach to eventually getting published and perhaps some lessons learned along the way, for the benefit of other emerging writers out there?
You’re a human being first before you’re a writer. Devote your energies and efforts into making the former a masterpiece, before trying to write one. The rest should come into place.
MR: Tristan, you kindly sent me two of your award-winning short stories to read and I was impressed with the maturity of your ’voice’ in each one. I could see why they were awarded. They also had optimistic endings, which is nice in a world where optimism is difficult to maintain (or come by). Would you say that your outlook is an optimistic one that comes through in your stories?
Well, you were kind enough to request and read those stories, James – so thank you.
Recently I was talking with my aunt, who is an avid reader and former English Literature teacher; she was lamenting that she hasn’t come across much edifying literary work lately. I would like to think that those two stories – The Lesser Man and The Complete Works of Min-Ju Kim – contributed to filling that perceived lack in some way.
On optimism as an ending: it is near-impossible to overlook at least some degree of it. Life is awash with pain but the converse is also true. Optimism is, at the very least, ever always tiny, trembling and tentative.
MR: If you could write a biography of any person, living or dead, who would that be and why?
There have been a couple of requests – not to mention individuals in mind – but whether or not I would give them due justice is another question altogether.
MR: Tell us about your writing space. (Do you always write in the same area? Do you use a laptop or a desktop computer, etc)
Well, I normally use a laptop in the writing spaces (plural) that I’ve chosen: libraries, hospital food courts, cafés, parks…the one place I’ve hardly ever written is upon the actual writing desk I own.
MR: Covid question: how have you been coping with the pandemic? What changes (if any) has it made in your life?
Personally, I needed the slowing-down of things. I took the time to regroup, reconcile and retrain myself. I do sense that I’m better-equipped now – but that remains to be truly proven after more time has passed.
MR: What do you like to do when you are not writing (or reading)?
I’ve come to quite take to looking at nothing in particular because that’s where everything is.
MR: Finally, tell us an interesting fact about yourself!
Well, I was involved in Improv theatre prior to things having to shut down. It was a lot of fun. The hope of fellow participants – and myself – is that it’ll soon restart.
*Edit (April 2022): It has…!
Thanks, Tristan!
