Despite her young age—she is but 20 years old—Samar al-Mezghanni appears full of wisdom. No matter what questions I posed to her, I was staggered at her responses which smacked of truth and candour. Ms Mezghanni has been twice cited in the Guiness Book of Records, once on 23 October 2000 as the youngest story teller in the world, and another time on 25 April 2004 as the most prolific young writer. It made me very happy to meet Ms Mezghanni in the Arab Youth Forum at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina recently.
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Samar. I was born on 27 August 1988, the daughter of a Tunisian father and Iraqi mother. I write short stories and study computer science.
How did you discover your gift of writing?
My father used to read to me stories when I was four. My mother was my first story-teller, interlocutor, and the first to witness and respond to my early curiosity about my world. Her rich, beautiful language was an inspiration, since it intertwined the time and space aesthetics of two different cultures. This climate enchanted me and attracted me to the world of fiction ever since I was seven. I was in my second year of primary school when I felt the first urge to write, and have never stopped since. I showed my first attempt at writing to my father who was so impressed that he doubted this beautiful work had been authored by me. When I wrote before his very eyes he had to believe, and directly took my work to a publisher. It was thus that my first story appeared in Erfan, a Tunisian children magazine, in 1997.
What did you read?
I began reading when I was in Second Primary and read full collections of fiction stories. In Fourth Primary, I finished reading the first novel Salwa fi Mahab al-Rih (Salwa in the Whirlwind) by Mahmoud Taymour. At the age of ten, I had read the full works of Taha Hussein, Hanna Mina and Mustafa Lutfi al-Manfaloti. Then I started reading translated classics. I was absolutely taken with Victor Hugo’s Hunchback of Notre Dame to the extent that I read it seven times. I also loved Marquez’s Hundred Years of Solitude and read it nine times.
Who are the authors who influenced you most?
I was greatly influenced by the Tunisian writer Ali al-Dawagy. I love Taha Hussein’s Duaa’ al-Karawan (Nightingale’s cry). I began writing on the tongues of animals since my childhood because I love them so much and they are creatures close to children.
This brings us to your writing for children, some of the most prominent writers agree that it is very difficult to write for children, how hard did you find it?
No doubt the best to write for a child is a child. A young writer can easily grasp the dreams and modest hopes of children, and can understand exactly how they feel. The language of children is special and no one can fathom it except the one who shares their feelings. Right now I hope that I do not forget this language and continue to write for both children and grown ups.
Do you follow special rituals when you write?
I write when I am completely isolated from the outside world. I close my room and listen to soft music that takes me away to the wide fictitious world. I love the voice of Fairouz. Writing for me is life itself. I live through reading and writing.
What literary form can you best express yourself through?
I love writing short stories because it gives me the feeling that I can pour out all my feelings and emotions in a safe place. Writing stories is my favourite hobby. It is a way of investing my time in a real fruitful thing to entertain others and help them have a good time.
Do you get feedback from readers?
I pay very close attention to comments of readers. I receive so many letters and messages from people around the world. This makes me feel that writing is a sublime and noble profession that addresses all kinds of people.
Which letter made you happiest?
I received letters from Yasser Arafat, President Ali Abdullah Saleh, King Albert II of Belgium, Queen Rania Abdullah, Prince Talal bin Abdel Aziz and Jacques Chirac. But Arafat’s letter was very special. I had written a collection of short stories entitled Osfour Phalastini Fakad Umoh (A Palestinian Bird Lost its Mother), which I dedicated to Arafat. One story tells of an orphan bird who receives the news that his mother is dead. The story quotes, “When they told him that his mother died, the small bird did not understand the meaning of this word because he was so young and because this phrase did not exist in his simple vocabulary. But he finally realised that his mother will not be there to pat him lovingly or give him a bear-hug or tell him stories before he sleeps.” I was surprised that Arafat took great interest in this book and sent me a gentle note saying: “We appreciate this wonderful literary work which truly reflects the pain and suffering of our children.”
You scathingly criticised the Arab young people in the Youth Forum, why?
Unfortunately, Arab young people do not read. Even when they surf the Internet, they do it for entertainment. Their minds are mostly full with football. They show amazement at my correct Arabic pronunciation although they do not care much about Arabic in the first place.
What is the first decision you would take if you ever become Youth Minister?
I will ban football.
What are you writing now?
As usual I express myself best in short stories, but I am now working to write my first novel.