Mariza Decastro studied Pedagogy and Literature for Children and Youth at the Sorbonne. Writes knowledge books for children, and translates literature for young people and adults. Since 1998 he has been writing reviews for children and teenagers. He is a member of the Society of Greek Writers, the IBBY-Greek section and the Editorial Committee of the electronic magazine O ANAGNOSTIS. Her books have been honored with the State Knowledge Book Award (2006, 2017, 2018), the IBBY Knowledge Book Award - Hellenic Department (2012, 2016) and the Youth Book Translation Award of the Hellenic Society of Literary Translators (2014). Listed on the IBBY 2016 Honorary Board for the translation of the youth book Miracle. Her books are included in the White Ravens 2017 and 2018 catalog of the Munich Youth Library.
Detailed essay and critique: www.biblionet.gr
Teacher, columnist, translator, book reviewer, knowledge book writer… Which of these "roles" can overshadow the others or coexist harmoniously?
They coexist harmoniously! But if I dig it a little, the teacher I always wanted to be will come to the surface. And if we look at my actions, we will find that this role is constantly present even when it temporarily remains in the shadows.
We carry our stories and readings… What is your "burden"?
I would say 'which'. The great novels and the story.
How is this transformed, utilized, localized in your art?
I do not write novels! But thanks to the translation, which puts you in search of the texts, and to the teaching, I learned to express myself accurately.
And your surroundings narrower or wider? What role did he play or does he play?
My close environment gives me security, the wider one opens my mind.
Favorite sound (story-song-phrase)
"There are stories that can be told in all languages," wrote Danilo Keys. in "A Tomb for Boris Davidovic", with the subtitle "Seven Chapters of a Common Story". They are the common stories of Europeans from World War II that have the same meaning in all languages. This phrase has literally stuck in my mind because it includes lives and stories from every region of the European continent.
Favorite image?
The open horizons created by nature, skies, mountains, seas…
If you did not breathe oxygen, what would give you life?
Love, friendships…
If you had to be deprived of something you love so much what would it be?
I am persistent and stubborn. So I would do anything not to be deprived of it.
Favorite: Name ?, Flower ?, Flavor? Smell;
Names that contain liquids according to λ and ρ because they slip on the tongue.
Flower: magnolias
Taste: spicy because they have character.
Smell: aromas either slightly sour or oriental, depending on the mood of the moment.
A bad nightmare?
I definitely have dreams, but because I do not remember anything in the morning I can tell you that I have no nightmares. So, I do not even want to wake up thinking about things that scare me.
A next goal in your life, in your course?
I submit to health goals. Let us be healthy and everything will be done.
I give you five words, please make me a short story in exactly 43 words, autobiographical or not: events, history, myth, step and time
"I'm sure you gave me those words because you imagined I liked history! "So you took the first step to get to know me better," she told him. "I will connect you all, and the myths and the events and the time that passes."
Thank you
