PONGWUT RUJIRACHAKORN

Now at 33, Pongwut Rujirachakorn’s bibliography is already celebrated with more than 50 works of writing, including novels and short stories. Most of them touch on the concept of human minds.

His first published work was a short story called Fah Lang Fon Tee Plian ( A Changed Sky After Rain), which he wrote for a magazine in 2001 when he was in college. Four years later, his first hardcover Pornovel was released. Now Pratade Nheu Jing ( A Surreal Country), his first shortlisted novel for the SEA Write Award, takes a fearless turn to talk about the current plight that faces the country. The novel centres around a democracy junkie named Tin who defies the ironfisted regime by spending his nights trying to influence other people and take control of their minds.

Is the SEA Write Award still as significant as it once was?

Compared to 15-20 years ago, it may seem like the enthusiasm has petered out. But it is still considered the most significant and prestigious award for literature in the country.

Why should people read your book?

It talks about the society’s behaviour at the moment, after the coup d’etat. It has issues about power in the era when news is thick on the ground but truth is hard to find, when prejudice abounds, and when sickness is found in various dimensions, both physical and mental. Apart from that, I intended to innovate a new style of narrative, which can make readers absorbed in a realistic atmosphere.

How did you feel the moment you finished writing the first sentence of this book? Did you know you had a book in you?

I collected information for the atmosphere and the people for three years. Then I wrote a short story. Last year, however, the circumstances shook me up and I felt that I had everything ready, including the structure and the narrative technique, so I started writing. I felt satiated when writing the first sentence as I was able to deliver the social issues I had been noticing.

What did you read while you were writing this book?

When I was working on this book, I probably finished more than 100 other books. But I only read them for fun. The influence on my book was my own thoughts about society.

Any Thai or international writers you’d recommend?

Dan Chaon. His book Stay Awake is a collection of short stories. It’s a combination of haunting fantasy and captivating reality about life. For Thai writers, I’m after younger writers and writers of the same age I know such as Pathompong Chaikhuankhan and Chatrawee Sentanissak. I think they are going to play a big role in the industry.