Conny Borgelioen

What was your favorite book as a child?

I had a beautifully illustrated edition of The Neverending Story by Michael Ende that I borrowed five times in a row from my small local library, because I couldn’t get enough of it. The text was printed in sienna- and cyan-colored ink, and the illustrations were two-toned as well. I thought the book was actually magical, especially the ouroboros sign (called auryn in the book) on the cover. Eventually my mother bought me a copy like the one in the library, after the library attendant complained that I was hogging the book and other children wanted to read it.

What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

I’m somewhat of a late starter when it comes to writing. Growing up in a regular working class family in the Flemish coastal region of Belgium, I didn’t have access to the right support network to be able to realize my dormant literary impulses. Later on, while living in Ireland, I became ill with a complex chronic illness. In learning to cope with this illness, I had the opportunity to reinvent myself. I was no longer able to work. So, instead I started studying for a humanities degree with the Open University. It was there that I discovered poetry, and I haven’t stopped writing since. I’ve been struggling with this chronic illness for almost 20 years now, and to get to a better place, I’ve had to deal with my past. I’ve had to reveal behaviors and thought patterns that I was oblivious to. Writing has helped me to explore that.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

I’m not the adventurous type at all! All my thrilling experiences take place in books, and I love to live vicariously. But I did leave my country to live in Ireland for ten years. I know that moving abroad isn’t a big deal anymore these days, but it was a pretty big deal for someone like me at the time. I had to return, because I became very ill, and I needed to be close to family.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

I like to have quiet instrumental music playing in the background while I read. Some of my favorite playlists are the ones made with music from Studio Ghibli animation films. For writing, on the other hand, I need complete silence. I have sensory processing disorder as a symptom of my chronic illness, and I can’t think properly if there are too many distractions around. I can only write at home. Sometimes I use earplugs and noise-canceling headphones at the same time.