Author Interview: Sabrin Hasbun

Q&A with the contributors from the latest issue of Hinterland - available to preorder now.

Sabrin Hasbun was born in Palestine, spent her childhood in Palestine and Italy, and now lives in the UK. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing and History from Bath Spa University and Exeter University and lectures in creative writing at Cardiff Metropolitan University where she teaches and researches decolonial strategies through collective creation and action. Crossing, Sabrin’s family memoir about displacement told through the love shared between her Italian mother and Palestinian father, was awarded the Footnote x Counterpoints Writing Prize. She is in conversation with our associate editor Yin F Lim in Issue 18.

What’s the last thing (except for this!) that you wrote?

The last thing I wrote, just this morning as every morning, is my journal of practice. It keeps my hand going even when my mind is stuck or too busy. It reminds me that writing is a priority.

What’s a recent discovery that you can’t keep quiet about?

I am obsessing over The Land in our Bones by Layla K. Feghali.

Words to live by…

“We will need writers who can remember freedom” - Ursula K Le Guin.

Tell us something about yourself that surprises people...

I am an incredible cook. I love cooking and hosting people. I think there is nothing more powerful than coming together over a meal prepared with love and care. I have seen how my parents used food to melt the prejudices against their mixed marriage and it was a great lesson for me, plus I come from two fantastic culinary traditions (Palestinian and Italian) so I can't go wrong.

Can you tell us about your conversation with Hinterland?

I was lucky enough to meet [Hinterland associate editor] Yin during my book presentation at Norwich Book Festival. It was her idea to have a conversation about my book in this issue of Hinterland. The conversation focuses on what it meant for me to write the story of my parents, unfolding between Italy and Palestine, not only on the emotional level, but at the level of craft and language. When dealing with intergenerational pains and joys, and when writing in a moment of unspeakable violence, craft is not just about style but it becomes a conscious way to reshape the narrative, to rewrite oneself into the history that tries to erase us.

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Issue 18 is available to pre-order direct from our website now.