Siiri Enoranta is a young writer living in Tampere. She’s very concerned by the environment and passionate about sustainable changes. She’s a writer of fantasy books and received numerous prestigious awards, such as the Finlandia Junior prize last year. I invite you to discover her universe here.

Why do you write fictions that are focused on sustainability, or where sustainability plays an important role? What’s the deep motivation?

I never start writing a new novel with the intention of introducing certain themes or predefined symbolism, but rather follow my characters in the journey they take me on. I often don’t understand the message of my manuscript before I’ve worked with it for years on end - that’s how absorbed by the story I am. Nevertheless, certain themes appearing in my books again and again are not accidents either. I write about what I love and what I feel passionate about, but also about what scares and annoys me. And currently, our society is broken. We keep on consuming like we can continue this selfish party endlessly, but we can’t. We need to control the climate change today. This being at the back of my head, I can’t help but write about it even if I don’t plan on it. Fantasy literature is a wonderful tool in commenting the society and building more functional systems. If we cannot imagine a better world, we definitely cannot create it.

Do you believe art is still needed when the humans, animals, vegetal, social, environmental emergencies are so high? What’s the role of art for you.

I think in difficult times art is more important than ever. It is extremely important that people don’t lose hope and let pessimism paralyse them. I feel like the environmental crisis has two sides: all the concrete problems and people’s feelings about them. Art can help people handle their fear, denial and depression and give energy to lead a more sustainable life. For me, creating and consuming art is essential because it’s lovely and exciting but also because it’s therapeutic.

How do you deal with climate change stress?

I donate to charity, live a relatively eco-friendly life and write books that may help someone somewhere, all this to make me feel like I’m doing something, like I’m a part of the solution rather than the problem. Of course I battle with my Western guilt, but I consciously focus on the positive, look for good news to read and remind myself about things to be grateful for. I spend time in the nature, have honest conversations with my friends, pet dogs and dance.

Can you name 1-2 books and movies that are bringing you a sense of hope?

Any book where people can change things for the better by joining forces and being true to themselves and to each other - I prefer escapism and reading about different problems than the ones I’m facing in my real life. So for example His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Reading and watching documentaries about new scientific discoveries helps too!

Siiri is coming soon to give a talk at Tampere University, stay tuned!

Siiri’s website. Picture credit: Ville Koivisto