Author, Jan Carson: From Ballymena to Belfast and Portland, Oregon (Part 1)

Winner of the EU Prize for Literature in 2019, Ballymena born author, Jan Carson, delves into her own imagination as well as a number of places that have had an important impact on her creativity.

Be transported by Jan's gentle voice as she considers the formative effects of her hometown Ballymena, how it contrasted with the Belfast of her university days and learn how she desperately needed to leave an environment that these days she loves.

Follow her to Portland, Oregon, where she ended up living by accident. A place for Jan that was "the maddest culture shock and it was wonderful." In fact, she didn't want to leave at all but this couldn't be avoided.

Leaving behind a cultural hub that she loved, not long afterwards Jan could be spotted writing her first book, the Portland inspired novel, Malcolm Orange Disappears. in the coffee shop at Tesco's in Ballymena.

Jan's journey also takes you to St. Andrews in Scotland and Karmøy in Norway.

This episode of Creative Places & Faces is sponsored by the Property Insurance Centre.

The transcription with images is available at Travel Inspires - to enjoy some visuals of the podcast just head over to Jan Carson: Belfast, Portland and more

Podcast website:
https://creativeplacesandfaces.com/

Credits:
Host: Jackie De Burca
Sound engineer: Newton Samadder
Music: No.4 Piano Journey by Esther Abrami
Voice over: Mike Payne

Sponsor Series 1:
Property Insurance Centre