Csilla Toldy

Csilla Toldy was born in Budapest. She escaped from the socialist bloc through the green borders at the age of eighteen in 1981. She has lived in France, Germany and England, but she settled in Northern Ireland in 1998. Her short stories and poems were published by UK and Irish literary magazines. Her scripts have won awards in Hungary and the US. Csilla is a lecturer of creative writing with the Open University.

Credentials

Csilla Toldy in 60 seconds

When did you start writing?

1979 in Budapest, Hungary.

What do you love about short stories?

I like it when they linger in the mind for a long time after reading.

Do you write in other forms?

Poetry, film scripts , novella, novel.

What distracts you from writing?

E-mails.

Outside of writing, what are your other passions?

Films, yoga, meditation, music.

What is your favourite book?

"Sinners" a short story by Edna O'Brien, published in Saints and Sinners by Faber in 2011.

Who are your favourite writers?

Colum McCann, Hermann Hesse and Hilary Mantel.

Where is your dream location?

Colorado.

What one item would you put into Room 101?

Subordinate clauses.

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Persevere.