Meet Rowan MacDonald - dipity Community Spotlight Q&A Interview no. 7
learn more about writer Rowan MacDonald's work through dipity's global interview monthly spotlight feature
Introduction
Rowan MacDonald lives in Tasmania with his dog, Rosie. His writing has appeared in publications around the world, including most recently: Sans. PRESS, Paper Dragon, Witcraft, OPEN: Journal of Arts and Letters and The Ocotillo Review. His work has also been adapted into a short film by New Form Digital.
Rowan's short fiction was awarded the Kenan Ince Memorial Prize (2023). He has twice been shortlisted in the Australian Writers' Centre Furious Fiction Challenge. He's currently working on his first novel.
The Billabong by Rowan MacDonald
Back sits against dry bark of a coolabah tree, dirt littered with eucalyptus leaves; nature’s confetti.
“Cool-ah-bah,” he says. “This is where they croaked.”
I shake my head, swat a fly. “They died at the Creek,” I say. “Tree is where it started.”
He looks at me, shrugs his shoulders. “Whatever,” he says. “We’re screwed now too.”
He claws at the ground, pushes leaves about, tries to complete a jigsaw that doesn’t exist.
Manic, desperate movements, sand in the air.
“What are you doing?” I ask. “Good way to annoy something, get bitten.”
“Be quicker than starvation,” he says.
I want to strangle him for throwing our phones off Cooper’s Bridge; his need to make it authentic, for wanting to do it the old way.
“What are you laughing at?” he asks.
“Didn’t think it would end like this,” I say. “Ironic.”
Barren landscape all around, dead trees buckling in heat, others seeking shade.
“Do you hear that?” I ask.
Silence. Nothing. Animals everywhere and nowhere, all at once. Driven to ground. Will join them soon. Permanently. Feverish air ripples against redness, waves simmer in horizon. Lone figure emerges, swag over shoulder, grows in focus.
“Help,” I croak. “Hello?”
Dark curly hair, large smile, bends down.
“You white fellas never learn,” he laughs.
“Do you have any water?” we ask.
Figure stares at us, our pathetic state, then surveys the panorama, void of life.
“I know a place,” he says. “But first—”
“First what?”
“Whose land is this?”
We glance at each other, moment of surrender, acknowledgement of truth.
“Yours.”
“Damn right.”
Q: What is the backstory of this short story?
I’m sick of human arrogance, particularly with how it relates to the natural world. This was particularly rife during the time of early settlers in Australia. My piece is a critique of Western imperialist hubris. Hope for both climate change and better futures lie partly in learning from our Indigenous peoples; traditional owners of the land.
Q: What was your most recent publication?
A piece called “Overdue” in Paper Dragon. It depicts two elderly ladies and their regular lunches. It highlights the importance of friendship and community, particularly during the grieving process. It can be found here: https://drexelpaperdragon.com/overdue.
Q: What else do you do outside of the writing or poetry community? or What else are you working on or excited about in the future? Any fun hobbies?
I’m currently working on my first novel. I also love spending time with my dog, Rosie. She just turned 15! I enjoy spending time on Tasmania’s beautiful beaches, and recently embraced mindfulness.
Q: When did you begin writing? OR What or who sparked and inspired your writing journey?
I started writing in 2021. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME, which has severely limited my life. Writing has a flexibility that works well within these challenges. It keeps me connected to society. When health has often dictated what I can’t do, writing has shown me what I can do.
Q: What advice would you give aspiring poets, authors, or fellow writers in the community?
Embrace the rejections. They’re as much a part of the writing processthan a sentence itself. Most famous and successful authors received overwhelming rejection. So, consider those rejection slips just one more thing in common with your favourite writers!
Q: What are you currently reading? OR What book(s) would you recommend to others right now?
I’m currently reading Murder in the Pacific: Mt Yasur by Matt Francis. It’s the second in the series, and I love that they’re set in Vanuatu; an under-represented book location. I’m also reading Simon Rowell’s third Detective Zoe Mayer book: The Good Dog. Zoe and her service dog, Harry are such an endearing crime-fighting duo.
Q: What was the last movie or TV show you watched or recommend others see in the community?
A docuseries called The Enfield Poltergeist. It has particular interest for me due to growing up in a haunted house myself.
Q: Which poets, artists, or writers inspire you?
Anyone that has persisted in the face of adversity, setbacks, or rejection. So, basically most published authors—especially my fellow Australian writers. We have such a thriving community in this country, some great people and it’s producing some excellent writing!
Q: If you were stuck on the moon with anyone or could pick your space flight partner who would it be ( it could be someone from the past or present time)?
Scott Kelly. He knows his stuff. After reading his memoir, Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery, I feel like I would be in safe hands!
Goanna - Solid Rock (Lyric Video)
Q: What's one of your favorite poems in existence?
“The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels” by Bert Beros.
The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels
Many a mother in Australia,
When the busy day is done,
Sends a prayer to the Almighty
For the keeping of her son,
Asking that an Angel guide him
And bring him safely back
Now we see those prayers are answered
On the Owen Stanley track,
For they haven’t any halos,
Only holes slashed in the ears,
And with faces worked by tattoos,
With scratch pins in their hair,
Bringing back the wounded,
Just as steady as a hearse,
Using leaves to keep the rain off
And as gentle as a nurse.
Slow and careful in bad places,
On the awful mountain track,
And the look upon their faces,
Makes us think that Christ was black.
Not a move to hurt the carried,
As they treat him like a Saint,
It’s a picture worth recording,
That an Artist’s yet to paint.
Many a lad will see his Mother,
And the Husbands, Weans and Wives,
Just because the Fuzzy Wuzzy
Carried them to save their lives.
From mortar or machine gun fire,
Or a chance surprise attack,
To safety and the care of Doctors,
At the bottom of the track.
May the Mothers in Australia,
When they offer up a prayer,
Mention those impromptu Angels,
With the Fuzzy Wuzzy hair.
~ Bert Beros
Source: (https://allpoetry.com/The-Fuzzy-Wuzzy-Angels)
To Check Out More of Rowan MacDonald’s Work
Read some of his work linked above in this Q&A and head over to Rowan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/rowmac and of course you can search more online as well!
Please Def Follow:
@rowmac89
on Instagram
[Interview Processed By VFORROW]
Note: We choose one song for fun to pair with each Substack submission similar to our website’s online tank or sometimes let writers recommend songs (as we did here).
[Thank You Message From the Founder]:
Thank you so much, Rowan, for sharing about yourself through dipity’s Substack community spotlight! Rosie looks super cute! I myself have grown up with smaller dogs—Chihuahuas over the years. I am a fan of classic haunted house films and horror flicks such as The Conjuring and Paranormal Activity ones—haven’t watched a ton of docuseries but will check it out when I can too! Also, that’s awesome that your work was adapted into a short film! We’ll definitely have to check out more of your work and absolutely look forward to seeing the development of your very first novel!
~ Jazz Marie Kaur (Vevna Forrow)
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