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Saila Susiluoto

Saila Mira Milena Susiluoto
Born May 11, 1971, Helsinki

Faculty of Arts student (Comparative Literature, Philosophy and Aesthetics 1999–2001), University of Helsinki
Critical Academy, Writer’s Line 1991–3
Orivesi College of Arts 1991

Writer, performance poet, creative writing teacher
Served in numerous organisations in the writing industry, including the board of the Nuori Voima League 2002–6 (as its Chair 2004–6), the board of the Finnish Writers Union 2009–11, and the panel of judges for the Kalevi Jäntti Prize 2006–

Awards
Einari Vuorela Award 2011
Finland Award 2005
Kalevi Jäntti Prize 2001

Special Achievements
Nordic Council’s Literature Prize nominee 2012 (for Carmen)
Poems translated into 14 languages

Photo: Tomi Kontio
Written by Saila Susiluoto (Tomas Sjöblom, ed.)
Translated by
Joe McVeigh

My best memories from the University of Helsinki

My best memories from the university are related to acquiring information. I have never had the experience that studying literature would make your own creative writing opportunities brittle – quite the opposite actually. The inspiration to work sprouted in me at the university. I did a lot of background research for my work, even if this way of working does not come to mind immediately when thinking about a book of poetry. It may not be directly seen from the finished work, but more in its internal structure, message or history.

Photo: Klaus Susiluoto, 2001.​
Photo: Klaus Susiluoto, 2001.​

The information I learned goes a long way – I think even into my current project Antikythera, an interactive poetry app for the iPad. My interest in digital literature arose in 2000, in a course taught by Teemu Ikonen, where the visiting lecturer was the author and researcher Markku Eskelinen. Literature seems to open endless possibilities to a new world.

Photo: Klaus Susiluoto, 2001.​
Photo: Klaus Susiluoto, 2001.​

 

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