Tapani Kinnunen - a professional poet

Tapani Kinnuen does poetry and performance.

How would you describe Finnish literature?

It is quiete young country. There is a lot of literature from countryside. Now started to be city, urban poetry

What is your poetry about?

About cities. Tells you what it is about to live in Turku. Also about love and human´s relationships to each other. I would say, that I am influenced by Charles Bukowski.

When do you write?

I write more in winter time. In Finland we have short summer, and during this time I like to enjoy it. I work three days per week in library, so I have also time for writing. I prefer mornings for writing.

Are you in contact with other writers in Turku?

Not really, just with couple of friends.

How would you describe Finnish literature?

It is very hard to publish here something. And even harder to publish it abroad. But there are exceptions, like Arto Paasilinna. He is very popular in France, he is different. In Finland are some popular topics and motives. Like hard drinking, unnormal persons, countryside and changes into the urban society. Also Internet phenomena is showing sometimes in books.

Is there any difference in literature scene between Finnish cities?

Turku is more "bohemian" compare to Helsinki. People from Helsinki sometimes think that we write just about drinking beer, fucking...but of course there is much more things what we write about. In Tampere they more focuse on drama and theatre. I would say that literature is most alive in Turku and Helsinki.