Meet the (local) Author

Jo Bahdo

An interview with Jo Bahdo

I am “Jo Bahdo, a (poetry) writer, reader and regular cinemagoer.”

I am usually inspired “by past personal events and memories (both my own and those of others), as well as nature (I have a particular interest in mushrooms and glaciers at the moment). I am also inspired by lyrics, fabrics and textures, and philosophical concepts that I read about when I was a student.”

Since childhood, “I have had an obsession with paper, but I haven’t yet become a bookbinder, bookseller, archivist or publisher”.

Most of my days I “spend worrying about things at work,” but I wish I “could stop spending so many hours sitting in front of a computer, unless it’s to edit my own work”. I wish I “could go for long walks daily, have regular mini adventures with my partner as well as the mental capacity for more in-depth conversations. I also wish I could travel to visit my friends more often. “

I have never “spent more than three weeks outside of Switzerland”, and yet I will never “feel fully at home here because it’s not really where I am from”.

If I “could choose to do anything right now” then I “would be off on a DYI writing retreat in Iceland”.

I am amazed by “people who can go “with the flow of life”” and jealous of “this ability”.

The last book I read was “Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood; I’m currently reading all the books by Atwood I can find.” I regret not “having enough time to reread all books twice”.

I am not “sure about anything in life, but I know I am meant to write”.

-Jo Bahdo

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The event

On April 11, Vastela Books will host the 5th edition of the Write Out Loud event - an open mic night for local authors. During the event, we have the pleasure to hear 10 minutes of reading (in English) from our authors. We are really pleased to welcome Jo Bahdo to our event.

The author

Jo was born and raised in Ticino but comes from a polyglot working-class family of Aramean origins. They have studied English literature and linguistics, and Film studies. Jo alternates between a passion for books and a passion for film. They are not only the author of two poetry collections, Primary Poems and Secondary Poems, with additional publications in Zwichentext, Sunday Mornings at the River, Beyond the Veil Press, Querencia Press and DEARS, but also co-direct the Swiss Youth Film Festival since 2022.

Jo is our monthly Writing Club host here at Vastela. They are an inspiration not only to me, Ana, but also the many people that have been getting together to write.

Find more about the author here: https://www.jobahdo.com/