Interview with Ronald Fair
Prize-winning, expatriate novelist, poet, playwright and sculptor on how being a Christian influenced his work.
Ronald Fair has published novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. His novel, Hog Butcher, was adapted as the movie, Cornbread, Earl and Me.
Ronald Fair won the Arts and Letters Award from the National Institute of Arts and Letters (1970) for World of Nothing and the Best Book Award from American Library Association (1972) for We Can't Breathe. He became a National Education Association fellow (1974) and a Guggenheim Foundation fellow (1975). His sculptures have been exhibited in Europe. He has lived in Europe since 1971.
Sharyn Skeeter: Before you left the U.S. in 1971 you had published novels, had plays and a movie produced, and you had won prestigious awards. Why did you choose to leave the country?
Ronald Fair: I was fed up with American racism.
Skeeter: In your years away, you have been very prolific. What are some of your favorite new works?
Fair: I continue to be excited about my new Christian children's books, plays, TV pilots, etc., my autobiography “'Bout Me, 'Bout You, 'Bout Us,” and my sculptures.
Skeeter: Are your religious beliefs an influence in your writing?
Fair: Yes. I received the baptism of The Holy Spirit in December of 1980. My life is so beautiful that it is beyond comprehension as I am now glowing from His Spirit within me and it is impossible for me to not tell people about Jesus.
Skeeter: You’ve also produced sculptures that are exhibited in museums. How did you become a sculptor?
Fair: I prayed, asking Jesus how I could survive in Finland. He said, "Use your hands." I remembered that I used to carve things when I was young, and that I had always wanted to be a sculptor. Next thing I knew I had carved many, beautiful wooden figures that people liked. Before much longer I was exhibiting in Finland, Sweden, England, and Germany. I don't take credit for this though. Oh, I do the physical work, but it is Jesus who does the creating. I just follow His suggestions.
Skeeter: What writing and/or art are you working on now?
Fair: I am casting bronzes in Pietrasanta, Italy, and continuing to make new shapes in preparation for an exhibition I believe I am to have for my 75th birthday in 2007. I am readying about 30 of my children's stories to be published in English and to be made into cartoons. And, of course, I am continuing to work on my autobiography and other writings. And, my wife and I are active in work with orphans and widows. This is also most exciting.
Next week in Part 2, Ronald Fair talks about his experiences with making movies.
