After some poems and stories been published in our magazine during this summer, we decided o have a small but very interesting interview, with a storyteller and a very familiar figure, living far from Crete,  at Izmir. We present you, Didem Köktaş.

What is your profession? how did you choose it? 

Ι am a storyteller and a trainer. I tell stories for adults and kids.. I do workshops about literature and storytelling art . Art chose me. I grew up with my grandmom's stories and grandfather's music. I always write and tell poems and stories.

Where do you live? how does this effect you? 

I live in İzmir , Turkey. Turkey has many culture.. Many different cultures have lived here. That means many stories exist ... Also my grand grand family came from Crete and Makedonia . I love this cultural mixes.

Which is your relation to the past, the tradition and the stories? 

Ι always walk in the bridge which between past and future...It feeds me.

Which is in your opinion the role of a storyteller? Is it related to imagination? 

I think a storyteller tells stories for future and she gives hopes. She does this by narrating the past.

Someone said that the relation with art is a big travel. Do you agree? Which is your relation to travels? 

I think we are all passengers and art is big travel... I am a passenger travelling in time, space, places and feelings..

Do you have any special relation to other forms of art? 

Yes , i am interesting with all arts. Especially music, plastic arts, cinema.. Each art tells its own way.. All those ways impressed me.

Do you believe that storytelling and art generally unites people?  Do you think that we should emphasize on these possible connections and similarities? 

Art unites people. It reminds us that all feelings are our colours and we have to live  our own adventures.This awareness brings respect and tolerance.

Is an artist related to social reality? Or he/she should only be related to his/her art? 

I don't think art is anything separate from society and nature. But each artist needs to explore his own way.

What else should we know about you? Which are your future plans?
  
I hope one day ı will tell stories in Crete. My favourite food is horta. Yes my plans is that I am writing a book and we are preparing for festivals. 

I am glad to we do this interview. Thank you.