by Jo Barnes | photo by Amanda Cribdon Photography –
Childhood can shape all of us. For this local writer, it not only shaped who she is, but it has also impacted the subject and style of what she composes on the page.
M.A.C. (Marion) Farrant, an award-winning North Saanich author, draws from the experiences of her upbringing to create works that are personal, accessible and infused with humour.
“I was part a large extended family,” shares Marion. “I was raised with opportunities for creative expression and humour.”
From a very young age, Marion was raised by her aunt and uncle. Opportunities to be creative were available and valued in the household. “My interest in being creative goes back to childhood. I took dancing lessons and would put on musicals with children from the neighborhood,” says Marion. “Creative expression was important.”
Her upbringing eventually served as the impetus for writing. Her memoir, My Turquoise Years, set in 1960, is about a 13-year-old who is raised by an aunt and has grown up hearing all about her errant globetrotting mother. Just as the protagonist is coming of age, her mother suddenly declares she will be visiting, news that throws a major curveball for everyone.
“The story reflects six weeks of my life when I was 13, and my outrageous mom came to visit,” comments Marion.
The book garnered positive reviews from readers, many of whom felt a connection with the words on the page.
“People often said ‘that’s my childhood!'” says Marion. “People appreciate the off-the-wall humour.”
Marion adapted My Turquoise Years for the stage, and it premiered in 2013 at the Vancouver Arts Club Theatre.
“The play honoured those who raised me,” she notes. “It was a celebration of resilience.”
Literature has always had great appeal for Marion.
“In high school, I was ignited by what I was reading,” she shares. “I could write good essays. That was rewarding.”
After graduation, Marion studied Modern American poetry at Simon Fraser University. Subsequently, she travelled in Europe and then enrolled at UVic where she completed sufficient courses to become an accredited B.C. Registered Social Worker. She worked finally at Seven Oaks Children’s Centre.
The need to be creative and to engage in literary expression kept beckoning to Marion, and in 1985, she left the social work field. The years to follow brought other life changes. A son and daughter were born. The days were busy, but Marion pursued her love of the written word. She balanced daily writing with other household demands.
“I wrote on my own. I would write at the kitchen counter,” she recalls. “I wanted to be a serious literary writer.”
After sending out a number of her stories to magazines, Marion began to submit her work to potential publishers. Eventually, she received encouragement, and in 1991, her collection of stories Sick Pigeon was published by Thistledown Press.
Writing is a solitary activity, often requiring the writer to press beyond self-doubt and creative blocks. For Marion, however, it is well worth the effort and brings a lot of satisfaction.
“There is nothing like the exhilaration I experience creating something that has a life of its own,” she shares. “Writing; I love the thrill and joy of it!”
Her writing has gained attention over the years. Her novel The Strange Truth About Us was awarded a Best Book of 2012 by The Globe & Mail, and in 2014, her work The World Afloat won the City of Victoria Butler Book prize.
In 2019, Marion had just begun a memoir entitled One Good Thing. With the arrival of the pandemic, the book became a helpful project for her. “All through the pandemic, it was a godsend and gave me focus,” says Marion.
One Good Thing, a B.C. bestseller now for 11 weeks, is a memoir-based reflection of living through our current times using the theme of the business of gardening.
“It’s about calm abidance in the chaos of the world and how to live through the pandemic,” relates Marion. “It’s about where you are in the present moment and how to cherish each day.”
She is currently working on what will be her 18th book. It will be in the same tone as One Good Thing but will highlight jigsaw puzzles this time around. Readers can look forward to the same humorous style and Marion’s flair for revealing the absurdity of life.
The natural ability to poke fun at life’s situations and translate that into words is rewarding for Marion.
“Writing: it’s both a gift to receive and also to give away to others,” says Marion. “I hope readers connect with it.”
Life can pull the rug out from under us. But instead of staying down on the floor, Marion got up and used her experience to reach out to entertain and inspire others.
