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Inside/Out with author, editor and publisher Ivor W. Hartmann
Kubatana.net
March 15, 2011

Read full interview with Ivor Hartmann

Describe yourself in five words?
Never that good at describing myself, I'll leave that for others to do.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Realising your dreams requires hard work and persistence above all else.

What's the most ridiculous thing you've ever done?
Jumping into a water-filled quarry without knowing where the rocks were — I went back many years later when it was empty and was fairly horrified to see how close myself, and those who used to jump with me, were to cracking our brains open with every jump.

What is your most treasured possession?
My collection of books.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
The general state of the world, and in particular Zimbabwe.

Do you have any strange hobbies?
No.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
Nothing really.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Well-aged single malt whisky

What have you got in your fridge?
Never enough, I hear distant echoes every time I open it.

What is your greatest fear?
That my persistence doesn't eventually pay off.

What have you got in your pockets right now?
Nothing, never carry anything in my pockets.

What is your favourite journey?
Going home to Zimbabwe.

Who are your heroes in real life?
So many, mostly literary, here's a few off the top of my head: Dambudzo Marechera, Yvonne Vera, Stanley Mupfudza, Chenjerai Hove, Chinua Achebe, Ben Okri, the list goes on . . . .

When and where were you happiest?
That depends, I was probably most happy when I was around five but that was a happiness born of innocence. Without innocence, I think that day has yet to come.

What's your biggest vice?
Cigarettes.

What were you like at school?
Much like I am now, fairly reclusive and mostly living in the worlds of my imagination - it's a good thing I get paid to do that now.

What are you doing next?
I have so many things planned, if even one quarter of them work out I'll be happy.

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