A minute with Kemal Behcet Caymaz Artist, Art Teacher and Author

Where do you live?
Sometimes alone in Vasilia. Sometimes with my parents in Nicosia.

What did you have for breakfast?
Omelette with basil and cheese

Describe your perfect day
Walking my dogs by the seaside after a busy day at my studio. Watching the sunset and listening to the sound of waves.

Best book ever read?
The Spiderwick Chronicles. Because after reading it, I decided to write a book too, and it inspired me for my series.

Best childhood memory?
I have many. I had many adventures with my brother in Vasilia. One day, I found a lizard in our garden. I threw it in a jar and scared my aunt’s daughters away.

What is always in your fridge?
Walnut Spoon Sweet

What music are you listening to in the car at the moment?
The Little Mermaid – Kiss The Girl

What’s your spirit animal?
Definitely, a Phoenix. Because for being reborn from the ashes despite all the disappointments and difficulties…

What are you most proud of?
Writing The Sapphire Series and presenting it to all Cyprus youth.

What movie scene has really stayed with you?
Ferzan Özpetek – Mine Vaganti end scene. Mourning and Celebration (with Sezen Aksu song: Kutlama) because family is everything. Despite everything, the whole family was together again.

If you could pick anyone at all (alive or dead) to go out for the evening with, who would it be?
There are two people! 😊 Emma Watson and Timothée Chalamet. We would be a very classy and fun group of friends.

If you could time travel when/where would you go?
I would go back to the 60s-70s and if I could, I would have prevented war separating the Cypriots.

What is your greatest fear?
Losing all my loved ones…

What would you say to your 18-year-old self?
Keep dreaming and work hard. Because you will succeed at everything you dream of.

Name the one thing that would stop you dating someone.
My Mum. Ahahahaha! 😊

If the world is ending in 24 hours what would you do?
I would call all the people I was offended by and tell them how much I loved them.

Kemal Behcet Caymaz is the writer of the Sapphire novel series, a fantasy trilogy based in Cyprus