The Other Side of Alistair Mackay: Pugs, Chaos and Queer Storytelling
Alistair Mackay is having a moment. The acclaimed South African author, who has steadily built a reputation for bold, emotionally intelligent writing, has just released his new short story collection, The Lucky Ones.
Described by playwright Nadia Davids as “hopeful, melancholic, wry and insightful,” the collection showcases the rich diversity of Mackay’s storytelling voice.
With two acclaimed novels under his belt (It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way, 2022 and The Child, 2024), Mackay has carved out a space as one of South Africa’s most versatile literary talents.
But beyond the polished prose and literary accolades, who is the man behind the words? MambaOnline caught up with Mackay to explore the more personal, messier, and yes, funnier, side of life as a queer writer in Cape Town.
Fireplaces and the Joy of Mess
Ask Alistair what made him happy today and the answer is irresistibly wholesome.
“It’s been really cold and wet in Cape Town, which I actually love,” he says. “I made a fire, and my little pug [Oscar] snuggled up on my lap and I felt very cosy and loved. And he has a new jersey that I’m obsessed with that squishes all his neck rolls up around his face, like an Elizabethan collar.”
Behind the serene scenes of literary life, what’s something about his day-to-day that might surprise people?
“My husband would say my private life is far too public as it is!” he laughs. “But I leave empty tea mugs everywhere. It’s an expedition to try and find anything on my desk, or in any of my drawers. You need a panga. There are almost always discarded clothes on the floor next to my bed – my ‘floordrobe’.”
Mackay recently recorded the audiobook for his second novel, The Child, an experience he calls “almost sacred.”
“There are some very intense, quite personal and traumatic things that happen in that book,” he says. “Just me in the studio, giving voice to the story, and so different from how it felt writing the book. I’ve learnt something new about myself when I thought I was far too shy for something like this.”
He hopes the audiobook helps reach people who connect with stories in a different way: “I know plenty of people who don’t really read but love audiobooks, so hopefully it will appeal to them.”
A Year of Recognition and Reinvention
Mackay’s been surprised by the enthusiasm for his short stories, which allow him to experiment as a writer.
“I didn’t think there was much of a market for them, and yet the reception has been really good. he says. “My novels are so different and I’ve tried to resist being pigeonholed as one kind of writer. The collection has allowed me to showcase even more variety.”
Mackay’s next project is a work-in-progress exploring humanity’s relationship with artificial intelligence, through the eyes of a gay protagonist, of course!
“I’m trying to write something about what it’s doing to our ability to think critically, and how it threatens the arts and human culture more broadly,” he says. “My views on AI are pretty bleak, but I’m trying to see if something else can emerge, and I want to be quite lighthearted about it.”
Pride in Love and Connection
While Mackay’s career continues to blossom, it’s his personal life that makes him proudest.
“My husband and I have been together for fifteen years now and I’m not quite sure how that happened so quickly, but I’m proud of our relationship. There weren’t many happy long-term relationships I could point to when I was growing up,” he says.
“And there are all the stereotypes about gay relationships and the trend towards open relationships and polyamory. I suppose against that backdrop, I’m proud of how we’ve navigated the difficult periods, and grown as people, and how we manage to find ways to surprise each other, and love each other and be there for each other.”
He adds: “I turned 40 last year, and I remember looking around at my friends and thinking, I’ve created a life I’m proud of. That’s a huge thing.”
Holding Onto Hope—Even When It’s Hard
In today’s turbulent and chaotic world, where does he find hope?
“Denial is my favourite coping strategy at the moment! ” he jokes. “I subscribe to a bunch of good-news emailers, to try and counteract the dread. The Progress Playbook really helps me feel like good things are happening across the world – especially in terms of the climate. I’m a huge advocate for therapy, and I’ve noticed that I’m reading much lighter books than I’m usually drawn to – stories that make me laugh.”
If there’s one thread that runs through all of Mackay’s work, it’s his deep belief in the power of storytelling.
“I’m always finding ways to tell the stories that matter to me. Whether I use invented characters to explore actual things that have happened to me, or I imagine scenarios that allow me to explore my feelings, or I write about social issues and others’ lives – the writing lets me work through my stuff, and share what I want to share,” he shares.
“But what I hope is that my readers recognise something of themselves in the work, and feel seen and that their story has been told too.”
That, more than anything, is Mackay’s gift: crafting stories that invite you in, sit with your truths, and leave you feeling a little more human.
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