Māra Kaijaka, born Māra Brīdaka in 1936, is a Latvian prose writer and playwright best known to the public by her pen-names Māra Svīre and Astra Priede. She is the author of the script for the famous film Limuzīns Jāņu nakts krāsā /A Limousine the Colour of Midsummer's Night included in the Latvian cinematography canon. Svīre was born in an accountant and teacher's family. In 1954, she graduated from the Alūksne high school, and in 1959, received a Law degree from the University of Latvia. In 1960, she started work as an editor for the Latvian Radio, and later worked as an editor for a Soviet women's magazine. Since 1975, Svīre has had a career as a professional writer, and she is a member of the Latvian Writers' Union since 1979, where she served as member of the board for many years. A Limousine the Colour of Midsummer's Night has been acknowledged to be the best Latvian film of all times by the public, and also earned Māra Svīre the Copyright Eternity Award by the Copyright and Communication Consulting Agency/ Latvian Authors' Association (AKKA/LAA).
Vēstule [Letter]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC. 2017.
...un neuzzinās neviens [... and nobody will ever know], Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2013
Ja pulkstenis nenodos [If the Clock won't Betray Us]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC. 2006.
Orhidejas zem zilām ziemas debesīm [Orchids under Blue Wintry Sky]. Riga: Lauku Avīze, 2004.
Slazdu krogs un divi nami Rigā [The Trap Pub and Two Houses in Riga]. Riga: Lauku avīze, 2001.
Nestāsti man pasakas [Don't Tell me Tales]. Riga: Preses nams, 1999.
Māsas [Sisters]. Riga: Liesma, 1997.
Ragana Ragnija [Ragnija the Witch]. Riga: Preses nams, 1993.
Sotto voce. Riga: Preses nams, 1993.
Tāds laiks. Romāns. Riga: Liesma, 1992.
Tik vienu vizošu zvaigzni. Romāns. Riga: Liesma, 1987.
No cīruļiem līdz griezei [From Lark to Corncrake, novel]. Riga: Liesma,
Simts jautājumu sev pašam [ar pseidonīmu Astra Priede). Publicistika. Riga: Avots, 1985.
Ar vakardienu kabatā [With Yesterday in the Pocket, stories and novellas]. Riga: Liesma, 1984.
Mūžīgā dēstīšana [Eternal Planting, pub. as Astra Pried]. Riga: Avots, 1982.
Limuzīns Jāņu nakts krāsā [A Limousine the Colour of Midsummer's Night]. Stāsti. Riga: Liesma, 1979.
Vizīte svešā mājā [Visit to a Stranger's House, stories]. Riga: Liesma, 1977.
Plays
Gredzens gredzenā [A Ring Within a Ring]. Karogs, 1995. g. 4. nr;
Slazdu krogs. [The Trap Pub] Aizkraukles tautas teātris, rež. Juris Kalvišķis
Ragana Ragnija. [Ragnija the Witch]. Iestudējis Aizkraukles National Theatre, dir. Juris Kalvišķis
No astes līdz ūsām. [From Tail to Whiskers] Aizkraukle puppet theatre, dir. Juris Babris.
Trīs burvju vārdi [Three Magic Words] Aizkraukle puppet theatre, dir. Juris Babris.
Film scripts:
Limuzīns Jāņu nakts krāsā [A Limousine the Colour of Midsummer's Night]. Rīgas kinostudija, director Streičs, 1981
Durvis, kas tev atvērtas. [The Door Open to You, TV film] dir. Pēteris Krilovs, 1985.
Likteņa līdumnieki [The Woodland of Fates] adaptation of Vladimirs Kaijaks' trilogy
About ... and nobody will ever know // Diena.lv, 2013 [LV]
Māra Svīre, artist's profile // The Council of the Creative Unions of Latvia [LV]
Reviews
About Māra Svīre and Vladimirs Kaijak's novel Letters // Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, 2017 [LV]
2017, the Copyright Eternity Award by the Copyright and Communication Consulting Agency/ Latvian Authors' Association (AKKA/LAA)
1991, Commemorative Medal for Participants of the Barricades (Nr. 6575).
1986. the Eduards Veidenbaums literary prize
1981, Lielais Kristaps film award for best script
