CHRISTCHURCH WRITERS FESTIVAL 2008

AN HOUR WITH KATE MOSSE

She came , she spoke, she conquered.

This was the last event of the day and in many ways it was the most outstanding.

Kate Mosse is a mega star in the book world. The author of two novels, Labyrinth, translated into 38 languages, biggest selling title in the UK in 2006, (and that is really saying something), and now the sequel Sepulchre, has gone straight to the top of the best-seller list.
Then of course there is the co-founding of the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction, (women writers only need apply!), her book reviewing on the BBC and other media, her creative writing teaching and her honorary degree from the University of Chichester.

On her first visit to New Zealand this skilled and arresting speaker, (from her teaching, TV presenting and frequent public speaking she knows how to work a crowd!), immediately enthralled her audience and quickly had us in the palm of her hand.

She started by saying how thrilled she was to be in the home town of Ngaio Marsh - she is a crime fiction reader, a great fan of Marsh and has read every title she wrote.

She then read from the prologue of her second novel, Sepulchre, just released here and what a job she made of it, she is every inch the professional.

In a relaxed manner Paddy Austin, Chair of the Christchurch Book Festival Trust, led her through a series of questions that gave us a marvellous look at the ancient Languedoc city of Carcassone where she and her husband have a family holiday home and of course the setting for her novels, as well as revealing much about her fastidious research habits, (she is by her own admission totally obsessive and anal in this area), her writing methods and the teaching programme that she and her husband run.

Have a look at her website – http://www.katemosse.com/.

In response to an audience question she talked about her concerns she had about movie versions of her books. She is currently in negotiation over film & tv rights but said “it was a long dance”.
I admire her stance on this issue which basically is, unless it is done in a way that respects the integrity of the story then it will not be made into a movie. Good on you Kate. Already she has been aghast at the suggestion that a key female character would have to be recast as a man.

Kate Mosse is an incredibly generous spirit who answered writers questions in a free and most helpful manner.
Come back soon Kate, and turn down those movie offers!