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Post by pjaye on Aug 26, 2015 15:02:01 GMT
It's currently the Melbourne writer's festival and there's all sorts of author events happening around town. On the weekend a friend and I went to hear Liane Moriarty talk about her book Big Little Lies and other stuff about her writing being an author etc. We got there a bit early and so were right in the front row...which was good as she's quite softly spoken!
There was another author there who was directing the conversation and asking her the main questions and then she spent time answering some audience questions at the end. She was really engaging and quite funny. It was held at a library and you had to get tickets and it was sold out, lots of people there, even a few guys. There was a man sitting next to my friend and she said he was nodding along and making comments, so he'd obviously read all of her books
Some snippets of interest: Big Little Lies is currently being made into a miniseries being produced by David E. Kelly (LA LAW, Ally McBeal etc) with Nicole Kidman and Reece Witherspoon, although the book is set in Australia in the series it will be set in the USA. She said she's involved in the screenplay and has seen the first 3 scripts and is happy with them. She also said it was a bit funny to read about Ziggy playing baseball. She also told the story of how she was meant to meet Nicole Kidman in a coffee shop and when she got there it was closed, so she thought maybe it was just closed to the public seeing as Nicole was going to be there, so she went around the back and there was someone there and she asked in if they were closed and he said they were, then she said she looked at him meaningfully and asked "but are you closed for everyone?" and he looked at her like she was a bit nuts and said "yes we are closed for everyone" 
She gets a bit annoyed that she's still constantly referred to as the "Australian housewife" in the press.
I asked if she could tell us what her next book was about and some of the main characters, she said it was set at a BBQ(and a ripple went through the audience and she said "no it's not like The Slap") and an 'event' happens, one of the characters is a cellist (and she said she was researching that and going to recitals) and another character is a pole dancer...and that all the men in her life have offered to research that part for her, including her grandfather...lol. She also said she recently told her 7yo about the book and he didn't like the idea!
A couple of photos - Liane if the blonde on the right side: 
I've never been to an author event before, always meant to but never actually got around to it...lots of fun.
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Deleted
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May 11, 2024 10:57:57 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2015 15:04:10 GMT
Cool! Author events are fun. I frequently go to ones at Powell's (a very well known bookstore in Portland, OR), even if I don't know the author. They are almost always interesting and worth the time.
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Post by PolarGreen12 on Aug 26, 2015 15:14:33 GMT
What is a BBG?
I've read Big Little Lies and liked it quite a bit. A bit of a bummer it the mini series won't be set in Australia, I don't know why once Hollywood gets it hands on a project they move it to the US.
I just tried to trudge through What Alice Forgot for Book Club. Finally gave up last night and skimmed the last half.
Why does she get refereed to as the "Australian Housewife"?
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Post by mrssmith on Aug 26, 2015 15:15:57 GMT
How fun. I like her stuff. Looking forward to the mini-series!
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valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
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Post by valleyview on Aug 26, 2015 15:18:14 GMT
Thanks for sharing the info and pictures. I was hoping she had a new book out this month. I guess we'll be waiting for the mini series and a new book next year.
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Post by pjaye on Aug 26, 2015 15:22:10 GMT
BBG = when I can't type BBQ (barbeque)correctly! Edited to fix.
I think she meant that she gets annoyed at the title because she is an author and now has 6 books published & one on the New York Times bestseller list and while she is Australian and has children they seem to still focus on the 'housewife' thing. She says men aren't treated the same way, when they are talking about James Patterson, they don't say "American Dad"
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Post by pjaye on Aug 26, 2015 15:23:12 GMT
Thanks for sharing the info and pictures. I was hoping she had a new book out this month. I guess we'll be waiting for the mini series and a new book next year. No, unfortunately it sounds like the new book is still in the early stages. |
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
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Post by valincal on Aug 26, 2015 15:26:18 GMT
Very cool! I also wish they'd set Big Little Lies in Australia and use Australian actors. I listened to it on Audible and loved listening to the accent of the narrator, Caroline Lee. I did like The Husband's Secret more than BLL. Looking forward to listening to more of her work.  |
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LeaP
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Post by LeaP on Aug 26, 2015 15:27:54 GMT
Thanks for the report. I really enjoy her books. I'm glad she is taking her time with the next one. Sometimes when writers are successful they start to churn out books too quickly and they aren't as good.
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valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
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Post by valleyview on Aug 26, 2015 15:29:40 GMT
Thanks for sharing the info and pictures. I was hoping she had a new book out this month. I guess we'll be waiting for the mini series and a new book next year. No, unfortunately it sounds like the new book is still in the early stages. Thanks again for info! It's really ridiculous that women are not taken seriously despite their success because they are wives and mothers. |
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Post by jemali on Aug 26, 2015 15:37:49 GMT
I like her books too. It would be fun to go to an author event.
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Post by pjaye on Aug 26, 2015 15:44:55 GMT
She also said that the part in Big Little Lies where the little girl is asked to point out the boy who hurt her was based on a true story...it happened to a friend of hers and it was the first day of school, two of the girls ended up with bite marks on their arms. The teacher asked them who did it and they both said "I don't know" They assumed that because it was the first day of school, the girls didn't know anyone's name, so they made all the little boys line up and the girls had to say who bit them.
Turns out they bit themselves! The were playing together and thought it was a good idea and wanted to see what would happen.
Oh and she also said that when she drops her kids off at school other mother's and fathers come up to tell her stories so she can use them in her next book.
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Belle
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Post by Belle on Aug 26, 2015 15:55:38 GMT
How cool! Thanks for sharing! I loved The Husband's Secret!
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Post by Miss Lerins Momma on Aug 26, 2015 16:07:22 GMT
That's so cool, I'm a big fan of hers!
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 26, 2015 16:30:09 GMT
Oh and she also said that when she drops her kids off at school other mother's and fathers come up to tell her stories so she can use them in her next book. This made me LOL. I'd love to hear any author I've read talk about their books - thanks for sharing. I'm also disappointed the miniseries will be adapted and set in the US. |
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janeliz
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Post by janeliz on Aug 26, 2015 16:32:28 GMT
What a great experience. I absolutely love her books, so thanks for sharing it with us!
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Post by lynnek on Aug 26, 2015 16:35:46 GMT
Thanks for sharing! I love getting those insights. That is funny that people are telling her more stories to use.
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Deleted
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May 11, 2024 10:57:57 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2015 16:36:05 GMT
I just finished RE-reading The Husband's Secret last night and even on the 2nd read, it made me want to keep reading and reading. Then I spent half an hour looking for another book to start with that same quality and came up empty. So glad you went to the event and shared all the info with us. The coffee shop story was funny  I'm going to see Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) this fall - she has a new book out (non-fiction) soon. I've also seen Maya Angelou and Susan Branch years ago - need to go to more of these. They're always a nice experience. |
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Post by pjaye on Aug 26, 2015 16:48:48 GMT
She spoke for just over an hour, now that I'm thinking about again, I'm remembering more bits.
She also said she dislikes social media but has a Facebook page and at least once a week someone will send her details of their book club meeting and ask her to phone in so they can talk to her and ask her questions!
I wanted her to say more abut Nicole Kidman...but she didn't, just said they met and talked about the book.
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mimima
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Post by mimima on Aug 26, 2015 19:53:47 GMT
What a wonderful opportunity.
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Post by mnmloveli on Aug 26, 2015 22:59:16 GMT
Thanks for the pics and "inside" info. Sounded like you had a great time.
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finaledition
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by finaledition on Aug 26, 2015 23:39:44 GMT
Thanks for sharing. I've read all her books. I think I've even subscribed to her website in hopes of hearing about her new book, but you've provided more information than she has . I did read that her sister is also an author. Have you read anything by the sister? |
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Aug 27, 2015 2:37:52 GMT
How fun! I went with a friend to an event with Diana Gabaladon (of Outlander fame). It was really interesting and Diana was so funny.
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mochi
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Jun 26, 2014 1:45:16 GMT
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Post by mochi on Aug 27, 2015 2:44:05 GMT
Thanks for sharing pjaye! Loved reading your posts, what a great experience!
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Post by pjaye on Aug 27, 2015 2:55:12 GMT
Thanks for sharing. I've read all her books. I think I've even subscribed to her website in hopes of hearing about her new book, but you've provided more information than she has . I did read that her sister is also an author. Have you read anything by the sister? No, I haven't read anything by her sister (Jaclyn Moriarty) although I did get her first book free via a legitimate site but I haven't listened to it yet, and I have seen that her second book is available via the library. She writes YA but it sounds like there's a strong fantasy element as well, which isn't something I normally read, but I'll give them a go at some stage.
The interviewer asked her how she got started in writing and she said she'd always written stories when she was young and then she gradually stopped as she got older, she was working as an advertising copy writer and she got phone call from her sister one day to say her first book was going to be published, Liane said she had the mixed reaction of "that's FANTASTIC, congratulations" and "I'm so jealous" lol. She it then it really reinforced that's what she wanted to do, so she went back to University got her PhD (she didn't say in what exactly) and then started writing seriously. Her first book was a children's book that she said was "enthusiastically rejected by every publisher in Australia"
They also said at the end Liane would stay for a while and sign books for people, but I listened to the audiobook and my friend read the Kindle version, so neither of us had anything to sign 
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by luckyexwife on Aug 27, 2015 3:18:26 GMT
Thanks for sharing! I've read all her books, and I was sad when I read the last one, knowing I would have to wait to read more from her!
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Post by corinne11 on Aug 27, 2015 10:41:40 GMT
How interesting. I discovered her books by accident on IBooks recently and have read 3 of them so far. I recently finished Big Little Lies and although I KNEW the twist was going to involve a certain character, I really enjoyed it. I will look forward to seeing the mini series. What a pity it won't be filmed here, there are so many beautiful places that would fit in with the book.
Corinne |
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Post by Karene on Aug 27, 2015 11:55:11 GMT
I love Liane Moriarty's books and would have liked to see her at a talk. My friends and I went to a Tea with Philippa Gregory where our ticket included a hardbound copy of her latest book which she autographed at the end of the talk. She was also a good speaker. We really enjoyed it. I was just surprised that she came to our small town. There were some men there too, but mostly women, about 200 in all. If you don't know who Philippa Gregory is, she writes historical fiction about the mainly the Tudors and just before them, each book concentrating on one character.
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Post by pjaye on Aug 27, 2015 12:13:29 GMT
I love Liane Moriarty's books and would have liked to see her at a talk. My friends and I went to a Tea with Philippa Gregory where our ticket included a hardbound copy of her latest book which she autographed at the end of the talk. She was also a good speaker. We really enjoyed it. I was just surprised that she came to our small town. There were some men there too, but mostly women, about 200 in all. If you don't know who Philippa Gregory is, she writes historical fiction about the mainly the Tudors and just before them, each book concentrating on one character. Sounds great, I'm not surprised she was an interesting speaker, so must have done all sorts of research for her books...I'm guessing she must be a bit older than Liane, I remember reading some of her older books in my teens.
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Aug 27, 2015 13:46:02 GMT
I really enjoy listening to authors speak and would have loved to see her - Big Little Lies is one of my favorite books of the past few years. Her other books are good, too, but something about BLL resonated with me.
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