What does this mean? For Kiwi crime writing fans it means the elusive author Alix Bosco, who won last year’s Ngaio Marsh Award, will appear on stage at the 2011 awards where he/she is also a finalist with her book Slaughter Falls . Last year’s no show sparked wild conjecture as to who Alix Bosco is. Suspects include Greg McGee, Rosie Scott, television writer Maxine Fleming, and former Prime Minister Helen Clark !
Other finalists for the award for best crime, mystery, or thriller novel written by a New Zealand citizen or resident, published in New Zealand during the previous year:
- Blood men by Paul Cleave (Random House)
- Captured by Neil Cross (Simon & Schuster)
- Hunting Blind by Paddy Richardson (Penguin)
As well as the Boo Radley moment in New Zealand crime publishing, the awards evening will feature international authors Tess Gerritsen and John Hart. It should be an great event in the TelstraClear Club at Hagley Park on Sunday 21 August. Get your tickets now.
11 August 2011 at 12:20 pm
But part of the magic was in the not-knowing—will it be the same once Alix Bosco is no longer an ‘international man/woman of mystery’?
11 August 2011 at 3:00 pm
I am very excited about this – can Alix win again? The Press Christchurch Writers Festival has been putting on some great events – as Bronwyn posted earlier, Owen Marshall was his usual thoughtful and considered self talking about The Larnachs. I’m also looking forward to listening to Fiona Farrell, Joanna Preston, Tusiata Avia, Carl Nixon and Charlotte Randall Putting Words to the Feelings on Sunday 18th September, when they reflect on their experinces of the earthquakes.
11 August 2011 at 4:28 pm
I don’t know Helen – maybe it is these post quake times when we are all desperate to be communicated with upfront. Could it be mystery has to take a back seat for a while. Perhaps Alix is tired of the game – too much pressure?
14 August 2011 at 9:53 am
The word is out today – don’t read this if you don’t want to know who Alix Bosco is …http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/5436176/Novelists-killer-finally-confesses