- Source: Elvire Murail
Elvire Murail (born 7 June 1958, in Le Havre) is a French writer, mainly author of books for youth under the pen name Moka. The daughter of poet Gérard Murail, she is the younger sister of writers Marie-Aude and Lorris Murail, and composer Tristan Murail.
Biography
A graduate of University of Cambridge, she began her literary career with adult novels. She enjoyed success with her first book, Escalier C, which was brought to the cinema by Jean-Charles Tacchella in 1984.
After signing four novels for adults, she entered youth literature in 1989 under the pseudonym Moka. She signed with this pseudonym more than seventy novels for the youth, published mainly at École des Loisirs in the "Mouche", "Nine" and "Medium" series. These novels were for the most part books of mysteries between police and fantasy for adolescents from 10 to 15 years old.
Since 1996, she has been committed to defending a quality youth literature within the "Charte des Auteurs et Illustrateurs pour la Jeunesse" of which she was treasurer from 1999 to 2007. She was also the Permanent Commissioner for General Affairs of Sofia (Société française des intérêts des auteurs de l’écrit) until 2007. She is a member of the Société des gens de lettres and the société des auteurs et compositeurs dramatiques.
She also works as a screenwriter and dialogue writer for film and television.
Literary works
= Under her name
=1983: Escalier C
1984: La Plume de perroquet
1987: Les Mannequins d'osier
1990: Bingo !
= Under the pseudonym Moka
=Filmography
= Cinema
=1985: Escalier C directed by Jean-Charles Tacchella, (co-screenwriter and dialogue writer)
1988: La Maison de Jeanne directed by Magali Clément, (assistant screenwriter)
1988: La Septième dimension, directed by six co-directors, (co-screenwriter and assistant screenwriter)
1989: Les Mannequins d'osier directed by Francis de Gueltzl, (screenwriter and dialogue writer)
1993: Une journée pour rien by Serge Halsdorf, (screenwriter and dialogue writer)
= Television
=1993: Chambre froide, directed by Sylvain Madigan, (adaptation and dialogues)
1996: Un monde meilleur, directed by Laurent Dussaux, (screenwriter-assistant dialogue writer)
1997: La Vie en face, directed by Lisa del Bo, (screenwriter-dialogue writer)
1997: Un étrange héritage, directed by Laurent Dussaux, (screenwriter-assistant dialogue writer)
Prizes and awards
Prix du premier roman for 'Escalier C, 1983
Prix George Sand for Escalier C, 1984
Prix des Incorruptibles
Tam-tam Je bouquine
Prix du Polar
Grand prix de l'Imaginaire
Prix des Embouquineurs
Prix de la SNCF for Pourquoi ?
She received twice a scholarship from the National Center for Letters for Un phare dans le ciel and for the whole of her work for youth.
References
External links
Elvire Murail on Babelio
Official website of the author
Elvire Murail on École des Loisirs
Elvire Murail on Ricochet-Jeunes