Interview with an invisible thriller writer: Joan Druett interviews 2010 Ngaio Marsh Award winner Alix Bosco

For two years, from the publication of award-winning debut thriller CUT & RUN in August 2009 to the revelation a fortnight ago that the writer behind the 'Alix Bosco' pseudonym was acclaimed playwright and TV screenwriter Greg McGee, there were few interviews with the author of the New Zealand-set crime fiction series starring middle-aged legal researcher Anna Markunas (CUT & RUN, SLAUGHTER FALLS). Understandably, as the desire for anonymity that saw the use of the pseudonym in the first place, would largely inhibit interview opportunities etc. Although Crime Watch did manage to get a 9mm interview with Bosco (via emails with Bosco's agent), and others such as Sunday Star-Times Books Editor Mark Broatch also managed to get comments via email from Bosco for articles on the state of New Zealand crime fiction.

Now that McGee has 'come out' as Bosco, of course, the acclaimed writer will have many more opportunities to his thoughts about books, writing, and more with readers and the media - which I think is a great thing. I enjoyed having McGee as part of the New Zealand crime writers panel at last Sunday's "Setting the Stage for Murder" event in Christchurch - he certainly brought a different perspective about a number of things, and I think many in the audience enjoyed his contributions (judging from some comments on the Chch City Libraries blog, etc) to what was a great day for crime fiction in New Zealand.

Now, maritime expert and award-winning writer Joan Druett (pictured right, author of the Wiki Coffin mysteries set on 1830s US sailing ships) has interviewed McGee this week for her World of the Written Word blog. Druett was one of the people who publicly suggested that McGee was Bosco, several months ago, so I think she is enjoying finding out more about the man behind Alix Bosco.

In the interview, McGee talks to Druett about whether his early success as a playwright shaped his focus on social commentary, and led to the need for a thriller-fiction pseudonym, his character of Anna Markunas (and whether aspects of McGee's earlier theatre and other writing distilled into the thriller heroine), and whether he felt a little like a villain after not showing up to the inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel ceremony last year.

You can read the interview in full on Druett's blog here.

McGee has also been interviewed in the past fortnight by Lynn Freeman of Radio New Zealand - the interview was broadcast last Sunday. You can listen to that interview here.

Greg McGee flattered, but denies he's Alix Bosco

Apologies for the lack of blog activity - I am travelling through Vietnam with little to no Internet access. Hope you have all been having a wonderful lead-up to Xmas and the holiday season.

Onto the crime fiction stuff - as many of you who regularly read this blog will know, there has been a fair bit of speculation over the past few months as to the identity of pseudonymed New Zealand thriller writer 'Alix Bosco', speculation that only increased when the author became a finalist, then won, the inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel. There have been many rumours about possible identities, and one recurring one centres on acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Greg McGee (pictured). In the current (Summer) edition of Book Notes, the magazine of the New Zealand Book Council, McGee addresses the rumours at the end of an article looking at some recent thrillers. You can read his article, including his comments about Alix Bosco, his/her thrillers (McGee has been part of the team adapting CUT & RUN for television), etc, here.

Hat tip to the always-excellent Graham Beattie for the heads-up on the Book Notes article (I'm a little out of the loop over here in SE Asia).

Merry Xmas to all, wherever you may be in this wonderful world of ours. Hope you enjoy some great holiday reading!