This Wednesday, November 13, La Martinière editions organized an exchange from London with their new author. Moira Buffiniin the premises of his British publishing house Faber and Faber. Renowned English screenwriter and playwright, Moira Buffini is known for having notably scripted Tamara Drewdirected by Stephen Frears (2010), Jane Eyree, produced by Cary Joji Fukunaga (2011) et The Digdirected by Simon Stone (2021), which has already earned her two nominations for the Bafta (British Academy of Film and Television Arts).
But it’s good with his first novel Songlightfirst volume of The Torch Trilogyintended for a young adult readership, that the author this time creates the event. Great success of the last Bologna fair, the work will soon be adapted into a television series: the exploitation rights have already been acquired and the adaptation is currently being produced with Binocularthe production company founded by Matt CharmanOscar and Bafta nominated screenwriter, whose series Treason was recently released on Netflix.
While the second volume is expected for fall 2025, La Martinière editions have produced a first print run of 30,000 copies and have announced their objective “to introduce this new author in France, set to become essential and a reference”, asserts Olivia Godatmarketing and promotion manager at La Martinière. Moira Buffini, for her part, spoke about the reasons which pushed her to embark on the path of literature. Interview.
Livres Hebdo: Why did you move into literature?
Moira Buffini : I was trying to write a screenplay because that’s my job, and by the end of the first page it became clear that I couldn’t build this world as a screenwriter. So I just, as an experiment, started writing from my character, what she thought, what she felt, what she said. And suddenly it became obvious that this was going to become a book. I found this terribly exciting. I was able to build the world with a certain level of detail, which I needed to keep this story growing.
And why did you choose young adult literature?
I have already produced several plays for young people. First of all, it’s a book for everyone. In fact, I think it speaks to the teenager in all of us, me first and foremost! These are stories that we all like to tell ourselves, about the transition to adulthood. Writing for young people is an opportunity to explore this age: when we fall in love for the first time, when we begin to question the adult world about the acting profession… We are then explained the reality , how to navigate our relationships and how to forge them. I wanted to go through this period of life which I have always found inspiring because it is marked by great freedom.
“My inspiration is the real world, even if it is a completely fictional universe”
How do you feel waiting for the release of your first novel?
I was delighted, terribly delighted with the reception of the book. When you start a book on your own, you don’t know if anyone will relate to the story. You’re alone in the dark for a very long time, so it’s amazing to find an audience. I’m delighted.
Did you have any inspirations?
With the exception of telepathy, there’s nothing in the book that doesn’t happen somewhere in the world. It is a repressive society, but not a recognizable society. Yes, my inspiration is the real world, even if it is a completely fictional universe.
Do you read a lot every day?
Yes, I read more non-fiction than fiction, I’m always looking for something, a lot of history and biology for example. I try to cultivate myself, that’s why I read a lot. And I have just discovered this new and charming community in which I find myself. I really love him, and I’m probably old enough to be their mom, so it’s a lot of fun.
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