Description

In part two of This Writing Life's podcast with Anna Smaill, we negotiate photographers, noises in RIBA and publicists to discuss her soon-to-be Man Booker longlisted debut novel, The Chimes.

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We began by talking about the taunting idea of the 'genius' and the tragedy of falling short. After mocking This Writing Life's mobile phone, Smaill then moved on to:

• the glories and downsides of genius

• 'I should probably say, I never actually thought I was a genius'
• did The Chimes address Smaill's own musical background?
• from Young Adult to something else: the writing process of The Chimes
• hearing the voice of her hero, Simon
• what Simon and Smaill have in common
• what was the challenge of writing fiction
• 'That sense of mystery animated it throughout'
• the (quasi-pseudo ) inspiration for 'Onestory', music as a form of social control
• Vladimir Gavreau, Infrasound and sonic weaponary
• music and control in Tokyo
• chaos, order and the problems of being an individual

• leaving home and Smaill's return to New Zealand
• New Zealand and the Man Booker: Hulme and Catton
• Eleanor Catton and controversy
• the state of the arts in New Zealand
• can a novel set in New Zealand break out internationally
• living with a novelist - Smaill on her husband, the writer Carl Shuker
• the future