Elvire Murail facts for kids
Elvire Murail, born on June 7, 1958, in Le Havre, is a French writer. She is best known for her books for young people, which she writes under the pen name Moka. Elvire comes from a family of writers and artists. Her father, Gérard Murail, was a poet. Her older siblings, Marie-Aude Murail and Lorris Murail, are also writers. Her brother, Tristan Murail, is a composer.
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About Elvire Murail
Elvire Murail studied at the University of Cambridge. She started her writing career by creating novels for adults. Her very first book, Escalier C, was quite successful. It was even made into a movie in 1984 by Jean-Charles Tacchella.
After writing four novels for adults, she began writing for young readers in 1989. This is when she started using her famous pen name, Moka. As Moka, she has written more than seventy novels for young people. Most of these books were published by École des Loisirs. They appeared in popular series like "Mouche," "Nine," and "Medium." Her novels are often mysteries, mixing detective stories with fantasy. They are usually written for teenagers aged 10 to 15.
Since 1996, Elvire Murail has worked to support good quality literature for young people. She was involved with the "Charte des Auteurs et Illustrateurs pour la Jeunesse." This group helps authors and illustrators who create books for kids. She also works as a screenwriter, writing stories and dialogue for movies and TV shows.
Moka's Books
Books under her own name
- 1983: Escalier C
- 1984: La Plume de perroquet
- 1987: Les Mannequins d'osier
- 1990: Bingo !
Books as Moka
- La Lanterne bleue, 1991, illustrations by Yvan Pommaux
- Ailleurs (trilogy)
- Ailleurs, rien n'est tout blanc ou tout noir, 1991
- Le puits d'amour, 1992
- A nous la belle vie, 1994
- Je m'excuse, 1992, illustrations by Serge Bloch
- Ma vie de star, 1992, illustrations by Olivier Matouk
- Chipies et les Inventeurs, 1992, illustrations by Fabienne Teyssèdre
- Un phare dans le ciel, 1993
- Thomas Face-de-Rat et Amélie Mélasse, 1993, illustrations by Mette Ivers
- Souï-Manga, 1993, illustrations by Joëlle Jolivet
- L'enfant des ombres, 1994
- Trois-Pommes, 1994, illustrations by Catherine Rebeyrol Nous, les filles, 1995, illustrations by Éric Heliot
- Ma vengeance sera terrible, 1995, illustrations by Anaïs Vaugelade
- La marque du diable, 1996
- Mon loup, 1996, illustrations by Mette Ivers
- Derrière la porte, 1997
- La chose qui ne pouvait pas exister, 1997
- Ah, la famille !, 1997, illustrations Mette Ivers
- Un ange avec des baskets , 1998
- Williams et nous, 1998
- Vilaine fille, 1999
- Bon à rien, 1999, illustrations Catherine Rebeyrol
- Cela, 2000
- L'écolier assassin, 2000
- Joséphine a disparu, 2000, illustrations Edith
- Le Plus grand détective du monde, 2000, illustrations Jean-François Martin
- Le Dernier cadeau du Père Noël, 2000, with Marie-Aude Murail, illustrations Stéphane Jorisch
- La chambre du pendu, 2001
- Le Poisson dans le bocal, 2001, illustrations Isabelle Bonameau
- Au pied de l'Arc-en-ciel, 2001, illustrations Catharina Valckx
- Le petit cœur brisé, 2002
- Un sale moment à passer, 2002
- Drôle de voleur !, 2002, illustrations Isabelle Bonameau
- Golem, serial cowritten with Marie-Aude Murail and Lorris Murail.
- Magic Berber
- Joke
- Natacha
- Monsieur William
- Alias
- L'Esprit de la fôret, 2003
- Arthus et Pénélope
- Le mystère de la Ferté-des-Eaux, 2002
- Amour et trahison, 2003
- Bonne année ?, 2003
- Do you speak français ?, 2004
- Vive la révolution !, 2003, illustrations Frédéric Rébéna
- Jeu mortel, 2003
- Les Malheurs d'Hortense, 2003, illustrations Magali Bonniol
- Il était trois fois, 2003, illustrations by Denise and Claude Millet
- Jusqu'au bout de la peur, 2004
- Tango, 2004
- Pourquoi ?, 2005
- Histoires de fées, 2006, illustrations Alice Charbin
- Sorcier !
- Menteurs, charlatans et soudards, 2006
- Le Frélampier, 2006
- Le Premier Temps du Chaos, 2007
- L'Honorable et le Monarque, 2007
- L'Étoile, 2008
- Les Quatre Dragons, 2008
- Secrets et confiture, 2008
- La fin du Monde, 2009
- C'est l'aventure, collective, 2010
- Frissons
- La Prophétie de Venise, 2012
- L'Immortel, 2013
- Kinra girls (12 volumes), illustrations Anne Cresci
Movies and TV Shows
Elvire Murail has also worked on films and television series. She helps write the stories and the words characters say.
Movies
- 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)
Awards and Honors
Elvire Murail has received several awards for her writing:
- Prix du premier roman for Escalier C, 1983 (This award is for a writer's very first novel.)
- Prix George Sand for Escalier C, 1984
- Prix des Incorruptibles
- Tam-tam Je bouquine
- Prix du Polar (An award for detective or crime novels.)
- Grand prix de l'Imaginaire (A major award for fantasy and science fiction.)
- Prix des Embouquineurs
- Prix de la SNCF for Pourquoi ?
She also received special grants twice from the National Center for Letters. These grants were for her book Un phare dans le ciel and for all her work for young people.
