Liane Moriarty on her novel 'Here One Moment' and on writing 'women's fiction'

Moriarty's Flight Experience That Sparked the Book's Premise

Delayed On the Tarmac, Moriarty Pondered Fellow Passengers' Potential Deaths and Considered Her Own Mortality and Private Revelations

While delayed on the tarmac on a flight from Hobart in Tasmania, author Moriarty was left without a book to read, leading her mind to wander to a morbid yet intriguing thought experiment. Moriarty pondered the mortality of her fellow passengers, considering the inevitability of death and the private secrets that might emerge posthumously.

Mortality and "What if" in Book's Premise

Moriarty Explored Fears Of Predicting Passengers' Deaths

Moriarty's musings evolved into a core idea for her book "Here One Moment." She was intrigued by the notion that, in a century, someone could potentially discover when and how each passenger on the flight had died, information that, as of ...

Moriarty's personal encounters with illness and mortality have shaped her narrative focus and brought a profound sensitivity to her writing endeavors.

Moriarty's Health Challenges and Impact on Her Perspective

Moriarty's Sister's Diagnosis, the Pandemic, and Her Own Diagnosis Influenced Her Writing Focus

Moriarty's sister received a breast cancer diagnosis, an event that, coupled with the global pandemic and her own subsequent diagnosis with breast cancer, profoundly affected her worldview. As Moriarty entered her 50s—a time when the prevalence of serious illness rises—these brushes with mortality influenced how she crafted the various fates of her characters. She recognizes that despite her survival from breast cancer, something else will ultimately end her life, with her characters' terminations serving as a canvas to explore the unpredictable nature of mortality, suggesting that even the health-conscious can meet unexpected ends.

The Emotional Toll Of Writing About Traumatic Experiences

Moriarty Admits the Challenge Of Using Sensitive Topics For Entertainment and Her Mixed Feelings About It

In her writing, Moriarty confronts the complex emotions involved in weaving narratives out of trauma. Whilst she finds excitement in constructing ...

Author Liane Moriarty’s engagement with the concept of "women's fiction" has evolved over time, reflecting a broader discussion about gender dynamics in the literary world.

Moriarty's View and Acceptance of "Women's Fiction" Label

Moriarty Initially Saw "Chick Lit" As Dismissive, but Later Embraced "Women's Fiction" and Her Female Readership

Liane Moriarty's books are often presented as women's fiction or chick lit, labels which have sparked debate over their implications. Initially, Moriarty perceived the term "chick lit" as fun and whimsical. However, she eventually found it to be dismissive, suggesting an undervaluing of fiction primarily consumed by women. This might indicate a subtle form of internalized misogyny within society, where women's stories are seen as less significant.

Despite her publisher's preferred term "women's fiction," Moriarty was aware of the conversation around the categorization of her books, which are sometimes relegated to "beach read" status. After reflection upon the pride a male author might feel in claiming "Men's Fiction," Moriarty has decided to embrace "women's fiction," recognizing the importance and value of her female readership.

Challenges for Successful Female Authors in a Male-Dominated Literary Landscape

Moriarty Exposes Double Standards: Male Authors Prais ...

Liane Moriarty's novels have caught the attention of Hollywood with previous successful adaptations, and there's potential for more of her books to make the leap from page to screen.

Moriarty's Past Adaptations, Including "Big Little Lies"

Moriarty on Her Novels’ Screen Adaptations and Collaborative Storytelling

Moriarty's works, most notably "Big Little Lies," have previously been adapted to widely acclaimed screen versions. She has often embraced the medium of film and television as a collaborative form of storytelling, acknowledging the changes that come with translating her novels for the screen.

Nicole Kidman's Involvement in "Here one Moment" Adaptation

Moriarty Unsure of Kidman's Role but Sees Potential Involvement in Novel Adaptation

Nicole Kidman, having had pivotal roles in past adaptations of Moriarty's books, is now engaged in the development of a "Here One Moment" adaptation. While the author has stated that she doesn't immediately see a specific role for Kidma ...