Elvire Murail

Elvire Murail (born 7 June 1958, in Le Havre) is a French writer, mainly of books for the youth, under the pen name Moka. The daughter of poet , she is the younger sister of writers Marie-Aude and Lorris Murail, and composer Tristan Murail.

Biography A graduate of University of Cambridge, she began her literary career with adult novels. She enjoyed success with her first book, Escalier C, which was brought to the cinema by Jean-Charles Tacchella in 1984.

After signing four novels for adults, she entered youth literature in 1989 under the pseudonym Moka. She signed with this pseudonym more than seventy novels for the youth, published mainly at in the "Mouche", "Nine" and "Medium" series. These novels were for the most part books of mysteries between police and fantasy for adolescents from 10 to 15 years old.

Since 1996, she has been committed to defending a quality youth literature within the "Charte des Auteurs et Illustrateurs pour la Jeunesse" of which she was treasurer from 1999 to 2007. She was also the Permanent Commissioner for General Affairs of Sofia until 2007. She is a member of the Société des gens de lettres and the société des auteurs et compositeurs dramatiques.

She also works as a screenwriter and dialogue writer for film and television.

Literary works Under her name 1983: Escalier C 1984: La Plume de perroquet 1987: Les Mannequins d'osier 1990: Bingo !

Under the pseudonym 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

Filmography Cinema 1985: Escalier C directed by Jean-Charles Tacchella, (co-screenwriter and dialogue writer) 1988: 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: , directed by Lisa del Bo, (screenwriter-dialogue writer) 1997: Un étrange héritage, directed by Laurent Dussaux, (screenwriter-assistant dialogue writer)

Prizes and awards Prix du premier roman for Escalier C, 1983 Prix George Sand for Escalier C, 1984 Prix des Incorruptibles Tam-tam Prix du Polar Grand prix de l'Imaginaire Prix des Embouquineurs Prix de la SNCF for Pourquoi ? She received twice a scholarship from the National Center for Letters for Un phare dans le ciel and for the whole of her work for youth.