MEET THE AUTHOR…
Liane Moriarty, 51, was born in Sydney, the eldest of six children. She is married to Adam and they have two children, Anna, 10, and George, eight. Liane hit the big time when her novel
BigLittleLies was made into a mini series starring Nicole Kidman, who has already bought the film rights to Liane’s latest book, Nine Perfect Strangers.
Nine Perfect Strangers is fantastic – did you have fun writing it?
I really did! I felt the weight of expectation following Big Little Lies, but a lot of people didn’t like the followup, Truly Madly Guilty, that much. And I realised, ‘ Well, that’s not the end of the world.’ So I came to this with a sense of freedom – feeling a bit, ‘ What the hell!’
Frances, the heroine, a best-selling writer, is a very likeable character.
Thank you – I had a lot of fun with her. My husband did say to me, ‘ You do realise everyone is going to think that’s you?’ and I said, ‘I know’ – that’s why I made her so charming! But she’s not actually me.
It’s set in a health retreat – did you go to many as research?
Not as many as I intended to. I should have gone to all the crazy places, where they starve you. But the one I went to was really lovely – I spent five days there.
Were you undercover?
Well, I was supposed to be, but one lunchtime we were all chatting and a guest said she was reading one of my books. One of the girls knew, so I had to come clean.
How do you feel about the success of Big Little Lies?
Oh, I’ve just enjoyed it all. The approach from Nicole Kidman came out of the blue – and it has all been such a great thrill. I wasn’t involved at all in series one, but I was so happy when I saw it.
But you’re writing season two – and is it true you’ve recruited Meryl Streep?
I am, and yes, I did – I heard she needed the work. No, I’m kidding! I came up with the role and Meryl was my dream actress – I can’t believe she said yes.
What do your children think about your success?
They don’t take much notice, although my little boy did lose his mind when Pink put up an Instagram saying she was reading my book WhatAliceForgot. But other than that, they’re not all that interested.