Elvire Murail


Elvire Murail 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

Under the pseudonym Moka

La Lanterne bleue, 1991, illustrations by Yvan PommauxAilleurs
  • # Ailleurs, rien n'est tout blanc ou tout noir, 1991
  • # Le puits d'amour, 1992
  • # A nous la belle vie, 1994Je m'excuse, 1992, illustrations by Serge BlochMa vie de star, 1992, illustrations by Olivier MatoukChipies et les Inventeurs, 1992, illustrations by Fabienne TeyssèdreUn phare dans le ciel, 1993Thomas Face-de-Rat et Amélie Mélasse, 1993, illustrations by Mette IversSouï-Manga, 1993, illustrations by Joëlle JolivetL'enfant des ombres, 1994Trois-Pommes, 1994, illustrations by Catherine Rebeyrol Nous, les filles, 1995, illustrations by Éric HeliotMa vengeance sera terrible, 1995, illustrations by Anaïs VaugeladeLa marque du diable, 1996Mon loup, 1996, illustrations by Mette IversDerrière la porte, 1997La chose qui ne pouvait pas exister, 1997Ah, la famille !, 1997, illustrations Mette IversUn ange avec des baskets , 1998Williams et nous, 1998Vilaine fille, 1999Bon à rien, 1999, illustrations Catherine RebeyrolCela, 2000L'écolier assassin, 2000Joséphine a disparu, 2000, illustrations EdithLe Plus grand détective du monde, 2000, illustrations Jean-François MartinLe Dernier cadeau du Père Noël, 2000, with Marie-Aude Murail, illustrations Stéphane JorischLa chambre du pendu, 2001Le Poisson dans le bocal, 2001, illustrations Isabelle BonameauAu pied de l'Arc-en-ciel, 2001, illustrations Catharina ValckxLe petit cœur brisé, 2002Un sale moment à passer, 2002Drôle de voleur !, 2002, illustrations Isabelle BonameauGolem, serial cowritten with Marie-Aude Murail and Lorris Murail.
  • # Magic Berber
  • # Joke
  • # Natacha
  • # Monsieur William
  • # AliasL'Esprit de la fôret, 2003Arthus et Pénélope
  • # Le mystère de la Ferté-des-Eaux, 2002
  • # Amour et trahison, 2003
  • # Bonne année ?, 2003
  • # Do you speak français ?, 2004Vive la révolution !, 2003, illustrations Frédéric RébénaJeu mortel, 2003Les Malheurs d'Hortense, 2003, illustrations Magali BonniolIl était trois fois, 2003, illustrations by Denise and Claude MilletJusqu'au bout de la peur, 2004Tango, 2004Pourquoi ?, 2005Histoires de fées, 2006, illustrations Alice CharbinSorcier !
  • # 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, 2009C'est l'aventure, collective, 2010Frissons
  • # La Prophétie de Venise, 2012
  • # L'Immortel, 2013Kinra girls, illustrations Anne Cresci

Filmography

Cinema

  • 1985: Escalier C directed by Jean-Charles Tacchella,
  • 1988: directed by Magali Clément,
  • 1988: La Septième dimension, directed by six co-directors,
  • 1989: Les Mannequins d'osier directed by Francis de Gueltzl,
  • 1993: Une journée pour rien by Serge Halsdorf,

Television

  • 1993: Chambre froide, directed by Sylvain Madigan,
  • 1996: Un monde meilleur, directed by Laurent Dussaux,
  • 1997: , directed by Lisa del Bo,
  • 1997: Un étrange héritage, directed by Laurent Dussaux,

Prizes and awards

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.