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Haymaking time in Dorset is drawing to a close, the honey harvest is in, and there is a distinct chill in the evening air. What better time to settle down with a nice, warm keyboard, a cup of tea (or better yet, a glass of wine!), and start writing a new crime masterpiece? That is exactly what Minette is doing right now - the "Do Not Disturb" sign is hung outside her office as work begins in earnest on her 11th book. We don't have any advance details just yet, but as soon as we do, we'll let you know. Of course, if you can't wait until 2005, you might be interested to know that there is a "new" book in the stores now. Read on to find out
all the details...
The Tinder Box re-released in the UK
 Each year in Holland, one author is commissioned to write a book for "Bookweek". The resulting novella is then given away with every purchase of books throughout Holland. In 1999, Minette was the author afforded this honour, and The Tinder Box was the result. It has previously been available in translation around the world, but 2004 sees its first publication in the UK. This chilling tale of prejudice, ambition and cunning examines the reactions of residents in a small village when they learn about a brutal double murder, and it is delighting fans eager for a new Minette!
"Just finished reading The Tinder Box and (as always!) thoroughly enjoyed it. Clever twist at the end. Interesting to see ideas that were later further developed in both Acid Row and Fox Evil." -- Graeme, in the UK
Read the first chapter from The Tinder Box > >
Readers' comments about The Tinder Box > >
Sierra Leone article published in Sunday Times
 As you may recall, Minette vistied Sierra Leone earlier this year as a guest of Médecins sans Frontières. While there, she observed first-hand the progress the aid group has made with its mother-child health initiative. "Authors in the Front Line" is a new series from The Sunday Times, which is working with MSF to bring authors to troubled countries in an effort to spotlight the aid group's work. Minette has written the first article in the series, and it is now on the MSF's web site. (Photo © Tom Craig )
Read Minette's article about her experiences in Sierra Leone > >
Minette
answers your questions
Q:
Firstly, thank you so much for your superb books. They are not only great reads but, especially recently, they have been incredibly intelligent studies of race, politics and the media. I notice that this element of your books has been much more prevalent from The Shape of Snakes onwards (although it has always been there) and wonder if it was a conscious decision on your part to become more political. Did editors, publishers, etc. encourage you to take the political elements out of your early books or have events in your life caused you to want to write about these issues? -- Neil,
in the UK
A:
Thank you, Neil. It's grand to meet a reader who knows my books as well as you obviously do! I think the novels appear to have become more politically overt because I decided to refer to real cases/events from The Shape of Snakes onwards. It was a conscious decision to shift the emphasis toward stronger realism, and I'm delighted that your letter suggests it works. However, as you say, the themes of prejudice, social alienation, dysfunction, miscarriage of justice, abuse, etc. are as clear in the earlier ones as they are in the later. One thing I can certainly reassure you about is that the only way publishers censor political references in books is not to publish them at all!
-- Minette
Read more Q & A with Minette > >
Did you miss...? Minette on BBC Bookclub
In June, Minette appeared on BBC Radio 4's Bookclub to discuss her book, The Scold's Bridle. During the programme, Minette discussed her third book with presenter James Naughtie and select audience members, including a policeman. Intelligent questions made this a memorable discussion and allowed Minette to offer unique insights into her creative process.
Listen again: Minette discusses The Scold's Bridle on Bookclub > >
(NOTE: This link will open a browser window that says 'Action cancelled'. However, if your media player is set up to launch automatically, it will start in a few seconds. Also note, there is a 35-second intro before the Bookclub programme actually starts. If you have any problems, please contact us.)
We
hope you've enjoyed this issue of the newsletter and look forward to
your comments and suggestions!
--The Editor
MinetteWalters.co.uk
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