When Anna Smaill turned her back on the violin for writing it was like being re-born creatively: "Suddenly it was where I was meant to be." Photo / Hagen Hopkins
When Anna Smaill turned her back on the violin for writing it was like being re-born creatively: "Suddenly it was where I was meant to be." Photo / Hagen Hopkins
"Bloody hell." With these two words author Anna Smaill announced herself on the literary scene.
Of course, that's not strictly true. Her debut novel The Chimes had already won rave reviews in New Zealand but, as many authors can testify, that is sometimes where the story ends.

 In Smaill's case it was the beginning. The novel was longlisted for this year's Man Booker Prize - one of the world's most highly regarded literary awards, now in its 47th year.
Smaill says she is still coming to terms with her new-found status.

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