Ilse Salzwedel fired a salvo of messages to Riana Mouton’s email address:

Riana Mouton is currently in Whangaparaoa, New Zealand ‘for a season’ with her husband and sons.

“Anton and I moved here to give our children more opportunities. We have two beautiful boys and they both excel at sport, particularly rugby and cricket. Naude, the elder, is 15, and both compete at provincial level. Arno is 11.”

Riana feels the death of their eldest, Maryke, 12 years ago in an accident has greatly influenced how she and Anton experience parenthood. “We are still fragile about this, and we will live with it for the rest of our lives. There is nothing we will not do for our children. We gave up a great deal to get here, and we will stay here until the boys go to university.”

After this, Riana’s email says, she and Anton will go home. “My blood is still a deep green?.?.?.”

She doesn’t only write books, but is “a banker by day, a mom in the evening and a writer by night”.

Why in particular did you choose this genre?

I suspect it has much to do with my personality. I am a no-frill girl (woman?) and I believe in a down-the-line way of doing things. In this genre I can give voice to this.

It will be a sad day when I turn to writing romance.?.?.?. It will probably go somthing like: “I love you, you love nme. Right. Let’s get married.” I am not one for misunderstandings and the maze of misunderstandings, in romances for example, drive me mad.

I like excitement, I like using my intellect (The Angel feels I should have been a detective or an advocate).

What fascinates you about your chosen genre?

I recently saw Leonardo DiCaprio’s Shutter Island. I was so disappointed. I could predict the storyline and hoped on the quiet there had to be a surprise, it was just too transparent. What fascinates me is the extent to which an author can outfox me, and this movie failed miserably. Every book I read or every movie I see should be a challenge. I like being surprised.

How do you select a storyline?

I pore over it for weeks. Months, even. For me a story starts with an idea. Usually something that upsets or fascinates me. I write a story and continually question what I would like if I had been the reader.

How much research does a book take?

The research for The Smell of Death Reuk kept me going for months. I wouldn’t settle for stuffing the book. The most valuable advice my publisher, Dineke Volschenk, gave me, was never to try and mislead the reader.

I read hundreds of crime dossiers, saw photos and also had the privilege of getting to work with Prof. Gerard Labuschagne, head of the SAPD’s psychology unit.

He took a look at my character en compiled a profile I used in the book. Gerard helped me immeasurably and gave me many ideas when I ended up with writer’s block. I also attended a post mortem, which, alas, I couldn’t stomach for too long.

While I was writing Without Trace I was already in New Zealand and had to use the internet extensively. Fortunately I met Lieutenant-Colonel Blikkies Blignaut, who was a huge source of knowledge about weaponry and unarmed combat.

Tell me about New Zealand.

There is most definitely a reason why we’re here. We have found it a country completely without pretensions. It was a huge adjustment because we just about required entire personality changes to fit in.

It is a beautiful country. Nerve-wrackingly green. The country has a high rainfall rate, and we quickly had to acquire the habit of keeping raincoats, umbrellas and wellies in the car. Four seasons in one day are not uncommon, and the weather is completely unpredictable. But it is peaceful and safe here.

What do you miss about SA?

The essence, the rhythm, the sunshine. We miss proper potjiekos and real braai chops en lamb’s ribs. (Kiwi mutton tastes like wool to me.) I miss salt that tastes like salt, sugar that is sweet, spices and smoked Vienna sausages.