Click on the player below to listen to the podcast talk or read CW's live blogging with Christopher Koch: Crossing the Gap: Asia and the Australian Imagination.

Click here to save the mp3 to your computer. Audio courtesy of the Glamour Bar. Sound recording by Tom Lee Pettersen at Meta Music Media.

12:11 | On the Film Koch says that, as is normally the case when a book is turned into a novel, Peter Weir, the director, began to change the story. "Peter Weir is not an easy man to work with," says Koch. "The only person I really had much contact with was Mel Gibson." Who is, according to Koch, a very nice man. Having done a bit of dabbling in film ourselves, we can say that it is incredibly hard to make adaptations--films must communicate everything visually without the benefit of the omniscient perspective that novels can pull on. And it's always difficult when someone else takes over your baby.

12:07 | Upcoming "What's your next novel about? Will you set another one in Asia?" asks an audience member. Koch says he's not sure. You can't force a novel, stories have to come to you, and he usually takes a bit of time between each one. "I actually just published a novel a month ago. The Memory Room," says Koch. This book touches on the theme of secrecy with a main character, a secret intelligence officer, stationed in Beijing. The novel is set in 1981 and this man is very sympathetic to a professor of literature in Beijing who's had a very bad time in the Cultural Revolution and the agent thinks it would be great to smuggle him out into Australia.

12:03 | On Wrting "You said that you don't write to convey a message. What was your motivation to write?" asks an audience member. A common question with an intersting answer. Kenneth Spencer (we may have gotten this one spelt wrong!), a poet and friend of Koch, once described writing as "a pleasure from hell," recalls Koch. "I think you don't choose writing, it chooses you. You're not motivated to write, it's very neurotical. I'm a grown man writing stories! But possibly it's to try to make sense out of life. I'm interested in what motivates people, what shapes their actions and perceptions. I'm also intersted in mythology. I think the great myths are where we find a lot of eternal truths about life. I think if you can tap into that in a way that's realistic, people feel very involved. That's something that I do."

12:00 | Australia's Relation to Asia Koch seems to think it's interesting that Australia, separated by such a vast space, from Europe, has maintained such a strong European heritage. But in response to an audience question about this relationship, he reiterates an earlier point: "Geography is a huge shaper of human history. I think what will happen ultimately, particularly as our Asian population grows in Australia, we will become a hybrid European / Asian culture. But that will take many years to evolve."

11:50 | Highway to an Asian Love Affair "Beauty crossed with strangeness" ... a phrase that appears in Koch's reading from his novel Highway to a War that depicts what he feels is his main characters burgeoning love affair with Asia. Something that perhaps a lot of people in Shanghai can relate to.

11:40 | Keeping it Real How does Koch keep his novels authentic? "I never write about anywhere I've never been," he says. He's not a fan of straight fiction, there has to be some grounding in reality for his works. We guess that means we won't see a sci-fi novel by Mr. Koch anytime soon. But we think his chosen style has obviously worked well for him.

11:36 | An Excerpt Koch reads a selection from The Year of Living Dangerously. We take off our shoes so as not to make any noise and sneak up to the front to snap a few photos.

11:32 | In the Shadows Originally he was going to set The Year of Living Dangerously in Australia, but his developing fascination with Asia began to sway his setting. Koch became fascinated by Wayang shadow puppetry in Indonesia. Each character in the story was modelled after a mythological character in a Wayang myth. "I was able to use that mythology to underpin the novel," he says. "I bring this up because I think it answers the question that people often ask me, 'Is Australia involved enough with our Southeast Asian neighbors?' And no, I think not. But I think this is [symbolic] of the way that our essentially European culture will eventually become a hybrid with Southeast Asian culture."

11:29 | Hero Worship "In The Year of Living Dangerously I wanted to portray a man who worships a leader figure and then turns against him. Something we've all seen," Koch says. He cites examples: Reagan, Lennon, and so forth. For those who've never read the book, you may still recognize the name. The novel was adapted for film in 1983 starring Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver.

11:22 | In Chinese Christopher Koch's Highway to a War is currently being translated into Chinese and will be available in 2010. He's been writing professionally, full time for 50 years. Incredible. So many of us aspire to write "on the side" while doing jobs that can afford us a living. After time spent as a radio broadcaster, he has managed to move on to a career as an author and has spent half a century mastering the craft. We could only hope to succeed so well.

11:18 | Introductions Mr. Koch and his companion head up to the stage. We tell themit's likely that people will trickle in over the next few minutes due to the rain. Quick chat with Koch and his companion. His companion has lived in Shanghai for five years. This is Mr. Koch's first time in Shanghai in 25 years. "Now I've got to go up and sing for my supper," says Koch. We assure him he won't have to sing, that's for karaoke later on.

11:15 | No Readings Says Koch, "Surprisingly, it seems not many authors are doing readings." His companion agrees. That's an interesting point Mr. Koch. Why is it that at literary festivals, few authors actually do readings? Perhaps they feel that it's not relevant to their topic? Maybe they think everyone has already read their book?

11:08 | Fly on the Wall We're here at SILF, sitting at the back of the room near the wall plug (essential fixture for live blogging), sipping our coffee (also essential) and then realize that Christopher Koch is sitting next to us discussing his upcoming presentation with the man who will be moderating the discussion. Koch goes over the basic points he's going to hit, a few anecdotal stories he'll tell. "And hopefully that will fill the time," he says. His companion replies, "I think you'll find them a very generous audience." Yes, thank you, we are.

10:30 | Good Karma Woke up and realized it was Raining. Curses. How will we get to SILF on time to blog the live action? Get out onto the street, walk to the corner ... cab pulls up. We must have done something right this year.