Linda has recently had published a collection of short stories – THE GEOMETRY OF DESIRE. The collection has sold well and been very favourably reviewed. Linda’s short fiction has been well placed in competitions, published, broadcast and anthologised.

Her new collection THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER is due for publication with David Ling in 2007.

Linda writes commercials for a living and has done so for the past 10 years – these include countless radio ads and more than 30 television commercials - in other words, small but perfectly formed dramas of 30 – 60 seconds for the large and small screen.

Linda trained as a journalist and has attended Victoria University and Fiona Kidman’s short fiction workshops and Avalon Television’s screenwriting course.

THE HANDKERCHIEF is based on a story from her newly completed collection.

“THE HANDKERCHIEF has been a joy to write, its layers and its emotional, aural and visual potential has meant I could explore the story in a variety of forms, film being the most exciting for me because all the senses are brought into play.”

Niccol has placed well in many competitions, both in this country and internationally, including the prestigious HQ magazine annual short story competition. The title story ‘The Geometry of Desire’ was a finalist in this and was included in the Oxford Book of New Zealand Love Stories.

Fiona Kidman says Niccol’s writing has understated wit and moments of deep tenderness. These love stories are by turn humorous, poignant and insightful, and offer a view of love from a number of angles. She brings sensitivity and warmth to her writing and these thoughtful stories will attract and intrigue readers.

The colourful characters created by Niccol come from widely differing backgrounds but are all searching for something. A style-obsessed architect realises it’s what’s on the inside that counts; a man is so preoccupied with collecting that he lets the most precious thing of all slip through his fingers; a girl’s first experience of falling in love changes her view of the world; a man tries to swim against the tide of middle-age.

Niccol is a former journalist who now works in advertising. Her other writing projects include screenplays – her brother is writer/director Andrew Niccol.

She lives on the Kapiti Coast with her husband Eion and their young daughter Eve. Keen decorators and collectors, their striking Raumati house has featured in Home and Entertaining and Your Home and Garden.