Does that sound like your cup of English Breakfast?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, because the very idea gives me the shivers, and not in a good way. It all feels a little, well, creepy, and I'm not just talking about her avatar (above). I can't imagine Dame Agatha would like this one bit. As far as I can tell, she never did run writing workshops in her own lifetime, even though she could have if she had wanted to.

If she had wanted to.

Therein lies the problem for me. I'm not a Luddite. I'm not against digital technology; it's helped me do what I do. And I'm ALWAYS the first to resurrect Agatha when you're asked which celebrities you'd want at your ideal dinner party. But in whose world does anyone believe that the fiercely private and clearly shy writer would seriously agree to this? She barely showed up to her book launches, let alone her film and theatre premieres!

This has all been green-lit by Agatha's great-grandson, James Prichard, the CEO of Agatha Christie Ltd. He did know her, apparently, so I can only presume he's doing this from a place of respect, and whole heartedly disagrees with me. But for some reason it still makes me feel sad. Sorry, Jimbo, but after 66 detective novels, 15 short-story collectons, 20 original plays, and scores more works, hasn't your great-grandma done enough?

It was strange, too, back in 2014, when Agatha Christie Ltd commissioned a stream of "Poirot Continuation novels", written by Sophie Hannah. Despite being a decent writer in her own right, I have never been able to buy into her Hercule Poirot impersonation—probably because I knew it wasn't authentic. If I want the real deal, I'll read one of Christie's 33 novels, two plays and over 50 short stories that feature HER creation (not Sophie's or James's or anyone else's).

And if I want Christie's writing advice, which she did mention in the odd interview (while she was still breathing), I can simply google it. And it won't cost me a thing!

But can I really talk?

I know. I have made a nice career waxing lyrical about Dame Agatha. I admit that. My best-selling Murder Mystery Book Club series was originally titled The Agatha Christie Book Club and featured a group of Christie fans who used the words of Poirot and Miss Marple to help solve "real-life" crimes. But here's the thing—these are deliberately different. They are thoroughly modern murder mysteries set in Australia of all places, with fresh characters, all of whom pay constant homage to Christie the Great.

My books are a love letter to Christie but I have never pretended to actually BE Christie. Cripes! I wouldn't dare!

In fact, I was so wary of comparisons that I changed the series title a few years back and broadened the Club's brief so they could also explore living legends like Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl), Ruth Ware (The Woman in Cabin 10) and Lucy Foley (The Guest List), to name a few.

Which is my other issue with this course…

Why can't we give the teaching gig to a living, breathing, consenting author? Christie still sells about 8 million books a year, last I looked. She doesn’t need this; nor do her family. But plenty of wonderful authors do. Because this may surprise you, but even wonderful authors still struggle to make a living. Oh, and here’s the clincher—they can speak about the issues facing writers TODAY, not a hundred years ago, when Christie started. Because if you haven't worked it out from the avatar above, the two worlds are as different as, well, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and my savvy, Sydney-based amateur sleuth Alicia Finlay.

So, no, I won't be signing up for this course. But I'd love to know if you do, and what you think of it.

Until then, rest in peace Ms Christie. I think you've earned it.

xx Christina