Justine Larbalestier

reading, writing, eating, drinking, sport

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From Little Things Big Things Grow

This is one of the biggest selling songs at home right now, despite only being available for purchase online (but, sadly, only if you're in Australia): For context the apology by Kevin Rudd and Paul Keating's Redfern Spech: Here is the original song by Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly: I so wish I was back home . . .

Posted by Justine at 3:28, April 30th, 2008 under State of the World, Sydney/Australia | 2 Comments »

Magic Lessons in Brazil

Posted by Justine at 0:00, April 30th, 2008 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Vainglory | 3 Comments »

Wee explanation

Posted by Justine at 13:46, April 29th, 2008 under Publishing business, Reading | 15 Comments »

Southampton: City of Tenuous Jane Austen Connections

While we waited to board the mighty Queen Mary 2, we wandered around Southampton, stopping Marks & Spencer for knickers, and into Forbidden Planet to stock up on manga for the voyage and (joy!) I signed their stock of the paperback editions of all three volumes of the Magic or Madness trilogy ((I love Forbidden Planet. They're the only English bookshop that stocks my books. Bless them! I also signed copies at their store in London.)). We also goggled at the many Jane Austen plaques. Here, for my mother's delectation, is a sampling: Most excellent. Hope you enjoy, Jan!

Posted by Justine at 0:00, April 29th, 2008 under Travelling | 5 Comments »

Locus Awards 2008

This is old news to many of you but I just found out that Scott and me are finalists for the Young Adult section of the Locus Awards. And the woo hoos ring out across the Larbfeld world! YOUNG ADULT BOOK Extras, Scott Westerfeld (Simon Pulse; Simon & Schuster UK) The H-Bomb Girl, Stephen Baxter (Faber & Faber) Magic's Child, Justine Larbalestier (Penguin Razorbill) Powers, Ursula K. Le Guin (Harcourt; Gollancz) Un Lun Dun, China MiƩville (Ballantine Del Rey; Macmillan UK) Quite the strong list, eh? Being on a shortlist with Ursula Le Guin makes me feel faint. Let me fan myself a moment. ...

Posted by Justine at 16:01, April 28th, 2008 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Vainglory | 8 Comments »

Boat

Tomorrow I will be on a boat. Is big boat.

Posted by Justine at 16:18, April 21st, 2008 under Travelling | 7 Comments »

Things I REALLY don’t like

You know what's wrong with contemporary fantasy of any flavour? Not enough Elvis. What's up with that? Also they should all be set in Bolzano, Dapto, Enugu or Guayaquil. On your bikes. Except for Alan, of course.

Posted by Justine at 11:32, April 19th, 2008 under Bloggery | 9 Comments »

Thing that remains a mystery

As detailed in my previous post I have learnt much on this trip, but one thing remains a mystery: How do women get around in high heels on cobble stone streets without destroying their ankles? Every European city we've visited has had much cobble-stoneage and yet almost all the women are in high heels. It is bewildering. I have gone over on my ankles wearing the most comfortable and supportive of footwear. No harm was done because my beloved boots have non-ankle-spraining super powers. Yay boots! I saw one woman get her heel stuck between stones. She came to a sudden and whip-lash looking halt, before bouncing about, trying to extricate herself. She was promptly rescued by a kind gentleman ...

Posted by Justine at 13:02, April 17th, 2008 under Fashion, Travelling | 20 Comments »

And now we are in Paris

Posted by Justine at 13:39, April 15th, 2008 under Publishing business, Scott's books, Sydney/Australia, Travelling, Writing life, Young Adult literature | 15 Comments »

Seen in Germany + some news

Look what I saw in an actual bookshop, RavensBuch in Friedrichshafen! Isn't it gorgeous?: Yup, it's the German version of Magic or Madness. It's even more beautiful in real life. Sigh. The book next to mine (the yellow one) is by John Marsden. Two Aussies together in Germany. I've been stunned by how many Aussie books I've been seeing in translation on our travels. Oodles of them by the likes of Trudi Canavan, Sara Douglass, Sonya Hartnett, John Marsden, Garth Nix, Marcus Zusak etc., etc. World domination! Speaking of Germany. Random House Deutschland has just made an offer for How to Ditch Your Fairy. A very enthusiastic offer and they'll be publishing it in hardcover. I am very happy. I ...

Posted by Justine at 6:18, April 13th, 2008 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Travelling, Vainglory | 19 Comments »

Vicious dogs and other joys

Posted by Justine at 14:18, April 11th, 2008 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, Publishing business, Travelling | 14 Comments »

Magic’s Child in paperback!!

Posted by Justine at 16:27, April 9th, 2008 under Magic or Madness trilogy, New York City/USA, Travelling | 11 Comments »

Five years of freelancery

Posted by Justine at 10:32, April 1st, 2008 under Publishing business, Vainglory | 15 Comments »

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