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Posted by Justine at 12:44, March 6th, 2008 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, Fans & readers, Words & Language, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
I will confess that I was nervous about going to
High Voltage ConFusion. There were several reasons for this:
I'm afraid of cold places. And Detroit in winter is COLD. ((How cold? Minus a million cold! That's how cold. So cold that I'm back in NYC and it's freezing and it seems warm in comparison.))
I'd never been a guest of honour before and was worried I'd be crappy at it.
I was aware that most of the people at the con would not have heard of me or Scott and was worried that they would feel dudded of a proper author guest of honour what wrote adult sf and fantasy.
I need not have had any concerns at all. I was right ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, January 24th, 2008 under Basketball, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Sport, Travelling, Vainglory, Viewing |
Posted by Justine at 10:50, January 23rd, 2008 under Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Travelling, Writing goals & milestones, Writing life |
The reason for which are posted most indiscreetly on
Scott's blog.
I'd just like to share with you my favourite photo so far:
Kevin Dunn (science guest of honour) plus me and me old man at High Voltage Confusion in Detroit.
Why pirate hats you ask? If I told you I'd have to kill you.
And, yes, if you have any other photos of us we'd love to see 'em.
Thank you so much everyone for all the photos you've pointed us to. We REALLY appreciate it!
Posted by Justine at 0:00, January 23rd, 2008 under Admin, Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Travelling |
I will have more to say about the fabulous
High Voltage ConFusion when my brain and body are in the same place. ((All the usual disclaimers apply about why I haven't responded to your emails, comments etc. Sorry!))
In the meantime what song is stuck in your brain right now? I have Suzanne Vega's "Blood Makes Noise" on high rotation.
Posted by Justine at 17:56, January 21st, 2008 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Travelling |
Because we're on a juvenilia panel at
ConFusion, Scott is in the next room making strange noises. Some of it is laughter, most of it is groans. He's reading through stuff he wrote when he was a teenager.
Because all my juvenilia is back in Sydney, my wonderful mother transcribed some of the earliest stuff to send me. Bless you, Jan. I just read through it.
Oh, dear.
Sad to say, but there is not an inkling of genius in either of our earliest writings. Wow. We must have worked pretty hard in the intervening years learning how to, you know, construct a sentence or two that don't completely suck.
I might put some of it up on our sites to ...
Posted by Justine at 8:46, January 17th, 2008 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, Frippery, Travelling |
Some are saying that the poll is rigged because I'm only showing pictures of dresses. So in the interests of fairness here are what the other
High Voltage ConFusion clothing options look like:
The mighty zoot suit
Who can not love it's exaggerated shoulders? The lurid colours? The delicious saxophone wail that you are sure to hear everywhere you go?
I will admit that this is not the best example of the zoot, but I am trying to get books written, you know! I have a vivid memory of Kid Creole (of Kid Creole & the Coconuts fame) attired in a lime green and black one. Exquisite!
The purple jump suit
Because what other colour could a jump suit ...
Posted by Justine at 0:00, January 13th, 2008 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Fashion |
The voting says I should definitely get a new dress. Take that, Scott!
The first dress is
here. But how about this one:
Marc Audibet for Vionnet
Or maybe this (look! black gloves!):
John Galliano for Christian Dior
Thinking about dresses is
something else that's much much easier than writing . . .
Posted by Justine at 10:49, January 12th, 2008 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Fashion |
Next weekend Scott Westerfeld and yours truly will be guests of honour at the
2008 High Voltage ConFusion science fiction convention. It's our very first time being guests of honour and we are stoked. TOTALLY stoked. In fact I'm so very stoked I'm thinking of celebrating with the purchase of a new dress. Surely, being guest of honour requires new clothes, right? I gotta look pretty, don't I? If you have an opinion on this Very Important Matter please to express it in the poll to your right.
I'm thinking this one, though with black gloves not white:
Vivienne Westwood's Watteau ball gown
Here's Scott and mine's schedule. Because we are joint guests of honour we are doing everything together:
FRIDAY 18 ...
Posted by Justine at 12:26, January 11th, 2008 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Fashion, Travelling |
Scott Westerfeld and
David Levithan at the
National Book Awards looking way too pleased with themselves!
Posted by Justine at 0:04, November 18th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Young Adult literature |
There are many Australian writers in town at the moment and there has been much socialising to celebrate. ((And, yes, that plus deadlines plus the blah blah blahs being out of control has put a crimp in my bloggery. Sorry!)) I can't tell you how much fun it is to be in NYC and not be the only Aussie in the room. ((Also for once it's all of them who are jetlagged while me and Scott are perfectly fine. It's usually the other way around.)) Especially when the other Aussies are fabulous folks like Deb Biancotti, Rob Hood, Margo Lanagan, Garth Nix, Cat Sparks, Trevor Stafford, and Jonathan Strahan. Much fun has been had. ((Though it's making me ...
Posted by Justine at 11:33, October 31st, 2007 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Sydney/Australia |
Posted by Justine at 13:58, October 25th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Fans & readers, Magic or Madness trilogy, New York City/USA, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 12:52, October 20th, 2007 under Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Scott's books, Travelling |
We're two Saturdays away from an all-Aussie (+ one permanent resident) fantasy explosion: the Printz-honour genius
Margo Lanagan, editor extraordinaire
Jonathan Strahan, bestselling author of the Sabriel and Keys series
Garth Nix, not to mention Aussie-by-marriage
Scott Westerfeld, oh, yeah, and me!
Has there ever been such a line up?
No, there has not.
Saturday, 27October 27
3-5PM
Books of Wonder
18 West 18th Street
New York, NY
Stick it in your dairy. Tattoo the details on your little brother's cheek ((Okay, don't really do that. That would be wrong.). Carn out and see us!
We'll read (a little), answer all your questions (almost), and teach you how to talk Australian (maybe).
Posted by Justine at 0:01, October 19th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Sydney/Australia, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 20:25, October 13th, 2007 under Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings, Food, New York City/USA, Toilets, Travelling |
One of the fabulous things about this tour is seeing how popular so many of my friends are.
At a book shop on the outskirts of Chicago I saw this:
I pointed it out to Scott. "Look! Someone here loves Cassie's book. And they have a tonne of copies!" (There were more in piles above and below this book shelf.)
The bookseller who wrote that shelf talker overheard me:
"You know Cassie Clare?! Oh. My. God. I LOVED that book so much!!! She is a genius! I have loved her ever since I read her Secret Diaries!"
At a school in Walnut Creek, California lots of the kids had painted posters of their favourite books. The room was full of ...
Posted by Justine at 2:21, October 9th, 2007 under Bloggery, Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Travelling, Young Adult literature |
Everything on the book tour has very short margins. The driver taking you places in traffic-laden cities has to calculate the odds of getting you to your next gig on time and allow for potential disasters so you often arrive with tonnes of dead time or with barely seconds to get up and start charming.
You have a one-day turn around on getting your clothes laundered. If you drop it off in the morning it has to be ready in the evening or you're wearing dirties to a gig. One hotel forgot to return the dry cleaning. And we stupidly didn't check till it was too late leaving Scott struggling to put a clean ensemble together. Aaargh!! (Fortunately the ...
Posted by Justine at 11:34, October 8th, 2007 under Bloggery, Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings |
If this is Sunday it must be Oakland. What do you mean it isn't Sunday?! But this is Oakland, right?
Today has not been one of my better efforts. Let's see:
I almost broke one of Scott's toes,
Put the "signed by" sticker on several of his books upside down (worst
jacket monkey ever),
Left my bag with our passports in it behind at a restaurant and then managed not to hear the poor waiter sprinting after me and shouting with said bag in hands (but we got the bag back! yay most excellent waiter!),
Fell asleep in the middle of Scott reading me this thingie he's working on. (He is a most excellent reader. I have ...
Posted by Justine at 23:11, October 6th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Scott's books, Travelling |
At the book shop appearances Scott keeps being offered a free book as a reward for his hard work and charming-ness. We keep choosing mass market paperbacks because we're travelling and running out of spaces. Last choice: the latest Naomi Novik. (I started it last night and it rocks.)
If you were asked to choose one book from your favourite book shop what would it be?
Posted by Justine at 8:52, October 5th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Reading, Travelling |
Guess what? The entire Magic or Madness trilogy just sold to the Japanese publisher, Hayakawa Shobo. That's right! I'm going to be in Japanese! I can't tell you how over the moon I am. Woo hooo!!!
Ever since I first heard about the whole foreign-rights thing there were two languages I've been desperate to be translated into: Spanish (cause I speak it un poco) and Japanese on account of my Japan obsession (oh, okay, mostly Kurosawa movies, Kimba, and now manga).
I screamed when I got the email. And started entertaining fantasies of a manga adaption following on from the straight translation. How cool would that be?
Now we just need to get a Spanish-language publisher to pick up the books and ...
Posted by Justine at 1:10, October 4th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Manga, Praising, Travelling, Vainglory |
Last night we went to
Anderson's books in Naperville, Illinois. Much fun was had. Scott explained the origins of the Uglies series and of Extras. The first is all about our society's beauty obsession; the second deals with
the fame thing. There was lots of Q & A. The questions were ridiculously smart and interesting and there didn't seem to be a single person who hadn't read at least three or four of Scott's books so he didn't have to worry too much about spoilers.
During the hours and hours that he was signing for the smart and very appreciative crowd I got to hang out with some fabulous folk who ...
Posted by Justine at 12:45, October 3rd, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Manga, New York City/USA, Praising, Reading, Scott's books, Travelling |
Internet access at last! And, sadly, I have to use it to work. While Scott is off entertaining littlies in schools all over Chicago to celebrate the official publication day of Extras I'm stuck in our hotel room slaving away. Le sigh.
The tour has been brilliant thus far. I've met many fabulous booksellers, authors, and sales reps---hey, Michelle & Anne!---and generally had a grand time. Running into
John Scalzi &
Liz Gilbert was a definite highlight. Liz is in Chicago too. Right now she's at Oprah's studios. That's right, she'll be on Oprah on Friday! Liz is one of my favourite people in the universe so if you get a chance do watch her on Friday's ...
Posted by Justine at 12:10, October 2nd, 2007 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, Praising, Reading |
i love my iphone. I hug it to my chest but it is not great to blog from. (or answer email from either.)
We are in Ann Arbor. It is pretty.
Posted by Justine at 21:06, September 30th, 2007 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings |
I am a jacket monkey which totally works for me as those are two of my favourite things. I love beautiful jackets and I love monkeys. What could be better than putting them together? (If I weren't pressed for time there would a picture of a monkey wearing a jacket here. You'll just have to imagine it.)
Today me and Nicola from
Nicola's books in Ann Arbor opened many many copies of Extras to the signing page for Scott to scribble all over. We were his jacket monkeys. I want a Jacket Monkey t-shirt. I've already earned it. So many copies! So many jackets! So many pages!
In other news I am regretting that I learned on an earlier trip never ...
Posted by Justine at 1:20, September 29th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Fashion, Frippery |
Not my tour but
Scott's tour for his latest book Extras. It pubs on the 2nd of October and is deeply awesome. In fact, it's my favouritest of the Uglies series. Aya is my new hero.
I'll be along at most of the
public events. If you're around come and say hello.
I plan to keep blogging everyday. You know, on account of I'm addicted. I managed it every day we were away at Dragoncon so I don't see how a little tour will stop me.
Hey, does anyone who's been on a book tour before have any survival tips? (Other than
bring lots of shoes?)
Update: I'd be delighted to sign books. I may have to skip a few of ...
Posted by Justine at 6:25, September 28th, 2007 under Bloggery, Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings, Praising, Scott's books, Travelling |
Posted by Justine at 13:59, September 19th, 2007 under Bloggery, Book tour, Cons & Other Gatherings, Fans & readers, Publishing business |
Because I have friends who insist on proper con reports I thought I'd talk about some DragonCon panels. Most of which were excellent and peopled by knowledgable and entertaining folks.
First I must rant:
Hey, Author People, yes, you lot, who respond to every question with deeply tedious plot descriptions of your own books and never mention anyone else's work---I have written down your names and the names of your books. And I will NEVER EVER EVER buy them or recommend them to anyone. You are boring and the death of many a potentially good panel. I am filled with hate for you and your kind.
Okay. I feel much better now. Now onto the good panels which were all part ...
Posted by Justine at 10:56, September 5th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Young Adult literature |
Maureen put together a vid of hers and Scott's DragonCon footage:
It is fabulous in all ways!
Well, except for one way: Maureen promised me that she would edit me out. She did not. I am unhappy to realise that her promises are WORTH NOTHING.
Other than that everything is good. Watch, enjoy! DragonCon and DragonTrain were teh awesome. When I'm less knackered I'll tell youse all about it. Especially our dramatic readings from the worst book ever written.
Posted by Justine at 20:50, September 4th, 2007 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA |
The worst thing about DragonCon---other than the way too many people thing---is that it's on the exact same weekend as the WNBA conference finals. I missed seeing Phoenix sweep San Antonio (woo hoo! Amy---sorry, Rebecca) and will miss all the Indiana-Detroit games (please Indiana win tonight!)
Seeing all those insanely brilliant costumes is some compensation I suppose. Riding on the train with Holly, Theo, Cassandra, Maureen and Scott ditto. Sitting around in a hotel room with them telling ghost stories also not too foul.
Which reminds me what are your favourite urban legends? Feel free to leave a link in the comments if you don't feel like telling the whole thing. So far we've done the finger nails one, the hook, the ...
Posted by Justine at 8:47, September 3rd, 2007 under Basketball, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Whingeing |
According to Scott these two didn't know each other---they were just grouped together by photographers:
Photo by Scott.
Posted by Justine at 19:02, September 2nd, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Viewing |
I'm not quite sure what to make of DragonCon. It's way bigger than any other con I've been to ever and, I gotta be honest, large crowds of people freak me out. And this place is nothing but huge crowds. On the other hand, the costumes are incredible.
Say hello to Mr Resident Evil 2:
Photo by Scott
Posted by Justine at 22:02, September 1st, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings |
And Theo Black is some peace keeper person from Farscape. He tried to get me to teach him an Australian accent. But, ya know, you're either born with one or you're not.
As usual Scott Westerfeld took the photo.
Posted by Justine at 1:16, September 1st, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Fashion, Frippery |
The train trip was fun. Biggest difference between travelling by air in the US of A and travelling by train is that the staff are happy and relaxed and like to talk to you. We heard all sorts of stories about train life (includuing gruesome stuff about what happens when someone throws themself under one).
Although the cabins are kind of on the squalorous side---especially compared to first class sleepers in Europe---it was fun hanging with Holly and Theo and Cassie and Maureen while kudzu covered forests zipped by. We dissected the YA publishing world, described the plots of our next five books, and planned collaborations that will never ever happen but would be amazing if they did. I could live ...
Posted by Justine at 22:01, August 30th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Viewing |
In not that many hours we---Holly Black, Theo Black, Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson and Scott and me---get on the train and head to Atlanta, Georgia for DragonCon. Is it bad that I'm more excited about the train than the con? And I'm vastly excited about the con.
I plan to blog from Atlanta but much depends on the outrageous internet charges of our hotel. I will do what I can.
My schedule of events at DragonCon can be found over on
Scott's blog.
In other news I finished the first round of editorial rewrites on The UFB today. I am knackered but really looking forward to not thinking about that book for at least a week or so. Yay!
Posted by Justine at 0:14, August 29th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, How To Ditch Your Fairy, New York City/USA |
Scott and me are gunna be guests of honour at
ConFusion 2008 in Detroit in January. This is the first time either one of us has ever been a guest of honour at a science fiction convention (or any con for that matter) and we are dead excited. And to add to the joy---lots of other splendid people will be there, including
Mr John Scalzi who is toastmaster. What bliss he will have saying mean things about me and Scott. That bastard!
I can't wait!
We also get to suggest panel topics. We've come up with a few cunning and provocative (wink, wink) ones like "Originality is Overrated" and "Science Fiction is Not Dying", but if you guys can think ...
Posted by Justine at 9:06, July 11th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA |
The
wonderful speech that
David Levithan gave at Reading Matters is now
available as a podcast. You all should listen to this passionate, galvanising call to arms that left most everyone wanting to go out and slay vampires right that very minute. Or, you know, get the books that kids need into their hands.
I'm still mulling over my response to David's call to arms. On the one hand, I think he's totally right. On the other, it's so annoying to have a foreignor come in, spend a few minutes in the country, and then tell us Aussies what to do! We hates it, we do. Especially when they're right . . .
Posted by Justine at 0:12, June 20th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Praising, Ranting, Reading, Young Adult literature |
Next week the denizens of blogland what care about kids and YA literature will be interviewing many amazing writers such as Sonya Hartnett and Holly Black and Ysabeau Wilce (and, um, me). Check out the
full schedule of interviews. If the smart questions I was asked are any guide I reckon they'll be corkers.
Next week is also the annual summer
American Library Association conference. I sadly will not be attending. Waaah! I went to the one in New Orleans last year (or was it the year before?) and it was just incredible. I had such a wonderful time I'd even contemplate going to the midwinter ALA conference. And youse lot know how I feel about winter.
To make me ...
Posted by Justine at 10:58, June 15th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 22:24, June 9th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Magic or Madness trilogy, Travelling, Vainglory, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 1:09, May 28th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Sydney/Australia, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
So much has happened over the past few days I don't know where to begin and frankly I'm too knackered right now to go into any detail. The
Reading Matters conference was amazing. Lili and Mike did the most incredible job bringing together writers, publishers and librarians from all over. My head is still buzzing with it all.
There were several incredible moments of the conference. The three I can't stop thinking about are David Levithan's call to arms to Australian publishers and librarians to do more to support and produce young adult literature about, for, and by gays and lesbians; Margo Lanagan's fascinating thoughts about what you can and can't write about in our genre illustrated by examples from ...
Posted by Justine at 1:49, May 27th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Sydney/Australia, Travelling, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 1:09, May 23rd, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Sydney/Australia, Whingeing, Young Adult literature |
Because that's how much it's costing me to be online.
I may need to do hotel-hatred management classes fairly soon.
In short:
Adelaide still gorgeous, still full of churches.
The wedding was awesome. I'm a sucker for weddings at the best of times. But this was more excellent than most. The bride's speech rocked.
Despite the insane hotel gouging not allowing me to function in the 21st century, I'm more relaxed and happy than I've been in ages. Amazing how wonderful not working (and possibly not going online) and getting to hang out with my friends without feeling guilty is. More please!
Melbourne next. Where there will be much work and fun at Reading Matters. I'd link but that would lose me my second and third ...
Posted by Justine at 18:13, May 20th, 2007 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, Excuses, Frippery, Praising, Sydney/Australia, Whingeing |
The last ten days were bloody AWESOME. I don't have words. I met so many wonderful librarians, writers, students, teachers, booksellers, readers, and other peoples. All the appearances went splendidly. Texas rocks! I loves it! More details soon.
I plan to blog ever day for the next ten because after that we bugger off to Paris, Singapore and then three weeks back home in Australia and blogging opportunities are probably going to be thin on the ground. I read some wonderful books that I want to tell you about. I also have some writing theories I want to share. Not to mention all the appearances I'm doing this week.
There's been a micro kerfuffle while I was away because ...
Posted by Justine at 23:03, April 20th, 2007 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Scott's books, Travelling |
Very flaky internet access---the wifi keeps dropping to one bar so I'm keeping this short. Also I don't seem to be able to reply to emails, but I'll be back in NYC by Saturday and will catch up then. If it's urgent call me on the mobile.
We're doing two more Texas appearances.
Details here. Come say hi.
Also I'm getting a lot of people asking me the same questions about the ending of the trilogy so I've started a
SPOILER FAQ over here [scroll down]. If you have questions about the trilogy that aren't already answered you can ask them on
the comments thread over there and I will respond. But please don't ask spoiler questions ...
Posted by Justine at 23:59, April 15th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Magic or Madness trilogy, Travelling |
Posted by Justine at 12:44, April 14th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Excuses, Praising, Ranting, Scott's books, Travelling, Unicorns, Young Adult literature, Zombies |
Posted by Justine at 17:52, April 11th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Praising, Travelling |
Today we leave for San Antonio where we'll be attending the Texas Library Association annual conference. I'm dead excited. We went to the ALA conference last year and it was fabulous. I met so many cool librarians and student librarians and writers and publishing people I thought my head would explode. Talk about over-stimulation! I look forward to more of it.
Unfortunately, we won't be doing any public signings in San Antonio. So if you're not signed up for TLA we won't get to meet you. Sorry!
Our one public appearance of the trip will be in Austin:
Monday, 16 April 2007, 7PM
Justine Larbalestier &
Scott Westerfeld
Book People
603 N. Lamar (at Sixth)
Austin, Texas
This Texas trip is also a chance for us ...
Posted by Justine at 7:18, April 10th, 2007 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Travelling, Vainglory |
Posted by Justine at 18:24, April 8th, 2007 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, Cricket, New York City/USA, Scott's books, Sport, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 10:08, April 5th, 2007 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, New York City/USA, Vainglory, Whingeing, Young Adult literature |
Posted by Justine at 12:52, March 31st, 2007 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, Cricket, Listening, Praising, Ranting, Reading, Research, Sport, Viewing, Words & Language |
