FAQ
Q: What happened with the US cover of Liar?
A: You can find the whole story here and here. I strongly recommend you read the comments as well.
Q: Can you tell me what really happens at the end of Liar?
A: No. I deliberately wrote the book to be read in at least two different ways, which means that there is no one ending, and thus no way I can tell you what really happens. You’re on your own.
Q: Is writing an unreliable narrator hard?
A: Yes.
SPOILER WARNING: Some of the questions that follow in the comments are Very Spoilery Indeed. Do not read them unless you’ve already read Liar.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Brian Says:
Hi Justine, love your writing (even though I’m probably a bit old for your typical target market)
I realize this is probably a publisher thing, not an author thing, but do you have any idea if/when Liar or HTDYF will be available from Amazon to download on the Kindle?
I’d like to say it’s because I want to save trees (and I do!) but mostly it’s because I can’t fit any more books in my house!
Cheers.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:01 am
QuestionQuestion Says:
Hi. I live in the US and i was wondering when the book will be out so us americans can buy? Didn’t you say you could only buy it in australia? or are youa a LIAR?
haha.
I know. Corny joke. Please answer when you can.
-Question Question
October 20th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
12 year old obsessd reader Says:
Hi,
I have just finished reading liar read it in 3 days and it is the best book i have ever read. it was so hard to predict what comes next. And realy confusing about jordan How did he die.
October 25th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
4. Justine Says:
Brian: You’re right, it is a publisher thing. I know there are discussions about electronic editions of How To Ditch Your Fairy and Liar. As soon as something comes of them I’ll announce it on the blog.
QuestionQuestion: Liar has been out in the US since 29 Sept.
12 year old obssessed reader: I’m so pleased you liked Liar. As for Jordan’s death I think there are a number of different possibilities. Could be his death was an accident. Could have been murder. Depends on what you think Micah was capable of. Or whether you believe Jordan was a figment of Micah’s imagination.
October 25th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
julie Says:
Loved “Liar”! will there be a sequel?
October 30th, 2009 at 1:21 am
6. Justine Says:
Julie: Nope. Sorry. It’s a one off.
October 30th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Sarah Says:
Hi Justine!
It was great getting to chat with you (albeit all too briefly) in Austin last Saturday. Unfortunately, I hadn’t finished reading Liar yet, so I didn’t want to talk about it at all for fear of unearthing a spoiler (something you definitely don’t want to do with that book). If you have a spare moment, I have 2 questions for you:
1. Since Yayeko has no idea werewolves existed before Micah changes in her apartment, what makes Yayeko think of saying Micah’s name repeatedly to help her regain control?
2. What is the terrible word that British guys good-naturedly call each other but that becomes offensive when applied to a woman, both in England and America?
Thanks, Justine, for writing what truly is one of the absolute best books I’ve ever read!
Best,
Sarah (Friend-of-Rebecca)
October 30th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
8. Justine Says:
Sarah: Lovely to meet you too.
1. Micah tels Yayeko that she is a werewolf and sets out to prove it to her before she changes in Yayeko’s apartment. So Yayeko does, in fact, know of the existence of werewolves. She just doesn’t believe it. I don’t think it’s a stretch that when confronted with a wolf in her home she would think it was Micah.
Of course, don’t forget that this is just Micah’s version of events.
2. Too many readers of this blog would be offended by that word for me to write it here. But if you must know here is a pointer: the writer in question is Scottish. Have a look at Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting. The word is used as the male vocative in the first few pages and throughout the book. In the movie also.
October 31st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Sarah Says:
Justine,
Thanks for the prompt response! I looked up quotes from Trainspotting–the word was the one I’d guessed it was. Wow, does that make me look sharp, or just dirty? Haha.
With regard to the Yayeko question: I didn’t doubt that Yayeko knows that the wolf is Micah. I was wondering how she knows to use that *technique* of saying her name to snap her out of her carnal mindset. I guess she just thinks quickly on her feet and comes up with the idea that Micah might respond to her human name with some reversion to her human self?
October 31st, 2009 at 7:54 pm
10. Justine Says:
Sarah: That’s definitely one explanation. It depends on whether Micah really has turned into a wolf or not, doesn’t it? I.e. there are lots of different reasons Yayeko would be saying Micah’s name.
October 31st, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Sarah Says:
Whoa. You just blew my mind a little more–”whether” Micah has really turned into a wolf? By the end of the book she absolutely had me convinced that that part wasn’t a lie, despite my doubt about that throughout most of the story. And that’s why the book is such a masterpiece.
Thanks, Justine.
November 1st, 2009 at 1:03 am
Alyssa Says:
Hi Justine,
I just finished your book not 30 minutes ago(in about 26 hours too!) and loved it. I got really irritated in the middle because i thought it was realistic fiction and I was going to use it for a language arts project but then, MICAH IS A WOLF! It was still really good. Now the questions:
1have you written any realistic fiction books? I love your writing style and really need a book for my project.
2What is wrong with Pete?
3Are you writing anymore books right now?
Thats all!
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Summer Says:
Wow,I actually can’t think of any questions at the moment. But, um, I love the book!
November 5th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Ashleigh (from Brisbane) Says:
Dear Justine, I finished your book a few minutes ago and I just wanted to let you know that it’s one of those things that I’m going to be trying to work out for the rest of my life. When it comes to puzzles, I need to find the solution and I already have plans to re-read the novel with pen and paper and try to create some sort of a timeline in the hope that may help me unravel some of my questions. I agree with Alyssa in saying that I thought it was realistic fiction and then I was quite surprised to find Micah as a wolf. I understand after reading the previous questions you will never tell me the ending you yourself believe to be the correct one or the truth behind Micah’s wolfishenss or even extra information about Jordan but I would like you to know that the way you write is very powerful. Through the book I found myself grieving for Zach, wishing I was Sarah, hating Jordan and being absolutely crushed when Micah’s parents left her without even a goodbye. All I can say is that your book has had a lasting impact on me and I know for certain I will be pondering it for quite a time. But please, if you ever decide to reveal any of the truths behind Micah’s lies or the obvious lies that were in fact truth I would sincerely love to know.
Forever a grateful reader,
Ashleigh O’Brien.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:29 am
15. Justine Says:
Sarah: Thanks. I’m so glad you liked it.
Alyssa: You could argue that Liar is realistic fiction. If Micah’s insistence that she’s a wolf is a lie or a delusion than the book is a realist novel.
I’m not sure what you’re asking when you say “What is wrong with Pete?”
Summer: So pleased you liked it.
Ashleigh: Thank you so much your response. It means a lot to me. I will say this: I worked very hard to convey the emotional truth of the novel. Micah is in a great deal of pain and her pain is real. Whether or not her claims about her condition and her ancestry are true a great deal of what she says about herself and her feelings are absolutely real.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Cassie Says:
Dear Justine,
I love your other books. How To Ditch Your Fairy is very amusing and creative, and the Magic or Madness trilogy was an enjoyable read. But my first words after finishing Liar were: Oh My God. It has such incredible aspects. 1) Micah is a liar, and you don’t know whether her words are lies or truths. 2) The whole werewolf thing. It is hard to believe Micah, but she is so convincing. 3) The fact that Micah’s parents lost their love for her I just find that whole loss so sad, that Micah’s condition would change her life like that. 4) Her obvious deep emotion and love for Zach, and the whole mystery of his death. I just wanted to say that Liar has been an emotional journey for me, but I imagine it must have been a rollercoaster for you, being the writer. I find it amazing that you had the nerve to take on a project so difficult and bone-chilling, and your writing in Liar is very inspirational to me, a hopeful future writer myself. I have a lot of feelings on each of your characters, so much that it couldn’t possibly fit in this comment, but I just wanted to say that Liar was a stunning read that will probably stick in my mind until I read it again and again, hunting for clues and hints about Micah’s lies. I also just thought it would be fair to ask this question: Which part in Liar do you consider to be the most emotional/revealing/incredible? I only hope you can answer it before I start reading your wonderful novel again.
Your Avid Reader,
Cassie
November 14th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Cassie Says:
Hi, Justine,
I just wanted to add this question, which I forgot to add to my last comment. I love your writing style, and am looking forward to your next novel: Could you possibly give us (your faithful readers) a hint about your next book? You can trust me when I say I’ll be rushing to the bookstores to buy it when it comes out, and a small hint would probably flare my imagination.
Thanks,
Cassie.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
18. Justine Says:
Cassie: I’m so pleased you liked Liar so much.
It’s very hard for me to answer your question. But I can say that probably the hardest part for me to write was Micah’s reaction to finding out that her parents had abandoned her and left her behind with the Greats.
I’ll be writing on my blog about what I’m working on fairly soon.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Summer Says:
*jumps up and down* Oh! Oh! Question! (I can’t BELIVE I forgot to ask this because it almost killed me wondering about it while reading.)
What’s up with the ‘punishing inconstant heart’ on page 70? Did Micah make it up? I must knooooow!
November 20th, 2009 at 10:05 am