Personal FAQ
Q: Where were you born?
A: Sydney, Australia. In Paddington Women’s Hospital, which is now a block of flats.
Q: How do you pronounce your surname?
A: Lar-bal-est-ee-air. It can also be pronounced Lar-bal-est-ee-ay or Lar-bal-est-ee-er. Those are all fine by me. Friends at school used to pronounce it: Lavaworm. I have to really like you to let you get away with that one, but.
Q: Which is your favourite cover?
A: I’m assuming you mean of one of my books. I’ve been very lucky. I like every single one of my covers. But I think my absolute favourite is the one Cat Sparks did for Daughters of Earth.
Q: What’s it like living with another writer?
A: Wonderful. I’m very lucky because even if I wasn’t married to him I’d be a Scott Westerfeld fan. This way I get to read and comment on everything he writes first. He’s also a fabulous editor and reads and comments on all my work.
Q: Do you both write in the same room? Or do you have separate studies? Isn’t it annoying having someone else working so close by?
A: Mostly we write in the same room, sometimes not, though we’re always within shouting distance of one another. Scott and me travel a lot and write in many different places on our trusty and very transportable laptops. Magic or Madness was written in three different houses in Sydney, one in New York City and two in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. Magic Lessons was written in two different houses in Sydney, one in New York City and one in Buenos Aires. Magic’s Child was written in San Miguel de Allende, Sydney and New York City. Who knows where I’ll finish work on the great Australian cricket, mangosteen, Elvis, young adult (YA) novel?
It’s not even slightly annoying writing in the same room as Scott. We get to ask each other for synonyms, how to spell things, and whether Agnetha is an okay name for a character? (Apparently not.) It makes writing even more fun.
Q: What’s it like living in two countries?
A: (For those who don’t know, me and Scott spend half the year in Sydney, where I’m from, and half in NYC, where Scott has lived the majority of his life.)
Living in two places is most excellent. I have two sets of friends. Two sets of favourite restaurants. Two sets of everything really. When it’s six months at home and then six months in New York City I rarely get homesick and nor does Scott. Works out pefectly. Also lots of summer. I love me some summer.
Q: Why do you love Elvis so much?
A: Why doesn’t everyone? The story of how I came to love Elvis love is here.
Q: Why do you love sports so much?
A: Again I ask, Why doesn’t everyone? Explaining my love of sport is like explaining my love of breathing or eating. Without air and food and sport living is impossible.
Q: What kind of car do you drive?
A: I do not drive. I have never learned how. I dislike cars. I think they are the worst invention of all time and responsible for untold carnage. Not just to all the people killed in and by them but for making us so dependent on oil. I wish cars did not exist. Our world would be in much better shape. We need to switch to bicycles and horses. And airships. Transmat beams would also be most excellent.
Q: What’s your favourite colour?
A: All colours are good colours. Except vomit yellow.
Q: Have you ever played organized basketball?
A: Briefly in primary school. I have never excelled at team sports. I, um, don’t take direction well.
Q: What’s your favourite place in Sydney (apart from the cemetery in Newtown)?
There are so many! But right now—other than my parents’ house—it’s the Botanical Gardens.
Feel free to ask more questions below. I can’t promise a quick response but I definitely will answer.
Steph Says:
I have two questions:
As a very small child, what did you want to be? (I wanted to be a dolphin, for instance)
If you could use one word to describe yourself, what would it be? (I’m distracted.)
And one other thing; I think it’s wonderful you don’t drive. But don’t you have trouble getting around at times? And do people think you’re crazy?
Thanks. I very much enjoyed the Magic or Madness trilogy.
December 10th, 2008 at 4:03 am
2. Justine Says:
Steph: I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Though being a dolphin would also be cool.
A one-word description of myself? Hmmm . . . Contrary.
I’ve always lived in the inner-city so am able to walk or take public transport wherever I like. Only crazy car lovers think I’m crazy. I avoid them.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
-C Says:
Hi! When is your birthday? Sorry I come off as stalker-ish, but I just came up with this fantastic idea and I’d really like to know. Thankss!
December 21st, 2008 at 11:00 pm
4. Justine Says:
-C: It’s the same date as John Coltrane’s.
December 26th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Ella Says:
Hello,
Losts of questions:
What book that you have writen is you most favorite. You’r least favorite? Also, as a child, who was the author who most inspired you? Also, also, do you wear jeans, ’cause Scott-la doesnt’t and I was thinking maybe you didn’t either… Sorry, I’ve got loads of questions! I’ll stop now or else you’ll get you’ll probably get bored…
OH, (sorry… ^.^’) You need a sufex like Scott-la’s!
February 19th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
6. Justine Says:
Ella: What book that you have writen is you most favorite.
I always like the one I’m in the middle of writing the best.
You’r least favorite?
The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction. It was my PhD thesis.
Also, as a child, who was the author who most inspired you?
Enid Blyton.
Also, also, do you wear jeans?
I do. I love my jeans. (Scott is crazy.)
March 31st, 2009 at 10:14 am
MItch Wagner Says:
One-word description of yourself? Shouldn’t that be “extremely contrary?”
Get it? She asked for a one-word description and “extremely contrary is”… oh, never mind.
My wife and I both work from home, and I think if we did not have separate offices, “Law & Order” would be doing a ripped-from-the-headlines episode about the horrible murder that ensued.
April 26th, 2009 at 2:49 am
8. Justine Says:
Mitch: That’s because you and your wife aren’t robots.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:44 am
MItch Wagner Says:
Don’t be so sure.
(exits, clanking and whirring)
May 4th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Ashlie Says:
Ok I have to know you dont drive cars but does Scott? and really how many frequent flyer miles do you have? Other than that what age did you really start writing and how did you go about getting published?
LOVE YOUR WORK!!!!!
October 4th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
11. Justine Says:
Ashlie: Scott doesn’t drive either.
I have no idea how many frequent flyer points I have. I use them all upgrading to business class.
I’ve always written stories. From the minute I was able to write. Before that I told stories.
I went about getting published by writing a lot and sending it out and being rejected a lot. It took me twenty years before I was finally published. You can read more about that here and here.
October 4th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Heather Says:
It makes me happy to see that I am not the only one opposed to cars. I share all the same reasons you gave. I didn’t know Meg and Scott don’t drive either. I’ve heard JK Rowling doesn’t as well. I always got asked why I don’t drive and why I don’t have my license. Everyone always makes it seem like it’s the worst thing in the world, like I’m some kind of freak. I used to dread going to my relatives house because I knew they’d ask me and apparently my answers were never good enough. It’s not like I sit huddled in my closet chewing on my shirt. I do go out, I do work, it’s called public transportation. In the novel I’m working on, not one character will drive a car, just because.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:05 am
Jon Says:
J,
Do you know John Green? I can’t help but think I’ve seen your names together somewhere. John’s a great author as well, and I’m not sure if I’m just imagining the connection. I believe he lived in New York for quite a while before moving away, and maybe you met him there or something. Or, like I said, maybe I’m just imagining it. Regardless, I felt I should ask the question, lest it keep me up deep into the hours of the night.
In addition, the boots in the picture at the top of this page are brilliant.
November 27th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
14. Justine Says:
Heather: Yay, for those of us who are united in our non-love of cars!
Jon: I do know John Green. All YA authors know each other.
Thanks for the boot love. They are most favourite things in the entire universe.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Christianne Says:
Justine, you are one cool chick — I wish I were like you !!!!!
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Ellen Says:
How did you meet your husband?
December 17th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Bella Sims Says:
First of all I just have to say that I love both you and your hubby. I’m a HUGE fan and I have all of your books. (Both of you)
My question is, What are your favorite places to write? I live in Sydney as well and I live in a house with 12 people so finding a place to write is really really hard. Just wondering if you have any good places that are good to write at.
And again, HUGE fan! Seriously. HUGE!
Bella xo
December 22nd, 2009 at 8:25 am
18. Justine Says:
Christianne: Thanks! But, you don’t want to be like me. It means hating chocolate for starters and I bet you love chocolate.
Ellen: Me and Scott have totally different accounts of how we met. You can read them here.
Bella: Thank you. We’re both thrilled.
My favourite place to write is at home. But I don’ tlive with 12 people. When it was trickier to write at home I used to retreat to Mitchell Library in the city. I just loved the oldness of it. The wooden desks. The shelves of books going up and up. The domed roof. But basically any library is pretty good. Good luck!
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:02 pm