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Suite Scarlett
Martin family birthday breakfasts followed a strict tradition. First, there were Belgian waffles, made by Belinda, the beloved Hopewell Hotel cook. These were served up with an array of toppings: chocolate syrup, fresh lemon whipped cream, stewed strawberries, and powdered vanilla sugar. The air should have been thick with wafflely perfume. Instead, there was an acrid, confusing smell, undercut by a light touch of smoke.
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Writer in Residence
Meet Justine and Scott
Since we’ve only been publishing Young Adult novels for a short time, seems like a good idea for us to tell you who we are. But we kind of get bored introducing ourselves so Justine will tell you about Scott and he’ll tell you about her.
Justine: Scott Westerfeld (not -field) was born in Dallas Texas, but he grew up all over the USA in places like Connecticut and California as well as Texas, which was a great experience for him but tragically means he doesn’t have a gorgeous southern accent like everyone else in his family. He sounds like an American newsreader, which is not a bad thing. He has a very nice voice. But still, he could have had a yummy Texan accent.
Before he started writing for teenagers, he published five adult science fiction novels that got great reviews and award nominations, but didn’t sell that well. Since switching to writing for teens he’s published three trilogies: Midnighters, Uglies, and the New York Trilogy, which is not a proper trilogy, but three books set in New York (So Yesterday, Peeps and The Last Days). My favourites are the New York books (especially The Last Days) and Midnighters (especially book 2, Touching Darkness).
That’s nine excellent books that came out in the space of three years. Prolific, eh? It was like a Scott Westerfeld tidal wave and garnered him heaps of critical appreciation, popularity, and awards.
However, he also got shingles and all sorts of nasty flus. Turns out working that hard can really bugger up your health. So the new and improved and getting healthy Scott is only writing one book a year. Tops.
Scott: First, let me correct some of things Justine said.
For one thing, I didn’t really write all those books as quickly as it seemed. My publishers took a long time to bring the first ones out, but when they saw they were doing well, the later ones came out faster. So it was sort of like making a bunch of spitballs and then shooting them all at once. But books.
Also, hard work is good for you! It’s traveling that makes you sick. Since Justine and I got married in 2001, we’ve spent (roughly) half the year in each of our home towns. That’s summer in Sydney and then the other summer in New York City. I’m not complaining; two summers is good. It’s just that two flu seasons is not.
Now to introduce Justine:
She’s the author the Magic or Madness trilogy. These books start off in a house in Sydney that has a back door that opens onto a street in New York City. Sound familiar? Well, yes, it’s partly wish fulfillment after all those 24-hour plane flights. But it’s also a look at how magic might be something you don’t want in your life, how two big cities can be very different, and at how Americans talk funny.
But the trilogy isn’t just about Sydney and New York. Justine’s parents are both anthropologists, and when she was little she spent a lot of time on settlements in the Northern Territory. Her protagonist, Reason, also grew up out bush. So for her, cities are alien. Through Reason’s eyes, Justine makes a New York snow storm almost as mysterious as the magical door Reason stumbles through.
By the way, Justine also wrote a book about the ancient history of science fiction. That’s how we met-she was looking for geezers to interview at the Nebula Awards in NYC. (I’m not a geezer, so she ignored me at first.) We spent a lot of our early days 10,000 miles apart, but writing emails turned out to be a pretty good way for two writers to get to know each other.
Now I’ll give the floor back to Justine, in case she thinks I’ve mislead you about anything. (Watch out, though, she’s fond of lying.)
Justine: But not as fond of it as he is.
I didn’t grew up out bush. I grew up in cities, mostly in Sydney but with a few years in Canberra and Newcastle. I’m the opposite of Reason, for me it’s cities that are home and the bush that’s alien. I spent at most a year in the Northern Territory and that was spread over two visits. But it’s the part of my childhood I remember most vividly.
And he did too write all those books very quickly.
Scott and Justine: We’d love to answer any questions you might have for us. We’ll be here for a month after all—we don’t want to run out of material.
P.S. The hardest part of this post was agreeing on which photo to use.
P.P.S. The photo was taken by Doselle Young at Taliesin in Wisconsin, USA.
20 Responses to “Meet Justine and Scott”
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Hey, isn’t that some kind of undead creature behind that tree there?
i’d like to know about your first drafts. seriously, were they bad? good? how bad? sometimes it is hard to know when the published works are so awesome.
I like that picture! Especially since you don’t like to have your picture taken, Justine, it’s a real treat to see a picture at all! I’m not sure if I’ve even seen a picture of the two of you together.
I like it. I’m looking forward to reading your answers to random stuff…that’s the greatest! 
And…I just listened to the girl books/boy books debate. FUNNY! Justine, I had never heard your voice before. YAY for hearing you prove girl books are superior!
I like the picture. It was funny and interesting to hear you both writing about each other.
Oops. That’s seeing you write about each other.
A newsreader voice/accent is a good thing. Be proud, Scott - you’re more fortunate than your relatives in that respect
Margo: It’s zombie Frank Lloyd Wright.
Honest: Great question. We’ll post about it.
Justine responding to Dawn: I don’t mind photos existing; I just hate having them taken. Doselle took that one sneakily. I had no idea it was being taken. And that’s the way I like it.
Gabrielle: Thank you!
Justine responding to Ez: It’s a terrible thing. More and more people all over the world are losing their regional accents and sounding like newsreaders. Before long each country will have just one accent and we’ll all be the poorer for it. Scott’s relatives have wonderful varied accents. They’re awesome!
Hey! Scott, in your book called Midnighters, I’m reading the first book at the moment and I’m wondering if Rex, Melissa and Dess are psychic or just really weird. And is there really a “blue time in the 25th hour of the day”??
Scott, the amount of comments on your regular blog scares me. 964?! Good God, man. And Justine, I don’t like having my picture taken either, but even in secret pictures I don’t look as pretty as you do.
Scott responding to Laura XD: Keep reading. I promise you’ll find out.
Hi Scott and Justine! I’d like to know who you like for the Tour de France, and whether you’re still watching. I find I don’t care at all about the contestants ‘doing’ drugs (you know, they shouldn’t, but I can’t get worked up and shocked and all that about it) and I want the organisers to quit being so nervous - they’re the one ruining the sport, not the cyclers. Ahem. Getting off soap box. But any thoughts on who of these people might be fun to watch?
Hi Scott and Justine.
Both of you are really great writers, but I’m sure you’ve probably heard that a lot.
Also, Scott, ever since you spoke at Reading Matters, I’ve been having really absurd dreams about vampires biting aliens. I thought my brain was warped before hand… Now I’m writing about a lot of crazy things, and my friends are beginning to “worry” about me. They thought I was insane before, now I guess I’m just super insane because I dream about aliens being bitten by vampires. This is all your fault. (only I never said that was a bad thing)
Yay two of my favorite writers posting together! Anyway I just bought MAgic’s Child yesterday and I’m anxious to find out what happens. (Don’t worry Scott Ive read all your in print books :D)
So scott, been a fan for a long time
and the midnighters series too, any new news on the tv series? I’ve been anticipating on that for a long time haha…
by the way, now im really intrigued on reading magic or madness triology
well, i have to say, i really enjoyed both of your writing styles, but it got me wondering, do you pick up tips from each other? because both of you are really good compared to other writers - is it because you help each other a lot?
Scott: I’ve already read the uglies trillogy… and loved it. Which of your books would you reccomend reading next?
Thanks everyone for all your comments.
Emily: Keep adding those vampires!
Kha: Thanks. No news. Sorry.
Wren: If you want another trilogy with lots of action scenes and even a little bit of flying, go for Midnighters. If you want something older and more scientific, try Peeps.
Aww! How romantic! *makes gushy face* I love that you two are married since I read each of your novels separately before I knew the connection. You guys are totally nod worthy!