John Marsden

My latest book is Circle of Flight.

It’s the last book in the Ellie Chronicles, so it brings her heroic adventures to an end.  During a hypothetical invasion of Australia Ellie and her friends became freedom fighters, and the Chronicles, along with the Tomorrow series, tell of their experiences.

The best thing about being a writer is OK OK, it's mushy, but it is true, hearing about non-readers who connect with reading via some of my books.

If I wasn’t a writer I’d be… well, I already am.  A teacher, that is. Writing has pretty much always been my second job, a hobby that got a bit out of control.

My first published work was my stories in our grade 3 newspaper.

Morning person or night-owl? Totally night owl.  If it wasn't for daytime commitments I would start work at midnight and go till dawn.

My first job was cleaning dried blood from the legs of live chickens.  I thought it was strange but I didn't realise for some days that the idea was to deceive the Department of Agriculture, because there was a disease in the flock, and the owners had secretly blood tested the chooks instead of notifying the Department.

On a quiz show, my special subject would be English poetry, 1914 to 1918.

My last holiday was yesterday.  My work is my holiday.

My perfect Saturday is reading one of the big newspapers, browsing a huge bookshop, visiting the Newman's chocolate factory shop, then having a long conversation over coffee (for her) and Diet Coke (for me) with a good friend.

The last CD I bought was the new Bob Dylan one.  He has always been, continues to be, and will always be - the best. 

I’m currently reading Wolf Brother, by Michelle Paver. Not normally my kind of book, but it's working. 

Big Brother or Australian Idol? What are they?

Favourite film/tv show is - I don't go to movies, but I like Whose Line is it Anyway?, on cable TV. 

My favourite book is - it changes according to whatever I'm reading at the moment.  I'm very fickle. I liked Whirligigs, by Paul Fleischman.  Hamlet's always a good read.

The book character I would most like to meet is Elizabeth, from Pride and Prejudice.  Wouldn't mind a hot date with her. 

The book character I would least like to meet is Uriah Heep, from David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens (not the well-known Dutch author with two k's). He is the slimiest character ever created.  Roger from Lord of the Flies is a shocker too.

The worst thing I’ve ever written is - I'm pretty happy to sign my name to anything I've written so far. 

When I was growing up I wanted to be an author, a test cricketer, or Prime Minister.

My heroes are - I don't believe in heroes. I think they're a bad concept.  But I admire some of the attributes I think I see in Paul Simon, Alice Miller, Makybe Diva, Paul Robeson, Paul Jennings (pretty much any guy called Paul), Isobelle Carmody and Gillian Rubinstein.