April Blogging: Day 19

Interview with Justine Larbalestier

*NB: Update: On request from Justine, the USA cover of HTDYF is now in use*

Justine's newest book, How to Ditch your Fairy is set in New Avalon, where everyone has their own personal fairy. Charlie is attempting to ditch her fairy, the carparking fairy.

Justine, who divides her time between Sydney, Australia and New York City, America, took some time out of her schedule to answer the following questions.


1.How did you reach the decision to make How To Ditch Your Fairy be based at a sports school rather than a music one, or a drama school, for example?

I didn't really make that decision that's just how the story poured out. I don't think it's a mystery though. I've always loved sports and wanted to write about them. Whereas I know pretty much nothing about music or acting. Not to mention that there are lots of books about girls obsessed with music or acting and few about girls who love sports. (That's one of the reasons I love Catherine Murdock's Dairy Queen books so much.)

2. Do you have play favorites with your books? What piece of work that you’ve written do you like the best?

I always like whatever I'm working on at the time best. Right now my favourite is the one set in NYC in the 1930s because that's what I'm in the middle of writing.

3. Why do you write young adult fiction? Why not mainstream fiction?

Because that would bore me. I write what I love to read.

4. Where do you do most of your writing? How did you end up choosing that place? What do you like about it?

Because I travel so much I can pretty much write anywhere. Place doesn't matter to me. Just as long as there's electricity and it's not too noisy.

5. Do you get a lot of fan mail? What’s the best thing a fan has said to you?

I don't get as many as some people I know but it seems like a lot to me. And I love every piece of it! Fans have said so many fabulous things it's hard to pick one, but I've had two tell me that they never used to like reading until they read Magic or Madness. Isn't that wonderful?

6. Are your family and friends supportive? What do they think of you being an author? Do they read your books? What do they think of them?

My family and friends are extremely supportive. I'm very lucky. And, yes, they read my books and seem to really like them. (Though they could be lying to me . . . )

7. What’s a typical day for you?

I travel so much that I'm starting to wonder what a typical day looks like. I guess the one thing almost all my days have in common is procrastination. Especially to avoid packing. I really hate packing.

You can read Justine's blog here, or visit her site.

Thank you, Justine!