Ged Maybury

answers the Usual Questions

Ged Maybury

Ged Maybury is a children's book author. He was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and has been based in Australia since 2002. He writes science fiction, particularly steampunk and humour.

Has your interaction with fans, for example, at conventions, affected your work?

Fans? Yes please, that would be nice!

Not entirely true. I am beginning to meet a few people now at events -- more fans of my costuming than my books, but it is gratifying, yes. But really -- the only influence is that in order to be at a convention I generally take hundreds of hours off to make myself an entirely new costume for said convention, thus wasting all that potential writing time!

Is there any particular incident (a letter, a meeting, a comment that stands out?

In terms of receiving impetus towards becoming a writer, I have to acknowledge my Grade 7 teacher Miss Wilson who gave me a few words of advice after I had submitted my first ever story (which was HUGE!): "Actually, creative writing is when you think up you own story, not just copy someone else's idea." - And lo: a mere twenty-one years later I wrote my next story, TimeTwister, and got published. It has been my most successful book.

But speaking of letters: long ago I received one from a boy at a school I had just visited (back in my glory days when I *did* visit schools), and it was memorable. The stand-out sentence ran like this: "Dear Mr Maybury, I think you're the funniest writer I have ever met. As a matter of fact -- you're the only writer I've ever met."

Do you have a favourite author or book (or writer or film or series) that has influenced you or that you return to?

Just off the top of my head, I'd have to acknowledge Diana Wynne Jones for fantasy, Harry Harrison for science fiction, Terry Pratchett for comedy and Anne Fine and Paul Jennings for being excellent examples of dynamic storytelling.

As for something that I keep going back to -- that would be the work of Hayao Miyazaki. He originated as a mangaka (comic book artist), then embraced filmmaking to great success. Won an Oscar for one of them. His work is damn-near psychedelic! In essence, though, he is a storyteller like me or any other writer. A damn-good storyteller!

Who is the person you would most like to be trapped in a lift with? or a spaceship?

book cover, Across the Stonewind Sky, by Ged Maybury; 180x272

Let me choose someone who is no longer with us: anime auteur Satoshi Kon. If in the elevator, I would hope that between his limited English and my limited Japanese, I could discuss his works and siphon off a few grams of his genius.

If on the spaceship -- Kiyohiko Azuma (as long as we were supplied with vast amounts of paper, pencils and pens). I would promptly declare myself his pupil and spend the next chunk of eternity recapturing the gift of graphic art I was born with.

Who is the person you would most DISlike to be trapped in a lift with? Or a spaceship?

Donald Duck. I don't understand a word of Quacklish, and that temper!

What would you pack for space? (Is there a food, beverage, book, teddy bear, etc that you couldn't do without?)

I'd take exactly one book -- in fact the only book I've ever finished in the last ten years: The Azumanga Daioh Omnibus by Kiyohiko Azuma (as mentioned already). It is a constant comfort and delight to me, and the only manga I have ever found easy to read.

What is the most important thing you would like to get/achieve from your work?

I'd like to be recognised as a (at least modestly significant) children's writer here in Australia, not just from 'the masses' but also from school librarians, reviewers and the Australian literati.

What is the special satisfaction of your work?

That rare moment when a reader actually gets in touch with me and expresses their delight in a particular book, character or scene.

submitted by Ged Maybury

9 July 2014

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Just the facts:
Born: Christchurch New Zealand, 1953
Resides: Brisbane, near enough.
Bibliography/Awards:
Transitional Readers:
Scuttle And The Zipzaps 2003 Banana Books (Aus)
Children's Science Fiction Novels:
Timetwister [*] 1986 Ashton Scholastic N.Z.
Silicon Stew 1990 Ashton Scholastic N.Z.
Startroopers The Final Episode 1991 Ashton Scholastic N.Z.
The Triggerstone 1993 Ashton Scholastic N.Z.
Hive Of The Starbees The First Startroopers 1995 Scholastic N.Z.
The Seventh Robe 1993 Harper/Collins N.Z.
The Rebel Masters 1995 Harper/Collins N.Z.
Novels For Children:
Horse Apples 1998 Scholastic N.Z.
Crab Apples 2000 Scholastic N.Z.
Pig Apples 2002 Scholastic N.Z.
Nosebleed 2013 Blake Education Australia
Junior Chapter Books
Scuttle And The Zipzaps 2003 Banana Books Australia
Novels For Young Adults:
I Am Leatherman 2001 Cape Catley (Co-Authored By Anna Venczel)
Snowcave Inn 2005 Cape Catley N.Z. Steampunk Novels For Adults
Across The Stonewind Sky, Book I Satalyte Books Australia
Performance Poetry:
Tubes Of Light 1986 Lookafar Books
Grants And Awards
Q.E.Ii Arts Council Awards: 1991 & 1995
Aim Children's Book Awards, 1994, Finalist ( "The Triggerstone" )
Nz Post Children's Book Awards, 2001, Finalist ( "Crab Apples" )
Internet Books:
The Dream Of Bones www.nzine.co.nz