Juliet Marillier

answers the Usual Questions

Juliet Marillier and Harry

New Zealand-born Juliet Marillier now lives in Western Australia. Her historical fantasy novels for adults and young adults have been translated into many languages and have won a number of awards including the Aurealis, the American Library Association's Alex Award, the Sir Julius Vogel Award and the Prix Imaginales.

Her lifelong love of folklore, fairy tales and mythology is a major influence on her writing. Juliet has two new novels out in 2014: The Caller, final instalment of the Shadowfell series (Australian edition June, US edition September) and Dreamer's Pool, first book in the Blackthorn & Grim series (October/November.)

When not busy writing, Juliet tends to a small pack of waifs and strays.

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

I love interacting with readers, and I listen to their feedback on my books, whether it's face to face at conventions or through my Facebook Fan Page, email or other social media. What I don't do is read reviews of my books on Amazon, Goodreads etc, because I take everything very much to heart and it would be the one bad review in 100 that I would remember and brood over - can't help myself. My readers are almost all very supportive and generous, and I love to hear that my writing has encouraged someone to read, or sparked off someone's own creative work, or helped someone through a tough time in their life. These are the most heartening of comments and make it easier to go on writing even when I'm not feeling at my most creative. Having said all that, I make my own artistic decisions and would be unlikely to write in a particular way, or take on a particular kind of project, solely because of reader demand.

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

I couldn't single out only one, but I treasure the letters and emails from readers who've used my books to help them through serious personal difficulty. My novels do frequently feature female protagonists working through challenges and finding their inner strength.

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

Again, it's almost impossible to single out only one. I've gained a lot of insight and personal understanding from Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, a study of the role of women in traditional storytelling. It's a book full of wisdom and heart, and I consult it often.

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

I am quite claustrophobic so I would freak out if trapped in a small space, even if the person I admired most was with me! I'd have to choose one or other of my two grown-up sons, who would both be great in a crisis and might just about manage to keep me calm.

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

Any tyrant, psychopath or serial killer would be pretty bad.

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

Earl Grey tea.

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

To know that my writing has entertained, enlightened and been valued by readers.

What is the special satisfaction of your work?

Being able to earn a living doing what I most love. Being immersed in a story. Sharing what I care about with readers.

submitted by Juliet Marillier

2 August 2014

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Just the facts:
Born: Dunedin, New Zealand
Resides: Western Australia
Bibliography/Awards:
Awards are listed here - too many to include
The Sevenwaters Series:
Daughter of the Forest
Son of the Shadows
Child of the Prophecy
Heir to Sevenwaters
Seer of Sevenwaters
Flame of Sevenwaters
Saga of the Light Isles:
Wolfskin
Foxmask
The Bridei Chronicles:
The Dark Mirror
Blade of Fortriu
The Well of Shades
Wildwood Dancing
Cybele's Secret
Heart's Blood
The Shadowfell series:
Shadowfell
Raven Flight
The Caller
Prickle Moon (a collection of short fiction)
Coming in Oct/Nov 2014: Dreamer's Pool, first novel in the Blackthorn & Grim series
Bibliography, click here