Scott Facts

I am not currently scheduling appearances. Please do not email me with appearance requests. It’s not that I don’t love you all, it’s just that you outnumber me.

I get a lot of requests for biographical information, mostly from students writing reports about me. This is flattering indeed, but answering the same questions dozens of times has gotten old. So without further introduction, here is the Scott Facts page:

For a list of all novels written, go here.

Born: May 5, 1963
Dallas, Texas, USA

Family: Pamela, mother, from West, Texas
Lloyd, father, from Crawford, Texas (the same town where George W. Bush bought his fake ranch in 2000)
Wendy and Jackie, sisters (both older)

Married writer Justine Larbalestier in 2001.
No kids; no plans for kids.

We split our time between Sydney, Australia and New York City. (Summers only, thank you.)

Grew up in Texas, California, Connecticut
My dad was a computer programmer in the 1960s-70s, when computers were as big as a house and came with a bunch of people to make them do stuff. He worked for Univac in its various forms, and we lived in Houston for the Apollo missions, in California for Boeing, and Connecticut for submarines, etc.

Education: Arts Magnet High School, Dallas, Texas
Vassar Philosophy BA in 1985
New York University, graduate work in Performance Studies 1987-8

Favorites
Writer: Samuel R. Delany
Book: I don’t know, okay? There are millions of them, you know.
But as a kid: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Movie: Not as many as books, but I still don’t know. I think these kinds of questions are silly.

Jobs held
factory worker (making lead soldiers!)
substitute teacher
textbook editor
software designer
ghost writer

Six Interesting Facts
1. I just bought a telescope (80mm primary)
2. I am a vegetarian (for family reasons, mostly)
3. My book So Yesterday has been translated into Slovene.
4. Languages studied: Japanese, Spanish, and Latin. Languages fluent in: English.
5. Justine and I are bisummeral, moving between the hemispheres to avoid the deadly scourge of winter.
6. I never wear jeans. Never!

Sports
Basketball—we have season tickets to the WNBA’s Liberty, second row
Cricket—newly discovered in Australia
Tennis—played semi-competently , but not often enough

Food
Mexican and Thai are my favorite
Italian is also quite excellent
Tetsuya’s is my favorite restaurant in Sydney, indeed, in the world
Otto is my current fave in NYC
Favorite meal: breakfast
Breakfast places of note
Sydney: Hopscotch, Single Origin
Dunedin: Bean Scene
New York: La Palapa, Counter
San Miguel de Allende: Nirvana

This page is just getting started. Use the comment thread to ask more questions!
(I will delete comments as the questions are answered.)

5,028 thoughts on “Scott Facts”

  1. I am doing a report on your book “Uglies” for my school. I thought that it was an amazing book to read. I read it in 2 days flat! It opened my mind to the futuristic world!

  2. A. Props if you get the ref.
    B. Ever gonna make more books set in the Leviathan world? WWII could be a lot of fun to read, and I guess maybe to write? I don’t know, I don’t write. But it would have its high points, I would think. Like the Blitz would be interesting, at least. The sinking of the Bismarck. Yamato. Okinawa. D-Day. Stalingrad. El Almien.

    That kinda stuff.

    Use Alek and Deryn’s kids! it would be fun!

    ->Graff

  6. You aren’t a Mormon, are you? There are all those Mormon authors popping up; kinda makes you paranoid.

  7. I have to a biography on an author in school. So i decided to do you but i dont have enough information. so i will write a few questions if you could please answer them….
    1) what was the name of the very first book you wrote and how long did it take you to write it?

    2) What is your favorite genre to write and why?

    3)Do any of your books represent a part of your childhood of life in general?

    4) How did it occur to you to come up with the setting and characters of the series uglies?

  8. I have to a biography on an author in school. So i decided to do you but i dont have enough information. so i will write a few questions if you could please answer them….
    1) what was the name of the very first book you wrote and how long did it take you to write it?

    2) What is your favorite genre to write and why?

    3)Do any of your books represent a part of your childhood or life in general?

    4) How did it occur to you to come up with the setting and characters of the series uglies?

  9. I’ve always wanted to talk to you. To ask you why you became a author, and so much more. I am fourteen, and I go by my pin name Kamari New, even though it isn’t actually a name. I guess you could say I live in my mind, because I do. And well..I’m writing, but I can’t focus. When I write, I have to be doing three million things all at the same time and I cannot focus on just one thing, otherwise it looks like a piece of shhh-it, and I was wondering….how did you know whenever you had something good?
    How did you get the courage to get past the thirty-six page mark? Right now, I’m one word, one single word…away from thirty-seven. But I’ve been at that for a month, because I don’t have the courage to go any further, in case it’s bad. And…yeah. I wanted to know. You don’t have to answer, or even bother to read all of this. But I would really appreciate it if you did, because you’re one of my favorite authors, and one day I hope to be as good as you. Because I am here because my world was built up on having a fantasy to fall back into whenever I was hurting, or depressed, and thanks to that..I’m here. I fell in love with your books, so it’s only natural I guess that you were the first author I ever thought of asking for help. So…thanks. Even if you don’t read this all-because seriously, who would?-thanks for being a wonderful writer, and continue writing forever. It’s what makes the world round instead of pink. 🙂

  10. Are you a sports fan. Your from Dallas… so Cowboys? But you also spend lots of time in New York… Soooo Jets or Giants?

  11. What influenced your books/work? Can u tell me more about your dad working for Univarc? Any interesting childhood events? I would be pleased to hear from u soon since im doing a report on u and your books. I love the Leviathan series!

  13. I am doing a school project on my favorite author, you! I love your writing and plot, it always keeps me thinking! I wasw wondering if I could have your email? I heard it was scott@scottwesterfield.com is that true? I love writing and you are my inspiration! BTW: Tally Youngblood is pure genious! 🙂 Thanks a ton!
    p.s I promise im not one of those crazy fans who email you a million times a day. PLEASE REPLY! 🙂

  17. Doh! I was domain searching at namecheap.com and went to
    type in the domain name: http://scottwesterfeld.
    com/about-the-author/scott-facts/ and guess who already acquired it?

    You did! lol j/k. I was about to purchase this
    domain name but noticed it had been taken so I figured I’d come check it out. Great blog!

  19. Hi Scott, I am in 7th grade. I have just finished your book So Yesterday. I have read a lot of books and I thought So Yesterday was the best book I have ever read. I am doing a book report on the book Midnighters. I would be flattered if you responded to this blog post!

  22. I was wondering if you’ve ever thought of having a series after the Leviathan, Behemoth and Goliath books? Personally I think Goliath ended with too many questions unanswered. Thus I was curious if you were to make a series following Alek and Deryn in service to the zoo thingy (the department’s name is too long), or did you mean for them to have a quiet life after those few months?

  23. Wow! This page is full of stuff!!:D I love the Uglies series so much! I am reading Specials at the time! I’m sad the series is almost over for me but I can’t wait to see the ending! They should totally make Uglies movies! That would be AWESOME!!!

    ZOE-LA OUT!!!!!:D

  25. I like the helpful info you provide in your articles.
    I will bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I’m quite certain I will learn lots of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!

  26. Hiya There!
    Just wondering what were some of the good things and bad things that have happened in your life, why did you become an author, and if there were any connections with your real life and the books that you have written. It would be absolutely FABULOUS if you responded to this post. I am doing a school project (i know very cliche right ;D) and it would be a huge help if you replied. <3 Drey-La

  27. Hi Mr. Westerfeld,
    I was just wondering what your writing process is like? How much of your writing is planning, how often you re-write and edit, what helps you get over writer’s block, etc.

  29. Hi I’m working on a project and I would like to ask you some Questions. What made you decide to write (Others) in the Uglies series, didn’t you decide to just end with Specials? What are your interests? How would you describe yourself? Can you tell me a little about your life like family, background, and schooling? Why did you become a writer? What do you necessarily like to write about? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

  30. Mr. Westerfeld,
    PLEASE can you write another Leviathan book? You could call it something else, but really, Count Volger’s vow was practically screaming ‘Idea for another book! Use me!’ and since you are finished (so you think) with leviathan, and at least 99.9999999999% of your fans would adore it, there are really no excuses.

    Audrey
    P.S. you are a genius. Just putting that out there

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  37. I am such a huge fan! I am doing a project in school right now, and i am doing it on your book series Uglies! I just love your books, and I think I have met my favorite author!!!!!!!

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  39. How did you get intreested in writting and how did you come to write Young Adult Fiction?

  40. I have just read your marvoleous book leviathan for my science fiction book report. THe first thing I loved about the book is that it started with tow diffrent people and there fates collided. I think that was a great idea because we got backround info whil there was action. Also I liked all the types of languages you used.My favorite ttype was the clankers language while my favorate word was “Barking” as in barking mad.My favorate character was volger because he is a swordsman and a tactical geneus. That is why I barking loved your book.
    Sincerily,
    Sam
    P.S. Email me at sccrstr214@aol.com

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