Scott Westerfeld first noticed Justine Larbalestier at a literary award ceremony where she was wearing a dress made from upcycled material and talking to an older man. A mutual acquaintance introduced them, explaining that Larbalestier was an Australian academic researching the history of publishing.
In 2001, days after the September 11 attacks on New York City, Westerfeld flew from the city to Sydney to see Larbalestier. The pair navigated the crisis together as Westerfeld made the trip in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.
