[Jade]

I don't know if you'll see this. But can you ask Raymond Jardine if he's a real person? Or is he a robot? Is he real? Seriously.

 

Be blessed,

Jade

[Gordon Korman]

You hear that, Raymond?

Yes, Jade, there is a Raymond Jardine.

"Raymond Jardine" is the name of the main character in my Y/A novel A SEMESTER IN THE LIFE OF A GARBAGE BAG. 

Raymond Jardine is also the name chosen by a self-described fan of my books. His support for my work and for me personally is something I find it difficult to explain, except to say that I'm eternally grateful for it. I think it's possible that I don't express that enough, but I am.

He also happens to be someone I don't know. But I can tell you that he is real.                                   -----GK-----

[Raymond Jardine]

Hi, Jade. I know we've interacted a bit on here, and I've really enjoyed your enthusiasm. I check the Forum pretty frequently and you've helped make it more active than I've ever seen! I even linked to your fan video from my Twitter account!: https://twitter.com/Theamelpos/status/1542133935550787584

I enjoy being part of the Gordon Korman fandom (duh!) but I also like to stay private. (I'd guess that someone as well-known as Gordon Korman understands that... Gordon is so great about interacting with his readers, but as fun as it must be to enjoy some celebrity, it's also got to be exhausting.) As Gordon said, I picked one of my favorite characters as my online persona. I chime in here occasionally as well as on Twitter. Sometimes I share news I've seen related to GRK... sometimes I opine about his books or characters... sometimes I just let myself enjoy being part of a community of great fellow fans.

If you want to hear my voice to know I'm really real, I was recently on an episode of The Zucchini Warriors Podcast: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-zucchini/a-semester-in-the-life-of-a-Oj-HoDqdrX8/ . If you don't know about the podcast, it's where two other super-fans are running through all of the Korman classics, book by book, and they are so.much.fun to listen to!

Glad to "meet" you and I hope we get more opportunities to trade notes here on the Forum!

[Jade]

To Gord: I didn't know that, and that's cool. I will definitely read that book! About Raymond Jardine, the fan, that is really sweet. I'm shocked you don't know him IRL. I thought he worked for you!

To Raymond Jardine: Hi, thank you! I check it frequently too. I'm glad I helped make it more active, enough to hit a record! I saw your post; thanks so much, I literally stare at it everyday. I even made an account solely to like your post! But I'm not supposed to have Twitter, so... don't tell my mom that. Pretty please!

I love being in the fandom too! I understand valuing privacy. It's very important especially on the internet. I just didn't know if you actually existed; I thought you were an employee at first, and then I realized you weren't one, and I've actually never seen a fan as invested as you before, (not even me!), so I thought you were a robot. It's a shock to know you're a real human being just like me. And that's so true! Being a celebrity must be hard. I, personally, probably wouldn't be able to handle one of mes, especially as a fan, so it's something venerable that Gord can. Kudos! It's cool how you picked that. 'Raymond Jardine' is a really cool name and he must be a great character too. I read a lot of your tweets! You're solid. 

That's super cool. I didn't know that podcast existed! Thanks for telling me about it, I think I've heard of it before. 

Glad to "meet" you as well, and same!

 

Be blessed to the both of you,

Jade

[Gordon Korman]

Hey, don't mind me! I just live here. Sort of!

VERY pumped that two of my favorite people now know each other.                                  -----Gord-----

[Jade]

LOL! During school, I live here too. I mean it. I check the Forum literally every other hour if I can, during class. If I wasn't checking it, I would be trying to make up a good reason to make another post.

Gord, considering you're my favorite person in the entire universe, you have no idea what it means to me to be one of your favorite people. Literally the biggest compliment I've ever gotten. I've gotten so many compliments too. I'm very pumped too! Raymond Jardine (the person) has been something of a legend to me. 

By the way, I don't know why I didn't tell you happy independence day on the first, since I know you grew up in Canada, but since you're Canadian-American, happy independence day today as well. So, happy belated independence day! (Plus happy independence day, to any American reading this!)

Bye bye!

Be blessed,

Jade

(P.S. I might not sound enthusiastic because I literally just woke up. My eyes are blurring from looking from this screen, as I literally looked up this page as soon as I opened my eyes from sleep.)

[Jade]

My eyesight is blurring. My eyes are not blurring. That would be terrifying. I would have eyeball soup in my face.

[Gordon Korman]

To Jade,

 

Happy First and Happy Fourth! I get the best of both worlds!                -----GK-----

[Jade]

Hi, here are some questions for no particular reason. I don't mind if you don't answer them but it'd be cool if you did.

 

I know you started your writing because of your English/PE Teacher in 7th grade. But why? Considering you were allowed to write anything you wanted, why'd you write a book?

What character do you relate to the very most throughout all of your books?

Are any of your characters "self-inserts"? Are any of your characters based off of real people?

I know you don't have real "favorite" books, but which book has the most interesting plot in your opinion?

Which book was the most fun to plot/outline?

Which of your books is the funniest to you?

Which of your books has the most outlandish plot to you?

Did you ever consider using a pen name?

What's the hardest part of the writing and outlining process to you?

Of all of your books, which was the hardest scene/chapter/segment to write?

What's the most fun part of writing (any of your books) to you?

Do you make your book titles? If so, how do you come up with these names?

 

That's all the questions because you probably don't want to answer a billion. I tried to ask questions that you haven't already answered/been asked on here. Good day, Gord!

Be blessed,

Jade

(P.S.) I hope this works. I tried three times.

[Gordon Korman]

You mean you kept it short? Oh, my! I'll do my best, Jade.

1. Mr. Hamilton specifically said w were going to write "a novel". I knew that meant a book, so that's what I tried to write.

2. You may not know this character -- he's from the early series THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING AT MACDONALD HALL. The character I relate to the most is Boots. He's the observer, the cautious one, the guy who worries about getting caught.

3. My characters may have bits and pieces of real people, but they're basically all fictional.

4. Most interesting plot? Probably the MASTERMINDS series. Or THE HYPNOTISTS.

5. THE FORT was the most fun to plot, because it had the least detail plotted ahead when I started the actual writing. And the movies and music they discovered in the fort was actually part of my youthful favorites way back when.

6. The funniest. Probably one of the earlier ones, like THE CHICKEN DOESN'T SKATE or THE TOILET PAPER TIGERS, both re-issued in a single volume as GAME ON.

7. You can't get more outlandish than the NOSEPICKERS FROM OUTER SPACE series. It was really fun to write because "anything goes."

8. I never considered using a pen name. Hey, if I did that, people wouldn't know it's me!

9. The hardest part of outlining is coming up with believable events that move the story along to a satisfactory end. As for the hardest part of writing, I don't think there is one, if you plan thoroughly.

10. Of all my books, the hardest scene, etc. to write was the ending of the MASTERMINDS series. I didn't want the kids to appear to be just normal folks, but I also wanted to give them a chance at ordinary happy lives. It was tough.

11. I wouldn't say any of it is actual fun. It can be very frustrating, and it can be satisfying when it goes the way you wanted and expected it to go.

12. I don't come up with all the titles. My editors do that, assisted by their editorial and sales people. They're the ones who understand what's currently of interest -- in short, what sells.

And if that doesn't keep you satisfied at least for a little while, I don't know what will!

Thanks Jade.                                                                                      -----Gordon Korman-----

 

[Emily (Jade’s Friend)]

Hey Gordon, I’m Jade’s hostage! I like writing and I’ve read 0% of your books but Jade said I should read some, if not all. (Because I have too much free time because I’m a minor and can’t get a job)

Which out of your 100 amazing novels should I start off with?

☆ Emily ☆ 

[Gordon Korman]

Hi,Emily. I'm confused. Are you the Five Spiders person too?

I have no idea what you like to read. But I know Jade has the MASTERMINDS series. Start with that. You're allowed to hate it, but I don't think you  will.                                                                             -----GK-----

[Emily (Jade’s Friend)]

Yes I am! I didn’t really know what to say, so I read a few other reader comments (or whatever you call it) and saw there were a lot unintentional funny ones. So I just typed about random stuff because, like I said before, I’ve never contacted my favorite authors before. It really is a cool opportunity to seek advice from the people you look up to, and even if I haven’t read one of your stories yet, I’ve heard plenty of positive things about you from Jade. In regards to what I like to read, I enjoy fantasy, action, and mysteries the most. Some series that I have previously read is Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger, and of course Harry Potter by J.K Rowling. I’ve read a few others too, but those are the main ones. I can’t believe you answer to the most random comments from fans! If my favorite authors and singers had a website like this I would probably spam them so much that they would abandon their website.

[Jade]

Happy Canadian independence day! May you play very dangerous hockey and enjoy maple syrup. Sorry, that’s all I know about Canada. You’re not from the French part, are you? I’d be surprisrd if you’re Quebecois. 

Be blessed,

Jade

[Gordon Korman]

Hi, Jade,

Thanks for the good wishes. The French part? Je suis ne a Montreal, et je parle francais, main pas tres courrament.

... which says I was born in Montreal, and I speak French, but not very fluently.

Use it or lose it. I haven't been a Quebecois for many years, but yes, I come from the French "part." La Belle Province.

                                                                                                                              -----GK-----

P.S. And a happy 4th of July to you ad yours!

[Gordon Korman]

Hi again, Jade,

That's MAIS. Told you I was losing my French (actually, it was just a typo. I do a lot of those.        --G--

[Jade]

". I would have eyeball soup in my face."

Love you past Jade.

And also, so cool! So I guess I know two Quebecois? Or... two people from the French part. That's quite cool. Fortunately for you, I don't speak a lick (okay, maybe a little lick) of French. Je suis beaucoup papillion. J'ai Dios e j'mappelle baguette.

Okay, I'm playing a little bit, but all I really know is "a lot", "God", "butterfly", "mommy", and "hi". Comen ce va?

Anyways

Be blessed,

Jade

pero yo puedo hablar en Espanol!! me encanta espanol y quiero hacer la clase AP Este ano. lo siento para no uso accentos pero no Tengo El tiempo o los medios. gracias, Gord. feliz dia!!