[Sunrise Book Club]

Dear Mr. Korman,

We are the Sunrise Book Club in Richmond, MO. There are 8 of us 5th graders. We have just finished reading Linked and  we loved it. We were a little surprised to find out "who did it". We have some questions for you. 

1. As you wrote the story, did it developed along the way or did you have a plan for the ending of this story?

2. We looked up the paperclips story from TN. Did you use any names from that true story in your story? Was there a specific part of the TN story that inspired you to write Linked. 

3. Did you ever think about spelling Lincoln's name - Linkin? Also what religion was Lincoln before he figured out he was Jewish? Just curious, are you Jewish? None of us are. 

4. What character in the story did you like or connect with the most? We are a mixed group . Some of us connected with Michael, Dana, Jordie, and/or Caroline. 

5. How long did the writing and publishing process take for Linked?

6. Out of all the books you have written, which one did you enjoy writing the most? Which was the hardest to write?

7. Have you ever used people in your life in your stories?

We really enjoyed this book and hope that it wins the Mark Twain Award !

Sincerely,

5th Grade Book Club

(Mrs. Crook, Maci, Anna, Jillian, Jahred, Jaliyah, Ava, Kate and Brightyn)

Hi, 5th Grade Sunrise Book Club -- Mrs. Crook, Maci, Anna, Jillian, Jahred, Jaliyah, Ava, Kate, & Brightyn,

Thanks for posting. I'm so pleased that LINKED was a hit with the class! I'll try to answer all your questions.

1. No story ever develops along the way. I plan very thoroughly before I ever write a single word. Simply put, I plan the ending, and then write towards it.

2. I didn't knowingly use any names that matched the Tennessee school people. The thing that impressed me the most was the fact that all their activities took place because they were having trouble visualizing the number 6,000,000. In terms of lives, it seemed an overwhelming number to me too.

3. I never thought of any name other than Lincoln, or Linc for short. I never specifically named the family's religion, but I considered that they were probably members of a Protestant church. My family is Jewish, which is why I was so familiar with studying for a Bar Mitzvah!

4, I don't know that I "connected" with anyone, but perhaps it was Dana, because she was the only Jewish person in the whole school. (Until Linc decided he was Jewish too!)

5. It took about 8 months to complete the manuscript until I felt it was ready for my editor.Then he made some requests, and I polished it up, which took another 6 or 8 weeks. So it was the better part of a year, really.

6. LINKED was the hardest. It's just as hard to pick a favorite among my books as it is amog my 3 children! I really am proud of the 3 books in the MASTERMINDS series. And a lot of reviewers say that my Book #100, THE  FORT, is perhaps an example of my best work.

7. Sometimes a trait, or a phrase of someone I know, even myself, makes it into one of my books. But my stuff is basically fiction, which means I make it all up.

Thanks for your good wishes for LINKED and the Mark Twain Award. It has won quite a few awards so far, but that one would really be great!

Thanks, people. I hope you'll go on to read more of my work.               -----Gordon Korman-----

 

[Lincoln Rowley]

Gordon,

Hi my name is Lincoln Rowley.  I was a mischievous Middle School jock, who grew up in a town with a large Jewish population where we DID in fact have AntiSemitic incidents including Swastikas spray painted on various people's houses and public spaces.

Wanted to send you some love from your character Doppleganger and let you know that it all works out by Act 3.  :)

Wishing you all the best,

Lincoln

Really and truly? If so, please let me know when we get toAct 3!                                      -----GK-----