[Chad]

I simply love your books! I think I have over 10 on hold at the library right now, but I have a couple questions:

1. Do you ever get tired of people saying,"I have an idea for [book]," and then telling you something that probably isn't going to happen, and have you ever used them?

2. How many books are you working on currently?

3. How much time do you spend from each day working on your books(approximately)?

Sorry to disturb you!

-Chad

Hi, Chad,

Thanks for posting and for your support for my work.

Your questions:

1. I never get tired of people who pitch their story ideas, but I can't recall ever using one of them. Storytelling is a very personal thing -- it should come from the storyteller.

2. I always work on one at a time. The number of books out there represents over 40 years of writing. So it just looks like I've got a manuscript going in each hand, and each foot at one time.

3. I try to put in a normal workday so that I'm not working when my friends and family are off and vice versa. So while it's not exactly 9 to 5, it can be close. At the end of a book, when the story is coming together and it's all downhill, I sometimes put in overtime.

OK? Thanks for your interest. Hope you enjoy the books you have lined up!                            ----Gordon Korman----

[Bella]

Hi. 

My name is Bella. I\\\'ve read most of your books and there AMAZING! Thought I have to say Masterminds and the Titanic series are my favorites. I do have a couple questions though.  

1. How do plan out your books? I\\\'ve heard some people say that they plan out the story from the end to the beginning. Is that how you do it? 

2. Your stories have a lot of plot twists, and your characters always do crazy and creative things to get out of trouble. How do you think of those ideas?

Sorry my questions might be a little confusing.

-Bella

Hi, Bella,

Thanks for posting. I'm pleased to hear that you're such a big fan.

Your questions: I plan a complete story before I ever start writing it down. Then, when I have it the way I want it, I start at the beginning and work towards the big climax of the story, followed by the end. I find planning is the most important part of the work. When you know exactly what you want to say, it comes to you easily. As for the plot twists, I'm glad you find them creative and even a little crazy! The ideas come from plain old hard work, and a lot of (that word again!) planning. No big mystery. It's just work.

OK? If there's anything else, you know where to find me -- right here!                                    -----Gordon Korman-----

[Mylo Reed]

Hi my name is Mylo Reed and I am a 6th grade student at Gull Lake middle school and my friends and I really enjoy your books and we were wondering if we could have permission to make your book The Fort into a graphic novel to engage more young adolescents to read.

 

 

                                                   if you could please email me back with my parents email address because my school technology administrators wont let me email anyone outside of my school district -sincearly Mylo

 

Hi, Mylo,

Your parents' email address (and that of all the people who post on the website) doesn't come through to me, so I can't reply anyplace but here. Sorry.

Re: your request. THE FORT is a copyrighted book and, as such, can't be used by anyone else as a commercial project. So turning it into a graphic novel for sale would not be allowed. If you wanted to do it as a fun project perhaps for school, that would be fine, but I imagine that's not quite what you had in mind.  Again, sorry.

                                                                                                                       -----Gordon Korman-----