[Emily Fox]

Hello Mr. Korman,

 

May I start off by saying that I absolutely love your middle grade novel The Twinkie Squad. I discovered it while I was in middle school. I am now 17 and it still has a special place in my heart as one of my favorite children\'s books. It\'s an oldie but a goodie. Personally, I think a movie adaptation, if done correctly, would be wonderful.

However, I know you\'re not here to listen to a high school senior rave about a book for middle schoolers (which sounds slightly peculiar to begin with, I know). So, I\'ll get to the point. I was mind-boggled when I discovered through your website the vast volume of works you\'ve written since The Twinkie Squad. 80 books are quite a feat! (Then again, it likely comes naturally to you as I can tell writing is a profession you greatly love.) I was also impressed that you published your first book at the age of 12. It made me wish I had published my work earlier.

That brings me to the second (or, rather, real) reason for writing you-I would love some advice. I have been writing stories since elementary school, though, I\'ve only finished two, with a few more left unfinished. One was a Star Wars fanfiction that I am currently 69 pages deep into re-writing. I have written a handful of short stories as well. I also write poetry. In fact, I have created a poetry chapbook that I hope to publish and am currently waiting to hear the results of the first poetry competition I have ever entered (The Letter Review Prize for Poetry). At the present, I am writing a novel for middle schoolers that I actually started (briefly) while I was in 5th or 6th grade entitled On Holiday. The style is akin to Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (wonderful book, I must say). Since there would hopefully be no copyright infringement involved as there would have been in my Star Wars fanfiction (as a result I can\'t publish that one) I have hopes that, should I finally complete it, there may be a chance that I could publish it. Oh yes, I also have an original graphic novel in the works. As you can tell, I am all over the place, creatively speaking.

The point of this very long (and perhaps boring) message is that I would love any advice you may have for a high school writer like myself hoping to publish her first book (or books, who knows). From reading your now dated bio in the back of my copy of The Twinkie Squad, I can tell you have experience with that sort of thing. I love the dimension you gave to Commando, Doug, Yolanda, Mr. Rivera, etc. The humor you incorporated into that early novel of yours was masterful. I don\'t plan on becoming a career writer, this is just one of my many artistic hobbies. I have plans to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, however I would love to make my mark on the literary world all the same.

Thank you for your time.

-EF

[Jade]

Hi! I’m not Gord. I just wanted to say what you’re doing is awesome and that I am (almost) the same age as you! I’m 16, and I turn 17 tomorrow (woah?). I’m a highschool junior. I’ve been blowing up the Forum with messages since I was 13-years-old, talking about how much I love Gord’s books along with so much other random stuff. I’m sure he’d love to hear you talk about them too!

 

Be blessed,

Jade

Hi, EF,

Well, you ladies don't need me, do you! But I'll check in anyway.

Jade is right. You are doing everything right -- read a lot, write a lot, from poems to grocery lists to letters, and short or long stories. Just do what you're doing. You will very likely come up with something one day that will ring your bell -- "Hey, that's pretty good stuff!" Then you will write a covering letter, parcel it up and send it to a publisher. That's the day I promise to write you a fan letter.

Do we have a deal?                                                                           -----Gordon Korman-----

P.S. You can get a book on writers' markets from your public library. Find a publisher in there that you might think is looking for the kind of material you write. There's no trick to it, other than to just do it! Good luck!

[Emily Fox]

Deal! 😁

Thank you, Mr. Korman. I really appreciate it.

-EF

[Emily Fox]

Jade,

Thank you so much for your sweet reply! Glad to know I'm not the only one : )

Happy birthday! Welcome to the 17 club 😊

-EF