[Lily]

Dear Gordon Korman,

      I absolutely LOVE your Masterminds series. It keeps me on the very edge of my seat. I am a 6th grader and read your books as part of my English class(bookclub). I finished the first book in less than a week, the second in a whole week, and the third in four days! I was very sad when I finished the series though. The characters are so funny, I crack up all the time. The book has a very interesting plot and I was hooked from the very beginning of the story. I am really inspired by all your hard work you put into your stories. 

      I noticed that in your Masterminds series, the events move very fast. Sometimes, if the kids are on a bus or car, you describe a little then go to the next scene(which is where they get off the vehicle). It leaves me wanting more description in that part. But the fact that it moves very fast is amazing. You probably finish these books very fast. And I’m excited to read another one of your books.

      I wish I was in the story when you describe the places. I wanted to swim in the water parks and live in Serenity. You also describe the mood of all the characters very well. They stay in character throughout the whole story. It seems so realistic when you describe how angry, sad, embarrassed, happy, relieved someone is when they hear something. Especially when they are told about how their whole life is a lie. 

 

 

Like I said, I love the Masterminds series. But would you consider making anymore of the series? If so, I have some ideas you can look at:

• The Purple People Eaters are arrested and so are the parents. The Purples are trained officers though, they should be able to escape the prison
• Felix Hammerstrom they said was dead. But what if he wasn’t? He could be hiding and trying to find where all the clones are.
• The clones that haven’t yet seen their criminal mastermind yet should see them and have an adventure.

 

You should be so proud of how many books you have accomplished!

 

Sincerely,

        A BIG fan

 

Hi, BIG FAN,

Thanks for your message and also for your support for the series. Would you believe that it  was as much fun to write as it was to read? The sheer unreality of the setting and story made it easy to plan for the kids' futures. I'm really pleased that it's been generally very well received.

I think, though, that any future adventures would have to deal with the clones' futures -- education, marriages, strengths and weaknesses they have to overcome, etc.  The clones are all out of Serenity, the Purples and the "parents" are scattered (although we assume some of them were caught and tried.)  I think MASTERMINDS is probably done.

So your ideas are good ones, but probably won't happen. Sorry.

                                         Thanks again,                                                                 -----Gordon Korman-----

[Lily]

Dear Gordon Korman,

       Thank you so much for responding!

 

 I think you’ve inspired me! Is it ok if I make a 4th MasterMinds. If so, where and how would I get it published?

   —Lily

Hi, Lily,

You may make a dozen new Masterminds if you're so inclined, but you may not publish a single word of them for the purpose of making a profit. That would be an infringement of an existing copyright. Sorry. No one can use those characters, that setting, or that story. It's copyrighted to me. That's just the way the copyright laws work.

Sorry to disappoint you.                                                                                                         ---GK---

[Lily]

Gordon Korman,

    Ok, I understand. I won’t do that. Glad I had a chance to contact you though.

—Lily