[Darren]

I'm in the middle of a staycation, so as part of my R&R I went through another batch of books.

I do have to bring up Titanic again since it did get a mention in Pop and a few in Ungifted. I wanted to say that it was evident that you had put a lot of research into it with all the statistics about the boat, the casualties, the details surrounding the whole tragedy and the descriptions of the craft. What really clinched it for me was the lesser-known fact about the cook that survived being in the water for so long before the rescue.

Pop: Not a lot to say about this one, just a very well done story. It was timely to read an Ozzy Osbourne reference in there. You write about two of my favourite sports (football and hockey), no complaints there!

Masterminds: Like On The Run with a slight sci-fi twist. Nice callback to your NFL series when using the boomerang in a Rube Goldberg-esque physical challenge. An inventive way in exploring the nature versus nurture debate. 
I don't know if this has been pointed out before, but in the second book of the series, page 100 in paperback, there's a missing "be" in the fourth paragraph: "There's a magazine called Sports Illustrated, so somebody must a sports fan." 
I'm in the midst of watching a marathon of movies from 1960 to today (currently in 1972) so, after having watched both Love Story and What's Up, Doc? I got quite a kick out of the "being rich means never having to say you're sorry" line. And speaking of movies is this one of your works that is a possibility to be turned into one or a mini-series? It certainly lends itself to being filmed, like many of your books do. I see you as a bit of a present-day Richard Matheson that way.

In many of your books you travel through a lot of locations. I assume you've been to many of them just through book/school tours but not sure that leaves you much time to explore. Have you done a lot of traveling just for the fun of it?

Gifted series: Once again, a lot of fun. There was some elements of Don't Care High and No More Dead Dogs in there. I like how your snuck in some Queen references both with "We Are The Champions" and a character with the last name Mercury. Nice callback with Noah singing Elmer's hypotenuse song. Much like Noah, all I seem to watch is YouTube. I did prefer the first book to the second, but am excited for the third.
Hash Taggart, best name since Rootbeer Racinette. You've mentioned how character's names are important for your writing and you do have a wealth of them. There are a lot of people out there that are going to be able to find their names in one of your stories, even if my namesake was a dud.

Hi,

Thanks for the running commentary.

Re: MASTERMINDS. I'd love it if someone turned it into anything at all! It's had a lot of attention, so it may yet turn up in one form or another. 

I agree with your assessment of the "Gifted" books, and promise you many laughs in #3.

Re: traveling just for the fun of it. It's possible to do both. My work has taken me all over the world -- even to Japan for the best beef (Kobe) in the world. And all over Europe. And it's never all business. I don't travel so much any more -- mostly to Wisconsin and Pittsburgh, where two of my kids are. And T.O., of course, to visit Mom and Dad.

And I'm sorry if you think Darren Vader was a dud! I'll try to do better if there's a next time.                          -Gord

[Darren]

A few things I forgot to add in the initial post.

You have a masterful way of drawing out a mystery. I think most people enjoy a mystery, so keeping a reader engaged and not become frustrated or annoyed with a mystery while having the perfect timing for the reveal is definitely a skill and an art. Many of your works are a magical mystery tour that is waiting to take us away.

A large runaway truck about to smash into a building. Man, that feels familiar.

As for Vader, I think the last name was a tip-off that he wasn't going to be the best person around. I'm just glad that you spelled it as you did because Daren/Darrin/Daryn is just an abomination.