READER’S FORUM

March 3, 2026 at 04:43 am Reply

Auggie (from her teacher, Annie Shea)

Dear Mr. Gordon Korman,

My name is Auggie and I am a grade 3 student at ISM.

I am a big fan of your books. Hopefully you continue to keep writing lots more books!

I have read the Masterminds series, Gifted, Ungifted, Notorious, Slacker, Level 13 and I am in the middle of reading Unplugged.

(Question 1): What do you get inspired by? (specifically for Unplugged)

(Question 2): What is your favorite book that you wrote?

(Question 3): How long do you take to (or where) to think of a book?

(Question 4): Why do you always use chapters where you switch perspectives?

Hope that you reply and that you liked my letter!

Thanks for reading!

From Auggie
March 3, 2026 at 06:53 pm Reply

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Hi, Auggie,

Thanks for posting. I'm pleased to hear that my books have been making a hit with you. I'll try to answer all your questions.

1. Most authors don't requre what you call "inspiration," Auggie. We write because we have something to say, a story to tell. That's just about all it takes to start us scribbling!

2. I honestly have no favorite among my book (all 107 of them!) but I admit to being very proud of the MASTERMINDS series, and of THE FORT, which was my 100th book.

3. It takes several weeks to plan out a story. I have a few people I discuss my thoughts with, and I even get an idea or two from others. But basically, story plotting is a lonely business, done in private. I never start to write unless I have a detailed idea of story, setting, and characters.

4. I change chapters when I change narrators so the narrative will make sense to the reader. You have to know who's talking to be able to understand his point of view, right?

And yes, I liked your letter a lot! You must be a very good reader to be able to read Middle Grade novels as a 3rd grader!

Best regards, -----Gordon Korman-----
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Hi, Auggie,

Thanks for posting. I'm pleased to hear that my books have been making a hit with you. I'll try to answer all your questions.

1. Most authors don't requre what you call "inspiration," Auggie. We write because we have something to say, a story to tell. That's just about all it takes to start us scribbling!

2. I honestly have no favorite among my book (all 107 of them!) but I admit to being very proud of the MASTERMINDS series, and of THE FORT, which was my 100th book.

3. It takes several weeks to plan out a story. I have a few people I discuss my thoughts with, and I even get an idea or two from others. But basically, story plotting is a lonely business, done in private. I never start to write unless I have a detailed idea of story, setting, and characters.

4. I change chapters when I change narrators so the narrative will make sense to the reader. You have to know who's talking to be able to understand his point of view, right?

And yes, I liked your letter a lot! You must be a very good reader to be able to read Middle Grade novels as a 3rd grader!

Best regards, -----Gordon Korman-----