Hi, David,
Great question. Interesting dilemma. My Mom signed the contract, but couldn’t write the book; I could write the book (and a lot of others too!) but I was underage and couldn’t sign the contract. So it was a matter of faith on both sides.
I was 12, and I remember the experience only dimly, but I’m told I had a remarkable sense of the business end of things. It didn’t scare me. That was because the people at Scholastic in Canada at the time were the kindest and most decent group you can imagine. I never had the feeling that I was getting in over my head, or that something was being put over on me. They were super, and I’ll always be grateful to them for their patience and understanding, as well as their straight shooting.
As for being a child, I had a Mom and Dad and 7th grade to remind me of who I was. But being a published author was something I wanted more than anything else. I was thrilled!
I had the best of both worlds, and look back over these 40 years and think of my start as positive in every way.
And thanks for asking.
Best regards,
—-Gordon Korman—-