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Hi, Ms. Badura & 5th Grade,

Thanks for posting. I’m pleased to note that you’ve started reading my SWINDLE series. I hope the class will want to go through all 8 of the books! I promise you lots of laughs and excitement if you do!

Your questions: I actually don’t consider SWINDLE a typical mystery series. But I do believe that the trick to writing a good mystery is the successful manipulation of your audience. And that involves the slow release of details of the mystery, almost like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs that eventually lead to the conclusion. In a mystery, timing the release of information is everything.

A life-long writer? I don’t think it’s important, really. I’ve been publishing since I was 12, and that was over 40 years ago. Next year, my 100th book will be coming out, a novel called THE FORT. But an author who writes only one book is just as successful if his book is clever, and interesting, and full of information. He won’t be as savvy about the publishing industry, but he’s an author just like I am. And he offers the same thing I do — a book.

OK? Thanks again for getting in touch, Ms. B. & Class. Keep reading and laughing. And stay happy and healthy!

                                        Best regards,                                        —–Gordon Korman—–