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1828 entries.
CJ Cruz wrote on February 20, 2022 at 6:13 AM
Hi Peter! I'm not sure if you still respond to entries here, but my name is CJ and I'm from the Philippines. I read the Seven Wonders books as they came out when I was younger, and now I'm in college and rereading them to get back into reading books after taking a break for a few years! I think I found a new appreciation for the series now that I'm a bit older with a new perspective. I also wanted to ask, since I just found out you majored in biochemistry, how did you manage to go from there to being a writer? I'm also studying towards a STEM degree but I'm interested in writing as well, so do you have any advice?
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi, CJ! I’m really honored that you’ve decided to reread the Seven Wonders series after all this time. I hope it continues to live up to your expectations! 😉 I have warm memories of my two visits to the Philippines and hope to return someday. Yes, I earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. I loved the sciences and I still do. In a way, I found studying them to be a dramatic experience, in the way they probe the mysteries of human life and methodically reach solutions. I never wanted to be a doctor, though, and I discovered in college that research was also something I didn’t think I was suited for. But I was lucky enough to have taken AP courses in high school, and I managed to finish most of my requirements within the first two years. During the last two years I explored literature and music and considered other possibilities for careers, but I became even more confused. I considered law school. But a good friend who was a law student recommended that I work in the field first, to see what it was like. I got a job as a paralegal in a law firm in New York, took the LSATs, applied to law school, and was accepted. I even sent in a deposit to reserve my spot in the class. But during that year while I was working, I finally admitted to myself I’d been aching all my life to do the creative things that had always been a passion of mine: performing and writing. I decided that I’d be miserable if I didn’t at least try. So I contacted the law school and deferred my admission for a year, giving myself a challenge: 12 months to try to follow my dreams, and if they didn’t look like they would work out, I would go to law school. It was nice to have that in my back pocket as insurance, and also useful to have a ticking clock. I promised I would work like crazy and learn to recognize the writing on the wall. As it turned out, within those 12 months I was hired to tour with a Broadway show as a singer/actor. I worked happily in that field for many years, and between acting jobs I worked as a copyeditor for publishing companies. The copyediting work led to writing projects. I had made inroads into three careers: theater, editing, and writing. Eventually I realized I needed to make a decision to really devote myself to one thing, and I threw my eggs into the writing basket. I’ve found it very fulfilling, but it was a long road to get there.

If you told me in college that I would have spent my adult life as an author for young people, writing so many books and giving presentations all over the world, I would not have believed it. So my advice to you is to work like crazy and explore EVERYTHING you dream of doing (especially while you’re young, because it gets much harder to do as you get older). Seek mentors and be open to their guidance. Make sure you have something that pays your bills, even if it’s not exactly what you dream of doing. And know that with enough energy, dedication, and commitment to craft, you can do more than one thing with your professional life — and you may end up in an unexpected and delightful place. It’s up to you to figure out the path that’s right for yourself. Trust that path, be open to wherever it leads, and always be sure to the writing on the wall!
Ariel wrote on October 23, 2021 at 7:50 PM
I grew up reading your books, and I'm in college now using your books as a supporting material for creating lessons for ELA to meet 3rd grade standards. I guess I want to say thank you for your stories, and for having a lasting impact on my life.
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi, Ariel! Please do not let the tardiness of this response diminish the gratitude I feel for your message! Wow, that is just about the best thing a writer can hear. I am delighted and honored, and thank you so much for your kind words, and for letting me know.
Hayley Schneider wrote on October 22, 2021 at 12:26 PM
I am a fifth grade teacher and I was searching for books at a particular reading level that would interest a book club group of boys in my classroom. I really liked the description of the Spy X books and want to purchase 6 of The Code. I cannot find them anywhere. I tried BN and Amazon. There is only 1 available on Amazon. Can you please help me? Thank you.
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hello, Ms. Schneider! So sorry to have taken so long to respond. If you are still interested in those copies of The Code, please send an email to peter@peterlerangis.com with a mailing address for the books and we can discuss details! Thanks for your interest!
Erika wrote on August 17, 2021 at 7:38 PM
Hello Peter,
How are you doing? I read the seven wonders series years back and really enjoyed it..still wish there were more books ? but I had a random thought pop into my head the other day. I was wondering where the idea for the Lambda symbol on the back of the kid's heads came from. I like that symbol, I know its the greek symbol for the letter L. Is that part of the connection to the loculi? Just wondering.
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi, Erika! Yes, ding ding ding, you got the connection!! So sorry it took so long for me to respond to your message. I’m so happy you enjoyed the series!
Vasco Silva wrote on July 30, 2021 at 9:52 AM
Hi Peter! I have noticed that the entries here stopped a few months ago so I hope the website is not deactivated. I am from Portugal and I loved your books about the 7 wonders! I would like to write a book one day and there is something that I have always have doubts. When you start writing a book do you already have kind of a plan or you just start writing and the ideas just come up while you write? And with a complete book series do you already know what you will write in each book? Thank you for the attention
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hello, Vasco! You’re right, I did neglect this Guestbook for quite some time. I guess I’ve been taking a little sabbatical during CoVid. And yes, I do plan out each book in advance. I figure out who the characters will be and then I put them in impossible situations and see what happens. But I don’t write the book right away; I make a rough description of what happens at the beginning, middle, and end of the story. It's usually 10 or so pages long. I call it an outline, but it's really a basic plan of where the plot is going — nothing fancy, just basically this-happens-and-then-that-happens, etc. This helps me to think the book through before I start writing. That way, I know where I’m heading. I know the ending I am reaching toward. It gives me confidence. If I didn’t think the story through, I think I would be too confused and defeated! 🙂 And yes, when I write a series, I try to plan the series out too.

That said, once I actually DO start writing, I will almost always change the outline, because I always think of better plot twists, funnier moments, interesting things for the characters to do once I get to know them better, etc. But just the act of creating that outline really helps!
Doris Chou wrote on June 8, 2021 at 7:30 AM
Hello, Mr. Lerangis
My name is Doris and I am from Taiwan. Thank you so much for writing the 39 clues series. I enjoyed them very much. I like them because the books are interesting and full of action. I even introduced the books to my friends and they like it as well. Thank you~~
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hello, Doris! Well, thank you so much for writing. I really appreciate your taking the time to tell me how much you enjoyed the 39 Clues series. Sometimes I’m astounded by how many years have gone by since those books were published, and yet so many are reading them! Please accept my apologies for taking this long to get back to you!
Ethan wrote on June 1, 2021 at 11:54 AM
Dear, Peter Lerangis

My class is doing an author study on our favorite authors, so I chose you! I loved your work on book 3 of the 39 Clues, and I want to start reading The 7 Wonders. You are my favorite author ever, and I also want to read Cahills vs Vespers, probably just to read more of your books! I picked you because I thought that you detailed everything perfectly, and that helped me create the image in my mind! You are really good at making the book good, and I didn't want to finish The Sword Thief., because it was so good! Right now I am reading book 4 of 39 Clues, and I was wondering if you and the other authors of the 39 Clues books are friends? I also am really excited to read the Cahills vs Vespers series, but I don't have any of those books, so I'm going to look for some!

-Ethan, IL
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi, Ethan! Oh man, I’m so sorry to have let this Guestbook go by for so long, and by now you are in a completely different school year! Thanks for your kind words about the 39 Clues, it really made me happy to read them. And yes, all of the authors are good friends. The series really brought us together, even though some of us live far from one another!
Kaichiro Moore wrote on May 13, 2021 at 9:04 PM
Hello Mr. Lerangis, I just finished the last of the Seven Wonders books, but would there be a few more stories left? I know the series finished 5 years ago, but how about the plot lines and side stories? Would there be anything between Jack and Aly as well as the rest of the main characters? The open-ended conclusion left me (well) open-ended. Typically, I can fill in the holes of this and that, but for this story, the ending feels like whatever I make from my imagination is wrong. May you give me some in-continuity info of where the ending may lead off too, please?

Thanks, Kaichiro.

P.S., I'm 15 so I don't know if being in the wrong target demographic may do something with me not knowing the ending.
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi, Kaichiro! On the contrary, I think whatever your imagination fills in is correct! There are several ways the ending may lead off. I like open-ended stories for that reason. An entire new series could be written about the After, or altered, history, and that series would be completely different for different writers. I’m truly sorry if that’s not an answer that satisfies you, but I do hope you enjoyed the series. And I apologize for having neglected this Guestbook for so long!! 😮
Luke wrote on May 10, 2021 at 9:47 PM
Mr. Lerangis:

Hello, my name is Luke. I am the host of the Hardy Boys Unofficial Fan Podcast.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hardy-boys-unofficial-fan-podcast/id1547513566?uo=4

I am starting a new series on the Hardy Boys Casefiles spinoffs. Would you be interested in doing an interview about your experience ghostwriting for the series?

Thanks,
Luke
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi, Luke! I can’t believe it’s been so long since you wrote, and my deep apologies! Honestly, I wrote for the Hardy Boys so long ago I don’t really remember much about the experience, so I’m not sure how much I’d be able to contribute. By now I hope you have managed to reach some people who were involved and could help you!
Monica Martinson wrote on April 17, 2021 at 12:08 PM
I grew up with the three investigators and consider that the series ended especially so abruptly with books in action to be the worst crime of them all, to tell readers "upcoming titles" and never give them talk about a cliff-hanger to put hitchcock himself to shame. I see the unfinished #44 ghost train is available now and ordered a copy. I do hope someday preferably in the near future "brain wash" and "high strung" will be released i hear they have them in german but can find copies, heck id learn german just to be able to read them i want to thank you for your contribution to the series.
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi Monica! Thank you so much. I was disappointed Brain Wash was never published in the U.S., when Random House pulled the plug on the series unexpectedly. It wasn’t until nearly two decades later that Franckh-Kosmos in Germany got the rights to the series. They actually flew out the writers of the series to Stuttgart to celebrate, and it was there that they asked us about Brain Wash and High Strung. We had to find our old manuscripts and beat them into shape! But so far, no English-language publisher has been interested in acquiring the rights, sorry to say.
Stella Shabram wrote on April 16, 2021 at 11:19 AM
What is you fav. series and you fav. book from that series? Also I love your books!
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi Stella! I think my favorite book was maybe the last book of the Seven Wonders series (book 5, Legend of the Rift)—mainly because I was working on the series for so many years and I was so happy to see the WHOLE THING!!! But honestly, my favorite series as a whole was probably Throwback. I always wanted to write a time travel series, and I think it’s both dramatic and funny.
Alaina wrote on April 16, 2021 at 11:15 AM
Your books are really really good.
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Thanks very much, Alaina! I appreciate the kind words and I’m really happy you like the books.
Kash????? wrote on April 16, 2021 at 11:12 AM
Hi?I’m Kash I’m just saying that you are so funny ? and you sound like Billy Madison!Also you sound like dark Vader and SpongeBob!?????????That,s all. By!!?
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hahaha! Thanks, Kash! Much appreciated. It was really fun being with you all!
Gavin wrote on April 16, 2021 at 11:12 AM
How many of the 39 clues books have you wrote?
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi, Gavin! I wrote two of the books in the original 39 Clues series, books 3 (The Sword Thief) and 7 (The Viper’s Nest). I wrote some of Book 11, Vespers Rising, which had four parts, each by a different author. And I wrote Book 3 of the sequel series, Cahills v Vespers. (That book was called The Dead of Night.)
Mrs. Elliott's 2nd Grade Class wrote on April 16, 2021 at 11:09 AM
Thank you for writing all of your amazing books, and for visiting our school today! Our favorite parts were: the subway pictures, your stories, the baby picture, and showing your writing drafts! We can't wait to read more of your books!
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Thanks to all the awesome kids is Mrs. Elliott's class! You were all so bright and welcoming. Thank you for listening and participating so beautifully. Keep reading, keep adventuring, and I hope to see you all again someday.(And oh boy, will I ever live down that baby picture???) ?
Alaina wrote on April 16, 2021 at 11:08 AM
Thank you for coming to our school you are super funny and your books are awesome too.
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Thank YOU for the nice words. It was really my pleasure. Keep reading and enjoy the fact that you’re all back in that wonderful school!
Isabella wrote on April 16, 2021 at 11:07 AM
Do you make movies into books?
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi Isabella! Having my books made into movies is something I really dream about. Some movie companies have expressed interest in doing that, but nothing definite so far. I keep hoping!
Abiram Yadlapalli wrote on March 8, 2021 at 7:03 PM
Hi! I love the 39 Clues books, and I am planning on reading the Seven Wonders series after that. I’ve been meaning to ask about the 39 Clues website. Did you have any say/power over the website, and do you know what happened to it? I know it got taken down, but I’d like to know why. I was also wondering if people can remake the website and submit to any of the authors and/or Scholastic?
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi Abiram! I just checked, and the site is now here. Hope this helps!
Tracy Bush wrote on March 1, 2021 at 5:55 PM
Hello to you firstly ?and thank you for being in reach and welcoming those ??
I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of a good company or ghost writer if you don’t have the time to take on any new projects

Love to all
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi Tracy! Sorry, I don’t do ghostwriting projects, and I’m not in touch with writers who take on this sort of work. Wish I could help, and good luck to you!
Grey Brickner wrote on November 30, 2020 at 4:05 PM
Hello,

So about three years ago my partner Jess lost a great deal when their dad was unable to pay the bills on their storage unit. All their stuff has long since been auctioned off and theres no way to track any of it down (ive tried lol). Among these lost items, the thing they regret loosing the most is their series of ‘spy x’ which was signed and included a little note from you saying something like ‘thanks for reading my books’. They say their mom was looking for the series online when they were a kid and got into contact with you.

So my hefty request here is, would it be possible to have you sign the books (i’ll buy them of course and pay you for the trouble) and if you can write a little note for them?? I know this is probably asking for a lot but I think it’d mean a lot to them. I love them a lot and their happiness means the world to me so I thought I’d at least ask. Thanks for your time!
Admin Reply by: peterlerangis
Hi Grey! Deepest apologies. I’m only now getting back to messages left during the pandemic. Yes, of course I can help you. Please write me back at info@peterlerangis.com and let me know where to mail them, and how you would like them inscribed. The books are long out of print, but I do have copies of books 1–3 (not sure I have book 4, but I’ll check). I’m happy the books meant so much. I’m sorry about what happened with the storage unit, and I look forward to hearing from you.