Guestbook « Peter Lerangis

Venus Puzzle wrote on June 28, 2014 at 8:16 PM

frankly wtf is one cool book. I discovered it by coincidence when I travelled US. good book of good writer.

Admin Reply:

Thanks so much, Venus! That book was fun to write.

Truman wrote on June 27, 2014 at 1:12 AM

Do you have any advice for making character personalities? I'm writing a sort of group of short stories, and it seems like all my characters have the same personalities. Thanks.

Admin Reply:

Hi, Truman! Write a page or two about each character, just for yourself. Include some of the following things:

What the character's early life was like
The worst thing that ever happened to the character
How that event shaped the character's life
What secret the character carries, which he/she can’t tell anyone
What the character is trying to hide, and why
What the character wants more than anything else
What the character likes and hates most about him/herself
Ways in which the character misunderstands him/herself
Any kind of personality trait — kindness, impatience, anger, inferiority, etc.

When your character is in a scene, her or she must always WANT something specifically. That something will be different than what the other characters want. This, along with the character’s personality traits and history, should make every character sound unique.
Hope this helps!

Devansh Damani wrote on June 26, 2014 at 9:43 AM

Hey Peter! You may not remember me but you visited my school in Malaysia about 1 year ago. I just wanted to ask, when is the 4th book coming? I just can't wait!

Admin Reply:

Hi, Devansh! Book 4 is scheduled to be released in March 2015. I hope I get a chance to go to Malaysia again. I will never forget the warm reception you all gave me!

Nicolas wrote on June 25, 2014 at 11:34 PM

Hi Peter. This is Nicolas Rosado, I saw you at Barnes and noble a few weeks ago. I wanted to know if you could post the cover of the Seven Wonders book 4 The Curse of the King.
Thanks, Nicolas

Admin Reply:

Hi, Nicolas, it was great to see you! The cover is not finished yet. In fact, just the other day I sent in some suggestions on the text. The moment the final version is released, I will post it on my site, not to worry!

Michelle McAfee wrote on June 13, 2014 at 3:55 AM

Hi Peter, my 12 year old son, Ben, purchased The Seven Wonders, Book 1 at the Andrews Middle School in Medford, MA where you signed his books, a Seven Wonders bookmark (his shirt and a variety of other items). He was nose deep in the book and loving it (and so was I). He would not put it down! He brought it with him on a trip to our local pond. While he was there with a family friend, his sling bag was stolen with your book, book mark, his shirt and baseball glove (in the middle of little league playoffs). It was terrible. Someone took all of their belongings...towels, clothes and shoes. He was really upset about having his things taken and devastated about the personalized book and bookmark. Please tell me how I can get another book and bookmark addressed to Ben! Thanks so much, Michelle

Admin Reply:

Oh, that’s a bummer! Sending you a private email about this, so check your inbox.

Anthony wrote on June 12, 2014 at 12:43 PM

hey, its Anthony again i go to kutz, i sent you a few entrys a few weeks ago. and i said that i wanted to get the book that i am writing. well i finished my book and i have 30 pages! thanks for all the insperation

Admin Reply:

Anthony, that’s GREAT! Big congrats, that is a LOT of pages. I can tell you are a real writer. I hope to see your name in print someday.

Anonymous wrote on June 9, 2014 at 11:34 PM

Hi this is the person from SISCL again! Actually my name is Monica,and i just wanted to thank you for replying me. I am in the middle-ish -endish of Lost In Babylon, it honestly reminds me a lot of other books I've read. I read the Colossus Rises a year-ish ago.It's just so much adventure.action,feeling and other things at once. How do you do it? I want to write a story but I have to work on it. Thanks, Monica (anonymous(from SISCL)

Admin Reply:

Hello again, Monica! Thanks very much for your kind words. I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying LOST IN BABYLON, and best of luck in your writing. The only way to become good at it is to practice — keep writing stories that seem interesting to you, and they will be interesting to others. If you run out of gas in the middle of a story, you can always stop and move on to something else, even start something different. Over time, you will begin to hit your stride. Try to keep it fun for yourself.

Emily wrote on June 5, 2014 at 11:18 PM

Hi Peter! You just came to my school to speak and me and my friends thought you did an amazing job. Did you know you could become an actor someday?
I just started The Colossus Rises, I got it before my lunch at 11:55 and I'm already at chapter fifteen! It's great so far! I'm sure the rest of it's going to be amazing! Keep on writing Emily

Admin Reply:

Hi, Emily! That’s amazing! I’m so glad you’re racing through the book. I have a feeling you’ll storm through the next books, too. I guess I better hurry up with Book 4! It was great fun visiting your school. Have a fantastic summer.

Conrad Taylor wrote on June 5, 2014 at 7:15 PM

From two fourth grade fans!
Dear Peter Lerangis, We have read all 3 of your books in the series The Seven Wonders. We are great fans and we are always persuading people to read it. We think you should make a movie of the series because when we read your books you give us an image in our heads. When the giant Colossus rises and when we first saw Skilaki , we were amazed with the descriptive language you applied. The series is truly awesome (as Marco would’ve said) and every time I read it I feel like the characters are real because of how good you described them. Another reason I like your series is because you put modern, unique people and places into ancient secrets, gluing them into an adventurous book. We think the worst part of the series is the beginning of The Colossus Rises, it really didn’t “hook” me and was plain-boring but, we kept on reading to see if it would get exciting and it eventually did and we finished the first book, saving up our money for the second book. We were also wondering if you could make (or finish) a fourth book really because we are desperate to find out what Jack, Aly, Cass, Marco, and what the Massa and Karai Institute do next! Sincerely, Conrad Taylor And Riley Schoderbek

Admin Reply:

Hi, Conrad and Riley! Thanks so much for this thoughtful letter! I’m delighted you stuck with Book 1 and got hooked on the whole series! Yup, I’m hard at work on Book 4, which will come out in early 2015. And I have my fingers crossed that someone in Hollywood will have the same reaction you did and make us a movie offer. Still waiting …

Christine Gardiner wrote on June 2, 2014 at 6:52 PM

Monday, June 2/Fr. John V. Doyle School - I didn't have a chance to ask you as you signed my copy of "The Tomb of Shadows" (I was the "student" with the grey hair!) ... but what was your favorite book (middle school years) and what (adult) authors do you read now? Thank again for coming to Fr. Doyle ... the kids were thrilled! Only good things can come when reading and creativity are encouraged! Good luck on your tour, and the books to come.

Admin Reply:

Hello, Christine! So happy I was not the ONLY gray-haired student in the room! When I was in middle school, I was reading Jack London, George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Ray Bradbury, and Kurt Vonnegut (I think — my memory is a little hazy about that time). Now I read everyone and everything I can fit into my schedule, about half children’s/YA, the other half adult. I try to read books written by colleagues and friends (which take up more than half of my time!), and the rest I read from recommendations and book reviews. Thanks for having me at FJVD. That was a lot of fun, and your kids are fantastic. You are giving them the bedrock that will last them until well after THEY are gray-haired students!

A Person wrote on June 1, 2014 at 4:04 AM

Hey, how are you today? Well, if you don't remember me, I was that one girl that ran up to you and asked you if you wanted to be my best friend. You're really funny, and nice. Sorry I couldn't go to the book signing, even though I really wanted to talk to you, again. I love your books, and your humor. Have a bright day.

Admin Reply:

Well, my day certainly is bright after reading that message. Yes, I do remember you (SI, right?), and thank you for taking the time to write! The signing was fun, and I hope to do another one in the future.

Anonymus wrote on May 29, 2014 at 10:57 PM

Hi! You came to my school the other day. You came to SISCl or the Staten island school of civic leadership. I just wanted to thank you for coming to our school and writing so many books. I am a bookworm! I was wondering how you sit and just think what in the universe you should write next?

Admin Reply:

Thanks for writing! I had an AMAZING time at SISCL! What a great school. Well, I’m a bookworm too! I like to keep my eyes and ears open all the time for stories. Sometimes I feel stories just come to me, like the time in the subway train I told you about. A snippet of conversation can be an inspiration for a story, or something I see on the street, even another movie or book can get me thinking about a new idea. One time I saw a hawk trying to fly away with an empty plastic Coke bottle in Central Park, and that became a short story about vampires (the hawk was a shape-shifted vampire, and the bottle had blood in it)! I like to collect ideas, write them on scraps of paper, and tack them up to a corkboard. Then I take them down and read them days later. I throw away the ones that are the least interesting and try to develop the best ones. Now that I’m working on a seven-book series, I’ll be busy for a few years getting Jack and friends in and out of crazy adventures!

Erik W. wrote on May 29, 2014 at 10:51 AM

Hi Mr. Lerangis!
This is Erik. I am a 12 year old 6th grader and I run a book review blog. I am sure you don't remember, but I met you and Jude Watson when you visited Harleysville Books when you were promoting "Vespers Rising." You took time and answered a lot of my questions. I really appreciate how nice you were to me. I wanted to know who your publicist is or who I can request a review copy of The Tomb Of Shadows from. I am going to review it (actually all 3 books in the series) for the Jump Into a Book blog this summer as my summer reading pick. Thank you for taking the time to read my message!
Erik

Admin Reply:

Hello, Erik! Great to be back in touch. I’m thrilled that you want to feature the Seven Wonders series for your summer reading pick! I will send you a private email with all the necessary info.

ondjre crenshaw wrote on May 23, 2014 at 7:55 PM

Peter was wondering in the 39 clues is Grace Cahill trying to bring back peace between the families?
please respond back thank you
your #1 fan Ondjre

Admin Reply:

Hello, Ondjre! Yes, indeed, that is what Grace is trying to do. Luckily, she’s not around to see how those family members behave!

Anthony wrote on May 19, 2014 at 9:34 PM

heyy, its Anthony again. I went to staples to see if i could get my book binded they could cut the size of the book any way i wanted. now on page 18 do you want me to email what i have so far?
thanks. Anthony

Admin Reply:

Hi, Anthony! I’m so glad that suggestion helped. Sorry I can’t read your story, as I’m on tour and traveling quite a lot. Also, with my own deadlines and travel, plus professional and family obligations, I’ve had to stop reading other people’s books and stories, even close friends and family members. Hope you understand, but please take my best wishes for your writing!

Lucy wrote on May 18, 2014 at 2:36 PM

Hi! You came to my school Hamden Hall. I'm thinking of writing a book but there's one problem..... I can never come up with a title..... How are you supposed to make a story if you don't even know what the title is going to be. That is what it will be called! People need to know what it's called! How do you come up with a title? I already know what's going to happen in my book. I'm going to write a LOT of pages. Does the author have to draw the cover or something? I am HORRIBLE at drawing!

Admin Reply:

Hi, Lucy! My advice is to work on the story and not worry about anything else yet. The title will come to you while you’re writing. You don’t have to have it before you start. You have plenty of time. I often don’t think of a title until most of the way through a book. And I NEVER do my own covers. If I did, people would take one look and run out of the bookstore. My talent in art is about the same level as my talent in hair-styling — zero. So take heart. And get writing!

Anthony wrote on May 16, 2014 at 10:54 PM

hello, i already sent you this question on another page. Im Anthony, Im 12 years old and i go to kutz elementary. Im writing a book and Im on page 15 so far. Im thinking about trying to bind it when Im done but i cant find any websites where i can choose the exact size, because i know the exact size i want it to be. do you have any recommendations on where to go? Like where you get your books binded maybe. also when Im done, Im thinking about trying to publish it.
send back soon, Anthony.

Admin Reply:

Anthony, 15 pages! That’s great. I honestly don’t know who binds my books (the publisher takes care of that), but if I were you, I would start by simply going to a Staples or other copy shop in your area and asking. They would know the right place to send you. Good luck!

Ailbhe Brady wrote on May 16, 2014 at 11:40 AM

How have you been?
You came to my school in Somers yesterday and you are very funny!

Admin Reply:

I am fine! Smiling with great memories of visiting your great school! Hope you are well and good to hear from you again.

Ailbhe Brady wrote on May 16, 2014 at 12:19 AM

Hi Peter, You had came to my school today and I was wondering if you actually have a brother? Also do you draw the pictures/covers for your books? Thank you so much, Ailbhe Brady Somers Intermedite School Your so funny!!!

Admin Reply:

Hi, Ailbhe! Yes, I do have a brother, and no, I do not make my own covers. Truly, I am a terrible artist! If I did the covers to my own books, no one would want to buy them! I had a great time at your school, and I really appreciate all the energy and smart questions!

Gavin wrote on May 15, 2014 at 2:00 AM

I don't get why Marco, Aly and Cass want to leave. Please explain. Thank you

Admin Reply:

Hi, Gavin! Are you wondering why they want to leave the island, at the beginning of THE COLOSSUS RISES? It’s because they don’t believe Professor Bhegad and they don’t trust the Karai Institute. So they want to escape and get home.
Hope that helps!

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