Guestbook « Peter Lerangis

Christi wrote on July 28, 2013 at 1:42 PM

Have you read the percy jackson or heroes of olympus? If so who is your fav charecter? It must be awesome to work with rick riordan.

Admin Reply:

Hi, Christi! I read only the first Percy Jackson book, way back when it was first published. I have held back from reading the rest because I didn’t want to be influenced in the writing of THE SEVEN WONDERS. But maybe it’s time to get back to them, huh? I enjoy working with Rick; he’s a great guy! (He’s also the fastest signer of books I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’ve seen a lot of them. It’s interesting the things that writers admire ... )

livia wrote on July 26, 2013 at 12:57 AM

Dear Peter, You are such a great writer! And I love the books so much! Can't wait for your second book in the Seven Wonder series! I need some advice, please. I started writing this story. I let people read it. And it turns out it's not to popular. I have some 'likes' on the story, but not as many as others. Should I keep writing the story? Or just make up a whole new one? How do you keep your readers interested in the story? In the beginning of a story, how should you start it? Thanks!, livia.

Admin Reply:

Hi, Livia! Thank you so much for your kind words. I understand your dilemma. Crowd-sourcing is such a tricky thing. It can be helpful to read the handwriting on the wall, but popular consensus is not necessarily the best thing for creativity. Way back before social media, Dr. Seuss had 29 rejections for his first book. If he'd listened to that resounding lack of “likes,” he would have given up and returned to the world of advertising. But he really, really believed in his book. Finally the 30th publisher agreed to publish “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” and the rest is history.
Now, neither you or I is Dr. Seuss, of course, but the point is this: how passionately do you feel about your story? Do you really believe in it? Are you dying for the story to be told in the best possible way? If you are, then try to figure out how to tell the story better and keep at it. If you have other, better ideas you’d rather work on, then by all means move on. Time is not unlimited and you need to fill it with what you REALLY believe in.
Keeping readers hooked on a story, right from the start, is one of the greatest challenges of writing. I love it. Sometimes I’ll spend a whole week on the first page of a novel — writing, rewriting, deleting dozens of pages before I get it right. When it happens, it’s exhilarating. First pages, first paragraphs, first sentences are crucial. Readers will be sucked in by the way you introduce a story. You should always tease a little, always hold something back. For example, I worked really hard on the first sentence of COLOSSUS: “On the morning I was scheduled to die, a large barefoot man with a bushy red beard waddled past my house.” (Btw, it was mentioned in [pl-popup content="http://www.buzzfeed.com/harpercollins/16-of-the-best-opening-lines-from-childrens-books-9npd" title="16 of the Best Opening Lines From Children’s Books" width="1000" height="640"]this Buzzfeed article[/pl-popup]!) This one sentence does several things. It sets a picture: an early morning and a kid’s house; presumably you know he’s in his bedroom, perhaps just waking up. But more importantly it introduces all kinds of questions: Why was the character scheduled to die? Who is the large man and why was he there? Why was he barefoot? What’s the significance of the bushy red beard? Mostly, this sentence is about what’s left out. I hope it makes the reader want to jump right in and discover the answer to these things. So whatever sentence you choose, work hard to give it freshness and figure out how you can entice your reader, maybe by introducing a question from your story but not giving the answer.

Classified Cahill agent wrote on July 24, 2013 at 10:31 PM

Hi Peter! I'm writing a book but I have a significant problem. I write really short chapters. They don't even reach a page in google docs! What can I do to make the writing longer?

Admin Reply:

Wow! Well, there’s nothing wrong with short chapters, but these sound rather mini! It's hard to know why without reading the story, but I can give you some general thoughts. Think of each chapter as a small story. It should have a beginning, a development, and a conclusion. Often the conclusion is a cliffhanger. The reader must feel that something has changed over the course of the chapter. Maybe you need to combine chapters. Or maybe you need to fill out chapters that are too sparsely written. Pretend you are describing the action to someone who cannot see. Show where the characters are and where they have to travel. Show us how they look. Get inside their heads and describe what they’re feeling. We need to know if it's day or night, hot or cold, raining or dry. Maybe you need more dialog. You can reveal a lot about your characters (and setting) through dialog. Maybe you have too much dialogue, or you're relying ONLY on dialogue to pull the story forward. You need a good balance of prose and dialogue. Once you take care of describing what happens in the plot, making sure the setting is clear, and filling your characters with thoughts and dialogue, you should be able to spin out a long chapter. I know that's really general, but I hope it helps.

Rein Miranda wrote on July 23, 2013 at 12:42 PM

Hello Mr. Peter!
Hi-ho! Long time no see (and probably talk), Mr Peter! I've seen the cover of the Lost In Babylon. So great! So cool! The Republic of the Philippines and I miss you already. 🙁 How I wish you could visit the Philippines every book release of yours! I hope you would visit Philippines for the 2nd book.
By the way, are there any news about the other series you are making? I'm so excited about it! 😀
Rein Miranda

Admin Reply:

Hello, Rein! I miss the Philippines too! I wear my “I Am a Pinoy Cahill” shirt proudly. I enjoy explaining what it means to the benighted. I had lunch in New York with Mr. Ramos, the owner of National Book Store, when he was in New York awhile back, and I’m hoping he’ll invite me back someday. I know he’s very interested in bringing in all kinds of awesome writers in the near future! Can’t yet talk about the other series (and it won’t be happening for quite some time), but I will post as soon as I know!

Monica wrote on July 22, 2013 at 10:04 AM

Heey Peter!! So you are back from your tour and the first question I will ask is, HAVE YOU READ DAY OF DOOM???? If so, what did you think of it?? I though it was pretty good. Secondly, I found The Colossus Rises in the shops today and of course, I bought it! I'm only up to chapter eleven and I'm loving it! Everyone has been asking me why I've been reading it and guess what my answer is. "Because of an awesome author who is amazing at writing!!" (: I'm still writing the story about Alistair's daughter. Although I can't think of a title for it yet. Any suggestions? Thank you 🙂

Admin Reply:

Hello, Monica! Sorry it took so long to reply. Good to hear from you. By now you must be finished with THE COLOSSUS RISES, and I hope you liked it! Yes, I did read DAY OF DOOM and enjoyed it. A lot of action and some shockers, I must say. Continuing good luck with the story. Why not just title it with the name of the character?

Ana Luísa and Clara wrote on July 21, 2013 at 6:45 AM

Dear Peter, First off all, we'd like to give you congratulations for your work on the 39 clues saga! Unfortunately we don't have other books from yours, translated to portuguese (we are brazilians). We have just the first and the second book from Cahill vs. Vesper translated, too... We loved "The sword thief"! Amy is our favorite character and we love Ian too! So we think the couple is just perfect together and we are waiting hopefully that she breaks up with Evan (for God's sake he's so boring) and starts dating Ian! Is there any possibility of that? Is Ian changing? On the "The sword thief" Ian said that he cared about Amy... Why he doesn't care anymore? Thanks for everything and for the best book of the saga! Finally, do not think that we just liked it because of the romance... Among other things, the puzzle of the philosopher stone was amazing! How do you do that? It's just so perfect... Hope hearing you're answer! We love you're job! With love, Ana Luísa Schoenell and Clara Calazans

Admin Reply:

Many thanks, Ana Luisa and Clara. This message really makes my day. I’m delighted to have such wonderful Brazilian readers and hope to visit the country someday. Devising puzzles is one of my favorite things to do as a writer. They take a long time but they’re worth it! Thank you for commenting about that, it means a lot to me. As for Ian and Amy, because I’m sworn under the penalty of Vesper retaliation not to reveal any romantic secrets about the characters, I can only encourage you to keep reading! Great news: my new series, THE SEVEN WONDERS, is scheduled to be translated into Portuguese by a Brazilian publisher also!

damien wrote on July 12, 2013 at 8:24 AM

I'm glad your writing a series about the 7 wonders of the ancient world.This is one of the many reasons I like it mainly because History is my favourite subject I love learning about the wonders of the past.Your book is a great example of how amazing and wonderful the past can be. I can not way for the release of Lost in Babylon.
Fellow archaeologist and Janus a.k.a biggest fan Damien

Admin Reply:

Thanks, Damien! Always great to meet another member of two such illustrious groups!

damien wrote on July 12, 2013 at 8:13 AM

Dear Peter Is there a way for the other major authors of the 39 clues series such as Jude Waston and Gordon Korman to receive letters from readers?. If there is a way how?.
Always your fellow Janus Damien.

Admin Reply:

Hello, Damien! Sure there is. You should first check their websites’ contact pages for an address or form. And if you don’t have success, write them c/o Scholastic, 557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012.

Parth Garg wrote on July 9, 2013 at 7:30 AM

Hello Mr. Lerangis,
I have written a few short stories that I'd like to get published, but I do not know hoe. Could you please help me?
P.S. I was honoured to meet you!!

Admin Reply:

Hello, Parth! It’s good to hear from you. I still carry so many warm memories of my first trip to Singapore. If I were you, I think I’d try to enter the [pl-popup content="http://www.artandwriting.org/" title="Scholastic Art & Writing Awards" width="1000" height="640"]Scholastic Art & Writing Awards[/pl-popup]. That’s certainly one way to have your work seen and evaluated by professionals. Other than that, you would need to contact a literary agent in your area. Best of luck to you in your writing career!

Truman wrote on June 12, 2013 at 11:51 PM

Did you see the cover of Lost in Babylon yet? I saw on Amazon. It was amazing!

Admin Reply:

Thanks, Truman! Really glad you like it.

Laura wrote on June 10, 2013 at 6:55 PM

Dear Mr. Lerangis,

Thank you for ruining me for life. I mean it. I only recently discovered that I've been a fan of yours since childhood, even if I didn't know your name at the time. Throughout the 90's, I consumed serialized fiction of all kinds like candy. I have wondered why your work on the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew series' is less publicized than the rest... is it because of a non-disclosure agreement? Also, if I may ask, was the Frank Hardy/Nancy Drew attraction the idea of the publisher, another ghostwriter, or you? They are pretty much my favorite couple of all time. For serious, books were a great friend to me in a time when I had none, and I appreciate your contribution. I still read many of your works with great fondness even though I am far past the target demographic.

Best Wishes,
Laura

Admin Reply:

Hi, Laura! While I'm not in the business of leaving people's lives in ruin, I am delighted if said ruination involves vast amounts of time reading stories. Those books were great fun, particularly Buried in Time. You’re right, the publicity for these books focused on the series itself, not the ghostwriters. We were all young unknowns, anyway, grateful for the work. I still work with my editor from that series, and we both carry fond memories. To be honest, I don’t recall whose idea the romance was. I think my last contribution to the series was about 24 or 25 years ago, so a lot of those memories are fuzzy. But I can confidently say I did not have a mullet.

Alan King wrote on June 10, 2013 at 4:03 PM

Thought "The Colossus Rises" was great! Recommended it to many! When is the 2nd book of the Seven Wonders series due out? Keep up the good books!! Thanks.

Admin Reply:

Many thanks, Alan. Much appreciated. Book 2 is due out October 29.

Lillie wrote on June 3, 2013 at 1:31 AM

Dear Mr. Lerangis,
You probably don't remember me specifically, but we met at the BookExpo America on Saturday. I came back after getting the The Colossus Rises signed and we had a brief conversation about the joys of chocolate. Anyway, I finished The Colossus Rises in less than four hours (with many aggravating interruptions) and it was AMAZING!!!! I will be counting down the days until the second book comes out in the fall. I also wanted to add that book 7 of the 39 Clues series, The Viper's Nest, was my favorite by far. You are a phenomenal author and I look forward to your future books. I'm actually in the middle of writing a series right now, and you are a great role model.
A fellow chocolate fanatic,
Lillie 🙂

Admin Reply:

Hello, Lillie! Yes, of course I remember. I believe I also had trouble with all the L’s in your name and I do hope I didn’t massacre the inscription. Well, your message totally makes my day. Thank you so much for the kind words about THE COLOSSUS RISES and THE VIPER’S NEST, and I am delighted you enjoyed them. Best of luck with your series, Lillie, I hope to read it someday!

Dylan Lee wrote on May 31, 2013 at 10:43 AM

Hi Mr. Peter Lerangis, I wish you would come to Tenby International School again.

Admin Reply:

Hi, Dylan! Me too. If I am invited back, I will jump at the chance.

Sage wrote on May 31, 2013 at 4:38 AM

Hiya, Mr. Lerangis!
And I have loads to tell and ask you. First off, I would like to day that it TRULY was an honor to meet you last May 4 in Glorieta. I was very giddy back then and I still am now! 😛
Second, I totally LOVE your books! 😀 Well, I haven't read all of them, but you probably get the picture. And those four books that you signed rate as some of my most valuable books. I was really happy that you came to the Philippines since authors rarely come here for book-signing events.
Third, I may seem just like another fan, because yeah, I AM. I have been onto reading since I was young. I practically read almost EVERY TIME. Even while chopping carrots! But luckily, I didn't slice myself or anything. LOL
And fourth, I hope you enjoyed your time in the Philippines. I saw that picture while you were eating bibingka. If you had more time and visited some other places aside Manila, you would've seen a whole lot more of spectacular places. I hope you would find time to return and see more sights.
Ok, I hope you aren't getting a bit frustrated because this is gonna a teensy but long. My questions:
1) Sir, I know we're not allowed to ask questions that may be spoilers, but a "yes" or "no" is enough of an answer for me. Regarding the title the Karai Institute gave the foursome, Jack is called the Tailor, no? And tailors also build in a different manner from the tinker. Jack, at the first chapter of the book, made some sort of alarm that surely would wake him. Was that event, and his title being the tailor, in any way connected somehow to his Gift as one of the Select? Just yes or no would be enough.
2) How do you figure out how you will start a story and the way you narrate it? This is actually a very important question for me because I also have dreams of becoming an author like you and that is, far by, the biggest problem I've encountered in writing. 😉
3) Exactly how did you publish your very first novel? I have seen people on the MB that say that you first have to a publishing agent who will help you publish your work. But I think that it's better to ask you instead, and there's also the fact that you look quite alike with my Uncle Kevin. LOL!
I hope you find time to read and reply to my entry! 🙂

Cheers, Sage 😉

P. S. We miss SwampHampster1 :"(

Admin Reply:

Hello, Sage! Well, be assured that SwampHamster1 really misses the MB (and the 39 Clues) very badly. I will never forget that overwhelmingly warm response in Glorietta. I’m still pretty giddy about it myself. It was a blast to meet all of you, finally putting faces to the names I’ve gotten to know over the last few years. I hope that my next visit will be longer so I can also see the beautiful outlying areas of the Philippines I have heard so much about. But I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Manila, too! (And I love bibingka.)
OK, now the questions:

Yes.
Well, first of all, I carefully outline my story in advance so I know where the plot is going. But as for those first few days of writing the actual book — hoo, boy, that’s the hardest part. Sometimes it takes days just to write that first page. The voice is so important. You really do have to create a narrator (or narrators) you want to spend time with over the next, oh, X hundred pages. If you feel excited about them, if they sound like real people, different from one another, eventually you feel as though they’re alive in your brain and talking to you. You can never be sure your readers will share the same excitement, but there’s a good chance they will — and you CAN be sure that if you don’t have that connection to the characters, neither will the readers. The best advice I can give is this: write a lot. Try a lot of different beginnings. Don’t be afraid to throw things out. To get a good first chapter I delete dozens of pages, and some of the passages are truly dreadful. Before long you get a feeling for the voices of the characters, and you feel an amazing momentum start to build. But that careful time at the beginning is an excellent investment. (Ironically, after all that work, I ALWAYS rewrite the first few pages again after I’ve finished the novel!)
I published my first novel without an agent. But I had contacts in the publishing industry because I had worked as a free-lance copyeditor here in New York City. Now I do have an agent, and yes, it is a good idea to find one in order to have your book placed in the right publishing house.

Hope that helps. Regards to Uncle Kevin, and please don’t read books while slicing carrots. Yeouch!

Neha wrote on May 29, 2013 at 2:26 PM

Dear Mr. Lerangis

I just finshed the Spy X series and loved it! I was wondering if your writing a 5th book. It seems like the story doesn't end, there is more to it...? I really enjoy your writing!!!!!

- Neha

Admin Reply:

Hello, Neha! So glad you enjoyed the SPY X series. No, alas, there is no Book 5 on the horizon. I had an agreement with the publisher for Books 5 and 6, but they canceled the contract at the last minute. Happens sometimes in publishing, and it was very sad! So sorry about that.

Dylan wrote on May 26, 2013 at 11:27 PM

Hi Mr.Peter Lerangis, do you remember visiting Tenby Schools Malaysia.
I was in school at that time.

Admin Reply:

Hi, Dylan! It’s good to hear from you. I sure do remember. I have been telling everyone what a great visit I had in KL. In fact, here’s a photo from that day:

Aurora wrote on May 26, 2013 at 10:07 PM

Hi!

Have you ever read a fanfiction of one of your stories? If so, is it wierd? I have read a ton of The 39 Clues fanfictions, and some of them are really...well,wierd.

~Aurora

Admin Reply:

Hi, Aurora! No, actually, I never have. I have trouble keeping up with reading in general lately!

Aman wrote on May 25, 2013 at 1:48 AM

Dear Mr.Lerangis,
I was just asking if you were going to visit! I am! LOL 🙂
Love,
Aman

Admin Reply:

Ah, great! Hope you had a wonderful time!

Aman wrote on May 24, 2013 at 7:49 PM

Dear Mr.Lerangis,
OMG! Thank you 😀 I LOVE YOU! I am visiting New Jersey tomorrow! Any chance I might see you 😛 LOL
Love,
Aman

Admin Reply:

You’re welcome, Aman! (And I don’t live in New Jersey, sorry!)

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