It’s a combo platter today, a rock block, a twofer — two fan letters in the same blog post!
Can’t be done, you say?
Impossible, you scoff?
Just watch me now.
In letter #216, Aiden wrote:
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I love your jigsaw Jones book’s. Because I love detectives and I like codes, like the twist code, the missing voul code and the space code, and theirs much more. Anyways my name is Aiden I am 9 years old. It would be really cool if you made another jigsaw Jones book except Mila sends a letter to jigsaw Jones, but she didn’t write her name. So jigsaw and mila try to find out WHO wrote the letter. But they find out that mila is it!! That would be cool. –
I replied:
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Aiden,
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What is a terrific idea! Can I steal it? I mean, er, “borrow” it?
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The good news is that soon I’ll be writing a new Jigsaw Jones title. First one in a long time. Not sure about the mystery yet — all these stories begin after I figure out the crime at the core — but maybe I can incorporate your idea into the book.
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Let me think about it.
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Thanks for writing & for sharing your brilliant idea!
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James Preller
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In letter #217, I received this note from Andrea in Canada:
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Hello Mr. Preller,
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My son LOVES your series Jigsaw Jones Mysteries. He is 10 yrs old and has a learning disability as well as ADHD. He is an amazing boy and when he finds a book he likes he will read and read, it’s the only thing that keeps him calm. 🙂
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I am having a hard time finding your books. We accidentally came across the box set 1-8 at a used book store about a year ago, he wants to continue to read them but he HAS to read them in order. The library doesn’t have all your books.
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I have no problem paying for the books but I am wondering if you can help me out in any way. Shipping to Canada can be very expensive, I have found your books but with shipping and handling it will cost an arm and leg to buy. I am angry at myself, a box set became available through the Scholastic Program and I forgot to order it. I missed the deadline. My son cried for the rest of the day.
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If there is anything you can do to help I would greatly appreciate it.
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I replied:
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Dear Andrea,
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You are a good Mom, that’s for sure.
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I wish I had better news for you. But the series has been slowly dying on the vine for years, Scholastic allowing it to go out of print. I’ve recently retained the rights and it looks like I have interest from another publisher — fingers crossed! — so Jigsaw will be revived in some form or other. I’ll actually be writing a new one soon.
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For your immediate needs, I think you should look at Craig’s List and eBay. Those books pop up all the time. You can contact Scholastic at a toll-free number, 1-800-724-6527. If you are persistent, you’ll find a helpful person who might go the extra yard for you. –
Good luck!
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If you give me your address, and the name of your son, I’ll be happy to send him a signed copy of #9, just because.
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It’s my pleasure,
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James Preller
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