Archive for January 27, 2024

New Book, SHAKEN, Is Coming Along (Fall, 2024)

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I’ve been slowly, methodically going through the final edits for SHAKEN, my upcoming middle-grade novel (Macmillan, Fall 2024). The book involves a soccer-obsessed 7th grader, Kristy, who suffers from post-concussion syndrome. It’s a story about identity, anxiety, panic attacks, art therapy, new friendships, making mistakes and, finally, coming true to one’s ever-evolving self. Anyway, it’s a great relief to read through all these words once again, months later, and still feel like, yeah, I like this — I’m proud of it — this is what I hoped to say.

I’m grateful to my editor Liz Szabla and, always, Jean Feiwel, for the opportunity and the steadfast support. True story: I published my first book 38 years ago . . . and Jean was there for that one, too. She’ll never learn. Grades 5-8. 

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COMING SOON: Blood Mountain in Paperback, April 23rd, 2024!

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GOOD NEWS! I’m thrilled to share that Blood Mountain will soon be available in paperback. To me, that’s when books really get a shot at reaching a wide variety of readers.

Note: It’s an honor to be compared to Gary Paulsen. The man is legend. This book got compared to his bestselling Hatchet novel in three different reviews. I’d sign up for 1/10th of those sales.

Blood Mountain was a Junior Library Guild Selection.

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A QUICK RECAP OF THE REVIEWS . . .

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“Preller combines brave characters with vivid descriptions of the perilous mountain, grasping readers’ emotions in the same way as Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet series.” — Booklist.

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“A fast-paced, action-packed story that is filled with intense moments and well-researched outdoor information . . . Preller nails it.”

— The Reading Junky

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“Fans of Gary Paulsen’s books will likely be hooked from page one.” — Publishers Weekly.

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“A thrilling purchase for middle grade collections, perfect for fans of adventure novels by Jean Craighead George, Peg Kehret, and Gary Paulsen.” — School Library Journal. 

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FAN MAIL WEDNESDAY #333: Pamir Writes, Jimmy Remembers

 

 

 

 

 

I have friends in Istanbul. One particular school, in fact, that reads my Jigsaw Jones books — even ones that are long out-of-print.

It’s the story of my career at this point. More books that are out-of-print than there are available. 

Oh well!

The price of hanging around in this business for nearly 4 decades. 

Here we go. 

A reader writes . . . 

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Dear Mr. Preller,

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My name is Pamir. I am 12 years old and I like to play games and I also like to read books. I live in Istanbul and I am studying in Hisar schools .I read your book “THE CASE OF THE DETECTIVE IN DISGUISE” two weeks ago. It was beautiful and I’m writing this email because I wanted to tell you why I liked your book. In your book my favourite character is Mike because he wants to find the secret and become a detective. My favourite part is the first part because it was a funny part. They went to the attic and found detective clothes. I think that part 10 because It was less exciting but still good. 

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Make more books like this and don’t forget to come to visit Turkey.

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Goodbye,

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Pamir

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I replied . . . 

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Pamir,
Thanks for the invitation to visit Turkey. Boy, that would surely be an amazing adventure for me. 
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I wrote that book so long ago it took me a few minutes to remember it all. When I wrote that story, I had a small office above a cozy sandwich shop called The Yogurt Shop, owned and operated by Mike & Mary. They made the best chicken salad sandwich I’ve ever eaten — and wonderful cookies, too. In the afternoons, I’d often go down there to get a cup of coffee and chat with them. Sometimes Mike would even help me with ideas. So when it came time to write The Detective in Disguise, I decided to weave me friends into the story. 
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Since that time, I’m sorry to report that Mike and Mary got divorced. She moved to Cape Cod. Mike is still around but I don’t see him much anymore. But pulling that book off the shelf helped me remember those happy times we shared together. Isn’t that amazing? I think it’s one of the best parts about writing. When we make art, we can store those memories forever.
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I’m so glad you reminded me!
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Your friend,
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James Preller
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COMING SOON: Two Birds and a Moose!

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SNEAK PEEK: It’s nice to have something coming out for the youngest readers that promotes violence. Ha-ha. I mean, a Looney Tunes-inspired brand of violence. And not much of that, actually. But, yes, here comes a new book.
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Thirty years ago I wrote two very successful easy-to-read titles, Wake Me In Spring and Hiccups for Elephant. I still meet people who remember those books fondly. Both sold about 1.5 million copies. Long out of print. Try as I might, I couldn’t get a third one published and eventually gave up, moved in a different direction.
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So, yeah, it’s time.
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I’m very much looking forward to the arrival this fall of Two Birds and a Moose (Simon & Schuster). It’s part of S & S’s “Ready-to-Read” line, level 1. 
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Rough sketch by the talented Abigail Burch.
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By the way, I also have a new middle-grade novel coming out at around the same time, Shaken (Macmillan, Fall, 2024). It centers around a 7th-grade girl, Kristy Barrett, who is a soccer player with Division 1 dreams. Early in the book, Kristy suffers a severe concussion with lasting effects. Forced to give up the game she loves, Kristy experiences stress, anxiety, self-doubt, panic attacks  — and eventually goes on to spend time in the care of a therapist. Two therapists, actually. And a couple of new friends. The book is about how Kristy navigates this challenging time in her life. More on that, another day. 
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Thanks for stopping by.
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“I’m Rich!”

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Illustration by Anna Laura.

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