Archive for Fan Mail

FAN MAIL WEDNESDAY #341: My Pen Pal Jaquan (Plus Some Actual FREE Writing Advice!)

May 7, 2025 / / No comments

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Back in February of 2018, I received a piece of fan mail from Jaquan. It was partly in braille, a first for me. And it would become the first of many, many missives we’ve passed along over the years. You see, Jaquan is a dedicated, passionate writer. He’s been sending me stories all this time. There have been lags and spurts, but I’ve tried to keep up. Mostly with encouragement and enthusiasm. And every once in a while I’ll stick in a Pro Tip!

That first envelope looked like this:

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A closer look . . .

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For me, receiving a letter from a reader is a privilege, an honor, and an obligation. There was a time, when my Jigsaw Jones mystery series was at its peak, with new titles appearing on Scholastic Book Clubs four times a year, I got a lot of letters. It was almost a problem. I’d get overwhelmed. I tried creating a small brochure, and then postcards, but they made me feel like a robot. For the most part, I’ve made the effort to write authentic responses to each and every letter. That’s partly why I’ve been sharing a sampling of letters-and-responses on this blog since 2008.

Fortunately, I don’t get nearly as many letters as I used to.

Wait, fortunately?

Oh, well!

(Aside: I also suspect that “letters to an author” is not quite the thing it used to be in schools. Particularly snail mail. It’s too bad.)

The writing life has its ebbs and flows, and I’ve been doing it for the past 39 years. Still hanging in there.

And for the past 7+ years, I’ve been hearing from Jaquan. Recently, I received this one, which was a little different from the rest:

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Dear Mr Preller, I hope your doing well i’m a huge fan of your jigsaw Jones series it inspired me to make A series of my own A little while ago I sent books of my  of my own for you to check out  like my dog detective series I really appreciate the influence you have on your writers like me Young writers like me I know you’re super busy and I just want to say thank you for the inspiration lots of good ideas and thank you again when you get a chance to read them, please give me your honest opinion on my work  warm regards Jaquan J, your author Friend ps, thank you again JJ 

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Here’s my reply:

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Jaquan,
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What a kind letter, my friend, thank you.
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As a writer — and sometimes as a writing teacher — I often come up against the limits of how much I can help any other writer. In the end, we are all alone and need to do it on our own. That quiet time with the blank page and the stirrings of our heart, our own talent, our own dedication.
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I love that you love to write. That you love books and reading. If I’ve helped inspire you, and if I’ve encouraged you, then I’m satisfied with that. I don’t have many wise strategies to impart. We are all fumbling in the dark.
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Follow your enthusiasms.
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Keep going.
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And most of all, enjoy it, have fun with it, let your reading & writing be a source of pride and pleasure in your life.
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If we look to the outside world for our happiness, we will almost certainly be disappointed.
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Maybe that’s the creative process in a nutshell? Why we make things out of nothing. Create your own happiness. Light your own candle in the dark & difficult world.
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You’ve been working hard at this for a long time, Jaquan, and it shows. I’m glad you’ve kept me informed, sharing your stories over years. I see your growth. I’m grateful for you.
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And, yes, you are right. I have a life, things to do, and can’t always give your letters a considered response. Don’t mistake a period of silence for indifference. I care about you, and your writing, and I’m right here, cheering you on.
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By the way, I just looked it up. I first heard from you in February of 2018. So many letters and wonderful stories since. You had wanted to send me a letter in braille and a person at the Visions Center, Pamela, wrote to me. I later received your letter and still treasure it.
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We’ve been writing back and forth for seven years now. Isn’t that something?!
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It’s my turn to thank you, Jaquan. I’m so glad you reached out.
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Your friend in books & letters,
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James Preller
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Category: Fan Mail, the writing process / Tags: , , , , ,

FAN MAIL WEDNESDAY #340: Brock’s Artwork

April 8, 2025 / / No comments

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I received one of those terrific letters the other day, a thing of beauty. It came the old-fashioned way, delivered through rain, sleet, and snow. The envelope looked like this:

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Inside, I found a wonderful piece of artwork which, I gather, is mine to keep. 

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I replied:

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Dear Brock,

Thank you so much for sending along that terrific piece of art. How kind of you!

I enjoyed visiting your school at Jackson Heights Elementary. It was a great day for me, a happy day, full of books and art and ideas. 

I remember that I talked about making my own books when I was young like you. I drew the pictures but needed help with the words. A lot of kids in your school nodded in agreement. They liked to draw, too. And maybe some of them will make their own books, too. 

I see that you had help addressing the envelope. Isn’t that great? That there are people in our lives who are there to help us? I’m thinking you might owe someone a big hug.

As for your picture, I’ve got it hanging on the wall of my office.

Look:

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Thank you, my friend!

Keep reading, keep writing, keep drawing those awesome pictures!

My best,

James Preller

 

P.S. Brock, buddy, if you happen to see this, please know that a real letter is in the mail with a very small bonus gift (don’t get your hopes up).

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Category: Fan Mail, Uncategorized / Tags: ,

Fan Mail Wednesday #339: “Bee the Change” and, yes, Be the Change!

April 6, 2025 / / No comments

 

Here’s an email from Jeremiah!

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Hi my name is Jeremiah and I am reaching out to you. To give you some positive wonderful feedback. (The Big idea Gang: Bee the Change). Was a very good and nice book.  Furthermore I would highly recommend an individual to read this book. In addition because the book has much information regarding cycles of bees. Also I would recommend an individual to read this book because it has quality information about bee’s lifestyles. The details of the book were also splendid and terrific. 

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I replied:

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Jeremiah,
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Thank you for your kind email and, also, for simply reading my book. That’s all any writer can wish for: a reader!
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I’m very happy with the three books in my “Big Idea Gang” series. For unknown reasons, those three books are beginning to get more attention of late. I think teachers are beginning to find them. 
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While I tried to make these stories easy to read, fast and funny and hopeful — that is, to tell a good story — I’ve also had a second agenda: I’ve always seen these books as political. A practical to guide to improving our world.
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How do we make the world a better place? It’s a daunting question. Overwhelming. So the idea proposed in these books is to start small, act locally, make small differences in your community. For young readers, that’s the school environment. Install a buddy bench into the playground. Change the school mascot. Plant an eco-friendly garden. The key to positive change is overcoming all the objections that come our way. Any time folks hope for change, there’s going to be pushback, reasons for doing nothing. That’s where the persuasive writing element comes into play. Anticipating and overcoming objections is a big part of any move toward progress, big or small — in politics and in persuasive writing. 
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After a long winter, I’ll be helping my wife and daughter start a new garden. They’ve already got some seeds going inside the house. I’ll need to check the fencing — those pesky rabbits can sneak through the smallest openings. They want help expanding it; we might even rent a rototiller! And we’ll consider the bees and birds when we plant.
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Will it change the world?
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Well, yeah, a little tiny bit. Just imagine if we all tried to do the same. As always, it begins very simply with one person who cares. 
Caring, you see, is everything. It’s where all the good work begins.
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Thank you!
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James Preller
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Category: Big Idea Gang, Fan Mail / Tags: , , ,

MAXX TRAX Remembered!

March 4, 2025 / / No comments

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MAXX TRAX: Avalanche Rescue! was my first published book, 1986. I worked closely with my late beloved pal, editor Craig Walker. Could not have written it half as well without him. I was a snot-nosed kid, 25. The book sold more than 1.5 million copies (no royalties, flat fee) on book clubs, first time out of the gate. A shocking success (I worked on the 10th floor as a junior copywriter at the time). Scholastic bizarrely changed illustrators for the second title — a totally new look, computer generated, and awful — and it didn’t fare well. Oh, well. Done, gone, those two books long out of print.
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And yet not entirely forgotten. I still get emails about it. Several just this year. People who remember loving MAXX TRAX as a kid. Or parents who read them with their children. They still love the thrill of trucks and action stories. I haven’t been able to sell anything like it since. This is almost 40 years ago. This photo came to me last week . . . so kind of this family to remember those books & think of me.
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Category: Fan Mail, the writing process / Tags: , , ,

FAN MAIL WEDNESDAY #338: Via Snail!

December 21, 2024 / / No comments

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So much of modern communication is done via text or email, including fan mail. It makes sense and, honestly, saves on the cost of envelopes, stamps, time. 

But how refreshing to receive this note from a 5th-grade teacher in Arizona:

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Good morning, my name is Lindsey D_____. I am the fifth grade teacher at _____ School in ____, Arizona. This month my students are writing letters to the author of their book report book. One of my students would like to send you a letter — snail mail style! Is there a good address to send it to?
I am attaching the letter with this email, but we would still love to send you the handwritten copy also. 
Thank you again, 
Ms. D_____
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And, lo, a few days later I received this beauty the old-fashioned way, thanks to a postal carrier trudging through the tundra, mile after mile . . .
(That’s a Frank Zappa reference, btw.)
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I replied:
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Dear Jaxon,

Thank you for your terrific letter, which arrived today via snail mail. You must be an old soul. I’m so glad that you enjoyed . . .

Hey, wait a minute. You hit a double? One-handed?

WOW! I am not worthy!

Anyway, ha, that’s pretty impressive. But honestly, the most impressive part was that even though you were injured, you still wanted to take the field with your team. Play the game, wear the uniform, cheer for your teammates. I love that.

My oldest son, Nick, inspired the heart of Six Innings. While he was undergoing treatment for leukemia, a type of cancer, Nick still played for his Little League team. And it was a struggle. He was often tired, weak, not at his best. But to him, it was about belonging. Being as normal as possible. Winning and losing with his friends. Just being a regular kid.

So, yeah, Jaxon, I hear you loud and clear. My Little League days as a player were long ago. But like you, I can still remember specific moments with teammates, games, plays that happened 50 years ago. I mean, that’s crazy. But it’s another reason why I wrote that book. Because I knew in my bones that these experiences matter to young people. We care so much. It means a lot -— even though life is big and, in the scheme of things, a Little League game is next to meaningless. But at the time, in that moment, it’s the whole world.

Hopefully your wrist has fully healed and you will be back and better than ever. And thank you for expressing interest in my other books. I’ve written a lot of them.

My book, Blood Mountain, just went into paperback (cheap!). It’s a wilderness survival thriller about two siblings and their dog lost in the mountains. And if you enjoy scary stories, you might like my new collection, Scary Tales: 3 Spooky Stories in 1. It’s 300 pages but fast-paced and easy to read.

Thanks again, my friend,

James Preller

P.S. In case you are wondering, Nick is healthy now, living in NYC, and recently married. A big thank you to all the heroic doctors and nurses who care for children with life-threatening illnesses. Those people are amazing.

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NOTE: One of the benefits of snail mail is that I typically include a NY Mets baseball card with my letters. So at least there’s something of value in that envelope. In this case, since Jaxon is clearly a fan (like me), I sent along a few. 

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Category: Fan Mail, Six Innings / Tags: , , , ,
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