Tag Archive for Jigsaw Jones is back

Fan Mail Wednesday #252: I’m Working on it, Beattrice!

 

 

Here’s a letter from sweet Beattrice in Indiana, who clearly loathes the idea of me lazing around & relaxing. Work, work, work, work, work.

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I replied:

 

Dear Beattrice:

I AM TRYING!!!

I mean to say, thank you for your request. I very much appreciate that you’d like for me to write more books.

It’s so much nicer than if you wrote, for example, “Please stop writing books. Seriously. Please. Stop.”

Ha, that would have been kind of sad.

Outer Space_FCThere is a new Jigsaw Jones book coming out this August, The Case from Outer Space. And by November, there will be 8 “classroom classics” available for the first time in years –- previously published Jigsaw Jones books, newly revised and updated, all from Macmillan.

In the meantime, just to make you happy, Beattrice, I’ll stop writing this letter . . . and start working on the next book!

Have a great summer.

James Preller

Fan Mail Wednesday #251: Gone Fishing!

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This one took a slightly smelly detour . . .

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I replied:

 

Dear Brandon:

I read and enjoyed your letter. Then, when I wasn’t looking, my wife threw the envelope in the trash.

Don’t blame her, she’s a neat freak. Always tidying up. But I was like, “Honey, dearest, where’s the envelope that came with this letter? I need that return address.”

Anyway, long story short, I rolled up my sleeves and fished it out of the garbage can. Pretty much disgusting, if you ask me. But you’re letter was worthy of a reply.

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You wrote a thoughtful review of The Case of the Runaway Dog. Excellent and observant! I’m glad you liked it.

To answer your question: Yes! There is a new Jigsaw Jones book coming out this August, The Case from Outer Space. And by November, there will be 8 “classroom classics” newly available –- revised and updated.

51i1BhhTBDL._SX318_BO1,204,203,200_You suggested a story where two detectives verse each other to see who can solve the case first. Well, I think I wrote one similar to your idea, titled The Case of the Double Trouble Detectives. In that story, rich-kid Reginald Pinkerton Armitage starts a rival detective agency. But as Jigsaw says to him, “Sure, you’re as rough as a pussycat. Why in the world do you want to get mixed up in this racket?”

Good luck tracking it down! It’s been out of print for a few years. Maybe you can find it in your library or on eBay. But never fear, there’s lots more Jigsaw Jones coming out soon!

My best,

James Preller

 

 

FAN MAIL WEDNESDAY #249: “I want to nok your adress so I can vist.”

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This one included a kind teacher as an intermediary, helping a student make a connection. We ended up shooting a few emails back and forth, but I didn’t post those here. Stacey wrote:

I have a letter I would like you to read and hopefully write back to this young man.  Thank you for your consideration.

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I replied:

Dear Collin,

I hope I got that name correct.

First of all, my gosh, I love that you live in Osh Kosh.

What a name!

I’ve heard of it all my life, but you are the first person I’ve ever “met” who actually lives there. Are you a big Packers fan?

Thank you for reading The Case of the Stolen Baseball Cards. I’m glad you liked it. Usually it takes me two months to write a Jigsaw Jones book. The first month, I bang my head against the wall, hoping to find ideas. Guess what I’ve learned? There are no ideas in the wall.

Eventually I get down to work. I get my butt in the chair, open to a clean page, and start to write. That’s the trick, mostly. Getting in that chair, getting away from all the distractions — the tv, my cell phone, the dog, my children, and a million other things — and writing.

Outer Space_FCI just wrote the 41st Jigsaw Jones book, titled The Case from Outer Space. It is coming out in August, along with four other “classic” titles that have been hard to find the past few years. Jigsaw Jones is back! By November, there will be 9 Jigsaw Jones books available in stores. I’m super happy about that — and I know that it couldn’t have happened with readers like you.

And, yes, I depend on teachers like Ms. ______, too!

BTW, I live pretty far away from you, in a town called Delmar, NY, just south of Albany. I’d love for you to visit if you are ever in the neighborhood. Though I am concerned that the brownies might get stale.

That would make me sad. Stale brownies. Sigh.

I think the rice krispies treats, however, should travel well.

Come see me anytime. And thank you so much for your terrific letter.

James Preller

 

NEW COVER: This “Jigsaw Jones” Comeback Is Getting Real

Wow, look at this . . .

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This cover is not absolutely final, but it’s getting there.

After being out of print and largely unavailable for several years, four titles come roaring back — led by a brand new story, The Case from Outer Space.

Look for them this August, brought to you by the good folks at Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan.

I’m especially grateful to the classroom teachers and school librarians who have kept these books alive and in the hands of young readers for the past 20 years.

I can’t wait to visit elementary schools and talk Jigsaw, and mysteries, and the love of reading with the early chapter book crowd.