Gordon Korman will be promoting his latest children’s book series, Masterminds, at Quail Ridge Books & Music on Monday, February 9, at 7 p.m. Korman, a Canadian author, began his writing career in middle school with his first book, This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!, and has continued to release titles ever since.

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He gained recognition in the 1980s for his humorous portrayals of young adulthood, featuring unique protagonists in stories filled with chaotic events. His characters, including the adventurous students from the Macdonald Hall series and quirky figures like Bugs Potter and Raymond Jardine, have resonated with a generation of readers, resulting in plotlines that involve exploding limousines, flooded summer camps, and even FBI raids.

Korman's writing extends beyond humor; he has participated in collaborative projects such as the popular series The 39 Clues and has also produced more straightforward adventure tales. His newest series, Masterminds, explores themes of nature versus nurture through a high-concept plot about children raised in a seemingly perfect environment who discover they are part of an experiment.

In a recent interview, Korman discussed his prolific output, noting that he has written about 85 books. He recalled writing his first book at age 12 and signing his contract with Scholastic at 13. When asked if this early success impacted his popularity with peers, he jokingly downplayed it, saying it did not help with attracting girls.

Korman also spoke about how becoming a parent has influenced his writing. He aims to maintain a child’s perspective in his stories, viewing characters as younger versions of himself rather than through the lens of parental authority. This balance between childhood perspective and adult experiences informs his portrayal of characters who reflect both childhood silliness and deeper insights.

The author's earlier works may see a revival, with some books like No Coins, Please potentially reprinted due to ongoing interest in his backlist. He remains focused on contemporary themes in children’s literature, noting that modern children's fiction has become heavier and more complex compared to his earlier works.

Korman's repertoire includes both humorous books, such as No More Dead Dogs, and adventure stories like Island and Everest. His current projects also include ongoing series like Swindle and The Hypnotist.

Collaboration, especially on projects like The 39 Clues, has provided Korman with a refreshing team environment, contrasting the solitary nature of writing. He finds structured collaborations stimulate his creativity, and he enjoys the unexpected directions they inspire.

For future endeavors, Korman is busy with multiple series simultaneously. While some fans ask him about crossover stories involving beloved characters from different series, Korman has typically resisted these concepts but acknowledges their popularity among readers.