People frequently ask me why I keep going. I mean I already have more #1 bestsellers than any other person ever has.

So why do I keep writing books? Why do I bother doing a blog about how important it is for us to get our kids reading? Why do I speak to parents, teachers, booksellers and librarians around the country? Why am I working at setting up a website to help parents find the right books for their kids?

This piece of email I just received from Sharon C. explains a big part of it:

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! We bought our 13-year-old son "School's Out Forever" for Christmas. Since then we have all been hooked! "Final Warning" is the 1st book I have EVER pre-ordered! Our son is now getting an "A" in reading (from a "D"). You gave a tease in your interview about a Book 5! We fought over the other books and were upset when we thought it was over. We can't wait for the movie! Please don't stop writing these kinds of books for young (and not so young) adults.

Your biggest fans,

Troy, Sharon & Cody C.

Seriously, Sharon—thank you. And please realize that this excitement you’re feeling about books and reading is not just a short-term thing. It’s a life-changer.

Anyhow—back to the question of why I keep going—it’s from comments like this that I’m able to hope to spread this excitement even further.

So many people have no idea about what reading books is all about and I really think we have a chance to get things going here.

I’ll have more to say about this website I’m working on soon. And hopefully you can help me shape it.

Well, please keep reading and writing.

More soon.

Like in this recent, popular, New York Times piece, there’s been some press lately about how important books are as a means of identifying people with similar interests and attitudes. With these new “bookshelf” applications in Facebook (as I mentioned a few weeks back), and other places, books are clearly—even in this digital age—remaining a social touchstone.

Some of it is of course just silly stuff—as I’ve discovered in my life as a writer of “popular” fiction, people can be snobs about books more than almost anything else in this world—but I think communicating to each other about books is a pretty positive thing.

After all, what’s more personally meaningful than the ideas and worlds we experience in books? (Hint from yours truly: very little.)

To that end, here’s a picture of one of our own bookshelves that Sue just took the other week for a website.



One or two of those books happen to be pretty good for young readers.

Please feel free to drop a comment below if you’re curious.

For any of you who think being a bestselling author sounds glamorous, I’d like to point out that it’s not all black-tie award ceremonies and limousines. Actually, even for the annual formal event or two that the publishing event still puts on—at least of the ones I’m invited to—I prefer driving myself.

And there’s nothing I dislike more than dressing up in monkey suits, as folks used to call tuxedos.

But bird-suits? Well, if it’s getting attention to the cause of encouraging parents to turn their kids into readers . . . I’m a push-over:



Join Max's flock!

Anyhow, hopefully this is something fun for you to do with your kids . . . or co-workers.

Hope pages are flying in your home, too.

More soon,

JP