Ask the Author: Jeffrey Westhoff
Answered Questions (4)
Jeffrey Westhoff
Ages 7 through 12 would be the most appropriate, but I hope their older siblings and parents get a kick out of the book, too. I was inspired by the multilevel humor of Bullwinkle, Animaniacs, Phineas and Ferb -- and of course, Lewis Carroll.
Jeffrey Westhoff
The obvious answer is Wonderland. I would walk around with my notebook to interview the residents and find out what makes them tick so they will be stronger characters in future Code Name: Alice books.
Jeffrey Westhoff
I am working on another spy novel, but it will be aimed at younger readers.
However, a short story featuring Foster Blake, the fictional superspy I invented as background for The Boy Who Knew Too Much is banging away at my consciousness and I may have to write that first.
I recently wrote a short spy story, "Sidetracked," starring a teenage girl and set during the Cold War, that will be included in the anthology Young Adventurers: Heroes, Explorers & Swashbucklers coming in autumn 2015 from Intrigue Publishing. The story pays tribute to one of my favorite books, Harriet the Spy.
However, a short story featuring Foster Blake, the fictional superspy I invented as background for The Boy Who Knew Too Much is banging away at my consciousness and I may have to write that first.
I recently wrote a short spy story, "Sidetracked," starring a teenage girl and set during the Cold War, that will be included in the anthology Young Adventurers: Heroes, Explorers & Swashbucklers coming in autumn 2015 from Intrigue Publishing. The story pays tribute to one of my favorite books, Harriet the Spy.
Jeffrey Westhoff
Back when I was still a feature writer at the Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake, Ill., I was working on a story about teenage spy novels -- Alex Rider, Young Bond and the like. I attended a book signing by my author friend Laura Caldwell at Read Between the Lynes bookstore in Woodstock, Ill. Looking for sources, I asked Laura if she knew anyone writing a teenage spy novel. She misunderstood my question and said, "You're writing a teenage spy novel?" I told her no and she replied, "You should!" And I said, "You're right. I should!"
On the drive home that night, I had my title, my main character, and my first chapter sorted out. The article I was working on fizzled out, but I did get my first book out of it.
I give more details about the origin to The Boy Who Knew Too Much in my Tumblr. (See how hip I am? I call it "my Tumblr," not "my Tumblr blog"):
http://culturespy.tumblr.com/post/795...
On the drive home that night, I had my title, my main character, and my first chapter sorted out. The article I was working on fizzled out, but I did get my first book out of it.
I give more details about the origin to The Boy Who Knew Too Much in my Tumblr. (See how hip I am? I call it "my Tumblr," not "my Tumblr blog"):
http://culturespy.tumblr.com/post/795...
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