Sorry if you already answered this Mr. Gibbs, but I’m really forgetful. I notice in SS sometimes you say that burner phones are really hard to get and even Erica doesn’t have one, but later she does, and it sometimes goes back between those two. I know it’s a really small detail, but did you mean for this to happen or was it an accident? Btw, your books are amazing.
Oh and have you ever thought that SS or FunJungle series are too long? All the books are great, but did you ever feel like you’ve run out of ideas or strayed too far from where you wanted the books to go? Also, will you ever make Ben become an adult, or will you stop the series. Thanks for taking the time to go through the blog!
Elaine –
I recognize that the reliance on phones changes in the books. That’s because I have written the series over more than a decade and it has become harder and harder to track things I have said before. Frankly, the less I can let my characters use phones, the better, I think. I like for them to rely on their wits, rather than technology.
Elaine –
If i thought that a series had gone on for too long, then I would stop writing that series. I have kept writing these series because I have not run out of ideas. In fact, I have many more ideas that I would like to write.
I will not make Ben an adult, though. Then the series would not be middle grade any more.
Sorry to bother you with more questions. I notice that you have a handful of characters to deal with, when writing how do you build their personality and do you ever mix them up, not just in the specific series but all your characters? Also since you’ve basically travelled the whole world, which place were you most amazed about and felt a special connection to, do you have one for all the settings you have too? And what do you think about AI writing stories, do you think it can help future writers or do you think it will be bad for the future writers?
Sorry for all the questions, thanks for answering them!
Hello Mr.Gibbs
I might be being forgetful but I don’t remember Ben ever crying throughout the series and even Erica cried about something once, given that all Ben has went through I’d expect him to cry at some point. Could that be something that happens in the future
Elaine –
It is really easy for me to keep my characters apart. I imagine each of them very distinctly.
There are so many amazing places on earth, but I keep getting drawn back to going on safari in Africa (although there are many wonderful places to do that).
I hate the idea of AI writing stories. I think it cannot create, it can only mimic, and the only reason it can mimic is that AI developers illegally taught the programs using books that were stolen from authors (like me, but many others as well). Whether or not anyone chooses to use it is up to them, but in my belief, any shortcutting you do to the writing process takes away from the quality of your writing.
Vsauce
I don’t think I have ever had Ben or Erica cry in the series. Not sure if I have anyone cry at all. I suppose it could happen in a future book. But I can;t say for sure.
I think In SSAS Mike briefly mentions that trixie told him Erica cried about Ben going missing on the ship
Hey Mr. Gibbs! I have a few things to say. First, I love your books! They are just simply amazing. Spy School is my absolute favorite. Second, in Spy School books Goes North to
Blackout, why did you make Svetlana and Zoe lesbian? I am sorry but I do not approve.
Hey Mr Gibbs!
I saw a thing that said That Charlie Thorne was originally meant to be older (16) and a guy? I was wondering if this was true, and if so, what made you want to change these details?
Abigail –
I introduced the Zoe and Svetlana relationship because such relationships actually exist in the real world and I hope that, one day, everyone will approve of such things.
CT fan
It is true that when I first conceived of Charlie Thorne, the idea was to have an older male as the main character.However, since i had success in middle grade, I made it a middle grade story instead, which involved lowering the age of the main character — and since i had already written many male protagonists I felt it was time for a female protagonist.
Okay, thank you Mr Gibbs for taking time to answer my questions! I love your books sm
Your books are the best but can you try to get your TV series on Netflix or Amazon prime or other streaming service’s
Zane
How long does it take for you to respond to a comment also what will the next spy school book be (after goes north)
Zane
Setting this up at Disney + took FIVE YEARS. If either Amazon or Netflix had wanted to do it, they would have. But they didn’t.
Zane Haynie
How long it takes me to respond to comments varies greatly depending on the day.
There have already been two SS books released since Goes North: Goes Wild and Blackout. And the next book in the series, Goes east, will be out in October.
I know you said in a fj book that the main characters would mainly be solving crimes outside of fj but do you have any thoughts plans to return maybe after the wilds have been completed or when dash Ethan violet and summer All go to high school thanks so much
Capybara –
Sure, the series could return to FJ at some point.
Sorry for all these questions! But, have you ever regretted writing something that got published? Or have you ever been really stuck on a scene? Also, is there anything you regret about becoming an author? Do you ever feel like you’re writing only because it’s your job at any time? What do you think is the most enjoyable part about writing?
Sorry if these question are too personal, you don’t have to feel pressured to answer them!
Thanks for your time!
Elaine –
By the time a book gets published, I have been working on it for years, so I have had a long time to think about it. Therefore, there is nothing that gets published that I regret publishing.
And it is not easy to become an author. I spent a large part of my life trying to become one. So I do not regret the decision at all.
I like every part of writing.
Some scenes can be a bit more work than others, but I don’t really get stuck. When I create a story, I only invent scenes that I WANT to write. I don;t come up with scenes that I don’t want to write.
Hello! I know it would be very improbable, but it would be amazing if you would do another sequel book for spy school with another persons perspective or some thing like that. Also congratulations ? on the new Disney series! Thanks!
Leland –
I think it would be somewhat jarring to switch to another character’s perspective in Spy School after 15 books from Ben’s perspective. I believe that a big part of the appeal of tje series is Ben’s perspective.
Hi Mr. Gibbs,
In SS Blackout the book ends on a cliffhanger setting up Goes East. Was it a deliberate choice not to include the usual letter like we normally see at every ending? Could we maybe interpret this as new arc for Ben? Looking forward to the new entry!
Thanks and also why did you stop the moon base alpha series I know you said this earlier in the blog but I couldn’t find it like it would be cool to learn about moon base beta t or maybe science has put into effect what (redacted) tells dash at the end of the series the thing that he has to hold onto for a few years before telling people about it thanks.
Alvin –
If something does or does not appear in a book, then that was a deliberate choice. I didn’t feel like the letter was necessary in Blackout.
That has nothing to do with any sort of new arc for Ben.
Capybara
The post is on the blog. I promise. It shouldn’t be that hard to find.
Can I get a small spoiler about Spy School Goes East.
main –
No author is ever going to give the fans spoilers about an upcoming book. All of us work very hard to write stories with lots of twists and turns and the LAST thing we would want to do is spoil those.
Hello!
I’m a Chinese Spy School fan! I adore Ben and Erica as this awesome partner duo. For future books, it’d be fun to see them handle more daily?life moments alongside spy chaos. Hope you enjoy writing! Would you come visit China during APEC 2026? We’d be thrilled!
Kate
Always exciting to hear from a student in China! I am talking to some schools in China about coming to visit next year — but that is really the only way my visits work. Schools or other institutions have to invite me to come. I don;t think it’s very likely that I would get invited to be part of APEC.
Hi
Is the Shang family involved in Spy School Goes East?
Will there ever be another, “Once Upon a Tim” book?
Richard
I cannot say what might happen in SSGE.
Ryan
I would love to write more Tim books. But my publisher needs people to buy a lot more of them first.
Did you make Dane’s character based of of Dave Grohl’s first band? I also see the pun you made there, switching the D and Br in Dane Brammage. Are you worried that nobody would understand in a different language?
FutureStuart
The name Dane Brammage had nothing to do with Grohl’s first band. It was actually suggested to me by my son when he was very young.
And yes, when I include wordplay in English in my books, I recognize that it will probably not work in translations of the books — but I still like to put it in anyhow.
Hi Mr Gibbs!
I am a Chinese fan of yours! First of all I lovvve your SS series, and I just finished the 10th book. I know you can’t spoil any other detail from your future books, but just so you know, many of my friends likes other characters from the academy of espionage, but then there’s no more academy of espionage. I know you can’t say anything about your future books, but I like them being together and training, so…are you going to make a new kind of academy or school for the other student who are sent back to their normal life?(if you can’t say it, it is all fine with me)
MurrayLovesZoe
First of all, thanks for your kind words about the books. It’s always great to hear from a fan in China.
But… as you noted, I don’t like to spoil anything about what might happen in future books. It ruins the fun of reading them.
Sorry if you already answered this Mr. Gibbs, but I’m really forgetful. I notice in SS sometimes you say that burner phones are really hard to get and even Erica doesn’t have one, but later she does, and it sometimes goes back between those two. I know it’s a really small detail, but did you mean for this to happen or was it an accident? Btw, your books are amazing.
Oh and have you ever thought that SS or FunJungle series are too long? All the books are great, but did you ever feel like you’ve run out of ideas or strayed too far from where you wanted the books to go? Also, will you ever make Ben become an adult, or will you stop the series. Thanks for taking the time to go through the blog!
Elaine –
I recognize that the reliance on phones changes in the books. That’s because I have written the series over more than a decade and it has become harder and harder to track things I have said before. Frankly, the less I can let my characters use phones, the better, I think. I like for them to rely on their wits, rather than technology.
Elaine –
If i thought that a series had gone on for too long, then I would stop writing that series. I have kept writing these series because I have not run out of ideas. In fact, I have many more ideas that I would like to write.
I will not make Ben an adult, though. Then the series would not be middle grade any more.
Sorry to bother you with more questions. I notice that you have a handful of characters to deal with, when writing how do you build their personality and do you ever mix them up, not just in the specific series but all your characters? Also since you’ve basically travelled the whole world, which place were you most amazed about and felt a special connection to, do you have one for all the settings you have too? And what do you think about AI writing stories, do you think it can help future writers or do you think it will be bad for the future writers?
Sorry for all the questions, thanks for answering them!
Hello Mr.Gibbs
I might be being forgetful but I don’t remember Ben ever crying throughout the series and even Erica cried about something once, given that all Ben has went through I’d expect him to cry at some point. Could that be something that happens in the future
Elaine –
It is really easy for me to keep my characters apart. I imagine each of them very distinctly.
There are so many amazing places on earth, but I keep getting drawn back to going on safari in Africa (although there are many wonderful places to do that).
I hate the idea of AI writing stories. I think it cannot create, it can only mimic, and the only reason it can mimic is that AI developers illegally taught the programs using books that were stolen from authors (like me, but many others as well). Whether or not anyone chooses to use it is up to them, but in my belief, any shortcutting you do to the writing process takes away from the quality of your writing.
Vsauce
I don’t think I have ever had Ben or Erica cry in the series. Not sure if I have anyone cry at all. I suppose it could happen in a future book. But I can;t say for sure.
I think In SSAS Mike briefly mentions that trixie told him Erica cried about Ben going missing on the ship
Hey Mr. Gibbs! I have a few things to say. First, I love your books! They are just simply amazing. Spy School is my absolute favorite. Second, in Spy School books Goes North to
Blackout, why did you make Svetlana and Zoe lesbian? I am sorry but I do not approve.
Hey Mr Gibbs!
I saw a thing that said That Charlie Thorne was originally meant to be older (16) and a guy? I was wondering if this was true, and if so, what made you want to change these details?
Abigail –
I introduced the Zoe and Svetlana relationship because such relationships actually exist in the real world and I hope that, one day, everyone will approve of such things.
CT fan
It is true that when I first conceived of Charlie Thorne, the idea was to have an older male as the main character.However, since i had success in middle grade, I made it a middle grade story instead, which involved lowering the age of the main character — and since i had already written many male protagonists I felt it was time for a female protagonist.
Okay, thank you Mr Gibbs for taking time to answer my questions! I love your books sm
Your books are the best but can you try to get your TV series on Netflix or Amazon prime or other streaming service’s
Zane
How long does it take for you to respond to a comment also what will the next spy school book be (after goes north)
Zane
Setting this up at Disney + took FIVE YEARS. If either Amazon or Netflix had wanted to do it, they would have. But they didn’t.
Zane Haynie
How long it takes me to respond to comments varies greatly depending on the day.
There have already been two SS books released since Goes North: Goes Wild and Blackout. And the next book in the series, Goes east, will be out in October.
I know you said in a fj book that the main characters would mainly be solving crimes outside of fj but do you have any thoughts plans to return maybe after the wilds have been completed or when dash Ethan violet and summer All go to high school thanks so much
Capybara –
Sure, the series could return to FJ at some point.
Sorry for all these questions! But, have you ever regretted writing something that got published? Or have you ever been really stuck on a scene? Also, is there anything you regret about becoming an author? Do you ever feel like you’re writing only because it’s your job at any time? What do you think is the most enjoyable part about writing?
Sorry if these question are too personal, you don’t have to feel pressured to answer them!
Thanks for your time!
Elaine –
By the time a book gets published, I have been working on it for years, so I have had a long time to think about it. Therefore, there is nothing that gets published that I regret publishing.
And it is not easy to become an author. I spent a large part of my life trying to become one. So I do not regret the decision at all.
I like every part of writing.
Some scenes can be a bit more work than others, but I don’t really get stuck. When I create a story, I only invent scenes that I WANT to write. I don;t come up with scenes that I don’t want to write.
Hello! I know it would be very improbable, but it would be amazing if you would do another sequel book for spy school with another persons perspective or some thing like that. Also congratulations ? on the new Disney series! Thanks!
Leland –
I think it would be somewhat jarring to switch to another character’s perspective in Spy School after 15 books from Ben’s perspective. I believe that a big part of the appeal of tje series is Ben’s perspective.
Hi Mr. Gibbs,
In SS Blackout the book ends on a cliffhanger setting up Goes East. Was it a deliberate choice not to include the usual letter like we normally see at every ending? Could we maybe interpret this as new arc for Ben? Looking forward to the new entry!
Thanks and also why did you stop the moon base alpha series I know you said this earlier in the blog but I couldn’t find it like it would be cool to learn about moon base beta t or maybe science has put into effect what (redacted) tells dash at the end of the series the thing that he has to hold onto for a few years before telling people about it thanks.
Alvin –
If something does or does not appear in a book, then that was a deliberate choice. I didn’t feel like the letter was necessary in Blackout.
That has nothing to do with any sort of new arc for Ben.
Capybara
The post is on the blog. I promise. It shouldn’t be that hard to find.
Can I get a small spoiler about Spy School Goes East.
main –
No author is ever going to give the fans spoilers about an upcoming book. All of us work very hard to write stories with lots of twists and turns and the LAST thing we would want to do is spoil those.
Hello!
I’m a Chinese Spy School fan! I adore Ben and Erica as this awesome partner duo. For future books, it’d be fun to see them handle more daily?life moments alongside spy chaos. Hope you enjoy writing! Would you come visit China during APEC 2026? We’d be thrilled!
Kate
Always exciting to hear from a student in China! I am talking to some schools in China about coming to visit next year — but that is really the only way my visits work. Schools or other institutions have to invite me to come. I don;t think it’s very likely that I would get invited to be part of APEC.
Hi
Is the Shang family involved in Spy School Goes East?
Will there ever be another, “Once Upon a Tim” book?
Richard
I cannot say what might happen in SSGE.
Ryan
I would love to write more Tim books. But my publisher needs people to buy a lot more of them first.
Did you make Dane’s character based of of Dave Grohl’s first band? I also see the pun you made there, switching the D and Br in Dane Brammage. Are you worried that nobody would understand in a different language?
FutureStuart
The name Dane Brammage had nothing to do with Grohl’s first band. It was actually suggested to me by my son when he was very young.
And yes, when I include wordplay in English in my books, I recognize that it will probably not work in translations of the books — but I still like to put it in anyhow.
Hi Mr Gibbs!
I am a Chinese fan of yours! First of all I lovvve your SS series, and I just finished the 10th book. I know you can’t spoil any other detail from your future books, but just so you know, many of my friends likes other characters from the academy of espionage, but then there’s no more academy of espionage. I know you can’t say anything about your future books, but I like them being together and training, so…are you going to make a new kind of academy or school for the other student who are sent back to their normal life?(if you can’t say it, it is all fine with me)
MurrayLovesZoe
First of all, thanks for your kind words about the books. It’s always great to hear from a fan in China.
But… as you noted, I don’t like to spoil anything about what might happen in future books. It ruins the fun of reading them.