That’s right folks. I have teamed up with Barnes & Noble yet again to create an exclusive edition of one of my novels!
This one has a special cover, an annotated map of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda (home to the mountain gorillas), Teddy Fitzroy’s safari checklist and plenty of bonus animal facts. And, as usual, it costs the exact same amount of money as the regular book.
Hi Mr. Gibbs!
Your books mean so much to me and I can’t wait for Ape Escape. Two questions.
1. I gotta ask, are there plans for a funjungle 11?
2. Is there an animal you love but can’t/haven’t been able to include in your books just based off content and ability to create a story in the funjungle universe
Andrew –
I have ideas for FJ11.
There are hundreds of animals that I love but haven’t been able to use yet.
Oh ya. I can’t wait to read this book . Mr Gibbs , how do you have all the time to read all this fan mail digital and physical ? And write books? You really are a busy man.
– Zyrah
Zyrah –
I have to carve out time every day to respond to digital.
Since most of your readers are growing up with the books (I started reading these books in 5th grade and I’m a senior in high school now. I check in once a year and catch up on the books that have been released) I was wondering would you ever do a time skip for the spy school team or the Fun jungle squad. Like a year and a half- 2 year training arc or will you keep them around 14 for the rest of the series. I think a time skip would be awesome where Ben can hone his physical skills and be more of unit out there. Thanks for making my childhood, as im becoming a adult ive realized how impactful this series has been on me growing up and I appreciate you for writing these.
Flakeygarlic –
First of all, I am glad to hear that you have continued to enjoy my books. However, even though my readers always are growing up, my series still attract new, younger readers. As such, I can’t really age my characters up too much, as that would move the books into the realm of young adult. The only author I know of whose reader base was big enough to justify such a move was, of course, JK Rowling. Even Rick Riordan and Jeff Kinney can’t do it.
The best I can do is write books that hopefully continue to appeal to my readers as they age.
Hi Mr.Gibbs,
I hope you are having a wonderful day. I was wondering if you ask Anjan Sarkar to make the weapons they use in the story realistic. Thank you!
DCrazyWinner
The way a graphic novel works is: Anjan doesn’t tell me how to write and I don’t tell him how to draw. Anjan has already illustrated five books in the series, and he has done a great job with all of them.
Making the weapons more realiztic at this point would be jarring without making everything else more realistic, and changing the look of the series would be jarring to people familiar with it.
Hey Mr Gibbs,
Is there any particular reason you made Summer a little over a year older than Teddy? Or was it just a random age you picked.
I love your books and am super excited for Ape Escape!
Hi Mr. Gibbs! Not sure if you remember, but I mentioned that I applied to UPenn, and wanted to let you know that I got in! I’m very excited.
Did you play any sports or lay any instruments in college? I play the bass clarinet and tennis!
Thank you!
Will there ever be an alternative cover for belly up to match the other ones?
Also, who are you rooting for the super bowl?
Emma –
I made Summer a little bit older than Teddy because I wanted her to be a bit more mature than Teddy was.
Andrew –
Congratulations! I played the drums in the marching band for a bit at Penn. Although I left to join Without A Net, the improv troupe (which still exists.)
If you have any interest in writing, check out Kelly Writers House, which is an amazing Penn organixation (which did not exist when I was there).
LetsGo!
The Belly Up cover is too iconic to change.
And giving a super bowl fave is always dangerous. Let’s just say that I have lived in Denver and now live in LA. (You can maybe figure things out from there.)
Wait, that’s crazy! I didn’t know that about you. Do you still know how to play percussion? What kind did you do?
Evan –
Sadly, I haven’t played the drums much in a long time. I have been thinking about getting a drum set again though. In the marching bad, I could play any percussion needed, although when you’re a freshman, they put you on bass drum.
Hey Mr Gibbs , random question today is do you play volleyball ? I really love volleyball . And I finally learned how to jump serve ! I play for Fusion near a school and it is located in a church ( which is pretty awesome if you ask me ) and my team is going up against a really good team which is really intimidating for me because my team isn’t really good ball passers but I couldn’t say the same about me because I am to . Your books made me interested in becoming a spy ( I know this sounds crazy ) I asked my friends if I became one what would they think about me . They all said that women should never be able to become something that men are supposed to be . Now they sound crazy.Anyway sorry for this long message and I hope you enjoy volleyball as much as I really do. And keep on spreading positivity and you really mean a whole bunch in my life .
– Sincerely Zyrah Paniagua E.
Zyrah –
You are in no way the first person for whom my books have sparked an interest in becoming a spy. There are actually spies at the CIA who were first inspired by my books. (I have now met some of them.) And there are lots of women who work at the CIA. Anyone who says that women can’t do what men is living in the wrong period of history.
I do like volleyball, but I am not that good at it.
Mr. Gibbs,
Do you have a favorite character from any one of your books? If not, then do you have a favorite book from any of your series’s?
Noah
Noah –
I don’t really have a favorite character or a favorite book. I have now published 42 books (and written a few more) and created several hundred characters and there is just no way to say that one stands out above all the others.
Hi Mr. Gibbs!
I love your books especially Charlie Throne and Space Case. Speaking of Charlie Throne, will you be writing anymore books in that series. I know that you are super busy with Fun Junge and Spy School(super excited for Ape Escape!) but another book in the Charlie Throne sarise would be super duper awesome!
Best, Evie
Evie –
I am not sure if there will be another CT book or not. I have an idea but perhaps not the time to write it.
Dear Stuart Gibbs this is Jax again, I now understand your reasoning behind not taking suggestions from readers, but today I have another question. Will there ever be a end to the funjungle or spy school series?
Dear Mr.Gibbs,
Thank you for always responding to your fans. It is very impressive that you are able to do this while writing amazing books!
Jax –
The FJ and SS series will absolutely end one day. I am just not able to say when yet.
Hi Mr. Gibbs. Do you think you will know when you are going to end the funjungle or spy school series? Like will we get a heads up before the last book or will it just kind of be a post-decision after a book release? Thank you!
Dear Mr. Gibbs
I was wondering why Svetalnas surname is Shumovsky. I think that surnames in Russian are different for men and women. Shouldn’t it be Shumovskaya?
Sorry if I made some mistakes. I’m not from an English speaking country.
Hello!
I do not know when I will end either of those series. I don’t think it will be sudden. I will try to give my readers a heads up about when it happens.
Zo?ka
You are correct that Russian surnames can be different for men and women. However, sometimes, creating accuracy like that can be confusing for American readers, and I have to go for clarity instead.
Hey Mr. Gibbs, I am kinda bored so I came here to talk to you!
Ok. Here is a quiz.
Can You Pass A CIA Recruitment Exam? ( 4 questions answers are at the end )
Question #1. What is a Dead Drop?
A) A subtle exchange of items with a fellow spy in public or in private
B) A scheduled support operation for a spy to escape or transfer bases
Question #2 At 15 yards away, Is a gun or a knife more useful, assuming neither of them have been drawn yet?
A) A gun
B) A knife
Question #3 Which of the following places would be the better area to stab an enemy?
A) Back of the leg
B) Under the left shoulder
Question #4 Of the following poisons, which is more fatal to humans ?
A) Botulinum Toxin
B) Cyanide ( CN )
Answers #1A, #2B, #3B,#4 A
How did you do?
Zyrah –
I got an A on your test!
Dear Mr. Gibbs,
As March approaches swiftly and your new FunJungle book is set to be released, I hope you find some time to relax amidst your growing success and numerous projects, as your SS series continually impresses, inspiring me to prioritize reading over electronics. Thank you for your kindness and engagement with your readers.
Sincerely,
Zyrah Paniagua
Zyrah –
Thanks for your kind thoughts.
Hi Mr.Gibbs, This is Zyrah ( as you might already know…) and I had a thought that came to mind . What do you think your fans look like? I already know what you look like but you don’t know anyone else.Something to describe what I look like is 5’1 dirt brown hair with my eyes matching perfectly and was born on Thanksgiving ( Nov.27 ) . Also I turn 13 this year ( which is really cool to me.) I have glasses. I can speak 3 languages almost fluently ( Arabic, Spanish, Japanese ). I am one of my 6 siblings ( I am the second oldest .) Although , those may not have been very good details what do you think I looked like? – Zyrah Paniagua.. : )
Zyrah –
I have probably heard from well over 5,000 readers in some form or another since I started writing. Maybe twice that many. I can’t really try to imagine what every one of them might look like.
It is amazing that you speak those three languages fluently. That makes you good spy material!
How come in Belly UP, Doc’s daughter is reffered to as suzie, but in loin down it’s lily?
AV
Sometimes, when authors write two books many years apart, we make mistakes.
Hi Mr.Gibbs, I know the Super Bowl was pretty…well interesting. In my opinion that was the worst Super Bowl in history. I actually read your SS series the most of the time there. I watched the first minute and then just started reading your books. I only watched half time because those are always SO good.:)Who did you go for? I didn’t really go for a team . What did you do on Super Bowl Sunday? Well hope you have a good rest of your day.
– Zyrah
Zyrah –
On Superbowl Sunday I went to the beach and then watched the game. I recognize that many people might not have enjoyed the game, but I did.
Where are new books when you need them?
Hi Mr. Gibbs,
I started reading SS and FJ in fourth grade and still catch the new books each time you release them (I’m now a senior in college). As an aspiring author–more on the poetry end of things, but still–I just want to thank you for not only keeping me reading, but also inspiring me to write.
My one complaint about this release is as follows: the entire top shelf of my bookcase is filled with your work and because of this book, I’ve run out of room. I suppose it’s time for me to invest in a new bookcase:)
With much admiration, ZP
Zoe Parizek –
I am very flattered to learn that I have inspired you to write. Thanks so much for sharing this.
Sorry that you need to get a new bookshelf!