I have received a lot of messages from a lot of people wanting to know about this book. So I will not draw things out any longer. Here is the new cover and title:
And here is the synopsis:
When the seasoned adult spies of the Hale family mysteriously disappear on a mission to China, Ben Ripley and his fellow spies-in-training head east to discover what happened to them—and find themselves up against a villainous plot that will take them from the skyscrapers of Shanghai to the ancient ruins of the Great Wall to the remote regions of the Gobi desert.
It will be available on October 6. Click here to pre-order it! (Although a lot of sites may not have it ready for pre-order yet. They will soon, though.)
Now, here are the answers to a few questions I am sure I will get:
That’s it? That’s all the information you are going to share with us?
Yes. The less you know about a book before you read it, the more fun it is the read. I don’t want to spoil anything.
Can’t you tell me anything else? Even if I ask nicely?
Sorry, no. And if you send me an email or post a comment asking for more info, I will simply direct you back to this page.
Will there be an exclusive edition of this book with bonus content?
Probably, although that isn’t guaranteed yet. If there is, I will post about it.
Now that you have written Goes South, Goes North and Goes east, will there be a Spy School Goes West?
I don’t know. Strange as it might seem, I write the titles of my books last, not first. I wrote this book because I wanted to set a book in China, not because I wanted to call a book ‘Spy School Goes East.’ That title just ended up working better than any of the other options.
Pouya –
First of all, let me say that I do not agree with this war and do not support the government of my country for initiating it.
Unfortunately, that makes it rather difficult to even begin to try to figure out how to tell a story set in Iran. The first thing I like to do when researching is visit the country I am writing about, and I have no idea when I would ever be able to visit your country. Beyond that, it is very politically tricky to figure out how to tell a story set there, and since the politics are constantly changing, I don;t know what will be going on there in a few years when the book would come out.
So basically, I am not against the idea of setting a book in Iran. I just don;t know how to do it at this time.
I am your Greek fan again.
If you can’t see the plan I sent you, please inform me so I know
Thanasis –
I cannot let people post links on my website. If you want to connect directly to me, please use the email address on this site.
It looks like that link involves ChatGPT. As an author, I am opposed to the use of ChatGPT or any AI in any creative endeavor.
Mr Gibbs,
Will you ever have a Spy School plot where the protagonists lose? Huge fan of all your works, and I love the different explorations and journeys that the characters go on, but the excitement is a bit spoiled, because the main characters’ victory is always guaranteed. Would you ever do a 2-part book where the heroes lose in the first but then come back stronger in the second?
Thanks, John Pork
John Pork –
I write escapist fiction. There is enough bad news in the world today. Yes, my heroes always win, but that is theoretically a good thing. I wouldn’t want to read a mystery where the detective fails to solve a case, or to see a movie where the good spy fails and the bad guy wins.
That said, I have, on occasion, written a book where things end on a cliffhanger and you have to wait until the next book to see how the heroes survive. I have discovered that most people do not actually enjoy that.
Hi. Do you know what the last book of this series will be? I mean like the number. Also, I think that you should release a spy school files kind of book. You could put things like fact filrs about thr characters, pictures, Info about the school, and even bonus content. Please consider my idea and email me if you decide to do this. Thank you, mem
mem –
I do not know how many books will be in the SS series.
There is a lot of bonus content like you are asking for in the SS Entrance Exam.
Are there going to be any sad deaths in this series? I know how Joshua Hallal is SUPPOSED to be dead. (still a bit skeptical though) Are there going to be any deaths of characters that we people know and love??
I personally LOVE the books and I would say keep it up!!
lilspyguy –
There is enough bad stuff happening in the world. I don’t want to write sad books where characters that people like die.
Dear Stuart Gibbs,
Can you make an embarrassing scene in one of your spy school books where Ben and Erica are infiltrating an enemy base and are hiding in a room filled with enemies, and Erica farts a thunderclap and gets caught while Ben escapes?
This would be a blast to read, and I hope you respond,
Jake
Jake Pickering
While I am not above fart humor, that is not the sort of thing I can imagine happening to Erica. If anything, Erica probably watches what she eats for days before an infiltration to make sure that she is not gassy.
Dear Mr Gibbs,
I am so excited for your new book. Will there be any special edition with sprayed edges or something? Where is your favourite vacation place? I love all your books. You inspire lots of people every day. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely, SS Superfan
SS Superfan –
I have not been told if any of my books will get sprayed edges. But I will probably continue doing special editions for Barnes & Noble with bonus content.
There are too many wonderful places to visit to pick just one. But anywhere i can see animals in the wild is great.
Dear Mr.Gibbs,
I have read all of the spy school books and loved everyone of them. I have recommended the books to so many people and they have all also loved them. I am stoked to read the 14th book!!!
From, John
John
Thanks for your kind words — and for telling other people about my books!
Mr Gibbs, was just wondering if Trixie will possibly become a spy in the future? She is fully capable of becoming a full-on spy.
cousin of ben ripley
I cannot reveal what will happen in future books.
Will you ever combine Charlie thorn and ss
KTD
I have no plans for a crossover between those series. I believe they take place in different universes.
Do you have future SS books planned out?
Bryan –
Yes, I plan all my books out at least a year ahead of time. Usually more.
Mr. Stuart Gibbs,
I’m so sorry for publishing a website (the link).
Your Greek fan.
Dear Mr. Gibbs,
Your books have been a pleasure to read. In fact, they inspired me to write my own book! However, I am yet to finish and publish. Do you have any tips or tricks on writing, and could you take me through the process of publication?
Thanks, James W.
MrSelfDestruct
I have an entire page of writing advice on this website.
Thanks a lot, sir!
I looked into the videos, and I did see one thing about the process of publication: rejection. However, I have known about that for a bit. Is there sort of a step-by-step you could possibly provide?
Thanks, James
MrSelfDestruct –
The process of publication itself is very simple: An author works with editors and copyeditors doing multiple drafts, while design specialists design the layout and illustrations. Once the book is ready to go, it is printed and shipped.
How did you get the idea to make graphic novels
Chuck Dougherty
My publisher and I saw that more and more kids were reading graphic novels and thought it would be fun to convert my books into GNs.
Dear Mr. Gibbs,
I just wanted to let you know that I have been reading your books for over 6 years now, and I love your idea o set your book in China! I just wanted to ask will there be a Charlie Thorne 5?
spyschoollover –
I have an idea for a CT5 but do not know if I will have time to write it.
Dear Mr Gibbs,
I’m from Singapore, and my brothers and I have been massive fans of your books since we were young children! Even though I’m older now, I still consider Spy School to be one of my favourite book series. I commented on one of your previous blogs years ago about whether you would consider coming to Singapore for a meet and greet, but you mentioned that Singapore is too far and has limited people. May I please check if this is still the case? We would love to meet you!
Siya –
I would love to visit Singapore, but I have to be invited there by schools or book stores to do a meet and greet and that has not happened yet.
I am glad to learn that you and your family are still enjoying my books.
Dear Mr. Gibbs, do you think you might make an SS spin of series set in the future, involving maybe like Erica and Ben’s kids as junior spy’s, or something like that? By the way, I LOVE your books, they are amazing and me and my sister love reading them together.
Wy-o
It is possible that there could be a spin-off series some day. But I cannot say for sure.
Hi Stuart Gibbs I’m a fan from Iran just like pouya you can ask about our country and find out about it without visiting it you can even picture the last protests that we did which led to approximately (maybe even higher)30000 innocent people get killed by the government (even though I know that this idea might be too risky for a book ) but you can do it without coming to our country just like you did in your white house ( I think it was the sixth book? ) book and again thanks for considering an idea for writing a book about Iran
Huge fan sina
Sina –
It is certainly possible to write about a place that I haven’t been — but I think it would be very difficult to write about Iran with only secondhand information. I’m afraid I wouldn’t do the country justice. But I will keep thinking about it.
Dear Mr. Gibbs,
Could there be a potential Spy School story in which Cyrus has an emergency mission to tend to and a new adult spy is hired to help out with the missions to take his place and turns out to be a mole working for a rival organization to the CIA and double crosses Ben and the rest of the team? I think it could be an interesting plot for a future Spy School novel.
Dear Mr. Gibbs,
Would Ben and Erica ever break up? I love their relationship, but could something go wrong on a mission where they have an argument and break up?
Smokescreen –
There is potential for just about anything to happen in future books — but I can’t accept ideas from readers. And there has been plenty of betrayal by adults in this series already,
Smokescreen –
Lots of things could go wrongful Ben and Erica. But I can;t say what might happen in future books.
Dear Mr. Gibbs,
First of all, I am a BIG FAN of yours. i am having trouble with submitting my final answer into the spy school entrance exam box. what I got is classified of course, but there needs to be 1 more box. can you make that happen, please? Thank you for your time!
ssgavin –
The entrance exam entry has always worked for me. If you are a box too long then something isn;t right with your answer.
Hello Mr. Gibbs.
My name is Kiarash. I am a fan of the Spy School book series. Your book is very interesting. I have a request to you; if possible, please include Iran in the story. I am from Iran and I would like my country’s name to be in your book. I also have a bookstore website and I wrote a book called Cow Madrid!
Goodbye
Hello Mr. Gibbs
As you may know, in Iran there is a severe censorship on your (and your colleagues’) books for grades A to C (7 to 17), to the point where I read up to book 13 and didn’t even notice the relationship between Ben and Erica. For example, in book 9 (Spy School at Sea), the last page (you know it yourself, but I won’t reveal it) they used the word smile instead of the main word or a thousand other times in the book Spy School Ski, 21 pages of your book were missing! XD or they used the word colleague instead of girlfriend and… Anyway, if it’s possible, I would like you to tell me where I can get and read the PDF of your books. My second suggestion is about taking the story of your future books to Iran (we have a strong intelligence service in Iran – this is my experience! – and we have many attractions, as well as valuable antiquities that anyone might think of stealing, and important carpets and 31 ethnicities!). You can visit this address for more information: https://www.visitiran.ir/en
(I know you have written at least 2-3 of your future books.)
(By the way, we have a big community that can help you)
Thanks, hope to read it
– Hamed
Kiarash –
I am definitely interested in including Iran oil a story at some point, although that is obviously tricky given the current state of affairs between our countries. Generally, I like to visit a country before writing about it but it may be quite some time until that is possible for Iran.
Sorry but I have to delete your website from your comment. I can’t have links from people I don’t know in the comments of my site.
Hi Hamed –
It is very upsetting to hear about the censorship. Believe it or not, you and your fellow readers might have more power to change that than me, as you can complain to the publisher, and perhaps they will listen to you. Sadly, since I can’t read your language, I have no idea what has been censored until I hear from someone like you.
Sadly, I cannot make PDFs of my books available. I am open to the idea of a book about Iran. If you would like to communicate directly with me though, instead of using the comments, use the email on the FAQ page of this website.
Hi Mr.Stuart –
you are right.
Good luck.
-Your big fan, Kiarash
Hi Mr. Gibbs,
Do you have any inside jokes in the spy school series that might not be apparent to readers? I know that names like Dane Brammage are meant to be humorous. Also, what goes into your brainstorming when creating other names for characters? Do you associate some names with people from history, literature, or people you know that might in some way connect to the character? (other than the Hales) For Ripley, are you alluding to the talented Mr. Ripley? Why did you choose names like Hallal and Hill?
Pops
I put hundreds of jokes into each of my books. I have no way to know which ones people will get and which ones they will miss. It really depends on the reader.
A lot of brainstorming can go into each name. I was thinking about the Spy School series for years before I wrote it, and playing around with names the entire time. Some might be historical references. Others might be references to people I know personally.
Ben is named after a historical character — Ben Franklin — and a fictional one: Ellen Ripley from the Aliens series. I wanted ben to be as smart as Franklin and as resourceful as Ripley.
Murray Hill is named after a section of New York City. Erica Hale is named after Nathan Hale. I gave Joshua a name that was kind of a combo of their names to indicate the blend of good and bad between all of them.
hi and hello, but i do have i teensy weensy question. I have all the books in the series and thus know about ss goes south and north. will you make a west? lol