FLR: How did you get involved with The 39 Clues series?

LSP: I was invited by the editors of the series, Rachel Griffiths and David Levithan, to write one of the books. I was delighted by their invitation, but also surprised that they had thought of me,  because I haven't written series books and also because action/adventure isn't my usual genre.

FLR: Did you find the predetermined plot points and structure of writing for The 39 Clues easier or harder than when you have more autonomy? In what ways?

LSP: Both. It was harder in that I was conscious of keeping things consistent with what the other authors had done. The flip side was that they had also done a lot of my work for me! For example, I didn't have to spend time establishing character traits; they were well established in previous books. It was really fun to read the other books and think about how Book #9 would fit into the puzzle.

FLR: Which of your characters would you most like to invite to dinner and why?

LSP: Miss Alice from Storm Warning. She could tell some great stories. And I think she would get along great with Crane-man (from A Single Shard) and Archie (from Archer’s Quest).

FLR: You’ve said that your dad was determined to have an American life, and you were born in Illinois and grew up feeling completely American. What is it about your Korean heritage that has inspired so many of your books?

LSP: When I became an adult, I realized that my Korean heritage IS a part of my American life. I knew a lot about Korean culture because of my family, but I didn't know much about the country itself. Learning about Korea is key to understanding more about myself and my family. For me, writing is a way to learn about things, so I began reading and writing about Korea, and I want to share what I'm learning.

FLR: What is the best part of being a writer?

LSP: Getting paid to do work that I love.

FLR: Your favorite thing to do as a child was read. What books were your favorites when you were a child?

LSP: Too many to list! But three titles I cite as being influential are: Roosevelt Grady by Louisa Shotwell; What Then, Raman? by Shirley Arora; and I, Jean De Pareja by Elisabeth Borton de Trevino.

FLR: Did having a haiku published at age nine convince you pursue a career as a writer?

LSP: Good gracious, no. I was thrilled to have my work in print, but I didn't think about writing as a career until I was well into my thirties. The idea was always sort of 'there,' in the back of my mind, but I had many other jobs to pay the rent. Even now, I consider myself incredibly lucky that writing has become my career.

FLR: What do teachers need to do in the classroom that will promote their students’ writing abilities and support young writers?

LSP: Encourage reading for pleasure. Provide time to read in all forms: aloud, together, alone, in groups...without the pressure of assignments or tests. This used to be done by families at home, but now, unfortunately, reading is not part of the culture of far too many families. Reading great books cultivates a love of the written word—the number one prerequisite for good writing!

FLR: What advice do you have for our budding “novice” authors?

LSP: Read a lot. Write a lot. Be curious about the world around you: Observe, ask questions, ponder, wonder. Discover your passions, learn about them, and write about them!

FLR: What are some accomplishments that you feel have helped you become a better writer?

LSP: Looked at in the right way, everything that happens in my life has the potential to help me become a better writer. But perhaps the most important things are passion and discipline. I developed a passion for books when I was as a child because my father took me to the library. And I learned discipline from both my family and from sports (I was a gymnast when I was young). No one succeeds at everything they try, but giving up is a guarantee that you won't succeed!

Browse our list of Linda Sue Park's titles.