The 39 Clues Advanced Agent Training Webcast

It was a great day at the Scholastic headquarters on Monday because five of The 39 Clues authors joined together for the Advanced Agent Training Webcast. (If you missed it, it's not too late. You can watch the video here.)

First, each author described some true facts discovered while researching the books. For example:

• The Catacombs are a real place in Paris and were really used to store the bones of dead bodies when the graveyards got too full. EWW!
• Gordon Korman wanted a car chase in One False Note, but there are no cars in Venice so he detailed it a boat chase instead!
• Australia contains more things that can kill you than anywhere else in the world. (I bet that's going to make Book 6 really exciting!)

Then the Advanced Agent Training began. The authors asked questions to Clue-hunters across the country who had 2 1/2 minutes to come up with the answers. You can still download the questions if you want play along at home. Some of the questions were hard!

Finally, each author gave away a little piece of top secret info. To find out what, you'll have to watch the video. Oh, okay, here are some hints . . .

• Have you noticed that some pages in the books have little symbols instead of page numbers? Rick Riordan explained what they mean.
• Peter Lerangis, the author of Book 7 revealed the title and cover. That got the studio audience ooh-ing and aah-ing!
• Book 6 author, Jude Watson, announced that a major character dies in In Too Deep. She doesn't say who, but you can find out by reading the book. It's available now!

The 39 Clues Alternate Title Writing Prompt

If you have been reading the books, playing the game, and collecting the clues, then you probably know a lot more clues than I do. I know some of you have gathered tons of clues already because there is huge discussion about the other clues on The 39 Clues Message Boards. I have only read the books (1-5 so far) so I only know the first five clues.

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't yet gotten the first five clues, then don't read any more of this blog post! I'm about to give them away!

The 39 Clues Book 6 and Live Webcast!

It's an exciting week for The 39 Clues fans. Book 6, In Too Deep by Jude Watson will be in stores on Wednesday November 3. Book 5 author, Patrick Carman, revealed the next location when he was here for the August Live Chat on THE STACKS. (It's Australia in case you missed it.) But that's all we know about the new book! I can't wait to read it!

AND today at 1:30PM (ET), there will be a live webcast with ALL 5 authors. It will be an intense 1-hour Advanced Agent Training with puzzles, codes and challenges to test your skills.

1:30-2:30pm (ET) today — The 39 Clues Advanced Agent Training Webcast

Join the webcast.

(I know it's during the school day, but try to convince your teacher to participate. It's totally educational with worksheets and everything!)

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Trust No One in the Hunt for The 39 Clues!

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

Have you been hearing about The 39 Clues but don't know how to get started? Or have you started your hunt for the Clues, but want FREE cards to add to your online collection? You can now jump start your Clue hunt by visiting The 39 Clues game site and entering this code in the My Cards section: TRUSTNOONE. You'll be rewarded with 5 FREE digital cards!

It's never too late to join the hunt! Don't forget the secret code: TRUSTNOONE

See you on the hunt!

—Whitney, The 39 Clues team

The Making of The 39 Clues™ App!

I'm Sam, producer of The 39 Clues Madrigal Maze App for the iPhone™ or iPod touch®! We know a lot of Ink Splot 26 readers who are 39 Clues fans so this blog will give you a sneak peek into the new app. When we started working on The 39 Clues app, we knew we wanted to tell a different side of The 39 Clues story. If you read the books, you know about the Madrigals -- the shadowy group that thwarts the Cahills in their search for the clues. But what is it like to actually be a Madrigal? Our app explores the idea of becoming part of this secret organization.

The app puts you through a recruitment test to become a Madrigal. As you'd expect, it's not easy. You get locked inside a labyrinthine Aztec pyramid and have to survive all kinds of perils in order to get out. The game is a test of wits and strategy as you attempt to successfully navigate a series of 39 mazes inside the pyramid. As you progress, each maze gets more challenging. 

We wanted a combination of pulse-pounding action and brain-teasing puzzles, just like the books. You know how Amy and Dan are racing speedboats through the canals of Venice one minute, then solving an elaborate puzzle the next? Our game has the same feel. On one level you're weaving through a pack of guard dogs, and on the next, you're figuring out the right path that won't trigger deadly boulder traps in the maze. You'll have to be very quick and very smart to make it all the way through. Some mazes even have time limits on top of all these obstacles. 

But how hard is too hard? When the game was almost done, we tested it with kids and adults and adjusted a lot of the levels. We wanted to make sure that the early and middle levels were fun and not too hard for the casual gamer. We won't lie to you, though – some of the final levels are very tough. We'll be interested to see how many players make it all the way through! 

The final ingredient of any great 39 Clues story is secrecy, and we worked with the books' editors to work in some good secrets. If you make it to a certain level of the game, you'll unlock a secret Madrigal Encryption Key on www.the39clues.com. We don't want to say too much, but if you're interested in the Madrigals, you'll definitely want to get that Key before you finish the game! 

— Sam, Scholastic Interactive Staffer

LIVE CHAT! The 39 Clues Author Patrick Carman

Breaking News about The 39 Clues -- the next live chat will be with Patrick Carman, author of Book 5: The Black Circle!

WHEN: Wednesday, August 26, 6-7 PM E.T.
TOPIC: The 39 Clues!

The worldwide hunt continues. And to celebrate August's release of Book 5, we'll have the author of that book, Patrick Carman, as a special guest! Join in the chat to get the latest intelligence on Amy and Dan's quest to unlock the most powerful secret the world has ever known. Who knows what Clue leads will be revealed!

And if you're new to the race for The 39 Clues . . . it's never too late to join the hunt! Visit The 39 Clues book site to find out all about the books, the games, and even some great prizes* you could win.

—STACKS Staffers

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. For complete details and official rules go to www.the39clues.com/info/prizes

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UPDATE: 8/26 — Thanks for joining today's chat! We'll be posting the transcript soon, and also announcing the date for our next chat, where YOU will get to decide what books we talk about!

UPDATE: 8/31 — Check out the transcript here, and find out where Book 6 will take place! Details about the next chat will be announced here on September 2.

39 Clues Live Chat Today!

If you love The 39 Clues, then don't miss the live chat with Patrick Carman, author of Book 5: The Black Circle!

WHEN: Today, 6-7 PM E.T.
WHERE: The STACKS (Click here at 6 PM for instructions on how to join the chat.)

Get ready for the chat by reading Mr. Carman's The 39 Clues Agent File (PDF). This top secret document will brief you on the important details you need to know about the author of Book 5, like what family branch he is in, and what he likes to do when he is not writing or conducting surveillance on the Cahills.

Check it out and we'll see you later at the chat!

— STACKS Staffers

The 39 Clues Book 5 Is Here!

Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for another wild ride because The 39 Clues Book 5 is finally here! Everything about this book has been top secret, from Amy and Dan's next destination (I'm not telling. You have to read the book!) to the book cover itself. THAT at least I can show you. In fact, here is the author Patrick Carman himself posing with his copy.

And speaking of Patrick Carman, don't miss the live chat with him on Wednesday August 26 from 6-7 PM E.T. He will be right here at the STACKS talking about The 39 Clues. Who knows what Clue leads will be revealed!

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Writing The 39 Clues: A Jude Watson Exclusive

People always ask me if I have a writing routine. I do -- every morning I get up right before sunrise, and I go right to the computer. It's dark and quiet. Even the birds are still asleep. I like the feeling that I'm the only one awake in the whole world.

Until The 39 Clues came along, that is. Didn't I mention in my previous blog entry that things got complicated?

It happened like this: I grabbed a mug of tea, like I always do. Opened the file marked "39 CLUES #4." Stared at what I'd written so far after a grueling day of work the day before:

CHAPTER ONE

Brilliant, right?

That morning, I thought I heard a footstep outside. I held my breath. No, just the leaves skittering on the porch, I told myself. We'd been warned by our editors to be careful, but there was no need to get spooked. I started to type.

If Amy Cahill had to list what was wrong with eleven-year-old brothers, their habit of disappearing would be . . .

Another noise. Definitely not leaves on the porch this time. Definitely . . . footsteps. I got up and went to the front hallway. Slowly, something was being pushed under the frame of the door.

I bent down and picked up a plain brown envelope.

JUDE WATSON
39 CLUES

No return address.

I flung open the door. The porch was empty. I stepped out. Nobody there. Nobody on the street, nobody walking away. Spooky.

Exclusive from The 39 Clues #4 author, Jude Watson

Beyond the Grave hits stores today! Normally I'd love to be there, watching as readers scoop up copies of the book I wrote. Pretending to be just another fan, maybe opening up the cover and yelling, "Wow, this looks AWESOME! I'm going to BUY IT!"

Something low-key like that.

But not now. I can't tell you where I am, but I can tell you that I'm not at a bookstore. Who knows who would be hanging around, waiting for me to show up?

It all started a year ago at a top-secret meeting at the Scholastic offices. Korman, Lerangis, Watson. We sat at a table while our Scholastic editors invited us to join Rick Riordan in writing a brand-new series called The 39 Clues. We all signed on that day. Sounds like fun! we said. Can't wait to get started! we said.

What the editors didn't tell us was that we weren't just authors. We were selected because we, too, were members of the Cahill family, even though we didn't know it at the time. We were now Clue hunters as well. Before I knew it, I was knee-deep into the mysteries of ancient Egypt.

I can't tell you everything that happened. That's on a need-to-know basis. What I can tell you is that my calm, orderly life—the life of an ordinary writer in a small town—has been changed forever.

I've seen things and done things I never expected—just like Amy and Dan. So I'm just warning you—the hunt for the 39 Clues just might change you.

Stay tuned for further posts. Right now I have to change my location. The hunt for the Clues continues.

—Jude Watson, author of The 39 Clues Book Four: Beyond the Grave

Photo of Jude Watson © Paul LLewellyn

Author Jude Watson reads from The 39 Clues Book 4

Hello, Clue Hunters! The last time you heard from us, we were busy cracking codes with 39 Clues author Peter Lerangis as he traveled across the United States on The 39 Clues Double-Dealing Tour. Now we're gearing up for the next adventure! Are you ready for the next book? Only a few more weeks until The 39 Clues Book 4: Beyond the Grave goes on sale!

What will happen to Amy and Dan in Egypt? What will be revealed? And what are they doing in a mummy's tomb?!?

Watch this video from the author of Book 4, Jude Watson. She has a special message for you, followed by a sneak peek from Beyond the Grave.

Don't forget — Book 4: Beyond the Grave goes on sale June 2nd!

— Whitney, The 39 Clues Team

Peter Lerangis unveils the next 39 Clues mission!

Someone pinch me -- is it really, truly over? Whew! I started The 39 Clues Double-Dealing tour on the day The Sword Thief came out -- a blustery, wintry March 3rd. I just finished on Saturday, April 18, in the glorious outdoor Free Library Festival in Philadelphia, PA, under the bright sun and surrounded by cherry and pear blossoms! In between, I've jogged on the rocky Pacific Coast around San Francisco, chatted with students under palm trees in Los Angeles, been mobbed by happy kids at the most amazing school in San Diego, frozen my fingers in snowy Chicago, and walked the cobblestoned streets of Philadelphia. I met an aspiring writer on Long Island whose mom agreed to postpone vacation so she could attend a book store visit, been surprised by family and old friends everywhere from Connecticut to California, and heard more interesting personal stories than I could ever relate in this space. Altogether . . . 68 events! I've been astounded by the popularity of The 39 Clues coast-to-coast, and I've met some amazing fans whom I will remember the rest of my life.

Okay, the really important question is — did I find my clue? As you all know, I've been digging around in the New York City subway, meeting exotic agents hidden behind trees (and captured on film), and consorting with Russian operatives in dark Chicago alleys. I worked especially hard on my Chicago clue, and I want to thank all you readers who have helped me with it.

Today, I am posting my latest and final episode. Watch this one closely, because there's an exciting announcement. I don't want to spoil it, because it's important to actually see the . . . oh, okay, IT'S ABOUT MISSION 3!

Fellow hunters, a clue is on the line. We are in this together, tour or no tour! As I go to work on another 39 Clues book, my deepest gratitude goes to the fans who have helped with the hunt, and especially to the thousands of awesome kids (and teachers, librarians, and booksellers!) whom I've met over the last month and a half. But our work is just beginning. So goodbye for now, but I'll see you all on the hunt!

Cheers,
Peter Lerangis, Author