A Conversation with Chris Grabenstein

with Chris Grabenstein

We are delighted to welcome back author Chris Grabenstein to Omnimystery News today.

Chris writes books for both adults and children … and we've had the pleasure of reading a few of each! We previously spoke to Chris last year when he published Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers and now he has a new book for young readers being published later this month, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (Random House, June 2013 hardcover and ebook formats).

We recently had the chance to catch up with Chris to talk about his new book.

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Omnimystery News: It seems that most of what you've written to date, whether it be for adults or children, are series books. Is Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library the first of a new series?

Photo provided courtesy of
Chris Grabenstein

Chris Grabenstein: It is … so far … a standalone puzzle mystery. I say "so far" because there are some very interesting characters in Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library who I wouldn't mind visiting again. For me, all books start with the characters. If they still have some "unresolved issues" to work out even though they solve the mystery or puzzle of the book, they have the potential to pop up again!

OMN: You called the book a "puzzle mystery". What does that mean for readers?

CG: There really isn't a crime to solve or a criminal to catch but there are several gigantic puzzles to unravel if my heroes are going to win Mr. Lemoncello's humongous prize. Some have called it a mash up of The Westing Game and Willy Wonka.

OMN: Did you base anything about the main character from your own experience?

CG: Kyle Keeley sprang from a childhood memory I had being the third of five boys: the only time I could beat my big brothers was when we were playing board games like Monopoly or Risk. Games leveled the playing field as flat as the boards they were printed on. This became the driving force for young Kyle. He loves games!!!

OMN: Tell us more about your writing process.

CG: I am more of a pantser than a plotter (as in flying by the seat of your pants). However, with Mr. Lemoncello's Library, the plotting needed to be as intricate as the rules to a complex board game. So I did much more outlining than usual and worked on the book for over two years. I even figured out a way to put one extra puzzle into the book even though it's not in the story (but a clue about how to solve it, is!) We're having a contest for readers who are clever enough to solve that Final Puzzle.

OMN: How did you go about researching some of the details for the plot?

CG: In my author travels, I've had the great good fortune to meet many brilliant librarians. Several consented to be my technical advisors on Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. I thanked my main helpers by naming characters in the book after them! I also do a lot of Internet research and cover the walls of my writing room with images of places and faces that will wind up in the book.

OMN: The premise for the book sounds like it would make for a terrific screenplay. Any thoughts on who you'd like to see play some of the key roles?

CG: I would love to see Bill Murray play Luigi Lemoncello! Or Johnny Depp. Or Will Ferrell!

OMN: Is the book set in a real place?

Kansas City Public Library

CG: Ohio. I'm not sure why. Maybe because that's where my mom and dad met, although I have never lived in the state. It just seems to be the perfect "center" of the country. The gold domed Buffalo Savings Bank that I remember from my childhood in Buffalo, NY became the model for the shell of Mr. Lemoncello's library … crossed with this cool library Google found for me (image, right; click for larger version).

OMN: Where would we find you when you're not writing?

CG: I go jogging most mornings and walk my dog a lot. I also reward myself with one game on my PlayStation after I complete my writing goal for the day. The jogging and dog walking are where I dream up what I am going to write. The PS3 gave me some good video game experience to work with in Mr. Lemoncello's Library.

OMN: How to you engage with your readers?

CG: I have an active presence on Facebook, go to mystery conventions, attend children's book festivals, and, most importantly, do author visits at about fifty schools every year.

OMN: What authors do you enjoy reading for pleasure?

CG: Stephen King. Robert Crais. James Patterson — especially the books he and I write together!

Since I write fiction, a lot of my "fun time" reading is non-fiction.

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Chris Grabenstein used to write TV and radio commercials but now writes fiction for adults and children, winning the 2006 Anthony Award for his first mystery, Tilt a Whirl, and another Anthony and three Agatha Awards for his young adult "Haunted Mystery" series. Currently, Chris and his wife, JJ, live in New York City with three cats and a dog named Fred. To learn more about the author and his work, visit his website at ChrisGrabenstein.com or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
Chris Grabenstein

Kyle Keeley is the class clown, popular with most kids, (if not the teachers), and an ardent fan of all games: board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind the building of the new town library.

Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of the first 12 kids in the library for an overnight of fun, food, and lots and lots of games. But when morning comes, the doors remain locked. Kyle and the other winners must solve every clue and every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route. And the stakes are very high …