With Edward Stratemeyer

"Hi! My name is Nancy Drew, and I am one of the characters thought up by the brilliant Mr. Edward Stratemeyer. I am pleased to say that he is here today with me and has allowed me to do an interview with him. Welcome Mr. Stratemeyer."

"Hello Nancy."

"Mr. Stratameyer, do you have any idea of the sucsess of your series Nancy Drew?"

"No, I died in 1930, the year that the series was released."

"Oh, that is too bad. The series was very popular. In the beginning years they were published at one per month. In 1993, 80 million copies were sold, and were printed in 14 different languages."

"Oh my, I had no idea!"

"Yes, I thought you would be surprised! What other books did you write during your career?"

"I wrote alot of series, 125 to be exact. All with characters much like you Nancy. Some of my works included the Rover Boys, Dana Girls, Bobsey Twins, the Hardy Boys, and Tom Swift."

"Wow, you sure did alot! Did you ever have any help writing all those books?"

"Why yes I did. I started a company in 191 0 called the Statemeyer Syndicate and hired writers to finish my books after I outlined them. My writers wrote under many pen-names, including Carolyn Keene for Nancy Drew, and Franklin W. Dixon for the Hardy Boys. They were not allowed to reveal their real identity."

"Neat! Such mystery! Who was your inspiration? What made you want to write books?"

"Well my favorite author as a child was Horatio Alger. I always wished I could write like him. In 1899 Horatio Alger died and I was given the chance to complete some of the works that he didn't get to finish."

"That must have been a very exciting time for you! Being able to write as your favorite author must have been a great privilege, but also I can imagine it being a great responsibility and a lot of work."

"Yes, it was very exciting, but it was also sad that he died."

"What was your first peice of published writing?"

"It was a story for the magazine Our american Boys called "Harry's Trial" in January of 1883."

'That's cool I have never read it but, I am sure that it was a wonderful piece of work."
"Well that just about raps up my interview today, I sure learned alot! Thanks Mr. Stratemeyer!"

"Good-bye Nancy, it was a pleasure to answer your questions."