Gordon Korman, the prolific author of children’s books and young-adult fiction, visited with Lower and Middle School students in late October, offering a lively recap of a creative, bountiful career spanning almost 47 years. 

Author of more than 100 books for children, Korman told boys that a writing assignment from a Middle School English teacher became his first published novel and launched his career.

This Can’t Be Happening at MacDonald Hall was first published in 1978, when Korman was only 14.

“I wrote my second book in high school, to show I could do it again,” he said. “It turned into my summer job and then my job!

“If someone could have visited my seventh grade class and whispered in the ear of 12-year-old me that I would one day be working on book 100, that would be mind-blowing, actually!”

Korman said that the words “what if” are the two most powerful words for writers, but good writing also requires research, personal experience, and keen observation of the world.

Korman is the author of Swindle, Ungifted, and Restart — among many other titles. Old School, his 105th book, comes out in January.