Ron Roy explores the alphabet and beyond
Ron Roy had written 25 books, most of them picture books, "When I came to realize that what I really wanted to write were chapter books," recalls the author. In 1996 he sold a mystery about an eight-year-old boy summering with his family on the coast of Maine to Random House. While the book itself had modest success, it did succeed extravagantly in alerting Random House to Ron Roy as a potential mystery author for eight- and nine-year-old readers. "I happened to have a couple I had written recently and one was The Absent Author." Surprisingly, the author confesses that he never saw it as the "A" book in a mystery series.
"They said they really liked it and asked if I had another," he remembers. "'Come to New York and let's talk about a series,'" they urged. Now, Ron Roy, along with Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose have made it through the alphabet. Though the A to Z Mysteries have concluded, they have managed to grow beyond their alphabetical confinements. "We agreed it would be three books each year until we got to the end of the alphabet, but by the time we reached the end, they did not want me to stop." That is how the Super Editions began, including the newly released The Castle Crime.
Who doesn't like a heist caper? "The queen sometimes goes to one of her castles by herself," points out the author. "This gave me the idea of her driving to Windsor Castle for her birthday party and bringing along some of her jewels with her." He adds, "The bad guys planned the heist very carefully just outside the gates of Windsor Castle." In the new Super Editions, the trio of junior sleuths has aged to nine or ten. When Roy's editor suggested they do something for younger readers, the result was the new Calendar Mysteries featuring the now 12-year-old crime-solvers in supporting roles to their younger siblings, cousins, and such. "I'm just finishing up The December Dog which is the final book but one because we'll be doing a New Year's Eve book as well," reveals Ron Roy.
The Capitol Mysteries have won legions of fans as well. The author gets lots of emails from families who visit Washington DC and explore the buildings and monuments that form the backdrops to the books. "I did not realize that the capitol and the presidency are taught in second, third, and fourth grades." The author notes that each book includes back matter that teachers may find especially helpful.
While he may not have remembered when the presidency is taught, the former fourth grade teacher certainly enjoys writing for children at that age. "That is when the students make a leap from being occasionally babyish to being almost adolescent," he explains. "I found when I was teaching that they were much easier to talk to and plan with." He also emphasized the importance of reading. "I was one of those teachers who insisted that, twice a day, everyone should drop everything and read for pleasure." He slyly adds, that this is what gave him the idea to try to write a children's book.
So what will come next? Ron Roy doesn't seem in any hurry to leave. "I'm such an advocate for children's reading," explains the author. "I have this theory that if you are a child and you love to read, many of life's problems are already taken care of because reading is the key that opens so many doors." Ron Roy confesses that "Even though I could retire now, I still love doing this because I know that when I finish a new book, it will make kids happy."
Meanwhile, The Absent Author has taken on a life of its own. The book has been selected by Theatre Works and has been adapted as a musical that will tour the country. "I'm thrilled because I never would have believed that Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose would be singing to each other," chuckles Ron. Best of all, "They have promised me I can be as involved as I care to be."
The alphabet is just the beginning for this ever-present author.
-- Interviewed by Ellen Myrick, December 2013.
