#stratemeyer syndicate

[driveintheaterofthemind]

Dana Girls #011: The Clue Of The Rusty Key by Carolyn Keene

Stratemeyer Syndicate (1942)

[uwmspeccoll]

Publishers' Binding Thursday

This week's Publishers' Binding Thursday book goes out to all the train lovers and wannabe train engineers out there! The book is Ralph on the Overland Express by Allen Chapman, a penname for American publisher and children's author Edward Stratemeyer. Stratemeyer was the creator of many well-loved book series including The Bobbsey Twins, Tom Swift,��The Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew. He was also the found of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, which published these and other series using a number of pseudonyms from 1899 to 1987. The books were largely written by ghostwriters, with Stratemeyer himself writing some or providing plot outlines until his death in 1930, when the company was left to his daughters. This book was published in 1910 by Grosset & Dunlap, who were the primary publishers of the Stratemeyer Syndicate books.

Ther cover features a steam engine in black with grey steam coming out the top and rolling behind it on brown bookcloth. The title and author's name are printed at the top of the binding. The spine has the train's light on it with the title, author, and publisher.

My favorite thing about the book is the advertisements for other Grosset & Dunlap books in the back. One is for the "Outdoor Chums" series, featuring titles like "The Outdoor Chums on a Houseboat, Or, the Rivals of the Mississippi."

View more Publishers' Binding Thursday posts.

-- Alice, Special Collections Department Manager

[obsidian-sphere]

So it would seem that the CW is just about done with its "Arrowverse" programs associated with DC Comics and is transitioning to the "Drewniverse" and characters from the old (very old) Stratemeyer Syndicate.

Having started with Nancy Drew, which referenced the Bobbsey Twins, they now have a Tom Swift series.

With that being the case, which Stratemeyer characters should be next to get a CW series?

[krash-8]

lookin for mods for a Nancy drew/hardy boys/whatever the fuck else Edward stratemeyer got himself into server, dm krash_8 on discord if you'd be interested pls !!!

[bargainsleuthbooks]

Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak #BookReview #MarinerBooks #NancyDrew #CarolynKeene

I'm stalled on volume 66 of the #NancyDrewMysteries but took the time to listen to the audiobook of Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Womens Who Created Her. Click the link in my bio for my full review #Bookreview #NancyDrew #CarolynKeene

I’m MIA this week due to matters beyond my control, but luckily, I had this book review in the bank for just such an occasion. From Goodreads: A plucky “titian-haired” sleuth solved her first mystery in 1930. Eighty million books later, Nancy Drew has survived the Depression, World War II, and the sixties (when she was taken up with a vengeance by women’s libbers) to enter the pantheon of…

[fabiansociety]

yagami got hired by a masked writer who churns out books across multiple genres at an impossible pace — like, clearly impossible, multiple new books per month — and as soon as I saw the case file i knew this was going to be some stratemeyer syndicate bullshit

i don't know how much american mystery culture is in japan (none? some?) but given the nancy drewness of amasawa and the mrc, i'm really curious if this kind of literary syndicate is an ongoing thing, or if this is a shout out to the stratemeyer, or if it's all just a coincidence

[elgallinero]

Practice English

share.libbyapp.com/title/2175068

[monstercollection]

The first 3 Hardy Boys came into the public domain today, but if you read any edition published after 1959, these will not be the versions that you read.

The Stratemeyer Syndicate, which published The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew would update their old titles every few decades to make the stories and characters more appealing to teens. They also went back and edited out racial stereotypes.

So if you’re doing something with these books, make sure you’re basing it on those early editions.

Hopefully the Stratemeyer estate doesn’t pull a “Sherlock didn’t respect women yet” and say that if you’re not depicting the Hardy Boys as a bit racist you’re violating copyright laws.

Edit: Penguin Random House now owns the rights to the series (aside from the 3 in the public domain), not the Stratemeyer Syndicate.

[philleegirl]

I am so glad Diane Duane said something but this idea is completely unhinged! I mean has the OP ever read a book published before 2000?

This is a very American experience below but still.

Growing up my grandmother had the "Bookshelves of Growing Up" as I called them. On the bottom shelf were the Honey Bunch books. First published 1923 and written by various authors under the penname of Helen Louise Thorndyke these were marketed to new readers in the 4-8 range and ranged between novella and novel length.

The next shelf was the Bobbsey Twins books. Again this was a series written by various authors under the name Laura Lee Hope and published from 1904 to 1992. (OMG I can remember my excitement of standing in the book wholesalers in Ocean City, NJ holding that first new book of the revival series in 1987 at 8 years old. I begged my mom to go back to the hotel so I could call my mom-mom and read the first chapter to her. I would have read the whole thing but phone calls from hotels were expensive!) These were for young children at first but evolved to more the 7-12 range and included mysteries and crimes.

On the next shelf was Nancy Drew (1930) and The Hardy Boys books (1927). Once again a series of books written by various authors under the name Carolyn Keene and Franklin W. Dixon respectively, these books were about teenagers and intended for the 12-18 (at a stretch) range and featured more grown up themes. They were probably also the most well known Young Adult books in the United States for decades and continued to be written into the 2000.

All of these books (and others my grandmother didn't like) were part of the Stratemeyer Syndicate that published books for children of various ages from 1899!!! The various ages most definitely included young adults and in fact most of the characters developed by Edward Stratemeyer himself were targeted to that Young Adult age range.

According to my grandmother this was the proper way of evolving with your reading. Unfortunately for her both my mom and I evolved a little too fast. My mom never really read any of the Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books but skipped right to Agatha Christie and James Mitchner. While I did read all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys she owned and a few of the revival series in the late 80s and 90s, I also was reading all of Earl Stanley Garner's Perry Mason series and Nero Wolf at the same age.

So, like, the thing you have to understand is that prior to the mid-2000s, the "Young Adult" genre as we now know it didn't exist. The expectation was that you would graduate to the adult aisle of the book store at, like, 13-14. This worked because the only people still reading long form novels into their teens were precocious bookworms who were better read than their parents.

Harry Potter changed all this. The success of the Harry Potter books convinced the publishing industry that selling full length novels to normie children was a business model. The thing about the Harry Potter books, though, is that at least for the early books, the target audience was a bit younger than what we think of as the YA demographic; tweens, rather than teens. Now, the publishing very much wanted to keep all these normie kids buying books into their teens and beyond, but the previous model of treating teens as functionally adults for marketing purposes would not work; there was simply no way that normie parents were going to let their normie kids read fully adult novels where the characters, like, do drugs or have unprotected sex and stuff. So, in order to be allowed to market to the teen demographic, the YA genre was created.

However, teens have an inherent interest in reading about sex and violence and drugs, and so authors who are able to incorporate these kinds of themes into their YA novels in a discrete way such that it flies under the radar of the moral guardians are met with success. But this is a precarious tightrope to walk. Not enough "mature" themes and the teens will loose interest, to much or to blatant and the teens won't be allowed to read it. And so, it should come as no surprise, that the first person to successfully navigate this tight rope was a Mormon housewife with a vampire fetish.

[leads-view]

Case Studies: Famous Books and Notable Works by Ghost

Ghostwriting is the delicate craft of writing on behalf of someone else, often without direct recognition for the effort. Though submerged in anonymity, the influence of ghostwriters has augmented various literary works and other media throughout history. This blog post presents a collection of famous books and notable works created by talented ghostwriters.

1. The Nancy Drew Mystery Stories

The classic Nancy Drew mystery series, originally published under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene, is a product of a host of ghostwriters commissioned by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, a book-packaging firm. The first author, Mildred Wirt Benson, penned 23 volumes, establishing the character's iconic personality and style. Subsequent ghostwriters continued to carry the mantle, maintaining Carolyn Keene as the author and keeping the series alive for generations.

Key takeaways: Ghostwriters can preserve and extend a literary legacy.

2. The Hardy Boys Series

Similar to Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys series also emerged from the Stratemeyer Syndicate. Initially published under the pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon, Leslie McFarlane authored the first sixteen volumes, and others followed, continuing the enduring success of the books.

Key takeaways: Teamwork between several ghostwriters can ensure a series' longevity.

3. The James Bond Series

Ian Fleming, the creator of the iconic James Bond character, penned twelve novels and two short stories. After his death, several authors were entrusted to continue the legacy, including John Gardner, Raymond Benson, and Sebastian Faulks. These skilled writers expanded the collection, authored some well-received storylines, and perpetuated the enigmatic James Bond mystique.

Key takeaways: Ghostwriters can contribute to a franchise while retaining its essence and authenticity.

4. The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries - TV Adaptation

When the original book series transitioned onto the small screen, the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries TV show used ghostwriters for many script ideas and episode storylines, effectively relying on these skilled writers to execute a faithful adaptation of the beloved stories.

Key takeaways: Ghostwriters' versatility extends from print to screen adaptations.

5. The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Journalist Alex Haley was the driving force behind penning The Autobiography of Malcolm X. While the book is based on interviews with Malcolm X, Haley's masterful narrative structure and writing style transformed the collection of thoughts and events into an impactful and insightful work.

Key takeaways: Ghostwriters can collaborate with a subject to co-create a meaningful and engaging autobiographical piece.

6. The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew and The James Bond Series - Graphic Novels

With a firm grip on both print and screen, the franchises have also seamlessly infiltrated the world of graphic novels. Different authors and ghostwriters contributed in shaping these adaptations for a new medium and audience.

Key takeaways: Ghostwriters are adaptable, with the ability to generate content tailored to various media.

Conclusion

Ghostwriters have indelibly shaped numerous influential works and adaptations across diverse media, proving their significance in the creative landscape. Although often uncredited, their unique contributions deserve recognition and praise as their talents breathe life into enduring narratives and beloved characters. Ghostwriters remain indispensable figures in the literary and media world, their value evident in the case studies shared above.

[spokenrealms]

The Hardy Boys: The House on the Cliff

The Hardy Boys: The House On The Cliff By Franklin W. Dixon Narrated by Gary D. MacFadden This is the second of three Hardy Boys books published in 1927 by the Stratemeyer publishing syndicate, which developed many other well-known series, including Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, and the Bobbsey Twins. Teenage sleuths Frank and Joe, the sons of famous detective Fenton Hardy, are back with another…

[alrederedmixedmedia]

Alredered Remembers Edward Stratemeyer, American publisher, writer of children's fiction, and founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, on his birthday.

[thestorycontinues]

The Outdoor Girls books, by Laura Lee Hope (Stratemeyer Syndicate)

I was... maybe 7 or 8 at the time? Am now in my 50s, and I'm still reading books like that!

REBLOG this with your FIRST fandom

[inklingofadream]

I just finished my latest nonfiction bedtime book, which was Paperback Crush

It's a very fun tour through the themes and esoterica of 80s and 90s scholastic book fair fare, the things "we all" remember (more or less; many of the same series were still going strong in the 00s)

And I cannot emphasize enough. How little I am included in "we all"

Not a single book until the chapters on "Danger" and "Terror" when we get to books about ghosts, kidnappings, etc

The stuff she talks about at the beginning of every chapter/section? Establishing the candidates for first YA novel or the beginnings of children's books about the genre to hand?

Like 70% hit rate. The long list of Stratemeyer Syndicate detective stories? Not only was I into Nancy Drew, with her tens of thousands of reviews per book on Goodreads, and Trixie Belden, with her thousands, I read (thrift store find) The Dana Girls, who are lucky to have a book break 100 ratings or reviews, and who have shot up fabulously in popularity because when I was a little kid I could not, for any price, find additional books on ebay

Haven't read a single book in the "Romance" section... except of course for the supporting point for romance being a big driving force in all eras of the history of English-language publishing, Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded. For a class, sure, but I do regret renting that one instead of buying my own, and will probably end up doing so eventually (Its first half-ish could go up against any "Dark Romance" pull of today, except for how the author absolutely does not know that). It's literally the only one I read as an adult, though.

Sicklit YA, especially then, has a lot of vibes of Victorian etc era stories about angelic, virginal heroines driving others to self improvement with their illness, it's true! What's that? Your example? What Katy Did! Not merely a moderately-obscure pull in which the heroine suffers a debilitating spinal injury and eventually is cured when she cheers up a little (lol. lmao. yes really, with a side of "not being a tomboy" to bolster that), it is of course. Unironically. Second grade Ink's actual answer to "what's your favorite book?"

Not even in a hipster way. I didn't even realize it was that old until, in something of a pattern, I was old enough to find out from Wikipedia that it had sequels. Which, in something of a pattern, I could not lay hands on- but more because the original was an audiobook in our local library than difficulty of acquisition, they're public domain now. By the time I was up to the physical book version I had been gifted a vintage copy of What Katy Did At School :)

So Like. If anyone finds a book covering through a nostalgic lens the literature from the childhood of those growing up any time between 1850 and 1970 let me know, I guess!

[krash-8]

hi so I finally made myself make a Nancy Drew/hardy boys discord server for all medias about them, reaction roles aren't quite finished cuz I'm sleepy but it's pretty much done and open for joining!! yes I am aware this is probably dead minus the Nancy drew TV show I haven't even seen (welcome anyways lol, along with the hardy boys show and whatever else you want so long as it's about stratemeyer characters) but shhh let me dream

[bargainsleuthbooks]

The Triple Hoax (Nancy Drew Mysteries #57) by #CarolynKeene #NancyDrew #BookReview #SimonandSchuster #WandererBooks

#NancyDrew books continued well after the original 56 were released with that familiar yellow spine picture cover. But do the new mysteries match up? #TheTripleHoax #CarolynKeene #teensleuth #teendetective #girlsleuth #girldetective #bookreview