Nancy Drew Hardy Boys Web Con Begins Jan. 25

The Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Web Con Blog begins tomorrow: Jan. 25 and runs through Jan. 31. Lots of great submissions and prizes given out daily!!!

Join here.

Jenn:)

365 Days of Nancy Drew Blog Preview 2

Just an update on the first 11 days of my 365 Days of Nancy Drew Blog Party.

So far, here are some topics we've gotten to: We've started discussions on classic Nancy Drew books and have gotten to Old Clock and Hidden Staircase, discussed behind the scenes of Old Clock at the Syndicate, spotlight on Nancy Drew villains, started a project for January--reading/discussing Melanie Rehak's Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her, discussed Bess Marvin, Things We've Learned From Nancy Drew, we've got a trivia contest going on the first 5 classic books for prizes, Nancy Drew 101: Collecting Tips, Nancy Drew's creator Edward Stratemeyer, and we're starting a 4 week Nancy Drew crafting project. Something for everyone.

Come join us and enjoy the nostalgia, read along and discuss the classic Nancy Drew books--we're doing 4 to 5 per month--and much more! :)

Jenn:)

Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys on Today Show

In honor of the 80th anniversary of Nancy Drew, the Today Show via Al's Book Club for Kids, will be doing a book club segment on the first Nancy Drew book (The Secret of the Old Clock) and the first Hardy Boys book (The Tower Treasure). View the segment (it's near the end of the video) in which they introduce as their next books for the club the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books here.

Typically Al Roker has on a kids' book author who talks to Al and then takes questions from the kids--there are around 5+ kids in the book club that appear in the segments regularly.

Well, being that Carolyn Keene and Franklin W. Dixon are not actual authors and since they are focusing on the classic books, none of those ghosts are around anymore! So they are having me on as a fan/expert to talk to the kids about the books.

I'll be flying to NYC at the end of the month. The taping will take place on Friday, January 29th during the Today Show.

I'm really thrilled to be able to go and visit the set and chat with Al and the kids about these timeless classic mystery books!

Hope you all will tune in. They will have video of the segment most likely on the website once it airs.

Jenn:)

365 Days of Nancy Drew Blog Preview

Hi Everyone,

I'm adding a preview of what's going on at my 365 Days of Nancy Drew Blog Party below.

Join the Nancy Drew Blog Party that celebrates 80 years of Nancy Drew all year long with: Classic Nancy Drew Book Discussions (all 56), Nancy Drew Collecting, Behind the Scenes Mysteries, The Characters, Places, and Suspense we all love, Contests and giveaways, Monthly Projects and Crafty Endeavors, and an 80th Anniversary party! I'm going to work my way through classic and modern Nancy Drew within the books and behind the scenes. So hop in your roadsters and enjoy this nostalgia ride back to River Heights along with me!

Click here to join the Blog!

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TODAY'S SAMPLE BLOG POSTING:

A musty closet, a missing will, singing lessons. Let's discuss.

Today we jump right in to classic Nancy Drew with a discussion of The Secret of the Old Clock. Have you read Old Clock lately? If not, I'd recommend reading the first volume in the series--where it all began. Published April 28, 1930, it set the tone for what would become one of the most popular and long running Stratemeyer Syndicate series.

A Few Fast Facts:

Ghostwriter: Mildred A. Wirt Benson

Outline Length: 3 1/2 pages

1st Cover Art Illustrated By: Russell H. Tandy

Synopsis from my website:

When the Topham family inherits all of Josiah Crowley's fortune, something isn't right about the whole affair. Josiah promised other friends and relatives that they would inherit. In Nancy's first case, she searches for a hidden will in order to help restore the inheritances to the rightful heirs. Being locked in a closet by robbers and a narrow escape with an old clock lead to Nancy solving this baffling mystery!

As a first book in the series, it has all the makings of a suspenseful mystery--cliffhangers, a missing will, a menacing band of robbers who lock Nancy in a closet, car chases, and even gunfire in the original version.

If you haven't read the original version, I'd recommend it. Not only is the characterization better, the scenery and setting more descriptive, but it has a real timeless quality to it. Not that the revision doesn't have that same timeless quality to a degree, but it is choppier and includes changes that aren't as interesting as the original version.

Original vs. Revised - 5 Interesting Clues:

1. The revised includes a (dare I say somewhat annoying) little girl named Judy being cared for by the Turner sisters who Nancy rescues at the book's beginning. Boring!

2. What a coincidence! Revised River Heights has a famous music teacher--Signor Mascagni.

3. In the revision, Jeff Tucker becomes a country bumpkin and kids everywhere ran to look up "hornswoggled" in their dictionaries.

4. We can't have villains engaged in a drinking orgy! In the revision, the only orgy was of the eatin' kind!

5. 1930s Nancy was much more bold, brash, and less likely to uphold the law.

3 Mysterious Things About Nancy:

1. We learn that Nancy has a few mechanical skills--she can change a flat tire and work over a boat's motor.

2. She has 2 enemies--The Topham Sisters (Ada and Isabel).

3. She's knowledgeable about many things--having studied Archimedes and psychology in school.

An Important Lesson We Learned From Nancy:

When sleuthing in isolated locations, be sure to tell someone where you're going in case you get locked in a closet and left to starve!

Sleuthworthy Rating On a Scale of 1-10:

6 - I could have used more suspense and more villain foibles, some of my favorite mystery devices. I preferred the original and could have done without the sub plots of singing lessons and the police dog and puppy cliffhanger. I liked the scenes around Moon Lake and the name "Black Horse Inn" lent an air of mystery.

What do you all think? Was it one of your favorites? Did you prefer either the original or the revised? As a first mystery in the series, how does it compare with later volumes?

Jenn:)

365 Days of Nancy Drew Blog Jan-Dec 2010 Sign up!

Hi Everyone,

I'm creating a private Nancy Drew Blog entitled: 365 Days of Nancy Drew, as a Blog Party to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Nancy Drew next year!

There will be postings every day on all kinds of topics from fun facts, trivia, quotes, insights from the history behind the series, book and character discussions, craft projects, guest Bloggers, news and scoops, 80th anniversary items, giveaways and much more! It's like your own page-a-day calendar but more in-depth and insightful.

Members of the Blog can chat in the comments with each other and ask questions for myself and guest Bloggers to answer.

To sign up and view more details click here.

The Blog begins Jan 1, 2010 - postings every day. Everything is archived and you can join at anytime. Once you sign up, you'll be e-mailed an invitation to join the private Blog. Cost is just 12.00 - which is 1.00 per month averaged. I take checks/money orders and Pay Pal--there's a subscribe button right at the website link above to make it easier. The exact details on how to join are on the website link above.

Jenn:)

Nancy Drew segment on Phoenix Fox 10

I don't think I ever pasted the link to the local Phoenix, AZ Fox 10 segment that aired on October 12. Check it out here!

Photo above I took of the reporter and camera guy in front of the collection. Note all the star wars additives in the piece--I'm wondering if the reporter collects that stuff. I still have all my Star Wars action figures from the 70s and some play sets!

Jenn:)

Today Show Picks Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys for Book Club

The Today Show's Al Roker has a book club for kids called Al's Book Club. They pick a selection and club members read the book and then he chats with some of them about it on the show throughout the year. The segment will air on the show early next year. If everything works out, I'll be on the show with Al and the kids talking about Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.

They have selected the first Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books--The Secret of the Old Clock and The Tower Treasure for the kids to read.

Check it out online--"Al's Book Club Goes Retro: 'Nancy Drew,' 'Hardy Boys'."

Jenn:)

Register for the 2010 Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Web Con

Calling All Sleuths! We're kicking off Nancy Drew's 80th anniversary with a spiffy Web Con of Super Sleuth proportions--and including the Hardy Boys too this coming January!

Dates: 7 days - Jan. 25 - Jan. 31, 2010

Location: http://www.nancydrewsleuth.com/2010webcon.html

Registration Cost: $20.00 - Includes access to 7 days of Web Con activities, a daily entry into our door prizes for neat Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys prizes plus a neat booklet put together in the style of "The Sleuth" with glossy color covers featuring some of the submissions from the Web Con and some of your commentary, to be put together and mailed out to all registrants late Feb. 2010.

The Web Con will be organized into 7 daily portions, accessible and archived each day in a special section of my website. The Web Con will be set up like a Blog with postings each day on a variety of topics related to Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.

Some of our contributors besides myself include: James Keeline, Todd H. Latoski, Jennifer White, Jim McNamara, Tony Carpentieri--co-author of Hardy & Hardy Investigations, Mark Connolly--author of The Hardy Boys Mysteries, 1927-1979, A Cultural and Literary History, Geoff Lapin, Lee Temares, Austin Johnson, Michael G. Cornelius--co-editor of Nancy Drew and Her Sister Sleuths, artist Laura Ruby, Dean Burcham, Lea Fox, Vicki Broadhurst, Yellowback Library Editor Gil O'Gara, Penny Warner--author of The Official Nancy Drew Handbook, Janet DeVries, Carol Dierksen, Spencer and Pam Tandy--grand-children of Russell H. Tandy, and Carolyn Carpan--author of Sisters, Schoolgirls, and Sleuths: Girls' Series Books in America. More to be announced in January.

To register, you may send a Pay Pal (Pay Pal id: nancydrewsleuth@aol.com), request a Pay Pal invoice from me, use the "subscribe" button at the website, or send a check/money order to me at:

Jennifer Fisher
P.O. Box 128
Higley, AZ 85236-0128

Jenn:)

365 Days of Nancy Drew Blog Jan-Dec 2010 Sign up!

Hi Everyone,

I'm creating a private Nancy Drew Blog entitled: 365 Days of Nancy Drew, as a Blog Party to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Nancy Drew next year!

There will be postings every day on all kinds of topics from fun facts, trivia, quotes, insights from the history behind the series, book and character discussions, craft projects, guest Bloggers, news and scoops, 80th anniversary items, giveaways and much more! It's like your own page-a-day calendar but more in-depth and insightful.

Members of the Blog can chat in the comments with each other and ask questions for myself and guest Bloggers to answer.

To sign up and view more details click here.

The Blog begins Jan 1, 2010 - postings every day. Everything is archived and you can join at anytime. Once you sign up, you'll be e-mailed an invitation to join the private Blog. Cost is just 12.00 - which is 1.00 per month averaged. I take checks/money orders and Pay Pal--there's a subscribe button right at the website link above to make it easier. The exact details on how to join are on the website link above.

Jenn:)

Harriet Stratemeyer Adams' Nancy Drew Cookbook

From time to time you score a gem on eBay and then there's the icing on the cake! I recently saw a Nancy Drew Cookbook for sale at eBay--signed by Harriet Adams. For those of you wondering who Harriet is, she was Edward Stratemeyer's daughter and she ran the Stratemeyer Syndicate from 1930 until her death in 1982. She wrote quite a few of the classic Nancy Drew books too. The cookbook was put together by a writer for hire and first came out in 1973. I own 2 copies already--a first printing and a library edition. But this one I will treasure the most.

It is signed, "Best Wishes to Barbara From Carolyn Keene (Harriet Adams)"

What was so interesting was some of the materials included with the cookbook--the seller had received these items when he had purchased it originally. These included several newspaper and magazine cutouts of articles such as the obituary piece shown below published in 1982 after Harried passed on. What was so neat was the letter written by "Aunt Barbara" telling the story of how she came to get the book signed by Harriet.

For Barbara, it was a great privilege to visit Harriet's home. She considered Harriet an idol, having read the Nancy Drew books as a child. A friend of Barbara's was Harriet's neighbor. Barbara spent the night at Harriet's and got to visit with her and tour the home as well as visit the offices. Harriet took down her personal copy of the Nancy Drew Cookbook and autographed it to Barbara. This letter will be reprinted in an upcoming issue of The Sleuth.

Jenn:)

2009 Book Hunting for Nancy Drew #5

I was recently in Albuquerque, NM for an art show of my mom's and we did a little book hunting before we left town! At the antique shop on Central Ave called Classic Century Square, I hoped to check out this little book room they had that was always full of tons of series books. When I got there, the room was closed--and they'd moved out only to start their own bookstore. But while I was there, I discovered a lot of old magazines--they had back issues of Family Circle and Woman's Day. I found the 1980 Family Circle issue with the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Christmas story that Harriet Adams had written.

When I got home, I found that this was a better copy than my own, so I've now upgraded it:

Next was a stop at the bookstore, Simmons and Simmons, located at 4015 Central Ave NE, 505-294-9495.

They did have quite a bit of series books on hand as you can see below (click on these for larger images):

I found a book club yellow spine picture cover of Bungalow mystery that I thought might upgrade my own, but mine was just a tad better, so will list this at my website. More books:

Then we stopped in at Don's Paperback Book Exchange at 1013 San Mateo Blvd. SE, 505-268-0520.

They kept most of their Nancy Drews behind the counter. Mostly new flashlight pcs but a few older ones too--a first printing of Mysterious Letter picture cover if anyone's interested in pretty good shape:

We also stopped in at Title Wave Books, always a good stop. I didn't see many Nancys but they had quite a few Hardy Boys and some odds and ends. They're located at 1408 Eubank Blvd NE, 505-294-9495.

Then we were off to our last stop at Page One, which has a rare books room too. A regular children's section too and also a vintage series book section right outside the rare books room. Located at 11200 Montgomery Blvd, 505-299-6766.

Some shots of the books outside the rare book room:

Quite a few Three Investigators too:

Inside the rare books room, they had tons of old Cherry Ames in dust jackets, for anyone interested in these! I didn't check the prices though.

So I came back with the Family Circle issue to upgrade mine and the following--one of the Danas upgraded my white spine Dana of the same:



I was also able to upgrade my #100 Digest paperback, A Secret in Time, so I was excited about that. The Peggy Lanes were on a sales table for 1.00 each.

Jenn:)

Clues to Nancy Drew Convention Planning #1

A Nancy Drew convention planner you ponder? Yes, it's a delightfully mysterious hobby to say the least ;)

I thought it might be interesting to start highlighting a bit more of what I do here at the Blog, when it comes to planning the annual Nancy Drew Sleuths conventions. You may not realize, but there is a massive amount of time and planning and attention to detail that goes into each and every year's conventions, so this Blog might be a fun way to give you all some insight and let you share in the planning!

The gist of what we do: we walk in Nancy Drew's footsteps quite simply. We pick a location where a classic Nancy Drew book was set (the first 56 hardcovers in print from 1930 to 1979.) We spend several days doing a myriad of activities that Nancy and her chums did in the book, try to throw in some book hunting if feasible, and some free time for people to get out and explore the setting we've chosen. We have a big convention day (or two) with speakers, activities, and a raffle to benefit a local library. Capping off our event is a mystery dinner party with a Nancy Drew gift exchange.

Next year's 2010 convention is our 10th anniversary and it's also the 80th anniversary of Nancy Drew. We're also inviting Hardy Boys fans to come join us. And we're doing two events--land on Merritt Island, FL and a cruise to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral. So it's a mixed bag of themes! Want to attend? Register here!

So where are we at in the planning, you may be wondering? Check this out:

1. We've got less than 5 months to go - the events begin on April 6, 2010.

2. We've still got more cabins to sell on the Nancy Drew cruise to reach our quota, deadline on that is Dec. 1st to book.

3. I've only got about 25 registered for land early, though that registration deadline isn't until Jan. 15, 2010 and people are notorious for registering at the last minute ;) I expect 50 to 100. The real mystery in all of this is WHERE ARE THE HARDY BOYS FANS??? I think we need Frank and Joe to provide a few clues. Pretty much zero response from that fan community. I'd like to discover The Secret of What Cave They're Living In so I can better advertise this shindig. ;)

4. We've got our hotel, activities, and basics set up. Most of our speakers are lined up. We've got a nice program organized!

5. I have yet to get very many licensees of Nancy Drew (those companies that sell products featuring Nancy Drew) on board to attend, sponsor or help out--and many have never even responded to my e-mails :( Frustrating, you're probably thinking! So am I...

6. I need to do a final read through of the basic books that are our themes so I can finalize all those fun little activities and mystery theme stuff that makes the conventions oh so much better!

7. I need to decide on whether local advertising will even be a possibility or not. If you don't have $$$ for advertising, how can you advertise the event to get more people to attend. It's a dilemma, no doubt, and I'd like to find a way to provide advertising to get the locals out to the events!

So, we're left with less than 5 months for me to whip it together as I always manage to do, I don't have a lick of advertising money or sponsors, and I'd really like to see a bit more professional courtesy with responses being more timely...

On the flip side, this is probably going to be one of our best conventions ever! I try to top the last each year and this year in Vegas was really great, I think. Went off without a hitch and lots of fun to boot. Next year, we'll be thoroughly enjoying sand, surf, and sleuthing, there's no mystery about that!

Jenn:)

Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Convention: April 2010

Want to attend a Nancy Drew convention? Here's your chance! The Nancy Drew Sleuths fan group is having their 10th annual convention in Florida, April 2010 and inviting Hardy Boys fans to join them!

2 Conventions:

April 6 to 10 on land: Merritt Island, FL outside of Orlando

April 11 to 15 cruise to Bahamas from Port Canaveral

Click on the above links to read all about it, learn how you can follow in Nancy's and the Hardy Boys' footsteps, and perhaps solve a mystery or two!

Jenn:)

Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Cookie Crisp Mystery Paint Books

I've nearly completed my collection of the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys mystery paint books that came in select boxes of Cookie Crisp cereal. All I need is the Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys and The Visitors From Tomorrow to complete my set! If anyone has one to sell, please contact me: nancydrewsleuth@aol.com.

The set included:

* Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys Meet The Mad Scientist
* Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys And The Secret Cave
* Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys And The Sea Monsters
* Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys And The Eerie Castle
* Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys And The Cursed Jewels
* Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys And The Visitors From Tomorrow

Along with the booklet was a strip of paints that you could use to color them in. This was back in the good old days when most toys came in the box of cereal and you got instant gratification! When you didn't have to send in 400 UPCs from the box plus shipping and handling for some rinky dink toy that probably cost 4 cents to make in China ;)

As a kid, I didn't really eat Cookie Crisp, so apparently I missed this promotion--plus I would have only been around 5 when they were available in 1978 and not into Nancy Drew yet. But I loved (still do!) Cap'n Crunch and all the toys that came in that cereal! View more images of these booklets at my website.

Here's the front of the box:

Jenn:)

Nancy Drew Tandy Shadow Ranch goes to Toledo Library!

MYSTERY SOLVED!

Exciting news! The Tandy Shadow Ranch painting that was auctioned earlier this year is going to the Toledo Public Library.

If you missed this great event, it was discussed here and can be viewed at my Blog by clicking here.

Apparently the high bidder was the library in Toledo through donor funds! I had no idea. The library also houses a super collection of Mildred Wirt Benson's books and series. The painting is being unveiled today and will be on display for awhile before it gets sent off to be restored.

Read about it in the Toledo Blade.

Jenn:)