Welcome, readers, to an exclusive GVN interview with the acclaimed author James Ponti, the creative mind behind the thrilling novel “City Spies: Mission Manhattan.” In this conversation, we delve into the captivating world of espionage and adventure that Ponti masterfully crafts in his latest work. Join us as we explore the intricacies of “City Spies,” unraveling the secrets behind Mission Manhattan and gaining insights into Ponti’s inspiration, writing process, and the thrilling challenges faced by his team of young spies. Get ready for an intriguing journey into the heart of espionage fiction with James Ponti as your guide.

Hello James! Thank you so much for making time to speak with Geek Vibes Nation about the release of the upcoming fifth book in the City Spies series, Mission Manhattan. Could you start by telling our audience about yourself and your career? 

Hi! My name is James Ponti and I write spy/mystery/adventure fiction for middle grade readers. My writing career began in kids’ television writing for Nickelodeon and Disney Channel and I spent a lot of time working in tv while dabbling in books. Now I’m just in the world of books and I love it. City Spies is my third book series and this fall the Sherlock Society will kick off my fourth. 

What can audiences expect in the latest installment of the City Spies book series? 

The goal is that each book in the series delivers a globe-trotting adventure, a twisty mystery, relatable family drama, and plenty of humor. In this edition, the team starts off in Venice protecting a teenage environmental activist named Beatriz Santos, who’s known as Queen Bea and whose followers are called the Swarm. Without giving too much away, the team is launched on a mission that takes them to London, Washington DC, and New York City. 

Given that you’ve been writing about this group of characters for so long, do you find it easy to get into their heads? Do they still surprise you during the writing process? 

I think I have a very real sense of each of the characters which makes writing about them so much fun. I don’t have any trouble getting into their heads, but it does take a while for me to get into the voice of each book. That’s partly because the main character switches from book to book and that personality then impacts the way the story unfolds and how it’s told. The part that surprises me is that I’m always reminded that writing a novel is difficult. I keep thinking that this many books in it will suddenly get easier. It doesn’t.

Could you share with us the most rewarding part of writing this installment? Are there any challenges to writing a long-running series? 

This was the first book I wrote post pandemic and no longer having to work around television production schedules. So, it was incredibly rewarding to be able to focus on it completely. It was also fun. I visited all the locations and got a sense for being in Venice. I snuck around the abandoned Iranian embassy in Washington looking for a cool way to incorporate it into the plot. My wife, editor, and I got a behind-the-scenes tour of the New York Public Library, which is where the climax of the story takes place. 

There are some very specific challenges to writing a series that come with the fact that each book has three different types of readers. There are readers who are avid fans and are ready to go from page one. There are readers who’ve read the series as it’s come out over time and need to be reminded of what’s gone on so far. And there are readers who are brand new to the series and need to have everything explained to them so that they’re not lost. The tricky part is that you need to take care of each one without boring or confusing the other two. 

Could you share some of your inspirations for series with us? How do you go about the worldbuilding process? 

I’ve always loved spy stories. I’ve always loved mysteries. And I always loved teams. I wanted to combine them all into one world. I also come from an atypical family in that my brothers have a different father than I do, but none of us ever really met our fathers. And they were born in the US, while I was born in Italy. So, this idea of what really constitutes a family is at the heart of all my writing and is the main throughline of the City Spies books. 

The world building has been the most fun part. Years in TV gave me a good idea of how to come up with a group of characters and a situation that should be ripe with potential to go in a bunch of different directions. For me, the key is taking this fantastic situation and trying to ground it into as much reality as possible. I do tons of research. In addition to reading a great deal of non-fiction about spies, I’ve interviewed people including a former ambassador who worked with intelligence people overseas and the former deputy director of the CIA. (My lucky break is that his wife is a librarian who really loves my books.) 

It was announced last year the Amazon MGM Studios purchased the rights to the City Spies books and plan to turn it into a film franchise. Will you be involved in the adaptation process? 

I worked in film and tv long enough to know that just because something’s in development doesn’t mean it will ever see the light of day. That said, it’s very exciting to think about. When I’ve talked to the development people at the studio and when I met with the producer, I told them that I will obviously do anything they would like to help, but that I would stay out of their way and let them do what they do. I spent enough time as a script writer to know that a book and movie are very different animals. And, I am more than busy focusing on the book side of the operation. 

Many book fans are cautious when it comes to adaptations of their favorite series. What should City Spies fans keep in mind as the adaptation process continues to move forward? 

Books and movies are very different. The positive news is that everything that I love most about the series is everything that attracted them to the project. Also, they’re not looking to make a kids’ movie, just as I don’t aim to write a kids’ book. What I mean by that is that I don’t believe in dumbing books down. And that’s the exact same approach that they’re taking. Also, no matter what happens on the film front, the books will stay the same and fans will be happy as the series continues. 

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? 

People will tell you to write what you know and there’s truth to that. But I would like to recommend to always write what you love. Write about a real conflict that you care about. And write it in your voice. That is what your story is and your story is one that only you can tell. 

As a practical type, I highly recommend reading your writing out loud. Hearing it does miracles for making it flow. 

Can you tell us anything about what you’re working on next? 

This year, I’ve moved to two books a year. The Sherlock Society debuts in September, so at the moment I am switching back and forth between them. I’m doing last minute touches on Sherlock Society #1, writing City Spies 6, and brainstorming ideas for Sherlock #2.

Where can readers connect with you online? 

My website is jamesponti.com. I built it and run it on my own, so sometimes my attention is drawn away, but I try to keep it up to date. On social media you can find me on X at @JamesPonti and on IG at @JamesPontiBooks. 

City Spies: Mission Manhattan goes on sale everywhere books are sold on  February 6th. 

About The Book

In this latest installment, The City Spies head to the Big Apple when a credible threat is made to a young climate activist who is scheduled to speak in front of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. With Rio acting as alpha and a new member in their ranks, the team’s mission to protect a fellow teen takes them on an exciting adventure in, around, and even under the greatest city in the world as they follow leads to the outer boroughs, the UN Headquarters, and even the usually off-limits stacks that extend deep under the main branch of the New York Public Library.

About The Author

James Ponti (he/him/his) is the New York Times bestselling author of four middle grade book series: The Sherlock Society following a group of young detectives; City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award–winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists, and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy–nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. Find out more at JamesPonti.com.