Public Domain Day 2026: Enter Nancy Drew

The original text versions of the first four Nancy Drew books enter the public domain today. 

1.  The Secret of the Old Clock, 1930
2.  The Hidden Staircase, 1930
3.  The Bungalow Mystery, 1930
4.  The Mystery at Lilac Inn, 1930

The first four Nancy Drew books in first printing copies from 1930

The entry of the first four Nancy Drew books into the public domain means that anyone can reprint the original versions of those books.  No one needs permission, and they won't have to pay licensing fees—so long as only the first four Nancy Drew books in the original text version are used.  Derivative works based solely upon the first four Nancy Drew books can also be created.

Certainly, some rogue publishers will reprint Nancy Drew books not already in the public domain or will create new stories that use components of Nancy Drew that remain under copyright.  There is no way of preventing this from happening.  All we can hope is that Simon & Schuster remains vigilant.  I am certain that they are interested in protecting their trademark of Nancy Drew.  I don't know how aggressive they are about searching for infringing content, but I believe they do issue takedown orders when they are made aware of infringing items.

Last year, I saw these AI-produced "Nancy Drew" books on Amazon.

The books were very short, barely enough to be considered books.  I could tell from the Kindle previews that the books had been created by AI.  The listings have since been removed, but I took a screen capture of the first page of one of the books.  Here it is.  (Click on the image in order to see it better.)

It reads well enough, but it is generic AI content that is not worthy of purchase.  Even though these books have been removed, others will show up in the future.  It will never end.  

This is why Nancy Drew books entering the public domain is not of great concern, in my opinion.  With AI, people have already been infringing.  The only change is that many people will now reprint the first four books, but buyers must decide whether the books are worth purchasing.  

In my case, I will not purchase any modern reprints of the first four books, unless they are very special.  I understand that leather-bound editions are to be released later this year.  I will almost certainly purchase those, but I will ignore nearly all other reprints.  

Low-effort reprints of series books have been available for many years.  The Mystery of the Fire Dragon has been in the public domain for years due to a failure to renew the copyright.  That's why this low-effort reprint exists:

Whenever it pops up on eBay, I ignore it, just like I ignore all the flashlight editions.  I plan to ignore all the new reprints as well.

Another twist is that slasher or adult movies based on Nancy Drew could be made.  

From Public Domain Day 2026 Is Coming: Here's What to Know:

[I]t's an especially strong year for female detectives—both young and old.  The earliest Nancy Drew mysteries from 1930 hit the U.S. public domain on January 1, 2026, as does the first outing of the genteel Miss Marple in Agatha Christie's The Murder at the Vicarage.  Maybe they can team up to solve the mystery of why Hollywood is only interested in using public domain characters to make schlocky horror films.

Indeed.  In 2023, the horror film Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey was released.  Something similar could happen to Nancy Drew, although there are restrictions since the derivative works must be based solely upon the first four original text Nancy Drew books.  

Also from Public Domain Day 2026 Is Coming: Here's What to Know:

In a case involving the now-public domain Sherlock Holmes, the court in Klinger v. Conan Doyle Estate, Ltd. clarified that a copyrighted character begins to fall into the public domain when the first published story featuring that character enters the public domain.  Once that happens, "story elements—including characters covered by the expired copyright—become fair game for follow-on authors."  But copyrightable aspects of a character's evolution that appear in later, still-protected works may remain off-limits until those later works themselves expire.

Bess, George, Ned, Burt, and Dave remain fully protected under copyright—for now.  But 16-year-old Nancy Drew, Helen Corning, Carson Drew, Hannah Gruen, and other characters from the first four original texts can now appear in derivative works.

It's fitting that Helen Corning is the first of Nancy's friends to be tossed into the public domain.  Now, don't misunderstand.  I have always liked Helen Corning and have always wished she were in more books.  But...

Helen Corning was abruptly cast aside and forgotten after Edward Stratemeyer passed away.  The Nancy Drew series changed its trajectory beginning with The Secret at Shadow Ranch when Bess and George replaced Helen.  Since Helen was cast aside in 1931, it is somehow fitting that she is the first of Nancy's friends to be flung into the public domain.  Perhaps some new derivative stories will give Helen the attention that she deserves. 

Just hopefully they won't be horror stories with Helen turned into an axe murderer.

In closing, I must state that I am strongly in favor of past works entering the public domain.  We want the works to be available to future generations.  Many of the old series books are so scarce that they are about impossible to find.  Those books need to be in the public domain so that they can be made available in digital format.  

We are now exactly five years out from the entry of the book Beverly Gray at the World's Fair into the public domain.  That will occur on January 1, 2031.  That day can't come soon enough, because fans of World's Fair are rapidly aging out.  It's a shame that the book is so hard to find and pricey, since it's an important book in the Beverly Gray series.

For more information from Jennifer Fisher and James Keeline, please read these posts.  Both posts contain information about some exciting 2026 new releases.  

Nancy Drew & The Case of the Missing Copyrights

Happy Public Domain Day, 2026

Nancy Drew Kickstarter Action Figures Campaign - Selling the Extras

This post was written in December 2024.  Now it's July 2025.  I really did intend to list the action figures back during the winter, but then my eyes became terribly inflamed—most likely from Covid—and are still a problem.  As my summer break begins to wind down, I'm finally getting some stuff listed.  I have my extra action figures laid out, and I will hopefully get them photographed and listed. 

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I backed the Nancy Drew Kickstarter in May 2023.  The pledge totaled $605.00.  I was later charged $209.08 shipping.  I also purchased another set of action figures at a total cost of $332.63.

Everything I have from this Kickstarter was acquired at a total cost of $1,146.71.

I want to sell all of the extras, but I haven't had any idea of what I really paid for each item.  I need to know what I paid so that I can decide how to price them.

This is what I have along with the listed prices on Kickstarter before shipping.

1 Detective Accessories, add-on for $3.00
1 silhouette stand, add-on for $2.00
5 book stands with figure, $27.00 each
1 white t-shirt, ?
5 black t-shirts, ?
Old Clock carded figure, $26.25
Old Clock carded figure, $26.25
Hidden Staircase carded figure, $26.25
Hidden Staircase carded figure, $26.25
Old Attic carded figure, $26.25
Old Attic carded figure, $26.25
Dancing Puppet carded figure, $26.25
Dancing Puppet carded figure, $26.25
Old Clock boxed figure, $27.00
Old Clock boxed figure, $27.00
Hidden Staircase boxed figure, $27.00
Hidden Staircase boxed figure, $27.00
Lilac Inn boxed figure, $56.00
Lilac Inn boxed figure, $56.00
Old Attic boxed figure, $27.00
Old Attic boxed figure, $27.00
Dancing Puppet boxed figure, $27.00
Dancing Puppet boxed figure, $27.00
Crooked Banister boxed figure, $56.00
Crooked Banister boxed figure, $56.00
6 Case of the Curious Collection books, $22.00 each

Since the above prices do not include shipping, my cost was higher.  I have 39 items all together.  Some items, like the silhouette stand or detective accessories, are worth considerably less than other items.  Ignoring that, if I take my total cost of $1,146.71 and divide by 39, I get an average cost of $29.40 per item.  That is not cheap.  It's easy to see that I will have to sell anything that is more desirable (the action figures and book) at $50 or above at a minimum.

I expect that I will sell everything except for one of each action figure, one book, and one book stand.  I might keep the detective accessories, but I'm not sure.

I know what the prospective buyers will think when they see my future listings.  They'll think I'm overcharging unless I price the action figures well below my costs.  That's the sad reality.  People don't appreciate how much cost is involved with backing a venture like this.  They just think about how the action figures would be priced if they saw them for sale in Walmart.  These action figures will never be in Walmart and were only produced in low quantity.  They weren't cheap and won't be sold secondhand for cheap.

I expect it to be a real problem for me to get my money back for the extra action figures.  The key is to try to profit off of the five extra copies of Case of the Curious Collection.  It's a Nancy Drew story that isn't available anywhere, and it never will be.  The only way to get to read it is to obtain one of the limited edition copies of the book.

Whenever I decide to sell one of the books, it will be via eBay auction.  The starting bid will be at least $75.00.  Remember, eBay fees are high, and I offer free shipping on orders above $40.  Postage is getting expensive as well.

I created a spreadsheet and redistributed my costs to where my cost for each Curious Collection book is higher than some of the action figures.  For that reason, I consider a $75.00 starting bid to be an "at cost" selling price for me.  If I can pull more money into the book, then I can list the action figures at somewhat lower prices to make it more likely that they will sell. 

That's my reasoning. 

I've been hoping that someone would list an extra Curious Collection book on eBay so that I would have some idea of what the market will support.  It's looking like I'm going to have to go first.  I may go with a $100.00 starting bid just to be safe. 

I don't know when I will try listing one of the books.  I might end up waiting another month or more.  At least I do now have a reference point on how much I paid for each item, which opens the door for me to list some of them.

No doubt many of you are thinking that I could just sell on Facebook and avoid the eBay fees.  Sure, but it's too much trouble for me.  I have two autoimmune diseases, one controlled by medication that flares regularly and one currently untreated that flares constantly.  Even the slightest stress causes a flare.  

This is how it goes if I sell on Facebook.  If I post in a group, I photograph the items, state the price per item, the postage, and that I accept PayPal.  I tell them everything they need to know upfront.

The questions will start rolling in.  What is the cost?  Do you have ______ available?  Can I pay through PayPal?  What will the shipping cost be?  

Next, three people will want the same item.  I have to contact all three, accepting the first one and declining the other two.  One of the people who lose out will express disappointment.  

Let's say I want to avoid PayPal fees.  I give the buyer my PayPal information, and they'll send payment through PayPal via the friends and family option without including their address.  I have to ask for it.  I then have to go to PayPal and manually enter the buyer's address into the shipping label.  I have to give the buyer tracking number.

I am very prone to mistakes, so I have to triple-check every step.  It's too much, and I refuse to go through it.

I'd rather be hosed on fees.  All tasks must be streamlined in order to continue to do the things that I want and need to do.  The process is so easy when done through an online marketplace, and it greatly minimizes my work.

Nancy Drew #56 The Thirteenth Pearl eBay Listing with Insane AI Description

I recently saw an eBay listing for Nancy Drew #56 The Thirteenth Pearl that had a wildly bizarre description of printing points.  I couldn't figure out where the seller got the information.  Later, I realized that the description must have been generated by eBay's AI.

First, here are the seller's photos so that you can see what was offered.

Here is the bizarre and mostly fictitious description of the printing points:

Up for sale is a rare 1979 second printing of Nancy Drew #56, The Thirteenth Pearl – a must-have for collectors seeking unique misprint variants. This copy is the notorious "Triple Hoax" edition, featuring several key printing anomalies that set it apart from standard editions:

• Missing Yellow Bar on the Front Cover: The originally intended yellow bar that appears on first printings is absent, a primary indicator of this variant.

• Replacement of Unique Interior Imagery: Instead of the two distinctive Nancy images on the inside front cover pages, this copy displays the standard generic stamps found on other volumes in the series.

• Plate Substitution Error on Interior Covers: The specialized printing plates for #56 were inadvertently swapped with those from the next publication in the series, resulting in a uniform design that strips away its intended individuality.

• Dark Top Page Edge: An additional subtle feature is the darkened edge along the top of the pages—a recognized marker among collectors of this misprint.

Additional Details:

• Edition/Printing: 1979 Second Printing (Triple Hoax variant)

• Collectible Appeal: This edition is highly sought after by Nancy Drew enthusiasts and collectors due to its unique misprint and design anomalies.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a fan of the classic Nancy Drew mysteries, this rare misprint variant is a standout piece that perfectly encapsulates the quirks and charm of the series. Don’t miss your chance to add this unique copy to your collection!

Thirteenth Pearl never had a yellow bar at the top, and what's up with the idea that the yellow bar on any Nancy Drew book would make it a first printing?

The AI description mentions "two distinctive Nancy images on the front cover pages" that are "Unique Interior Imagery."  Apparently the AI is describing the double oval endpapers as "Unique Interior Imagery."  I believe most collectors would agree with that assessment, however odd it sounds.

I don't understand any of the paragraph that mentions the plate substitution error.  AI on crack, maybe?

Where does it get the idea that this is a misprint?

This serves as a good example of why eBay sellers should refrain from using eBay's AI to write their item description. 

New Nancy Drew Lunchboxes and New Three Investigators Books

Wandering Planet Toys is offering two Nancy Drew lunchboxes through a BackerKit campaign. 

Nancy Drew Lunchboxes

The lunchboxes can be pre-ordered through the link.  You can purchase them for $36 each, or you can purchase the set of two for $60.  The prices do not include shipping.  The campaign ends on March 26, 2025.  The lunchboxes are expected to ship in August 2025.  

If you are interested, make sure that you order before March 26.  If you miss out on pre-ordering, then you won't be able to purchase a lunchbox except through later secondhand offerings.

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Robert Arthur's daughter, Elizabeth Arthur, has written a set of 26 new Three Investigators books.  The first three books were published earlier this week.  The books are print-on-demand and can be purchased online through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.  The books won't be sold in stores.

1.  The Mystery of the Abecedarian Academy

2.  The Mystery of the Brobdingnagian Beast

3.  The Mystery of the Chimeric Cornucopia

Early reviews from open-minded Three Investigators fans have been positive.  I have read part of the excerpt of the first book, and what I have read so far is good.

If you decide to order the books, be aware that fans have reported that Barnes & Noble orders are delayed and not shipping, while Amazon is producing and shipping the books out promptly.

Protecting My Nancy Drew Action Figures

Last year, Wandering Planet Toys had a Kickstarter.  I was one of the backers, and my action figures arrived on June 1.  If you missed out on the Kickstarter, some action figures should show up eventually on the secondhand market.

I had left the action figures in the shipping box until tonight.  I didn't want them to collect dust, and I hadn't felt like getting them protected.  

Here are some pictures.

Click on images to see them at a higher resolution.

I also received the Nancy Drew novela, Case of the Curious Collection.  The novela was only available through the Kickstarter.  I do have some extras, and eventually I will sell them.

Last year, I purchased a roll of cellophane on Amazon.  

100 ft Clear Cellophane Wrap Roll

The cellophane is fabulous.  It was exactly what I needed.  I had some larger collectible items that I needed to get protected, and the cellophane was perfect for my application.  The cellophane is crystal clear and very thin.  It is exactly like the cellophane that is wrapped around gift baskets and similar items.

I did not want my Nancy Drew action figures to be collecting dust, so I finally wrapped them in the cellophane tonight.  This way when dust collects, it will instead be on the cellophane.  I can gently wipe the cellophane to remove the dust.

In the next photo, all of the action figures are wrapped in cellophane.

While visible, the cellophane is not obtrusive.  I like knowing that dust will not collect on the action figures.

I highly recommend this cellophane wrap if you have any larger or irregularly shaped items that need protection.

Nancy Drew Mystery of the Seven Keys Game + Nancy Drew Action Figures and Novella

Her Interactive has announced that its 34th game, Mystery of the Seven Keys, will be released on May 7.

View the game trailer

The game will be available via download on May 7.  Her Interactive is working on a plan to offer a limited number of physical copies.

Physical copy information

One year ago, Wandering Planet Toys ran a Kickstarter campaign for Nancy Drew action figures.  I wrote two blog posts about the campaign.

Nancy Drew Action Figures Kickstarter

Last Chance for the Kickstarter

I wrote the second post as the Kickstarter neared the end.  I wanted to give people a warning about the campaign's end in hope that a few people who missed the previous notice would see it.  On Facebook immediately after the campaign was announced as over, multiple people expressed disappointment that they had missed it.  It's easy to miss something like this.

The Kickstarter was for the Nancy Drew action figures plus some extra collectible items, including an action figure stand and a limited edition novella.

This is the stand:

This is the novella:

The action figures have been made, and the novella has been printed.  Orders will ship soon.

Here's the link to a video showing the novella.

Nancy Drew novella unboxing

Now, if you're reading this and are dismayed that you missed out, don't despair.  There should be some leftover action figures that will be sold online.  I don't know how limited the quantity will be.  If you aren't able to get any of the leftover figures once they are available, some of the backers purchased extras. 

I don't think I purchased extra action figures, but I did purchase one of every variation.  I'm not sure if I will keep everything.

The novella will not be offered in stores and was a one-off print run.  No more copies will be printed.  But still, there's no need to despair!  I purchased extra novellas, and I'm certain that others did as well.  I considered it important to order extra novellas since the only copies that would ever be printed would be for the pre-orders.  With extras purchased, more copies exist and collectors who missed out on the Kickstarter will have a greater chance of acquiring one.

Month/Year Code in Modern Simon & Schuster Books

Many of us purchase the modern Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books as they are released.  If you're like me, once you have each new book, you verify the first printing number line on the copyright page and then never look closely at the rest of the copyright page.  The modern copyright pages are quite crowded with information.

The Simon & Schuster books of yore (pre-2009) had much less information on the copyright pages.  I've often looked at those copyright pages, but I guess the information overload of the modern ones has caused me never to look at them closely, at least not until this weekend.

I've mentioned my obsession with the Keeper of the Lost Cities (KotLC) series, which is also published by Simon & Schuster under the Aladdin imprint.  I'm now searching for first printings.  I will get more into that in an upcoming post.  Here, I stick to what's relevant to the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books.

I have managed to acquire the second printing of the first KotLC book.  As I examined the number line, 2468109753, I saw what was printed on the line immediately above. 

Please click on all images in order to see them clearly.

I circled two areas of the page.  The book was published in October 2012 (see top circled area).  Look at the line immediately above the second printing number line (see bottom circled area).  That line ends with "0912 FFG."  I haven't worked out what "FFG" means, but I believe that "0912" indicates that this specific book was printed in September 2012.  That would indicate that the first two printings of KotLC #1 were run before the book was ever published.

You might think that "0912" is a suggested age range, like 9-12, but it definitely can't be that based on what I've seen in other books.  Let's look at some of those other books.

Here's the copyright page from one of the Keeper books I purchased last year.

This book has "0622 FFG" above the number line.  "0622" cannot be the recommended age range, since age 6-22 makes no sense for a children's book.  It must mean that the book was printed in June 2022.

I then started checking Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books.  I found that the first printing of Nancy Drew Girl Detective #39 has the expanded copyright page.  I have a later printing of #38 that also has the expanded copyright page, but I'm not sure if the first printing of #38 did.  All I know is that the expanded copyright page came into use sometime in late 2009 at the time of publication of either NDGD #38 or #39.

Here is the copyright page of the first printing of NDGD #39.  

It has "1009 OFF" above the first printing number line.  The book was published in December 2009, so it looks like the first print run was in October 2009.

Here is the copyright page of the first printing hardcover of Nancy Drew Diaries #24 What Disappears in Vegas..., which was published in January 2024.

"1223 BVG" is on the line above the number code.  The book must have been printed in December 2023.

This might be old news to many of you, but I found it enlightening.  This will help me in figuring out the age of modern Simon & Schuster books that are not first printings.

Mistakes Made by Production (CW Nancy Drew and the 2019 Movie)

This post is from March 2020.

Both the 2019 Nancy Drew movie and The CW’s Nancy Drew television series opened with a problematic scene that offended fans.  Neither opening was representative of what followed, but the damage had been done.

For the CW Nancy Drew series, it was the opening sex scene in the very first episode, which was unnecessary and offended right at 100% of Nancy Drew fans.  That scene guaranteed that most Nancy Drew fans would never give the show a chance.  

I saw the 2019 movie, Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, in the theater on the first day of spring break.  I did not want to be spoiled about the content of the movie, so I wanted to see it the very first day that I could.  I was not well that day, due to my thyroid condition and the stress caused by a botched textbook adoption. 

[Note from 2023:  In thinking it over, that day occurred during a time in which I was likely the sickest I have been in the 4 1/2 years from 2019 to the present.  My mental state was poor.]

When I am not well, my mind is impacted significantly.  Particularly, I am impatient, anxious, emotional, and have trouble communicating my thoughts.  I have little tolerance for situations that might not bother me when my levels are fine.  In short, I freak out easily.

I had not been to the theater in years.  I sat through the previews okay, but I now realize that the previews had a length right at the limit of my tolerance that day.

The movie began.  Nancy decides to pull a prank on a bully who bothered Bess.  The prank pushed me past my limit.  The prep for the prank took forever.  It went on and on. I became very stressed and wanted to leave.

I wasn’t going to leave, but I wanted to leave.  I was not surprised to see a couple and their daughter walk out during the prank prep part of the movie.  I wanted to flee.  I was actually getting very anxious.  Finally, the prank was over.

But even then, it took a bit longer for the mystery to begin.

When I watched the movie on DVD weeks later, the prank didn’t bother me.  I felt better at that time, and besides, I was at home and could pause the DVD whenever I wanted. That made a big difference in my perception.

I overall rate the movie as excellent, except for the opening prank.  The prank doesn’t bother me, except for the length of it.

Other fans were deeply offended by the prank, since it isn't "Nancy-like."

The prank is in the movie to show personal growth in the character, but it should have been much shorter so as not to offend the adult audiences who were watching the movie.

This is why I am a bit more understanding of people who act strange than the rest of you are.
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That was where I stopped.  My final line gave me pause and initially didn't make sense when I read it last week.  I decided to leave it after I realized what I meant when I originally wrote the post.  I was very off the day I watched the 2019 movie in the theater, so off that I couldn't stand the prank scene.  For that reason, I understand why the couple and their daughter left.  They couldn't stand it, either.  

To most people, their reaction probably would seem odd.  But I understand that sometimes people aren't in a good place mentally and simply cannot stand certain situations that otherwise would be fine if they were fine.  I hope that makes sense.

Relationships Ruined by Judgmental Collectors

I was disappointed when several collectors made judgmental statements about those of us who watched the CW Nancy Drew television series.  We were criticized for enjoying the Easter eggs.  Some people said that the story arc of the first season was extremely obvious and that we were foolish for falling for it.  Huh?

Let's talk about behavior in the series book groups that no one questions.  Collectors often bring up the names of books that they are reading and will remark with sheer joy about how a series book character like Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden is mentioned on a certain page.  The book that mentions the series book character is not a children's book or anything remotely like a series book.  And yet, other members will jump on the post and say that they are going to buy that book and read it.  Everyone is enthusiastic and happy.

For someone like me, a name appearing in a book will not cause me to want to read it.  When the book is a work of fiction aimed at adults, I would never consider reading it just because Nancy Drew is mentioned on page 157.  Other people do decide to read the book for just that reason, but I assume that the book is something that would also be of interest to those people.

Consider what I just stated and think about it.  These people seem to decide to read the book just because of the Easter egg, but they more likely will read the book because the Easter egg brought a book of interest to their attention.  They know that they will like this book that had previously escaped their notice.

I would never make a disparaging remark aimed at these people.  Why?  I get it.  I can see how bringing the book to their attention would spark their interest.  It makes no difference whether the book would interest me, and their interest in the book is not my concern.

Now, let's get back to the collectors who criticized those of us who watched CW ND.  Paraphrasing from memory, these collectors said that we were only watching the show for the Easter eggs and that it was silly that we were excited about finding the Easter eggs. 

I cannot express how much these statements personally offended me.  I was disappointed to read the critical statements.  Some of these people just weren't thinking of how their comments came across, and I can give them a pass.  I have lingering resentment towards a few other collectors whose comments took on a tone that came across as especially insulting.

I did not watch the show only for the Easter eggs.  That should be clear based on what I have already revealed in this post.  When group members mention a work of fiction that contains a mention of Nancy Drew, I do not go out and buy it.  I'm not going to read a book or watch a television show solely because of Easter eggs.  

I read books and watch shows that are within my area of interest regardless of whether Easter eggs are present.  Any Easter eggs are just an added bonus.

One type of show that I enjoy features young people (children up to early 20s) who are involved in events that have some paranormal or supernatural content.  I am a big fan of Friday the 13th: The Series.  To be clear, this is the television series featuring Micki, Ryan, Jack, and later Johnny, who recover cursed antiques sold by Louis Vendredi, who had made a deal with the devil.  The series shares the same name as the movie franchise with Jason Voorhees, but otherwise, it has nothing to do with it.

So, I like shows like that.  I also have enjoyed Wednesday on Netflix, for instance.

In my case, the CW ND show turned out to be exactly the kind of show that I enjoy watching.  I would never have been aware of it if not for its use of the name Nancy Drew.  I should not have had to read the judgmental statements about how people like me were supposedly only watching the show for the Easter eggs and that we were stupid for doing so.  I did not understand why prominent collectors were letting the existence of this show ruin their relationships with other fans. 

And yes, some series book collector friendships have been ruined because of the squabbling about the CW ND series.  While I didn't lose any friendships, I am now quite uncomfortable around several collectors.  I also have lingering resentment over how I was treated as a group moderator during the fall of 2019.  

I do understand these people not liking the show.  Stating their opinion was fine.  Making insulting, judgmental statements about viewers of the series was not fine.  They crossed a line when they did that.

I am combining two draft posts here.  The other part has to do with how the CW ND show has benefitted me.  Yes, I'm serious.

I watch very little television and practically never watch movies.  Because of CW ND, I have watched a few other things that I've really enjoyed.  The show Cruel Summer was recommended as a show that CW ND fans might like.  It's quite different from CW ND, but I love the teen characters and the mystery/suspense involved.  I would have never watched it if not for reading comments about CW ND.

I am now more inclined to check media based on children's and teen books, and it's because of this show.  I watched The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix and loved it.  I have only read a few Baby-Sitters Club books and am not a fan of the book series.  But my rudimentary knowledge greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the show. 

I watched the Netflix movie trilogy based on R. L. Stine's Fear Street books.  I dislike Stine's writing style, so I'm not a fan of the books at all.  However, I enjoyed the trilogy a lot even though it does have some gruesome kills that are not to my taste.  

I have also been introduced to modern music via these shows that I never otherwise would have heard.  

The CW ND viewing experience has been very positive for me, and I wish that other people didn't feel the need to tear us down for watching the show. 

We are allowed to watch frivolous modern entertainment that is completely different from the book series.

Simon & Schuster's Problem with Nancy Drew and What to Do About It

The bulk of this post was written in February 2023 and was never finished.  I found it as I went through old draft posts, so I finished it up well enough to publish.  Here it is.

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Fans are often asked about the Nancy Drew Diaries series.  They wonder whether the series is aimed at younger children because Nancy looks so young on the covers.  They also wonder how good the series is and what previous Nancy Drew series it is most like. 

These questions are not easy to answer.  The best answer that can be given is to suggest that a couple books could be read to see what they are like.  Even that won't tell the entire story.

The Nancy Drew Diaries series is like none of the previous Nancy Drew series.  The series is highly inconsistent, making it impossible to compare to previous versions.  Also, the Nancy Drew Diaries series is a watered-down version of Nancy Drew.  The stories are sometimes bland and boring; other times, they are bizarre.  The series is wildly uneven with Nancy acting significantly out of character in some books. It depends on who the ghost writer was for each book.  There is little oversight by S&S on these books.

I briefly looked at one of the Nancy Drew Notebooks stories to see how they read.  This passage is from pages 2 and 3 of Nancy Drew Notebooks #63 The Snowman's Surprise. 

When the girls reached the park, Nancy thought it looked beautiful all covered with snow.  The trees were covered with snow.  The benches were covered with snow.  Even the swing sets were covered with snow.  Nancy liked the way the snow crunched under their feet and the way the cold air made their cheeks tingle.  She loved winter!  She especially loved winter vacation, when they could just play and not have to go to school.

The above text is obviously for young children.  The text is repetitive to help children learn to read.  Nancy Drew likes to play in the Notebooks series, while in the Diaries series she drives a car.  The Nancy Drew Diaries covers make Nancy look rather young, but she is an older teenager.  I am mystified as to why Nancy looks so young on the Diaries books.

It's become difficult to understand exactly what Simon & Schuster is doing with the franchise.

This is the opening of Nancy Drew Diaries #24 Captain Stone's Revenge:

The airplane made a wide turn as it descended through the clouds toward Burlington International Airport.  I pressed my face against the small oval window.  All at once, I could see green hills, fields dotted with farms, and our ultimate destination: the clear blue waters of Lake Champlain.

"We're almost there!" I said.  It was my first trip to Vermont, one of the smallest and least populated states in the country.  I couldn't wait to explore, try the world-famous maple syrup, and of course, go sailing at my friend Megan's new club and resort!

"Thank goodness!" George grumbled behind me.  Our small commercial jet's seats were grouped in twos.  George had taken the seat behind me and Bess.  She was using the empty space next to her to stash her computer, e-reader, and cell phone.

"Motion sickness?" Bess asked, dabbing on fresh lip gloss in preparation for landing.

"No, my e-reader is about to run out of charge!" George said with a groan.  "And I'm right in the middle of a really good book!  What sort of airplane doesn't have power outlets?"

"Maybe the kind that's built to fly, not charge all your equipment?  I mean, I know which one I'd prefer," I teased.  George gave my seat a little nudge and we laughed.

Bess put the cap on her lip gloss and dropped it into her navy-blue purse.  As usual, her outfit was perfectly themed for our destination.  She wore a blue-and-white-striped shirt with a sailboat crest on the front, white linen pants, and a pair of navy Top-Siders.  Her cousin George, on the other hand, was outfitted in cargo pants with enough pockets to hold all her electronics.  (I don't even want to talk about how long it took us to get through security back in River Heights!)

The intercom dinged and the captain came on. "Hello, passengers," she said in a smooth voice. "We're making our final descent into Burlington, where skies are clear and the temperature is seventy-five degrees on this beautiful June day.  In preparation for landing, please return your seat backs and tray tables to their upright positions.  We'll be on the ground shortly!"

I folded the Sudoku puzzle I'd been working on, tucked it away, and clicked my tray table back into place.  I sat up straight. The plane took a sharp turn and descended quickly, angling toward the runway. In a matter of minutes, the wheels touched down with a thump. We lurched forward in our seats as the plane slowed.  I pulled out my phone and switched it off airplane mode.  A text notification immediately filled the screen.  It was from Megan.

Nancy!  I'm so sorry, but I'll be late picking you up.  Had a little accident this morning. Nothing major!  Will explain when I get there.  Can't wait to see you all!

Poor Megan!  I wondered what happened.  I told Bess and George about the delay, then quickly texted Megan back to let her know it was no problem, of course, and we hoped everything was okay.  I never minded having a little time to explore, anyway.  There's always something new to see and learn, wherever you go.

The opening to Captain Stone's Revenge is okay, but I don't like it.  I have been trying to figure out how to articulate exactly what the problem is.  It bores me, mainly.  But why?  I think the problem is all of the mundane details.  The introduction is not interesting.

Let's compare that opening to the opening of one of the Nancy Drew Digests.  I selected #125 The Teen Model Mystery.  I wanted a title well into the run of the digests but not from the very end of the series.  I also selected a story that is good but not one that could be considered excellent.  The book is just an average title in the set.

Nancy Drew paused at the curb, waiting for the light to change.  A stiff breeze off nearby Lake Michigan whipped a few strands of her reddish blond hair across her face.  Just a few blocks away, the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago gleamed in the morning light.

Nancy's friend Bess Marvin suddenly grabbed her arm.  "Look, Nancy, there's Cindy!" she exclaimed. "There, on that billboard."

Nancy followed Bess's pointing finger.  Across the street, mounted on the roof of a six-story brick building, was a big poster advertising a sale at a local department store.  A tall, slim girl with honey blond hair was shown dashing happily across a street, carrying several shopping bags.

It was their friend Cindy Sunderland, a River Heights girl who had recently moved to Chicago to pursue a career in modeling.  With its high cheekbones, tip-tilted nose, and dazzling sky blue eyes, Cindy's face was unmistakable.  No wonder she was fast becoming one of the hottest teen models around.

"Isn't she terrific?" Bess added.  "Just looking at her picture makes me want to go catch that sale."

Nancy laughed.  "Come on, Bess," she said.  "You've never seen a sale you didn't like."

Bess flushed.  "Well, maybe you're right," she admitted.  "But Cindy's picture does make that ad stand out.  I just know she's going to be the next big supermodel.  And it's so cool that she asked us to come watch her film this commercial—especially considering that we've only met her a few times."

Nancy giggled.  "She could hardly not invite us, you dropped so many hints when we saw her last month," she reminded her friend.  "But I think she wanted a little moral support, too.  From what she said, it's a really big break in her career—to move up from ad photos and fashion shows to TV commercials.  It could lead to an acting career someday.  I bet she's pretty nervous."

Bess nodded.  "It's too bad George had to go on a trip with her family this week.  She would have loved to come along."  George Fayne, Bess's cousin, was the third member of this trio of best friends.

The light changed.  As they started across the street, Bess looked around at the run-down buildings.  "Nancy, are you sure we're in the right place? she asked nervously.  She flinched as an elevated train rattle past the next intersection.  "Nothing around here looks like a movie studio."

Nancy grinned.  "This won't be that kind of studio, silly," she corrected Bess.  "Cindy is making a commercial, not a feature film.  Come on, the building must be on the next block."

The address Cindy had given them turned out to be that of a solid-looking brick building with wide-arched windows on the street level.  Over the entrance a craved stone panel bore the name MacAllister's Stores.  Elaborately sculpted vines and flower would through the old-fashioned lettering.

I like this much better!  Looking at this text as compared to the Diaries text, I can begin to articulate what the problem is.

Changing the books to first person narrative was a mistake.  We are reading about Nancy Drew (said with a lilt), not I.  The first-person narrative is even worse in the Hardy Boys Adventures, since it's often hard to tell which brother is narrating.  At least the first-person narrative is passable in the Nancy Drew Diaries series.

When I read a Nancy Drew book, I want to read about Nancy Drew.  I don't want to read "I" over and over.  I want to delight in that beloved name.  It's important to see the name Nancy Drew on the first page of the story.

The Nancy Drew Diaries have moved away from the essence of Nancy Drew.  Oh, it's there at times, sure, but we can appreciate our reading experience much better when we see the name.  Yes, it does matter.

I have been reading John Benton's teen books.  Each book features a different protagonist, but all of the books are in first person.  I don't mind the first person, but I find that I can't remember anything about any of the books when looking at the titles.  The character's name never imprints on my memory since I see "I" all through the book.  I have to look at a summary in order to remember anything.

Making Nancy Drew first person watered down the character.

This is what S&S needs to do.

1.  Drop the first-person narrative and return to the story of Nancy Drew. 

2.  Make Nancy look more like a teenager on the covers. 

3.  Include Nancy's best friends on some of the covers (Thanks to Todd for mentioning that Nancy's friends are no longer on the covers). 

4.  Come up with more creative plots that are not just sabotage.  It's quite easy to come up with good plots.  Just take ideas from the old Nancy Drew books.  Use one of the old stories to inspire a new plot.  Change it up some.  Or use artificial intelligence to do it!  

I have thought this through.  Since the folks at S&S and their ghostwriters are unable to think of anything except for bland sabotage stories, it's time to use a computer to do it.  I experimented with ChatGPT and asked it to write me a Nancy Drew story.  It came back with what would work well for a publisher's summary.  A ghostwriter could flesh it out into a great story, something much better than what is coming out of the franchise. 

Follow this link to see what ChatGPT gave me.

Nancy Drew Plots Created by Artificial Intelligence

I have stated what S&S should do to make Nancy Drew better.  Now, I have a specific proposal. 

For the 100th anniversary (or please even sooner, Nancy Drew needs help!!!), S&S should relaunch Nancy Drew in third person dialogue.  The books would hearken back to the digest series in style.  The digests are so much better.  

If the series is relaunched, then it needs a new title.  It has to be something different.  The new series would start over with #1 like how Girl Detective started with #1.  Using "Classic Nancy Drew" might be problematic due to the legal agreement, so that might not work.  They could call it "Detective Nancy Drew" and start with #1.  Or maybe "Nancy Drew, Girl Sleuth."  Just something with a different name from all previous incarnations to make it a new series but use the text and story style of the digests

I want to say that the series should be made more young adult, but I fear that would include romance.  I don't want romance in a Nancy Drew book.  I'd rather see Nancy look like an older teen on the covers with stories that are more detailed.  That would be enough.

That's what I wrote in February, finished up and edited to be more cohesive.  Someone put a bug in S&S's ear.  Nancy Drew needs help!

Nancy Drew Plots Created by Artificial Intelligence

I'm going through old draft blog posts and am getting some of them finished up.  Since this one is relevant to another one I'm finishing up, it must go up first.

Back in February, I had this idea that Simon & Schuster could come up with better Nancy Drew Diaries plots by using a chat bot.  This is not a joke.  It sounds like a joke, but the Nancy Drew plots currently being used by S&S are completely pathetic.  Sadly, artificial intelligence can create more interesting plots than the people actually creating the plots at S&S.

I gave ChatGPT some prompts.  Here are some prompts in bold followed by what ChatGPT gave me.  ChatGPT gave me what are really just plot outlines, but they could be fleshed out into something great by a good ghostwriter.  

Write a mystery with Nancy Drew investigating a mystery at a library.

Nancy Drew was a young and talented detective who was known for her sharp mind and her ability to solve complex cases.  One day, she received a call from her friend, Bess, who told her about a strange mystery at the River Heights Library.  Apparently, the library's valuable collection of rare books had been disappearing one by one, and no one seemed to know how.

Nancy was intrigued by this case and decided to pay a visit to the library to see if she could help.  When she arrived, she met with the librarian, Mrs. Stevens, who was visibly upset.  Mrs. Stevens told Nancy that the library had recently acquired a valuable collection of rare books, but they had started disappearing a few days ago, and they had no idea who could be behind it.

Nancy started her investigation by talking to the library staff and asking questions about the missing books.  She learned that the books had been taken at night, when the library was closed.  This made Nancy suspicious, as it suggested that the culprit was someone who had access to the library after hours.

Nancy also took a closer look at the library's security system and found that there was a small gap in the cameras' coverage that would allow someone to enter the library without being seen.  She decided to stake out the library that night to see if she could catch the thief in the act.

As Nancy waited in the shadows, she saw a shadowy figure enter the library through the gap in the cameras.  She quickly followed the figure and found herself face to face with the library's janitor, Mr. Green.  Mr. Green was holding a rare book in his hand and appeared to be very nervous.

Nancy confronted Mr. Green, who admitted to stealing the books because he needed the money to pay for his daughter's medical treatment.  He told Nancy that he had planned to return the books after he had the money, but he couldn't bear the thought of going to jail.

Nancy understood Mr. Green's situation, and she decided to help him instead of turning him in to the police.  She worked with Mrs. Stevens to find a way to help Mr. Green get the money he needed, and in the end, he was able to pay for his daughter's treatment and return the stolen books to the library.

Nancy had solved another mystery, and she was proud of the work she had done to help someone in need.  The River Heights Library was once again a safe place for rare books, and the town was grateful for Nancy's help.

I then asked ChatGPT to add dialogue to the River Heights Library plot.  This is what I was given.

Nancy Drew was a young and talented detective who was known for her sharp mind and her ability to solve complex cases.  One day, she received a call from her friend, Bess, who told her about a strange mystery at the River Heights Library.  Apparently, the library's valuable collection of rare books had been disappearing one by one, and no one seemed to know how.

Nancy was intrigued by this case and decided to pay a visit to the library to see if she could help.  When she arrived, she met with the librarian, Mrs. Stevens, who was visibly upset.

"Nancy, I'm so glad you're here," Mrs. Stevens said, her voice shaking.  "We have a problem.  The rare books in our collection have been disappearing, and we don't know how."

Nancy was shocked.  "Do you have any leads on who might be behind this?" she asked.

"No, we don't," Mrs. Stevens replied.  "We've checked the security footage, but we can't see anything.  It's as if the books just disappeared into thin air."

Nancy started her investigation by talking to the library staff and asking questions about the missing books.  She learned that the books had been taken at night, when the library was closed.  This made Nancy suspicious, as it suggested that the culprit was someone who had access to the library after hours.

Nancy also took a closer look at the library's security system and found that there was a small gap in the cameras' coverage that would allow someone to enter the library without being seen.  She decided to stake out the library that night to see if she could catch the thief in the act.

As Nancy waited in the shadows, she saw a shadowy figure enter the library through the gap in the cameras.  She quickly followed the figure and found herself face to face with the library's janitor, Mr. Green.

"Mr. Green, what are you doing here?" Nancy asked, surprised.

Mr. Green was holding a rare book in his hand and appeared to be very nervous.  "I... I... I took the book," he stammered.  "I needed the money to pay for my daughter's medical treatment.  I was going to return it, I swear."

Nancy understood Mr. Green's situation, and she decided to help him instead of turning him in to the police.  She worked with Mrs. Stevens to find a way to help Mr. Green get the money he needed, and in the end, he was able to pay for his daughter's treatment and return the stolen books to the library.

"Thank you, Nancy," Mrs. Stevens said, grateful.  "You truly are a remarkable young woman."

Nancy smiled.  "I'm just glad I could help," she said.  "The River Heights Library is a special place, and it deserves to be protected."

Nancy had solved another mystery, and she was proud of the work she had done to help someone in need.  The River Heights Library was once again a safe place for rare books, and the town was grateful for Nancy's help.

In another session on a different day, I was given this.

Title: The River Heights Threat

Nancy Drew is back in her hometown, River Heights, and is asked to help solve a mystery at her old high school.  The school has been receiving anonymous threats, causing fear and disruption among the students and staff.

Nancy starts her investigation by talking to the school principal, teachers, and students.  She discovers that the threats seem to be targeting a specific group of students who are involved in a student council election.

As Nancy delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a web of secrets and rivalries among the students.  One of the candidates for student council president has been caught cheating on a test, and another candidate has been spreading false rumors about their opponents.

Meanwhile, Nancy receives a new threat that puts her own life in danger.  She realizes that the person behind the threats is someone close to her, someone she thought she could trust.

Nancy continues her investigation, using her detective skills to gather evidence and find the truth.  She finally uncovers the identity of the person behind the threats, bringing the case to a close and restoring peace to River Heights High School.

In the end, Nancy discovers that the threats were made by a student who was upset about losing the election.  She turns the evidence over to the police, and the student is arrested and brought to justice.

Here's another plot that I was given.  I am pretty sure that ChatGPT was inspired by The Mystery at Lilac Inn.  

Title: The Missing Heirloom

Nancy Drew receives a letter from her friend, Emily, asking for her help in solving the mystery of a missing heirloom.  Emily's family has owned a valuable diamond necklace for generations, but it has recently disappeared from their safe.

Emily believes that the necklace has been stolen, but no one in the family will admit to taking it.  The police are investigating, but they are having trouble finding any leads.

Nancy travels to Emily's hometown and begins to look into the case.  She starts by interviewing the members of the family and the staff of their home.  She discovers that there were several people who had motive and opportunity to steal the necklace.

One of the family members had recently lost a lot of money in a risky business venture and was in desperate need of funds.  Another family member was known to be an avid collector of expensive jewelry.  The maid who had access to the safe where the necklace was stored was also acting suspiciously.

Nancy continues her investigation and uncovers more clues.  She finally discovers the truth behind the missing heirloom and puts an end to the mystery.

In the end, Nancy finds the missing necklace and returns it to Emily's family.  She also uncovers the culprit behind the theft, bringing the case to a close.

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I would love to read these plots as finished Nancy Drew Mysteries.

Last Chance to Get the Nancy Drew Novella + Recreated Jackets and a Musical

Just four days remain for the Kickstarter for the Nancy Drew action figures.  The fans who back the project are the only ones who have a chance to get a copy of the new Nancy Drew novella.

Nancy Drew Retro-Style Action Figures and an All-New Novella

The novella will be hardcover, and the cover art is by Ruth Sanderson.  The book will be written by one of Simon & Schuster's Carolyn Keene ghostwriters.  You must make a pledge in order to get the novella.  You can pledge for just one of the action figures and then can add the novella as well. 

The novella will not be offered in stores. The only way to get it is through the Kickstarter.

There are also some other exclusives offered through the Kickstarter as well, but I consider the novella to be the most significant of the three and the one that collectors would most regret missing out on.

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Collector George Beatty has started a Facebook group devoted to reproduction dust jackets.  The group is currently set to public.

Boys and Girls Series from the Past

George is selling reproduction dust jackets.  I believe his price is $15 per jacket.  George's contact information can be found in the comments section of some of the posts.  Keep in mind that George has an expensive printer, and ink is expensive as well.  George is not profiting from the reproduction dust jackets.

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Finally, a Nancy Drew musical is in the works.

Nancy Drew and the Mystery at Spotlight Manor

Nancy Drew Action Figures Kickstarter Is Now Live

The Kickstarter for the proposed new Nancy Drew action figures is now live.

Nancy Drew Retro-Style Action Figures and an All-New Novella

You know you need them. 

Pledge and help them become a reality.  If you pledge and the Kickstarter does not meet its goal, then you are not charged.  This also means that the action figures do not get made.

If you pledge and the Kickstarter meets its goal, then you will be charged and will receive whatever is included in the tier that you choose.

If you are unable to afford any of the tiers, then you can pledge as little as $1 to support the Kickstarter.

These photos are a sample of what is offered in the different tiers. Please follow the above link for all tiers.  Click on each image to see a larger version, or go to the Kickstarter page linked above.

The campaign ends on May 17.