Like many writers, even Happy Hollisters author Andrew Svenson suffered occasionally from writers’ block! This prolific author, who outlined and/or wrote more than 80 books for children under a variety of pen names, sometimes had days of uncertainty when he wondered “How can I ever write another one?”
Luckily, one day in October 1966, Jerry West (one of Svenson’s many pen names) got a swell letter from a fan in New York City who wrote, “Jerry West’s such a good author, why don’t I write to him, and tell him about his wonderful books!”
The energy in the 1966 letter from Joel Z. obviously charmed Andrew Svenson, who said it was like an “atomic vitamin and I’m all set to blast off.” When we came across Joel’s letter again in 2025, we knew we had to try to find him through our Blast from the Past Project for an update. We sent a letter off to an address in Spring Valley, New York, and waited.
Andy Svenson III, grandson of the author, got another little atomic jolt when Joel called the Happy Hollisters Hotline just a few days later. Joel was excited to see his letter again, and he had very fond memories of reading the series as a child. His mother kept him well-supplied with books to read, enrolling him in the original Happy Hollisters Book Club. He was one of about 30 children chosen for a special gifted/enrichment program for grades 4-6, where he met his reading teacher, Mrs. Wiley. It was she who encouraged her students to write to a famous author, and responses the students received, like Joel’s letter from Jerry West, were shared on the classroom bulletin board. Joel kept in touch with Mrs. Wiley for many years, and he is in contact with a couple of his former classmates at PS129 to this day.
Joel was pleased to reconnect with Andy III and his old friends, the Happy Hollisters. He enjoyed hearing about the reissue project and was happy to hear that the love of this series is keeping kids reading still today!