Sarwat Chadda

Peter Lerangis, born in 1955 in Brooklyn, New York, is an American author primarily recognized for his contributions to children's and young adult literature. His career spans a wide array of genres and series, including the New York Times bestselling Seven Wonders series and significant involvement in The 39 Clues franchise. Lerangis also has a background in acting and copy editing, which he pursued before dedicating himself fully to writing.

His extensive bibliography includes original series such as Watchers, Antarctica, and Drama Club, as well as numerous novelizations of films and video games. He has also worked as a ghostwriter, publishing under the pseudonym A. L. Singer for various popular children's book series. Lerangis's educational background includes a degree in biochemistry from Harvard University, where he was also active in musical theater and a cappella groups. He has been recognized with awards such as the Schneider Family Book Award and selections by the American Library Association.

Peter Lerangis has established a significant career writing for young readers. He is widely known for his Seven Wonders series, which achieved bestseller status on The New York Times list for Children's Books. His contributions to The 39 Clues universe include writing key titles like The Viper's Nest and The Sword Thief, as well as parts of its sequel series. Beyond these prominent works, Lerangis has authored numerous other series, such as the Watchers, Antarctica, Drama Club, and Spy X series, demonstrating a broad range of storytelling capabilities. He has also penned standalone novels and collaborated on projects like Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am with Harry Mazer.

A notable aspect of Lerangis's writing career involves extensive ghostwriting and novelization work. Under the pseudonym A. L. Singer, he has penned over forty books for The Baby-Sitters Club series and its spin-offs, alongside numerous other series like the Hardy Boys Casefiles and Sweet Valley Twins. His work also includes adapting popular film screenplays into novels, such as The Sixth Sense, Sleepy Hollow, and Beauty and the Beast, as well as creating novelizations for video games in the Worlds of Power series. This diverse output highlights his versatility and ability to adapt to various writing demands and established franchises.

Raised in Freeport, New York, Lerangis's early life was shaped by his parents' professions. He pursued higher education at Harvard University, earning a degree in biochemistry while simultaneously engaging in theater and musical performance. After graduating, he spent eight years working as an actor and freelance copy editor in New York City before transitioning to full-time authorship. Lerangis has also participated in international literary events, including accompanying First Lady Laura Bush to the first Russian Book Festival in Moscow in 2003 and serving as a guest speaker at Nepal's first children's literature festival in 2016.