Framed!

Born in Pisa, Italy, but raised and still based in Florida, James Ponti admits to being a poor reader in his youth. However, his writing is heavily influenced by one of his favorite novels, E. L. Konigsburg’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, which also features mysteries set in museums. After earning a degree in screenwriting from the University of Southern California, Ponti spent over 20 years writing for various television shows; in addition to writing for the Mickey Mouse Club, he also worked for Nickelodeon and PBS. He eventually became a producer for a range of shows appearing on the History Channel, Spike TV, and the Golf Channel. 

Due to Ponti’s experience with screenwriting and television, he also uses a five-act structure for his middle-grade novel. This is a variation on the three-act structure that screenwriters often use to formulate their stories. Framed! also makes ample use of cliffhangers, a literary device often used in television to keep viewers engaged despite numerous commercial breaks. Aside from the Framed! series, Ponti has also written two other middle-grade series: City Spies and Dead City. City Spies tells the story of children from around the world who form an MI6 spy team, while Dead City features a secret society that polices the undead lurking under Manhattan.