Russell Ginns


Russell Ginns is a game designer, writer, producer, and composer, primarily known for children's fiction, puzzles, and educational games. He is the author of more than 100 books, including puzzles, educational titles, and the Samantha Spinner series. He has created or contributed to several notable software titles, including Castle Infinity, Hooked on Phonics, Reader Rabbit and Half-Life.

Publishing

From 1989 to 1993, Ginns was magazine editor for 3-2-1 Contact Magazine and Electric Company Magazine.
In 1991, Ginns created the Nintendo Adventure Books series. Throughout the 90s, he created dozens of puzzle books, board books, puzzles, branching-adventure books, educational titles, and young adult fiction. Titles include Puzzlooney!, Go Figure, Midnight Science!, and The Big Book of Kids' Puzzles.
For Sylvan Learning, Ginns created more than 100 workbooks, including Third Grade Math Super Success and Fifth Grade Basic Math Success. He wrote 76 leveled reader books for the Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read program.
In 2013, Ginns wrote four collections of board books for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This series includes Is There a Chance You’ve Seen My Pants?, Bird on My Head, and Monster Love.
In 2017, Random House published the first title in Ginns's book series, Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans.
Ginns has also published with the names Clyde Bosco, P. C. Russell Ginns, Jacques Barniarde, Kravis Winewater, and Hans Shingle.

Games and interactive media

In 1996, Ginns was the creator and designer of Castle Infinity, the first MMORPG for kids. He has also contributed to titles including Half-Life, Pop!, Hooked on Phonics, and Lode Runner.
He created toys and software products at Sesame Street including Sesame Street Countdown, Let's Make a Word, and the Sesame Street Learning Series.
In the late 1990s, Ginns joined Zero Entertainment, including Crop Circles, Balloon Dog, and AlphaNatix.
His published board games include Wordspot, Schmear, and Chess on the Loose.