edward stratemeyer, founder of the stratemeyer syndicate, came up with the idea of mystery-solving brothers in 1926. publishers grosset &amp; dunlap approved the idea, and the name "the hardy boys" was chosen for the series. the books were written under the pseudonym franklin w. dixon, by ghostwriters who signed away their rights to authorship, pseudonyms, and future royalties. the first three books were published in 1927, and were an instant success. by mid-1929, over 115,000 books had been sold. the stratemeyer syndicate received all royalties, and their offices handled all correspondence. public and school libraries agreed to keep the ghostwriters' names secret.