Tuesday, September 25, 2007

NY Times, ARCs

Good news for my publisher, Shadow Mountain. As you will recall, they are relatively new in the national market. But they just keep on keepin' on, having one success after another. My editor (Lisa) told me yesterday that their latest release, THE WEDNESDAY LETTERS, debuted at #6 on the NY Times bestseller list (to be published on Sept. 30).

This, after FABLEHAVEN 2 hit the list back in May. Pretty cool, huh?

Jason Wright is the author of the latest, and he's a great guy. I've met him a couple of times. His first book, CHRISTMAS JARS (also by Shadow Mountain), has sold hundreds of thousands and is currently being made into a movie that will be coming out in theaters next year, I think.

Of course, then Lisa turned into a smart aleck and said there's no pressure on me. I mean, no big deal if my book doesn't do as well as everyone else's. No big deal if SOME of their authors don't hit the NY Times Bestseller list. She's evil.

I do feel pressure, but not too much. Both of these guys had their SECOND books hit the Times list. Their names were much more established than mine will be with the little ole Jimmy Fincher Saga. We'll see what happens.

In other news, looks like the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) is going to press on Thursday. And this blew me away: they're printing 4,000 copies. Four THOUSAND. I know many authors who didn't even sell that many copies of the real thing, and these are for the sole purpose of getting reviews and giving away to libraries and schools to spread the buzz.

Maybe I should actually start believing my publisher when they tell me they're going to market this thing heavily. It just seems too good to be true, ya know?

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

4,000 ARCs? Wow. I never would have imagined that anyone would create that many ARCs. If you don't mind me asking, how many ARCs were created for the Jimmy Fincher saga? Also, out of all those ARCs, how many of them are going to be sent to people that you request, and how many of them are going to be sent to places that Shadow Mountain knows?

Congrats on the heavy marketing. I'll be rooting for you to make it onto the NY Times bestseller list.

Jason Wright said...

Hey Dashner! Thanks for the shout out. It's been a crazy, crazy week.

4,000??? That's AWESOME. That shows a huge commitment on SM's part. Congrats.

Jeff Savage said...

No doubt you'll only make it worse for me when I come out late Summer dude. After all the great things Lisa and Chris had to say about Jason's new book I'm not surprised by his success. He's also an excellent marketer from what I have seen.

That being said, I totally expect you to set the bar even higher.

James Dashner said...

Jason, thanks for stopping by. A huge congrats on the new book. You guys need to follow his link to his blog and check out the video of him on CNN. What a stud!

Andy, there were no ARCs for the Jimmy Fincher books. They didn't really do much of that.

I don't know exactly how Shadow Mountain decides where to send all the ARCs. But 99% of them will be their decision, not mine. I'll post about it when I find out more.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

It's always a bit shocking when we realize how much more confidence others have in us than we have in ourselves. Congratulations!

James Dashner said...

Savage, if I sell as many as Jason, I'll strip naked and run around the Great Salt Lake.

No, wait a minute, that wouldn't motivate a soul. Retry: unless I sell as many as Jason, I hereby promise to strip naked and run around the Great Salt Lake. Buy, buy, buy!

Marcia Mickelson said...

Wow! That is exciting, 4000 ARC's. We'll all be rooting for you.

Emmie-Lew said...

4000...You STUD, you! Sounds fantastic, Jamie! We can't wait to read it! When are you coming to promote in Texas? We miss you guys!

Luisa Perkins said...

Holy Toledo! Four THOUSAND ARCs. You are going big-time, baby. Heartiest of congratulations.

James Dashner said...

You guys are nice, thank you.

Emily, I do hope they send me to Texas sometime next year, so hope to see ya!

Annie Bailey said...

Wow! 4,000 ARCs? Awesome James! I can't wait to read the book.

Tamra Norton said...

Cool beans--I'm so impressed with SM!

Unknown said...

Well aren't you just all that and a bag of chips! Man I wish I could at least be that and a bag of animal crackers. 4,000 ARCs, you are officially my inspiration of the day to keep on writing!

Rebecca said...

4000 ARCS! that's amazing. I wonder how many actual books they'll print in the first print run??

James Dashner said...

Well, not quite sure I can share this yet, but as it's buried in the comments, maybe we're okay. Last I heard it will be 40,000 (hardback).

Karen E. Hoover said...

Holy toledo, Batman! That's amazing!

Marta O. Smith said...

And in the not too distant future, those little ol' Jimmy Fincher books will be a collector's item because the New York Times bestselling author James Dashner wrote them and they are so hard to find anymore.

James Dashner said...

Actually, that's one thing I'm really hoping will happen from this is that Jimmy Fincher will rise again. He still has a huge untapped market.

Thanks for all the nice comments!

Anonymous said...

*jaw drops*

Hot diggity dang dude! Maybe you'll eventually be able to pay me what you REALLY owe me for all my awesomenessness...or something.

Or fly the fam to Utah...

When will WE the CHOSEN get our ARCS? ha ha ha

James Dashner said...

The ARC is finally going to press today. Since they're doing so many *grin*, it will take 4 weeks, they said. Sorry, be patient, it shall come!!!!!!

And you'll get your due, sis.

Anonymous said...

James--I am NOT evil. At least not very often. :) After all, it's not MY fault YOU'VE written an awesome book and that I can't help but be excited about it and have such high hopes for it. That's all YOUR fault. (So maybe you're the evil one...?)

Sincerely,
Your evil editor,
Lisa Mangum