Monday, December 22, 2008

The Good News

Okay, I've strung this out long enough. By now this is probably going to seem anticlimactic, but here we go. Even though it's not official, it's way farther down the line than most book deals that are announced by Publisher's Marketplace. Plus, if it DOES fall through, I'll need you all to console me!

Simon & Schuster is buying the paperback rights to THE 13TH REALITY. This has kind of been in the works for months, but it's pretty much a done deal now. They're negotiating a couple of small things, but my publisher sure seems to think it's definite. For one thing, my friend Wendy Toliver said that when she visited S&S headquarters last week, they had my book displayed in their library. That's gotta be a good sign.....

So what does this mean? A lot of things. S&S is one of the biggest publishers in the world, and I'll now have them backing and promoting my series. They are a big reason why FABLEHAVEN has surged to become a NY Times bestseller, and we can only hope they do the same for me!

It also means that the paperback for Book 1 will not be released in 2009, as originally planned. Book 2 will come out in March '09, and for one full year Books 1 and 2 will only be available in hardback. This is not that unusual. TWILIGHT and many other series have followed this pattern.

In March of 2010, tentatively, Book 3 will come out in hardback at the same time as Books 1 and 2 come out in paperback. Got it? That release may be our biggest hope of hitting the bestseller lists.

Of course, you never know what will happen with THE MAZE RUNNER and Random House. Maybe it'll happen with them first. Or maybe I'm just too dang optimistic!

So there you have it. I think my mind is numb to this news because I've known about its possibility for so long. But if you'd told me 2 years ago that I'd have books published by Random House and Simon & Schuster within a few months of each other, I probably would've fallen dead on the spot. And I know this post doesn't make it sound like it, but I'm very excited.

Woot woot!

See? Told ya.

29 comments:

tapestry100 said...

Wow! James, that is very exciting news. Congrats!!

Deborah Talmadge said...

congrats. That's awesome news. I'm sorry I missed you at the Christmas party. I'm looking for ward to seeing you at the conference.

Deborah

Anonymous said...

James, great news ya got there! The release of Maze Runner is an event to look forward too, but this 13th reality series has got me bouncing. I literally check the little countdown to the second book widget that is on the side of your blog EVERY DAY. Then again, your blog is my homepage (is that a bit too fanatic? yeah, probably) so the widget is unavoidable, even though I scroll down a half-page to... Okay, end of rambling time.

A short list of things that I am happy about/sad about:

a) Hunt For Dark Infinity is coming out kinda soon!

b)MAZE RUNNER!!! WHOOOO!

c)I couldn't come to your Houston, TX visit a few months ago. My eye is still twitching that I missed that...

d) Cryogenics hasn't advanced far enough for me to freeze myself until the next 13th Reality book.

e) You live in UTAH? With actual SNOW?!? As opposed to little me in Houston where you get half an inch on the ground, once a year if you are lucky, and the stuff melts by morning.

Until your next post,
Wil (yes, it's supposed to have one 'L' at the end, unfortunately, spell-check does not agree...)

Q said...

That's so cool!

J.N. Future Author said...

awesome! instant popularity!

I hope that by 2011 your have sold 5,000,000 copies of your book! dethroning J.K! ^.~

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, James. I was wondering when this would happen, but I never doubted that it would. Happy holidays.

James Dashner said...

Wil Stelzer: My blog is your homepage? I'm honored! Thanks for the very nice words. And thanks to everyone.

Ya know, if I ever get down about writing, all I have to do is read my blog comments and you guys perk me right back up. Thank you.

Brian said...

That's great!

LouMac said...

Congratulations James! You deserve it. And I know how you feel. You wouldn't trade this moment for the world. You feel like you are worth a billion bucks!!!! (maybe more) Your books aren't even worth that much to me. They are priceless!

Well congratulations James and Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS JAMES!!! AND A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS GIFT THIS IS!!!!!!

Although I originally prophesized that you'd be finding yourself on the NYC BS list thanks to Maze Runner, I'm happy to discover that you'll be right on up there for BOTH books (series? That would be awesome for Maze runner!)
I've never been so happy to be wrong!

Congratulations and thank you for sharing the good news with us just in time for Christmas!!

Have a very merry holiday season.

L.T.

Melinda said...

Dang! (Like I've said.) You dah man!!!

Frankly, I am not suprised. I'm very happy for you.

A Paperback Writer said...

Well, you've been courting Lady Luck well, haven't you?
this must be a very happy Christmas for you.

Tamra Norton said...

Boo-Freaking-Yeah, James!!!

And looks like you need to make another trip to Houston since Wil missed ya! Just try to avoid hurricane season next time! :)

Why Not? Because I Said So! said...

Very impressive James...though I am not surprised at all! It makes me so happy to see such good things happening for you. It just shows that hard work and determination really do pay off!

Anonymous said...

I must say, I prefer hardback books anyway.

Aaron B.

Amy Carpenter said...

WOW! We are proud to know you.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

'm going to echo the last comment. I just hope you don't forget us when you become a household name. Congratulations, James. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Merry Christmas!

Tristi Pinkston said...

Holy cow, Dashner! If I wasn't proud of you before (and I was) I sure am now!

Mark Daymont said...

This couldn't happen to a more deserving guy. You have worked real hard to be ready when opportunity knocks. It reminds me of what Kevin J. Anderson says, "The harder I work the luckier I get!"

Most excellent news!

Allyson Condie said...

That is really, really, REALLY awesome news! Congratulations! I can't wait until my boys are old enough to read your books. They are sitting on the shelf, waiting (the books, not the boys).

Way to go.

Heather Justesen said...

James that's great news. I'm so excited for you, and here I am just thrilled to have someone, anyone, interested in my first book (CFI).

There's no question that your books will do great. Here's hoping for a long ride on the NY Times list!

And yes, nearly everyone on my list (and some that weren't supposed to be on the list at all) are getting books for Christmas--I even bought two copies of 13th Reality.

Unknown said...

Congrats! This is wonderful news! Many great things to look forward to in 2009 and 2010!

Taylor Grissom said...

hey james I love Fablehaven and I saw that Brandon Mull suggested your book so I am reading it and I love it! you are an awsome author. This news is very exiting! I can't wait for the second book. Please please email me at pepperdog@inbox.com
Your biggest fan,
taylor
Also check out my blog: greencuisine10.blogspot.com

Karlene said...

That's great news! Good to hear it. Loved your book.

Carolyn Twede Frank said...

James,
That is so cool. I'm more than excited for you. You know you're my author role model. All of your successes show me that one day down the road, perhaps I can experience the same thing. Keep it up!!!!. Opps, a good writer doesn't use exclamation points. Ignore that last line.

Carolyn

Anonymous said...

Absolutely thrilled for you!

(I also blogged about it over on Wendword, in case you wanted to know)

Luisa Perkins said...

Oh, James. SO proud to know you. Congratulations; it is well deserved.

Jewel Allen said...

Congratulations!

To speculate on which book will make it bigger of the TWO you have coming out...what a dream!