Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Title for Book 3, Q&A

Remember how we used to do Q&A? Okay, "used to do" makes it sound like we did a lot of it. In fact, I think I officially posted Q&A seven or eight times (see links on sidebar). We need to get that going again. So, if you have a question you'd like me to blog about, please leave it in the comments.

In the meantime, I received 3 questions on the last post, very random. Here are the answers:

1. Peggy asked if I would share the link to the article by Publisher's Weekly about how children's sales did well over Christmas. Well, of course. I should've done that in the first place, duh. CLICK HERE to read it. Notice it mentions FABLEHAVEN by Brandon Mull!

2. Brian asked if there is a working title for Book 3 of THE 13TH REALITY, which I'm diligently working on the next couple of months. Well, not only is there a working title, there's an official title. At least, I think it's official and will be revealed at the end of Book 2 coming out in March.

But since it can do no harm, why don't I just go ahead and share that with you? Drum roll, please. Thank you. Book 3 will be known to the universe as the following:

THE BLADE OF SHATTERED HOPE

So, what do you think?

Originally I'd called it The Blade of Blood and Sorrow, but for some inexplicable reason my publisher thought that was too morbid. Can you believe that? The nerve. And don't worry, the title doesn't refer to some hokey magical sword. It's more of a metaphor. For something really, really, really bad.

3. Jeremiah asked how to find my facebook account. Well, luckily I have an unusual name, so it's really easy. My account is under James Dashner. Just search for that and you'll find it.

22 comments:

Luisa Perkins said...

I LOOOOVVVVVVE the title!

Irish said...

cool title...evokes some cool imagry.

tapestry100 said...

I agree - I love this title!!

Anonymous said...

Don't take this personally, but I like "The Blade of Blood and Sorrow" a little better. (Don't be mad!) Of course, I tend to lean to the darker side of the force.

However, *possible contradiction* "The Blade of Shattered Hope" is very evocative. Curious, Mr. Dashner, very curious. Don't drive us insane with wondering or anything...

Well, at least you can be sure that you're the "Master of the Hook," right?

J.N. Future Author said...

awesome! Blade of Shattered Hope. That's really catchy!

I have a list of 100 questions i need to send to you.....but i don't think i will.....after rereading it i realized its probably rude to send someone 5 pages of questions.....

Q said...

Okay, I kind of agree with your publisher on this one. Sorry, James.

I love the word 'shattered.' Maybe that's why I like the title better. And maybe because even though I am secretly a morbid person I don't like the word blood in titles.

Brian said...

The title is awesome!!! I can't wait. Thanks!

LouMac said...

Wicked title! (meaning 'cool')
I like it. Anyways, I can't wait. I LOVE the Blade of Blood and Sorrow better, though. That would make me more curious to read the book. Can't wait for Book 2. I think I added you on Facebook. (Not sure)

Anyway, I just wanted to say I really like the title.

Heather Moore said...

I like the Shattered Hope title better. It's more poetic and unique. Sometimes our publishers are smart. I remember not being too fond of some of my titles, but people around me loved them. So I had to digress. Although sometimes I refer to my books by the color of the covers only.

Carolyn Twede Frank said...

I love the new title,and I like your editor's change. But that's not why I'm leaving this comment. I wanted to ask a question--since you solicited it.
Ever since I realized you were working on Maze Runner at the same time you were finishing up Hunt for Dark Infinity I wanted to know how you went about working on two novels simultaneously? Any tips you could share with a new writer would be appreciated.

Anonymous said...

I kind of like the Blade of Blood and Sorrow better because blood sounds like someone's gonna die, and when someone dies in a book, you absolutely have to read it (at least I do) and sorrow makes it sound like someone definately died and there's gonna be some revenge. Shattered Hope sounds good, too, but it sounds like someone wanted to b a dancer and the judges said no. (Please, don't be mad, but you were right, they were crazy about saying that it was too morbid. I write stuff that's a little morbid as well, but that's just me, so kind of liked THE BLADE OF BLOOD AND SORROW better.)

Anonymous said...

when does the blade of shattered hope come out?

James Dashner said...

April 2010. Thanks for asking!

Linda Snyder said...

I am a school librarian and died-in-the-wool fantasy fan. I am in constant torment waiting for the newest volumes of fantasy series books to come out. It appears you and Jenny Nimmo (with the newest Charlie Bone book) will relieve some of my suffering in the spring with your new releases. Christopher Paolini is turning out to be a different story. I too like the title of the newest book. It is a little reminiscent of the titles of some of the Dark Elf series.

Anonymous said...

I love the title and can't wait till it comes out.

What will the cover look like?

the coolest kid said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
the coolest kid said...

is anyone making movies out of your 13th reality books? because they would be really good.

Marlee said...

I have read your Jimmy Fincher Saga and let me just say how much I loved it. The ending was a complete shock! Out of all of the fantasy books I have read lately, yours are the most original. I thoroughly enjoyed the 13th Reality books and I am dying to read the next.

sr said...

13th reality is my FAVORITE book series now ! (and thats coming from a girl whose read the harry potter series 37 times) it all i want in a book! if i rated it out of 5 i'd give it 11. :) anyway, enough of that... so the title is amazing! just promise me 1 thing... tick gets to be the saver of the world. :) because, although i LOVED the last book, i want tick to be the hero next time (sorry Sofia) anyway, thanks for being my favorite author! (which is DEFINATELY somthing because my mom writes too, oops. ;) k so im gonna go facebook you now... :D

sr said...

o, whoops, that comment was from me, sara ripleys sister, so... i guess im on her blog :)

K Ripley said...

where do you post questions? :) i hope its here...

Anonymous said...

My grandson just wrote me a letter,telling me he had just finished the 3rd in the Thirteenth Reality series,and how much he loved it!I had to look you up on line,to see what made him so excited about a book.It's refreshing to see the interest you have raised in these kids--they want to read,and that is SO important!I'm also glad it makes them write letters about it! LOL
Thank you for your efforts!