1. Been having a blast in St. George, my first stop in promoting Book 2 of THE 13TH REALITY. I visited 6 schools and they were all great crowds. They laughed at my jokes, which is always a relief. Of course, it's not that hard to make elementary kids laugh. Just say poopoo if you get desperate.
2. The signing went well last night, and thanks to Paul the manager at the store. And a big thanks to all the kids and their parents who came out. I always forget how mentally draining it can be to give each kid his memorable experience, even if it only lasts for 20 seconds or so. I'm usually a zombie by the time I go home.
3. I'm very sorry for the mass confusion I caused by telling everyone the book was released this week. Honestly, I think I misunderstood. Since I didn't really have a hard street date, I think it only made it to local and independent stores this week because they can process it more quickly. The big chains like Barnes and Noble and Borders and Amazon probably won't have it until next week. I'm sorry!
4. Thanks to everyone who pimped my books recently. We'll have to wait and see if I get to reward you with an advance copy of THE MAZE RUNNER.
5. Wow, I love all the witty banter in the comments! It gives me great joy to know that I have so many psychos (yes, that's a compliment) following my blog. Great joy indeed. Keep it up.
6. I've been invited to join Brandon Sanderson's and Dan Well's forum community, with a section all to myself for fans to talk about anything and everything James Dashner. I'm struggling to decide if we're ready for this. Nothing would be worse than to have a forum that was lame because we didn't have enough people participating. And I don't want to kill the great momentum this blog has gained in the last months.
So, I'm asking your opinions. Should we start a forum? Would you participate? Be honest! There could be threads for all my books, upcoming books, plot discussions, writer questions, movie and book talk, etc. What do you think? I'm thinking we might want to wait until MAZE comes out.
7. I ate ribs last night. I wish I hadn't eaten ribs last night.
8. If I see one more book review that says "tour de force" I'm going to shoot someone in the foot. What in the name of all that is good and green on this earth does "tour de force" even mean? Seriously. Can't you just say, whoa, dude, this book is wicked awesome?
9. I'm going to tell you something that will now bug you forever. I have three pet peeves that seem to be in EVERY MOVIE EVER MADE:
A. The main character running the faucet to splash water on their face, then they stare deeply into their own eyes in the mirror, contemplating. Who actually does this?
B. People shouting, "What do you want from me!" Can you say overdone?
C. Particular to action movies: the main character walking toward us in slow motion while something explodes behind them. Can you say overdone?
10. Well, I got awfully snooty, didn't I? If you're a Hollywood producer or director who may be kind enough to be looking at my book, please know that I would donate my own vital organs to science to have any one of those three things above in a movie based on a book by James Dashner. I would even donate them to you, good sir or madam. May I ask, do you happen to need any vital organs? I'm your man.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Random Thoughts on Feb. 25th
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36 comments:
with your luck, the maze runner will have all 3 ^.^ and then some!
^.^ I love our witless battles! especially when LouMac gets involved! ^.^ Its too fun!
Did you ever see the Author Stalkers? I always meant to ask if you have a cat....
^.^ Are you ever going back to ALA? I'm sure Mrs. Savage can pull some strings or something! (bless her heart)
and..FIRST!
whoa, dude, don't know about this book, (haven't read it yet) but your last book is wicked awesome.
James, your writing is a total tour de...um....it's WICKED AWESOME!!!
And as for the forum....um...HECK YES SOME OF US WOULD LOVE THAT!!!! I'll wear a sandwich board on the street if you need help gettin' fans to that online party. (But I promise I wouldn't need it. I keep telling you how awesome they are. How's your hearing? j/k)
Listen to Brandon and Dan. They'll "lead you down that path that rocks!"
And please, hold on to those vital organs. They're keepin' the blood flowin' and some of us will kill you dead if don't finish these series. =]
I forgot a "you" in there. Sorry. And a big you at that. No one else can finish the series. Plural.
"Tour De Force!" is how I describe your writing!
Just Kidding! Your Writing is wicked awesome! My younger siblings met J. Scott Savage the other day. (I was driving past The Big Rock Candy Mountain, or I would've been there!!!) I had to slug my little sister to persuade her to let me read the book first.
Just Kidding! :)
She was easy. I just bribed her with candy and she said, "It's all yours!"
They said he was a funny guy! (Oh I wish I could have met him!)
Anyways, keep writing James! How is Hunt for Dark Infinity going?
(You did 10 things again!) :)
James, sadly I probably wouldn't do a forum unless all of my kids went to boarding school. But I think it's an awesome idea. You probably want your younger fans there anyway (younger is a much nicer word than psycho). I'm pretty much over the hill.
I'm also going to have to completely rewrite the review I just wrote of 13-2 because I had "tour-de-force" in there at least 8 times. So glad I checked your blog first! :-)
Good work, Jacoby! Sometime I would like to be first to comment.
James, if you haven't seen it yet, I wrote a post about your first book. Want to see it?
http://magentacarmineroberts.blogspot.com/2009/02/promises-and-procrastinations.html
Your writing is as wicked as the Wicked Witch of the West. ^,~ Hope your next books will be super awesome.
I hope you'll consider me for receiving an ARC. I would be so happy if you did.
Speaking of that action movie cliche'
with the explosion and the guy walking away in slow motion, James, I have always wanted to see the slow-motion-walking-person get hit in the leg with shrapnel and hop around squealing like a small girl.
Was that one sentence?
By the way, for my method of promoting your book in hopes of an ARC, I will be printing out FIFTY (or more) promotional fliers, and putting them up around my school and neighborhood. How does that sound?
-Wil
James, I think a forum would be an awesome idea if you wanted to start to break your ideas / news / other items down into more categories. I prefer the blogs like the one that you have here, rather than sifting through several different threads in a forum. So you may want to do both! =] Course, us blog users are gonna want you to post your news here too!
Heather, I have to respectfully and completely disagree with you. And not just because you called all of us psycho fans younger. (Appearantly my feel bads are hurt) Hey, psycho fans make good publicity! Hey wait a minute. She called us psycho too! Anyways... The most popular books of our time have been YA, but they are so popular because they picked up the adult market as well. So James, if you are going to make a forum, I would highly advise making it geared toward all ages, so that your fans who are older, such as myself, can get caught up in your journey as well.
Just my two cents.
Appearantly I can't speel either...
I agree with CgLearner. I think much of your fan base will surely follow and want to hear what your thoughts and feelings are (besides Brandon Sanderson is cool).
And hey,If I'm pushing 40 does that make me psycho or young. I'm going with young! =)
I think that you should have a forum, but keep the blog going...Both would be tottaly rad...lol...about those vital organs don’t give them away tell your done writing all the books …. Actually how about you wait tell you’re died to give them away……Heather B. Moore, younger is harsh cause then that includes me in the psycho category…. I’m no where near being psycho…..remember our deal if you get to give out ARC’s……..Dashner I think it is nice that you spend all your energy trying to make people feel good…..you made my day at the book signing at BYU…. Oh and come on you can do better than BYU ……….. I will just become quiet so I don’t lose my chance at an ARC……
....Although I do allot to promote Dashners books so if psycho is good in that way then I guess I am....time to go back to being quiet......................................................ya that might be hard but I will try my hardest.....................
I don't think I would participate in a forum, just because I don't have time for one! It's a cool idea, though, as long as it doesn't take all the awesome out of this blog.
And you make me laugh so dang hard.
And I want an ARC. Because that phrase is currently obligatory in the comments I leave here.
Yeah, I hate it how people just walk away when people are blowing up behind them. I mean, seriously, they try to save someone and then they end up blowin up thirty other buildings.
I'd have to agree with CGlearner bcuz um... well, I'm young... but I'm pycho.
Thanks a lot, Heather! :'(
Jk.
Well, it is time I had better gettin to grab the pistols and rocket launchers bcuz Barnes and Noble had better get these things by the time March 3rd comes around, bcuz that's when I'm planning to go.
I want the Hunt for Dark Infinity already.
I'm ready to pull my hair out to see how Sato acts in this one.
I mean, I know he kind of cleared up his acts in book 1, but I wanted to crawl into the book and slap him silly.
As for the blowing-up-and-walking-away thing (again) I'd have to say that if I heard anything that sounded like a bomb and I felt all that fire warming up my back I'd run like there's no tommorow.
So...
If you need anyone to proofread bks 3, 4, and 5 of Reality, I'm always here.
Bye!
JN, you were finally first!
Thanks for all the comments that my books are wicked awesome. Pretty sure I fished for that compliment!
And I appreciate the feedback on the forum. We'll see.....
LexiconLuvr, I really want to see you in that sandwich board!
Heather, you are wise. Which is why I like you. And I love how everyone jumped on you for reasons I'm still not quite clear on. :-)
Wil and Magenta, that's awesome! Thanks.
numberonedashnerfan, all I can say is you're awesome. Don't tell anyone else, but you're my favorite. Doh!
Shleat! what kind of confirmation word is that? Well, shleat to you, Dashner.
I had no idea your fans were all psycho. That makes it less of a compliment to those of us really crazy people. So I think after all I will be happy with 'nuts' cause its different from the crowd.
1) good job on giving the kids your best self...be proud of that.
2)heavy greasy food while traveling is a danger..beware.
3) Am I allowed to be on here if I haven't read your books yet?...be honest.
4)I have no input on forums...be wise about it.
5) This is the end of my list. So I'll just tell you flat out that you were totally fishing for the 'wicked awesome' comments but since your shameless need for flattery is one of the charms we all expect from you...be silly if you want to.
(oh yeah and if you need to move in across the street form numberonedashnerfan that's cool we have lots of cheap houses in Eagle Mountain they can move here too.)
It was great to see you at the LTUE last week. You may not have recognized me because I didn't have that cute adoring baby of mine with me and I wanted to let all the other adoring fans have a chance to say hi. This was my first chance at an LTUE since I just moved to Utah 6 months ago and it was well worth it. I honestly had no idea there were SO many cool authors that lived around here.
So honestly, even though I enjoyed the LTUE I was left with a lot of questions in regards to literature terms that I have NEVER heard before. Can you help me out by explaining them?
1) What in tarnations is a "space opera?"
2) What is "steam punk?"
Also, in regards to the whole donating organs thing...I agree with all those who said you should hold off on that for now (or at least until you finish the series that you are currently working on). I have friends that I have been trying to persuade to read your incredible writings and they are plum tired of picking up books to read that the author is still in the process of writing the series.
Oh and in regards to the annoying movie thing...I just have to laugh simply becuase I was watching the most recent season of Doctor Who (British Sci-fi Series for anyone unfamiliar with it) last week and I think all three things that you spoke of happened within one single episode. Great observation.
By the way...how are you planning on staying on top of your writing so that you can complete three books in one year. I would really like some tips. Is it unbelievable scheduling...sleeping while all others are awake...talking into a tape recorder...or do you have a super power you haven't divulged to us yet? Inquiring minds want to know.
All responders to my post: I meant psycho in a good way!!! Honest!!!
:)
James knows more than anything that I'm completely psycho!
I'm a writer as well and that will explain a lot (and we all know that the older we get, the more we are prone to odd behaviors and being set in our ways--so being young is another compliment :)
Karen, I'm so sorry I missed you! Great questions - I'll try to get to them in a post soon.
Donna, I'm not so sure about living in Timbuktu.....
Crap Heather! I'm sorry, I just reread my post and it doesn't sound nearly as humorous as I was trying to make it. Just so you know, I was trying to be funny. I'm sorry everyone if my post didn't sound that way! Ah crap... I feel dumb.
I am indeed psycho and proud of it! =]
And James, I'm excited to know if you are going to join the forums!
....omg you made my day again you have no idea...The houses where I live are more expensive than eagle mountain so if you don’t move by me I understand.....hope I’m not offending anyone...so much for me staying quiet because this will be like my 3rd post…by the way according to my teacher once your in high school its time to lay off on the farm animal sounds...lol and then he started making goat noises......tiki tiki
I don't know if I have anything to add except to say that you make me laugh. And I think I should get an ARC of "The Maze Runner" because I heard your reading of it at LTUE and I really liked what I heard. Although, let's just be honest, this is another series, right? I just finished "The Hunger Games" and I wanted to send it over my back wall when I got to the last page and it said 'END OF BOOK ONE' in big bold letters. ARRRGGGHHHH! Not that I won't read "The Maze Runner" because I will. I have a notorious lack of self control. And I'll tell you my honest opinion of it and tell all my friends to read it if I like it. Wow, this is getting long.
I chuckled when you vented about movie cliches. (me tapping my chin in contemplation) "The Lord of the Rings" Kidding! Sheash.
Oh, I forgot to give my 2 cents on the forum thing. Anything Dan Wells is involved in, or Brandon Sanderson for that matter, should be a big success. I just ordered "I Am Not a Seriel Killer" by Dan from the Amazon UK site and am waiting relatively patiently for my copy to get here, but I digress. The main concern is the quality of the product. You seem like you have a pretty good thing going here with a real fan connection. I wouldn't give that up lightly and doing both as well as actually writing seems, well, a little psycho. I would commit one way or the other and stick with it. Good luck!
Oh yeah, and if I ever stare in a mirror with that much intensity it's because I'm picking a zit. And I'm done.
Speaking of movie cliches, you know the one that drives me nuts?? Picture a damsel (or hero) in distress, running from the bad person. Said hero or damsel pulls the cell phone from their pocket, knowing this could save them, and the phone reads "no signal", or the battery dies just as they try to make the call. Grrrr!
And James, about the forum... did you actually imply that you could look lame?
Yeah, you probably could :)
Arlene, excellent point on series. I'm a hypocrite because I usually don't read a series until it's done. But I really think MAZE works because it's not really a true cliffhanger or anything. Instead, you'll just be left thinking for awhile. You'll be left wanting to read the next book, but hopefully not frustrated enough to throw something like a crazy gorilla.
And I still don't know if I can ever forgive you for dissing the greatest cinematic achievement of all time, LOTR.
Deb, that one drives me crazy, too. Or the keys falling to the ground when they're trying to unlock the car.
Lame? I've been a 9 on the old lame scale many a time.
And CG, trust me, we all got your humor. It came across... humorous! Heather was just ribbin' ya back.
Still don't know about this forum thing! I hate making decisions!
Dashner your not lame.....If you ever become lame I would still be your number one fan....In order for you to become lame that will take a whole lot of effort....Indesive people are awsome so its ok just rember what ever you choose I will stick with you...
Hey James -- I've been out of the loop lately, but when I opened up the LDStorymakers new releases newsletter, my daughter immediately saw that your second 13th Reality book is out and I'm under strict instructions to be at Borders by 10AM tomorrow (when they open) and not leave until I have your book in hand. Yeah, you've got fans in my house. :)
Hey James. I read your blog! Just so you know. Thanks for dinner again. I think you're a really dashnery dude for sure.
Oh, I forgot to add my pet peeves for movies. 1. Girls running away from the bad guy and tripping! This is very unlikely and stupid. 2. Sex scenes where the woman holds the sheet tightly up to her chin--yeah we don't wont to see her nude, but it's unrealistic--just don't show the scene, or else don't have her sit up.
3. I'm sure I know some more.
hope you take Lynette out to dinner as much as you do your fans
Randomness of my own:
The Lord of the Rings was on TNT on Friday night which made me chuckle.
I've been reading reviews of the first 13th Reality and now I'm intrigued.
We took our kids to Six Flags yesterday. It was a BLAST!
Thanks for your randomness, Arlene. Intrigued? Hello? Go read the stupid thing!
Just a note on forums: they can either flop (which, as you said, is lame), or take off, which can be worse.
Not many things more annoying (or potentially damaging) than a fanbase who takes on a life of its own.
Just ask JK Rowling or Stephanie Meyer. :)
You have a point,and yet...
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