Some people are way awesome

I'd just like to give a shout out to the Granite School Foundation.

These people are amazing! I just finished up two days of school visits with them. Most of them are volunteers and they worked a lot harder than I did to make sure we made it to all 10 schools and still had time to sign a gazillion books, quite a few of them donated. My brain is tired and my face hurts from trying to smile so much, but it was a lot of fun.

Let's see, what else is going on......

LOL. I'm sitting here in the bookstore pretending to work and I just saw some kid buy my second book. I was just about to get up and offer to sign it but it's too late. Plus, I've done that before and sometimes it kinda freaks out the parents. I can't take those first few seconds where they think I'm some kind of creepy monster who likes to kill children.

Anyway, a few random things:

1. I just found out the official schedule for the Provo Children's Book Festival on May 16 at the library. I'm doing a reading at 2:00 (with Jessica Day George), so if you'd like to hear the first chapter or two of THE MAZE RUNNER, try to make it! I'll be signing 13th Reality books afterward, too. Lots of great authors will be there, including Shannon Hale, Brandon Sanderson, J. Scott Savage, Aprilynne Pike, Brandon Mull, and many more.

2. I miss my mommy. I miss her very much. Last week went by way too fast.

3. THE SCORCH TRIALS is now over 80,000 words. I should be finishing the first draft right about the end of April. On Monday I wrote one of the coolest chapters of my entire career. You can look forward to reading it in a year and a half. Har har. Oh how I loathe the long time frames of this industry!

4. Q&A: Donna asked in the comments what I felt like I learned between writing Books 1 and 2 of THE 13TH REALITY. I think the biggest thing is characterization. Especially in giving depth to villains.

5. It's April 15th and it's snowing. Whattup wid dat?

6. Speaking of April 15th, taxes sure are a lot different when you work for yourself. Ya know, I used to be a CPA, but we hired a CPA to do my taxes because I've sworn to never add or subtract again for the rest of my life. (OK, real reason is because I do NOT want to keep up with tax law. Kill me now.)

7. Q&A: Magenta asked in the comments about the typical word count for a young adult novel. Very hard question to answer, as it varies greatly. Anywhere from 50k to 70k is probably the average. All mine hover around 90-100k though. And then you have Paolini, Meyer, and Rowling......

8. I found out some very interesting news about the covers for the paperbacks of 13th Reality. You guys all know about the paperback rights being bought by Simon & Schuster right? Well, I can't say much, but the covers are going to, um, look different. Details to come.

9. It's still snowing.

10. I swear another kid just bought my book. I didn't quite get a full glimpse, but I'm pretty sure. Someone around here must've talked up my books at school today!

11. I love bookstores. I'd like to live in one. When I get Rowling rich, I'm gonna buy a huge bookstore and make it my office. People can buy books, sip coffee, and watch me type on my computer. Wait a minute, that's exactly what this creepy guy is doing ten feet from me. Scratch that idea.

12. I had dinner with a few of the psychos from the Eagle Mountain writer's group last night. They even bought my dinner, though I tried so hard to not let them. Okay, I didn't try that hard. Never turn down a free meal. Very important lesson. Kirk, Donna, and Debbie: thank you! That was really fun.

13. Just for the record, I don't usually sit and watch for people buying my book. I just happen to be sitting in one of the comfy chairs that are close to the registers. Wait, is that another one? Oh, no, just some lame book about vampires.

14. Later.