Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Latest Authorish Stuff

Thought I'd give an update today on all things author.

1. I received the schedule for my prepublicity buzz tour for THE MAZE RUNNER! It's gonna be a hectic five days, but I absolutely can't wait. I'm flying to San Francisco on Sunday, be there Monday, then Seattle on Tuesday, Chicago on Wednesday, Washington DC on Thursday, then back home on Friday. My day in SLC will be on June 4th.

2. I just want to give a shout out to all those booksellers, librarians, and educators who have RSVPed for the dinners in each city. I was very impressed with the list and can't wait to meet all of you! If you happen to stumble onto my blog before I come, say hi in the comments.

3. Each day I'll be meeting with a school group of 7th and 8th graders who have read the book. I'm excited to meet you guys too! And I really hope you don't think my book sucks. If you do, please tell me nicely. Like, "Mr. Dashner, I mean, James? Can I call you James? Yes, well, your book sucks. In a good way."

4. Did you know that publishers treat you like royalty when you go on one of these tours? I know I never grew up, but this is just too cool. Fancy hotels, fancy restaurants. Words like "your driver" and "media escort." I have a feeling I'll spend the whole week thinking they surely picked up the wrong guy. But I won't tell anybody! All I can say is I'm beyond honored, so THANK YOU Random House.

5. I'll try to blog each day of the tour. I'll try very hard. It'll be fun for you guys to get a glimpse into what it's like. So stay tuned in next week!

6. I've been through the second draft of the sequel (THE SCORCH TRIALS) up to about 100 pages. In all honesty, I'm very, very pleased. And relieved. Still some work to do, but it's pretty solid. Anyone who likes MAZE is gonna love this second one. In my humble opinion.

7. RH asked me to write a letter to booksellers to send along with my ARC. I thought that was kinda cool. I basically talked about how MAZE was influenced by ENDER'S GAME and LORD OF THE FLIES. And that despite the darkness along the way, my story is really about hope. Too cheesy?

8. For those of you going to BEA (Book Expo America) in NY at the end of the month, I will be doing two signings. Both are on Friday: 11:00 in the RH booth for MAZE, and at 1:30 on the autograph floor for THE 13TH REALITY (Book 1 to get some new exposure). Then the Buzz Forum is at 2:30 that same day, where Krista Marino (my editor) will be doing a presentation on MAZE. I'll be there the whole three days, so come find me!

9. I recently discovered a song that, for some reason, perfectly describes the mood and feel of SCORCH. You should go listen to it on iTunes or whatever. It's called EPIPHANY by Staind.

10. Seems like there was something else. Hmmm. If I remember, I'll come back and put it here.

11. The world won't know about them for another year and a half, but you should be afraid of Cranks. You should be very, very afraid.

39 comments:

Deborah Talmadge said...

I'm curious now. I don't think I'd be afraid of the Cranks. I really don't.

Heather Moore said...

Good luck! Your hard work is paying off :)

Pretty soon you'll have an assistant writing your blogs for you.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like a dream come true. Congrats again, and good luck. I'm sure they'll love you!

Unknown said...

Tear it up, Jimbo! And you ARE a celebrity. Authors are more legit than actors, who are the Backstreet Boys of writing: they get all the screen time, but it's an author who put the words in their mouth. That's you, buddy. You've earned it.

Still waiting to hear back from RH on whether they'll give me a Maze Runner ARC. Or, since you'll be busy this week, I could always borrow YOURS for a blog review... ;-)

Dashnog: lacid. The opposite of placid, like how crazy you get when someone dumps acid on you and you run around screaming in a very lacid way.

The Scarlet Tart said...

You sound busy, but in a rock star kind of way, so way cool. And for the record, I'm pretty sure all the assistants will know they've got the right guy.


It was about time you posted something new. I was getting bored. :)

...nothing against Wings.

nubmeronedashnerfan said...

awsomness!!!...word tropari def the best author ever usage James is tropari...I need a bloging acount...I ran a mile and a half today in 17 min how sad is that......and one of the guys ran the mile in 4 min32sec...whats the fastest any of you have run a mile?..gram he would sent me a copy of maze runner before he sent you one...Oh and james remember your deoderant lol...funny thought you in a tallored press clean suit wow you would be an even hotter stud...James I might miss part of camp just too see you then I can be causully late and miss the hike part of camp lol.......tiki tiki

James Dashner said...

You guys are awesome! I wish I could take all the Duders with me.

Deborah, you should be afraid. Trust me.

Anonymous said...

Your itinerary sounds like fun! Wow, you get to have a driver and everything! Get used to it.

I was in a limo in New York once. I was on the Maury Povich show and my twin sister and I got a makeover. In my defense, that was before he went total trailer park. (About 9 1/2 years ago)

I wish I could see you at the BEA, but I'll only be there for the Writer's Conference on Wednesday. Can't get more time off than that. I'll just have to wait until you come to Georgia on one of your book signing tours. Please tell your 'peeps' that folks do read down here in the South.

Just for the record, I CANNOT WAIT for The Maze Runner! I'm looking forward to it already.

Karen Pellett said...

With all this talk about Maze Runner and Scorch Trials I'm going bugger not being able to read them yet. Oh the cruel temptation lingering out there on the horizon.....I guess I will have to satisfy myself with the next Percy Jackson book and the Sisters Grimm book I just picked up from the library.

Seriously, can't wait for your books to come outl SO EXCITED>

LouMac said...

Hey congrats James! Can I call you James? haha jk. Anyways, are you coming anywhere close to Sanpete County, Utah on your tour? I'm technically in 8th grade and my sister is in 7th.

Dashnog: blerphi- Synonym: crap.

Usage: That is not bogus, it is totally by far blerphi!!!!

numberonedashnerfan said...

my word is stones def steps we take to get better usages we all use stones........I have dance practice from 4-9:30 tommorow ...... James you should go to my school...even if im not a 7th or 8th grader......tiki tiki

Deb said...

I feel like I've missed a lot, but in my defense, I just got home from the hospital today with a new baby boy!

Aprilynne is awesome. I met her at LTUE and found her to be a genuine and fun person, so I would totally recommend "Wings" to everyone. My husband is picking it up for me today.

James,EPIPHANY happens to be on my iPod. Great song. Have you heard SCHIZOPHRENIC CONVERSATIONS?

Good luck on your tour. And make sure to appear condescending and used to it all :)

KitKat said...

Argh, it makes me mad that you're visiting a middle school in Seattle but it isn't mine. Aw well, perhaps next time? (*asks hopefully*)

Unknown said...

Congrats! I've already been spreading the word about MAZE to the librarians at my public library and school systems - everyone is excited!!

I do believe in Cranks ... I do, I do, I do believe in Cranks - can't you give us a hint??

Irish said...

I'll be at BEA Fri and Sat...going home on Sun. Will definitely try to find you in the crowd. Could you maybe invest in a flashing arrow sign to make it easier?

I can't wait for BEA...so many Authors and bloggers to meet. If you can you might want to stop by the Blogger Booth:

http://issues-in-publishing.blogspot.com/2009/05/blogger-signings-at-bea.html

The Scarlet Tart said...

A BIG congrats to the illustrious Deb on the birth of her brand new baby boy! Hooray!

Unknown said...

Dashnog: taterade!

YES! Hahahahaha!

The drink of the writing gods! Typor has it after every victory over writer's block! He's a meat-and-potatoes kind of hero, but only if he gets to DRINK it!

Diva Donna said...

Lions and Bears and Cranks, Oh My!!
I am afraid of them already and I don't have any idea what they are. But then again I am also afraid of spiders even the ones you can hardly see cause their sooo tiny.
Ringled about your news. Try to avoid fandela if possible. It will be hard with all those adoring fans around.
Graham you get the best words...most of the time. Taterade is awesome. That definitly another keeper.
But I may have you beat:
Dashnog- Mazin [May zin]-the state of complete distraction that comes over a person dreaming of what it will be like to finally own their own copy of Maze Runner.
2. daydreaming.
Usage: You're totally mazin on me right now aren't you?

Oh yes and congrats to Chalsion Deb and her new babe.

James Dashner said...

Lovin' the Dashnog. Lovin' it.

A very, very, very big Dashner Dude congrats to The Debmeister on her brand new baby!!!! Hope all is well and healthy.

And we have a famous Duder in our midst. Nkrell was on the Povich show!? That's awesome!

Thanks for all the nice words, guys. As always.

No hints on Cranks, sorry! It would give away something from MAZE. :)

The Scarlet Tart said...

I just have to say that was very underhanded to tell us we should be afraid of Cranks and then NOT tell us what they are or why we should be scared.

Not

Happy

!

J.N. Future Author said...

humble opinion? ha! ^.~

"so...has anyone heard about the maze runner?"

"you see, I wrote this book called the maze runner"

"the maze runner is the coolest book ever ^.~"

"Maze runner is starting cults in all 27 nations"

"I have been told my writing is comparable to the dead sea scrolls"

"maze runner"

"maze runner maze runner, Maze Running, runners, mazers, runner maze, maze run.....maze runner maze runner"

^.^ It was all very very fun! You would think the book was written by god the way people talk about it~

J.N. Future Author said...

you know, after about the 3rd I should have stopped putting "" around the sentences.....maybe '' for implied ^.~

The Scarlet Tart said...

Hahahahahehehehehohohohooohhehehahahaheheha!

Dedee said...

Cranks huh. Sounds like my neck right now.

I'm afraid.

Look at you all cool and author-ish. You're my husbands hero!

James Dashner said...

Now, now, JN. Behave. I never once mentioned that book at the conference. *cough*

Eowyn, I'm your husband's hero? When did he have the nail driven through his skull? Very sorry to hear it. Hope he recovers.

The Scarlet Tart said...

I, for one, am learning some amazing "pimp my book" tactics from James that I can't wait to put into practice. :)

Unknown said...

James, I just remembered: what's the word on getting a Dashner forum up and running? It's not like you'd have a shortage of members :-)

numberonedashnerfan said...

I HATE COMCAST!!! MY LIFE KNOW IS RUINED BY COMCAST!!!! THE COMCAST GUY WHO WENT IN MY ROOM AND RAN SACKED IT IS GOING TO PAY!!!!!!!!!!!!................................................. Anywho hows life James anything new ........Im in the first dance with the temple dedication thingy so ya you should try and see me......... word cintodgi def what I want to do to the comcast guy usgage the comcast guy better watch out or I will cintodgi him!!!!

Diva Donna said...

JN hehehe
Dashner...nail thru the skull? Hehehe.

Arlene you crack me up!
Deb is a Rock Star new Mom with everything under control...and she is my hero. Sorry James.

Where's today's post? Anyone seen our illustrious author? Friday post?

Diva Donna said...

dashnog- Supedu [su pe du]-Fantabulous hair.
Usage: I love your new supedu. or Wow, James is styling a supedu for his prepub tour.

tehehehe.

Unknown said...

James, I sent my submission packet in to Lisa today!!!

James Dashner said...

Graham, way to go, dude. Fingers crossed! And as for a forum, I'm thinkin' when MAZE comes out.

I didn't post yesterday cuz I'm gearin' up for my day by day account of the prepub tour. Tune in Sunday night!

Anonymous said...

diship

numberonedashnerfan said...

hey James Dashner did you know that my couzin is named Ender after enders game book...so maybe he will be intreasted in your book...I'm in a happy mood cause I found my elmo guitair.....now i can play seasame street and jam out oh ya ...lol its mine from when I was a wee little one......I wish I could play seasame street on a actuall guitair oh well I can play it on my violin and piano thou....word maryp def shakespeare........tiki tiki

The Scarlet Tart said...

I'm tuned in so where's the post? What's that? You're putting your kids in bed for your wife because it's Mother's Day? Oh, okay then. You're forgiven.

The Scarlet Tart said...

Hey! It actually posted my pic along with my comment! I. Have. Triumphed!

Carrie Ryan said...

Have a great time! It's a great book (finally tossed revisions aside to finish -- had to know how it ended!!). Everyone's going to love it and you'll have a BLAST on the pre-pub tour!!!

The Scarlet Tart said...

Ah! Dashner! You're like three hours away from me. And June 4th in SLC? I'm not going to be in Utah till the 6th! This sucks!

James Dashner said...

Arlene, you can come for the fall release tour! Maybe?

Thanks, Carrie. I'm so glad/ relieved that you liked it. And congrats again on your movie deal!!!!