Friday, May 15, 2009

Maze Runner Prepub Tour Day 6

Friday, 6:19 am:

Oopsie daisy, looks like I never quite updated yesterday. I had quite the jam packed schedule and spent the little free time I had with another Dashner Dude, my brother David. Yeah, he's a stud. Yeah, he used to be the lead singer of a heavy metal band called Lazarus. That's right.

Anyway, I've got a lot of stuff to tell you about, including an account of the Four Ladies of Utter Awesome (aka the FLUA aka the Random House reps in DC aka the GJDALOEWHEC - I'll tell you what that stands for later). This, and much much more.

However, I'm about to fly back home and don't have time to give everything justice. But as the Prepub tour is now on hiatus until June 4th in Salt Lake City, I'll be able to give ya some good details later on today. Probably after I take some serious nappage in my own bed.

In the meantime, here's a couple of cool things to chew on:

1. I found out my release tour in October will include EIGHT cities! New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Denver. I hope to somehow end up in Atlanta as well since that's where I grew up.

2. RH is printing 90,000 teaser chapter booklets and will have them displayed in coffee shops, bookstores, theaters and other places in ten cities.

I PROMISE to update later on today. Have a good one!

Friday, 4:50 pm:

Ah, home. Safe and sound. Fully napped and refreshed. Just finished playing football with the kids and wiping snotty noses. Did you guys know that the Dashner Dude blog easily broke its record for hits in one week? Congrats to the Duders!

Okay. I shall now pull it together and give the last update for the week. And, I hereby proclaim and announce that on Monday I shall reveal the cover for MAZE. Um, if Krista lets me. Pretty sure she will since the RH reps were showing everyone. I shall also quit using the words "I shall."

Dinner in Chicago. Wednesday night at Naha. Pouring rain and lightning exploding in the sky. Awesome. We had fine folks from Borders, 57th Street Books, Anderson Book Shop, Bookstall, Northbrook, Chicago, and Indian Trails Public Libraries. Also, several people from ALA/Booklist, including the Editor in Chief, Bill Ott.

Besides the usual awesomeness, two things stand out you'll find interesting. First, one lady got drunk off her nethers and said many interesting things. Second, a top secret mission called The Angela Project kicked off in full force. Angela was the only one brave enough to tell me she didn't really love the book this week. (Or, my real hope, the only one who in fact felt that way!)

I promised her that by the time she dies, she'll come around and have "I love James Dashner's books" engraved on her tombstone. It may take some hypnosis and perhaps even a bit of brain implants and electronic pulse manipulation, but the Project will succeed. Have faith.

A special thanks to the RH sales rep, Tim Mooney, one of the most down-to-earth, genuine guys I've ever met. So far 3-for-3 on the wicked awesome sales reps.

The next morning, one of my favorite drivers of the week took me to the airport. Thankfully, there was very heavy traffic because I didn't want to leave the car. I grew up in the south, and so did Mike. And he spent the entire drive telling me stories about growing up without running water, listening to ghost stories at his cousin's little store then walking home terrified, driving this really rich lady all over the country in a Hummer, etc. All kinds of goodies.

And he said something really sweet about his wife. They've been married forty years and he joked that it was because he "cain't get rid of her." But then he quickly grew serious and said, "I gotta tell ya the truth. Don't know what I'd do without that woman." You had to hear it from his mouth to get the full depth of how much he meant it. Mike's the Man.

Flew to Washington DC. I have two brothers there, but I didn't even bother telling them I was coming because I knew we wouldn't have time to get together. Well, I miscalculated because I ended up with 2 hours before my first event. So I called David and we went to my hotel and talked up a storm the whole time. It was really great. (My other brother Michael couldn't get out of work. Responsible. Bleck.)

Next we went to Politics and Prose, a very famous bookstore in the DC area. The lovely Jory Hearst had quite a few students read and love the book, but because of schedules only Mark and Devon could come. These guys were so cool and reminded me of me so much when I was that age it kinda freaked me out. We had a great time, and they also grilled me until I gave things away from Book 2!

And then came the last event of the week, and what a Finale. I don't know what made last night's dinner so special - maybe because I knew that was it. Maybe because we had fewer people so I got to know everyone a little more. Maybe because we had FOUR RH reps, all of whom made it a clean sweep: 7-for-7 on the wicked awesomeness.

Emily Bruce, Nicole DuFort, Sarah Wingfield, and Lauren... wait. I never got Lauren's last name! I'm so embarrassed. Anyway, they were definitely worth the dubbing of FLUA as I mentioned earlier. Also the Give James Dashner A Lot Of Encouragement While He Eats Club. :) Thank you guys SO MUCH!!!

I loved the little postcards Nicole and Emily created with the cover. So, so cool. They put the phrase "WICKED is good" on the back, which is something most of you don't understand but it has to do with the book. Mwaaa haaa haaa haaa.

Anyway, we had a great, great time. Thanks to everyone from Barnes and Noble, Narnia Books, DC Public Library, and the University of Maryland. And Paul for taking me around and giving me a few very interesting history lessons on DC.

And so I came home. What a treat to see Frank again at the airport to drive me. My hope is that he asked for the job and that it kind of becomes a regular thing. And, in a fitting end to the trip, I finally got the nerve to sit in the front seat. Frank gave me some sound marriage advice on the road, and then it was home sweet home. So good to see my wife and kids. So good.

Well, that's it. I'll be home for a week or so and then it's off to New York City, my first time. I will never, never, never, never, never forget the last few days. My heartfelt thanks to my publicists, Noreen Marchisi and Emily Pourciao, for all the hard work to plan the tour. And thanks to all the sales reps, media escorts, booksellers, librarians, and all others involved.

With all of my heart (the oldest cliche in the book but there you have it), thank you. I hope my book delivers after all that. Can you say pressure?

Tune in Monday for the reveal of the cover. Or, um, you... um, might want to go take a peek at the Random House website. Bye!

31 comments:

numberonedashnerfan said...

first....ya your coming home .... btw I figured out where you live hehe...tiki tiki

Unknown said...

Phoenix!!!!!!!!!!! Yesssssssssssss. Call me.

Magenta said...

Yeah, I was wondering why the last post wasn't getting updated. But then, you're probably having such an overwhelming time. Too much to blog about. Take your time.

I would really like to know what GJDALOEWHEC stands for. It sounds like a Dashnog word or something.

Speaking of which, I should define that last word I had. Metch. Uhhhh... It could be slang for mention? You know, as in, "When are you going to metch what GJDALOEWHEC stands for?"

Also I have a word matio. Um... It could be the mat that sits on the patio. Matio. Meh. That's the best I got.

Unknown said...

How about for an update you show us the cover of MAZE?!

Dashnog: urpoeled. (Dutch pronunciation, urr-pelled). When someone throws something at you and you only sort of deflect it, like with an awkward movement of the arm, you urpoel it.

Unknown said...

GJDALOEWHEC= Go Jump Dashner And Latch On Effortlessly While He Elevates Coolness.

Right?

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I've been meaning to make a trip down to Seattle, and I've always wanted to stalk someone famous . . .

Alysa Stewart said...

Chicago?! Nice! Hopefully I can make it. Keep me updated. (No offense, but I've found the site where your tour dates are posted to be flaky.)

J.N. Future Author said...

^.^ man you are having too much fun! This is what you have been waiting for James! National recognition!

^.~ Just remember your original fans!

Kenny said...

GJDALOEWHEC... got James Dashner a lot of... extremely... wicked...

Ah, screw it. I got nuthin.

Looking forward to seeing you in Phoenix. Which is funny, since I'm not even there yet, and will see you tomorrow in Provo! Anyhow, congratulations on completing a fabulous pre-publication tour.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Graham on this one! Show us the cover!! Okay...we'll let you get over your jet lag...

Dedee said...

So, I was reading this and I'm just amazed at what is happening to you. I came along right after I read Jimmy Fincher (You're ever so much better now!) and look at you.

Congratulations. . .

Now how can I get an arc of Maze?. . .

The Scarlet Tart said...

I can't believe you can form a coherent thought at 4:18 in the morning.

LaFemmeSimple said...

DUDE

The cover is friggin' sweet!!

STOKED!

ADD ATLANTA!! Srsly..I better be able to walk into any bookstore in Atlanta this fall and squeal and tell everyone I see to buy my brother's book...

Foh..shoh...

And also...you need your personal papparrazi!! In Seattle!! Make it so Dashner!!

Anonymous said...

I agree... Add Atlanta! Come to the big, ole ATL...Hotlanta...and any other nicknames the city might have. (May I also suggest heading 'North' of Atlanta.) Of course, I'll go anywhere to see you, but Alpharetta is a great place! We have a brand new Barnes and Noble at the Avenues of Forsyth. Or...the B&N on North Point Parkway. The Perimeter is also nice. LOTS of options. Is it all coming back to you? GA400?
I285? I75...etc., etc.

The Scarlet Tart said...

Great cover! Glad you're home safe and sound.

Clint Johnson said...

James, five years from now when you've done eight or nine more of these whirlwind tours and you're the new queen of children's fantasy (your ultimate aspiration, I know), you'll look back at your excitement in these posts and think, "I can't believe I actually liked this tedium. What a tool I was." Until then, enjoy it. But enjoy being home more--I suspect that's something that will only become more and more meaningful the more in demand you become.

Diva Donna said...

glad your home and safe with tons of memories and coolness and great dinners.

Dashnog- Shlyt [shlite] when you forget what you were about to do, like walking into the kitchen and standing there because you can't remember what you were supposed to be doing in there. Then you have to go back out and remember.
Usage: you: Shlyt!
spouse: What was that?
you: Shlyt! I forgot what I came in here for.

Melinda said...

Wow. What an amazing time you had! I'm so happy for you! See you at Conduit.

Heather Moore said...

You are sooooo sneaky. I love the cover! Those spikes on the door are vera vera creepy ;) Great color combination too.

The Scarlet Tart said...

No, seriously. Are you going to CONduit? I assume you are, but you've never confirmed...aside from the death threat over on Dan's site.

J.N. Future Author said...

muhahahaha!

WICKED is good

now that is awesome dude!

^.^ ok, lol, monday it is!

James Dashner said...

Thanks for hanging with me all week everybody! It was really a mind blowing week.

Arlene, I will be at Conduit on Friday and Saturday. Can't wait!

Cranberryfries said...

Saw you at the Childrens Festival today. The panal was great. Thanks for showing us the cover!

J.N. Future Author said...

WHAT! That can NOT be the cover! Its just a close-up of the original work!

Anonymous said...

Loved the cover of the book. Thanks for giving us a heads up to check it out at Random House's site. Glad you made it back safely. Are you taking your wife with you to New York?

I like Seth said...

I liked the cover, BUT I think the font is waaay lame. Bcuz there are way cooler covers out there.

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Dude - Kansas City, Kansas City . . . start repeating that to your publicity people so they send you this way on your tour! Otherwise, we may just have to drive to Denver. :)

Juliana said...

James/Mr. Dashner/Guy I met at the Provo library thing yesterday:

It was great to meet you and hear you converse with fellow writers at the Provo Book Fair yesterday. Thanks for sharing your wit with us!

Juliana
This gal (assuming the link works): http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1621829&id=844019335&ref=mf

numberonedashnerfan said...

James to be honest with you the cover kinda looks wierd ....I like it dont get me wrong.....its more the colors .........................I made a kite today .....its a 4 foot english kite......tiki tiki

Tristi Pinkston said...

It all sounds awesome!!

James Dashner said...

Thanks everybody, old and new. Great to have you here.

For those of you who commented on the cover, speak up again on the new cover post. I want some discussion, hear what people think on there. Thanks!