Maze Runner Tour Update

Well hi there. I know I've been relatively quiet on the blog, but I've tried my hardest to give regular updates over on twitter, so CLICK HERE to catch up if you missed it. You can actually read my posts without signing up if you want.

I thought I'd just hit a couple of highlights. For all the wonderful students, teachers, librarians, bookstore folks, escorts, etc. I've had the privilege of meeting - THANK YOU. I wish there were time to mention everyone.

Sidenote: Diane, Lili, Bill - I love you guys!

One of the greatest events of my author career occurred at Brookhaven Middle School, sponsored by Copperfield's bookstore. I first had lunch with this high school reading group, all of whom had read Maze beforehand. It just blew me away to hear them talk about the book - they really and genuinely seemed to love it. Which made me feel skippy.

Then I spoke and answered questions with the middle schoolers - at least 100 of them, all of whom stayed after school to hear me. That, too, was an incredible skippifying experience. Thanks to Shari - if every student in America had a teacher like her, we could forget about all those nasty world problems like violence, stupidity and hunger.

The other amazing event I experienced was speaking at the annual NCIBA (Northern California Independent Booksellers Association) breakfast. I got to go first as the rookie, which was great because then I could actually sit back and relax as Nancy Farmer and Berkely Breathed spoke. I absolutely loved every millisecond of their speeches.

I was brave and did my usual Top Ten list - and there were plenty of laughs, though I'll never know if they were real because I had strategically planted several courtesy laugh primers in the audience. Genius, I know. Then I basically got down on my knees (figuratively of course) and thanked those people on behalf of all children everywhere for enduring and prevailing in these tough book market times.

That couple of hours really proved to be a major never-forget in my life. Just a bunch of really awesome people.

So... what else?

The book's been out for one full week now. I really have no idea how it's doing yet, but since I'm so new on the national scene, I think it will take time to build an audience. But based on the reaction so far, I hope word of mouth will build. And this week the books are coming out in some of the major retail chains like Target and Walmart. So its distribution is vast - now we just have to hope people are willing to part with a few bucks.

I'd love to hear from you guys in the comments about... well, about anything! I love reading them even though I don't get to respond very much while on tour. I'll get better at that and replying to tweets once I get back.

I'm in Chicago, then New York, then Washington DC this week. Salt Lake, Phoenix, and LA next week. For the full schedule, please CLICK HERE. Come see me!

One event in particular I want to mention again, because *I think* you'll be able to watch it online: the post-apocalyptic panel at the Manhattan Barnes and Noble with me, Scott Westerfeld, Carrie Ryan, and Michael Grant. For details, CLICK HERE.

So, yeah, I know that was kind of a laundry list type post, but there you have it. If you're new to the Dashner Dude, a very big welcome to you! I promise to be much more lively, responsive, and consistent once the tour is over.

Leave me comments to keep my company while travelling about, okay? Don't make me beg!

Lyrics of the Day:

And so there's a change
In your emotions
And all these memories come rushing
Like feral waves to your mind...
You just have to see her
You just have to see her
You just have to see her
You just have to see her
You just have to see her
You know that she'll break you in two

Sometime Around Midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event