Friday, October 30, 2009

Updates...

Here's what's on my mind the day before ghouls and goblins and Hannah Montanas invade my home:

1. We've sold THE MAZE RUNNER into two more territories: Germany and Spain. I'm very excited, as always! I can't wait to have my very own shelf where I display the book in different languages. I may even force my kids to learn them all so they can read them to me when I'm an old geezer.

2. We had a very nice review today in Newsday: CLICK HERE. Contains perhaps my favorite quote from any review I've ever received: "In the crowded field of post-apocalyptic young adult novels, The Maze Runner has the testosterone to stand out." I love that! Thank you, Newsday.

3. By the way, the above quote replaced by former favorite: "This book is boringboringboring. Don't read it unless you've swallowed poison and need to throw up." (Granted, this was not a professional review, thank goodness.)

4. I'm a bit stressed, but in a good way. I just happen to have revisions to do for both THE SCORCH TRIALS and Book 3 of THE 13TH REALITY. I can do this. I can do it.

5. I wrote a scene in 13th Book 3 that ended up being way too dark and they're making me change it. After a day or so to reflect, I can't disagree. I think I channelled too much of my Stephen King side and forgot that "technically" those books are not meant to terrify and horrify children and scar them for life. Dangit.

6. Did you guys know that the first book of 13TH REALITY comes out in paperback on December 22nd from Aladdin (S&S)? And that it has a new cover? You can preorder it pretty much anywhere now.

7. On the THE SCORCH TRIALS side, I had a great conference with my agent (Michael "Boom Boom" Bourret) and editor (Krista "Don't Call Me Dan" Marino) about the big picture, revisions to the book, plans for Book 3, etc. They are really pushing me and making sure I have every single duck lined up all in a row. And I know they and you tire of hearing me say it, but they are freaking brilliant. I really think you all are going to love Book 2 and how it all wraps up in Book 3 (THE DEATH CURE).

8. I hope everyone has checked out the incredible book video created for MAZE. If you haven't had a chance, please CLICK HERE and watch. Also, today is the last day to vote for your favorite video! Please go and do it.

9. Tomorrow at 3:30 EST, the Georgia Bulldogs have a chance to redeem their season. I expect everyone on Planet Earth to root for them against the Florida Gators, minions of the devil.

10. Oh, and please root for the Falcons against the undefeated Saints on Sunday as well. Thank you for your kindness in advance.

11. I'd like to apologize to Michael and Krista for the childish nicknaming. I won't do it again.

12. Everyone have a superb Halloween! One free word of advice: Never offer the bowl to the children for them to take the candy themselves. Those little buggers are greedy and will take it ALL!

Lyrics of the Day:

I'd buy you Rogaine
When you start losing all your hair
Sew on patches to all you tear
Cuz I love you more than I could ever promise
And you take me the way I am

The Way I Am, Ingrid Michaelson (Not sure I've ever heard lyrics so dumb and so sweet at the same time. haha. I really do love this song. So sue me.)

37 comments:

Melanie Goldmund said...

Yay, German! Hip-hip-hurrah!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the new sales! I've being selling Maze a lot myself recently (through recommendation).

Loved it, by the way. You deserve all the good that has come from it. Is it too motherly to say I'm proud of you???
Well, I am.

Anonymous said...

Wow.

"I've being"

Obviously I'm a little tired. (It's the newborn). Maybe next time I'll read though my comment before I post.

I can't imagine why my book hasn't been picked up yet... :)

Angela said...

RE #12: But at least when the candy is gone then I can turn off the porch light and stop answering the door! :)

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

wow!! congrats in selling to Germany and Spain!!!

Thanks for the advice about the candy bowl, but I figured that one out a few years ago.

Question: What's it like working for two agents/companies???

Erin G. said...

That's so cool! To think, people all around the world will be reading YOUR book! :D

As for the whole football thing, I'm going to be cheering for the Gators. We shall see who's team reigns supreme . . .

Our house gets a maximum of 5 trick or treaters every year, so I always have my friends over and we are the ones who eat all the candy from the bowl. Haha!

But it sounds like you're all ready for halloween considering you're in the scary, scar you for life, channeling Stephen King kind of mood. So I'm going to beg on behalf of the children to please go easy on them tomorrow night. ;)

Happpy Halloween!

Dave said...

Dash,

Das Maze Runner auf Deutsch ist vunderbar! (Ok so my germans a bit rusty..high school was a long time ago)

Ready for Scorch AND 13th, but you already know we all are ready.

Only disappointment is after the "grand" treatment you got in NY from RH, not even a tiny "let's go yankees"?!?!

Dave

Q said...

You know, sometimes you have golden moments when your taste in music is EXCELLENT. Today was one of those days.

Brian said...

DIE GATORS, DIE!!!! I'm rooting for Georgia all the way.

KA said...

Congratulations on everything. Also, I didn't know the title of the third Maze Runner book until now. Only makes me want to read it more.

Unknown said...

I'm stoked to read it in my native Spanish. I've already got friends in three or four cities that I'll be ordering it for at fnac.com.

Friggin Stephen King.

Let me know when you sell the Italian rights, and I'll tell my brother and sister-in-law :-D

Unknown said...

Oh and I don't have much of a beef with the Gators or the Saints, but I'll channel my noetic thoughts in their favor all the same...just know that if the Falcons ever play the Colts, it'll be Dashner versus Chops...

And I will destroy you.

:-)

Frank Cole said...

James,
You are a pretty, pretty man.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I love that song too.

Congrats on the foreign rights sales and that's awesome that your previous fav. quote of a review was from a "bad" one. You're so awesome, James. You totally deserve all your success.

Happy Halloween!

James Dashner said...

Jen, I'm honored that you're proud of me. :)

Tamara, I only have one agent, but having 2 publishers can be interesting. Actually, 3. It's a long story. I'll have to blog about that sometime soon. Thanks for asking!

Dave, I'm a Braves fan. The Yankees destroyed my championship dreams twice in the World Series. I won't forgive. haha

Everyone else, I really appreciate you stopping by and saying such nice things. THANK YOU!!!!

Dave said...

Happy Halloween to Dash and the rest of you guys. Braves are cool in my book. I'm not a Mets fan. Sorry about that Dash, the yanks meant no harm. I actually like the braves for the NL.
Trick or treat?
Dave

LouMac said...

Congrats James! Happy Halloween!

Hey! I can't find your new email address anywhere, could you help me out and tell me? (Cuz I don't have facebook or twitter, etc.)

thanks! Have a Spooktacular day!

LouMac said...

I couldn't pass this Dashnog. So I'm posting again.

Dashnog: codopne: Word you use when you've just run out of Halloween candy and you opened the door to find another Trick-or-treater.

James Dashner said...

LouMac, it's dashnerjames. At gmail.

Vanessa M. said...

We had like no trick-or-treaters last night. Oh well, more for me as I didn't go out.

Congrats on the sales to Germany and Spain. I'm going to get mine in French, though. :)

Alaric said...

Hey James!

I'm glad to here that your book is doing so well! I finished The Maze Runner last week; I thought it was excellent.

I'm not sure if you remember me from one of your book talks, but I think your presentation was great. I love your humor. Keep up the good work, but remember to relax a little. It's good for you, and inspiration

Once I can, I'll try to get into your 13th reality series. Until then, I eagerly await the sequel to The Maze Runner. :)

P.S. For Halloween, a ton of my friends and I sang Christmas Carols for candy. I don't know why, but we did. Then we ran out of Christmas songs, so we just sang any song! Good times. :P

Alyssa said...

Hi! Congradulations on selling Maze to other countries. I need to read it, and right now, money, no. Birthday or Christmas? No. Another book of one of my favorite series coming out tomorrow so that'll hold me back? You bet. But Fantasy Festival coming up at my school this thursday? Yes, and I can't wait! I really hope to see you there!
Yeee!

Wil S. said...

James, don't be afraid to channel the Stephen King, just edit the creepy stuff for the little kids, then send all of us the original!

- Wil, under the curse of math homework.

Sparks-of-Magic said...

I finished Maze Runner about a week ago. And I absolutely LOVED it. I stayed up late reading it and everything because I hit one of those can't-put-it-down moments. Seriously, fantastic. And I absolutely cannot wait for Book 2. So many questions that need answering!!

I hope you had a wonderful Halloween :)

And I, too, love that song :)

Anonymous said...

Congrats on all the progress! Can't wait to read Maze Runner #2! Anyway to get an ARC???? Us in Southeast Texas are loving you and your books.
Erin

Austin said...

It's me again, you don't remember me because I just know you don't.
GOT THE MAZE RUNNER OH YAH! I'm at about chapter 19 I think and oh god, what a great book can't put it down. I may be only 12, but I can so understand this, besides i'm in honors. Ah and wen't to youtube and found out there is going to be a sequal, AWESOME!

Austin said...

You may not remember the schools you've visited, because your just that cool of an author, but I just started middle school this year and wanted to know if you've been to Elk Ridge Middle, home of the Wapiti, i'm not supposed to tell anyone this but Wapiti means White Butts. I'm pretty sure i've done something wrong with this comment, like punctuation or something so don't freak out anybody, i'm only 12 goin on 13 and my typing skills are laughable.

Mandy said...

Hi James! I don't want to take up too much of your blog here, but I just want to leave you a link to my blog where I've recently reviewed The Maze Runner. I absolutely loved it. (The link it embedded in my name)

Courtney Barr - The Southern Princess said...

Hey James! I want to say that I am a Bama fan and completely pulled for Georgia against those nasty Gators! I seriously hate how it ended.
Congrats on the sales!!

I hope you had a wonderful Halloween!

Anonymous said...

Hi James!
I saw The Maze Runner at a local Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago and picked it up. I read it in a few hours. You. Are. Awesome. Maze Runner's been rapidly elevated to one of my favorite books of all time. I can't wait until The Scorch Trials. Please, when you get a specific release date, post it up on your blog! I can't relax until I can pin a specific day to look forward to! :)

Austin said...

This'll be my last post I swear but a tip for next year, to get more candy than you give out. First get some gloves, put some tape on the palm, then when you reach in to put candy in their bag grab as much candy as you can and BAM! ya got you 5 pieces for the price of 1 for a net gain of 4 pieces pretty smart huh? made it up by myself. Tell me if you think it'll get em.

Lula! said...

I just spent my evening reading The Maze Hunter.

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

And if I didn't dig you before, learning that you're a Bulldog fan has permanently cemented you in my heart. GO DAWGS!!!!! Herschel Walker is my hero, and I lament the 4th of December...as that is the day I leave behind my 34th year. I think we all realize the significance of the number 34.

Yes, I'm a REAL fan.
And I detest Urban Meyer. Even though we lost.

You've redeemed yourself, Mr. Dashner...because reading the words, "End of Book One" was almost my complete undoing. I need the 2nd book now. Please.

p.s. Here's to hoping Tenessee Tech will be an easy win this weekend.

Matt Hayes said...

Oh, i just picked up my copy of The Maze Runner and am on chapter 10. my mom got to it before me and finished it already but i plan to finish it today.

Dave said...

Dash,

Where ya been? Everyone's missin ya. Did you turn in your blogging hat for a twitter birdy? We miss ya! Hope to get a new post soon. I sold a copy of Maze the other say while browsing in B & N. An older guy, prob. in his 50's took a look at Maze then put it back. When I saw that, I instinctively rushed to his rescue and explained that he would find no better book in all of B & N. Needless to say, he was on line in front of me a few minutes later having the cashier ring up his new copy of Maze! Honest to god.

Dave

Anonymous said...

I just finished "The Maze Runner" and I loved it. Can't wait for the next book. Job well done!

Miss R.M. Bezas!!!! said...

WOW That's super AWESOME!!!!!!!! I'm GLAD THINGS ARE GOING WELL FOR YOU!!!!

P.S. This is C.S. bezas's Daughters

MattE said...

Dear James Dashner,

I absolutely love your books!! I've read the first one and almost done with the second and can't wait for the third! You have to be one of the best authors ever! I love how you put humor into your book. My favorite characters are Paul and Mothball. I like Paul because I'm most like him. I like Mothball for how she talks. Who are your favorite characters? How many books are you planning on making? Hope you can write back.

Sincerely,

Christopher Baugh
12 years old