Thursday, December 31, 2009

Goodbye 2009 - I Loved You

It's been a great year. I know most people do all kinds of fancy stuff where they list all their most wonderfulest things of the year and all the most wonderfulest things they're looking forward to next year. And I love reading those!

But I'm too scared to do it because I know I will leave something or someone out and then I'll feel guilty until the end of the next year. So, here's a blanket statement: I really loved 2009 and I can't wait for 2010!!!!

But I will say this: 2009 was the first full calendar year in which I worked solely as an author. And for that, I am extremely grateful and consider myself one lucky dude. (In case you didn't know, I used to be an accountant. Oh, the horror.)

Here are a few things that might interest you:

1. Sorry for the late notice, because I thought it was tomorrow, but all day today and tonight, there will be commercials for THE MAZE RUNNER running during the Twilight Zone Marathon on the Syfy Channel. It's supposed to run 11 times I think. Set those DVRs!!!

2. The commercial will also run during an episode of Fringe (Fox) in a couple of weeks, on the 14th.

3. My book made it on another "best of 2009" list, this time from Barnes and Noble: CLICK HERE to see it. Thanks BN!!!!!!

4. I hope the word is getting out that the paperback for the first book in THE 13TH REALITY series is now in stores, from Simon & Schuster (Aladdin imprint). It's called THE JOURNAL OF CURIOUS LETTERS. I really think those of you who liked MAZE will like this book! Give it a try. Book 2 comes out in paperback in February, then Book 3 in hardback in April.

5. I've noticed a lot of new people are discovering my blog. Welcome guys! I'm really glad to have you here. If you have a question, please leave it in the comments and I'll answer them in a future post. You can also follow me on Twitter (CLICK HERE) and you can follow this blog (CLICK HERE).

Gotta run, but I really look forward to getting to know more of you and hanging out with you here on the blog in 2010. Happy New Year!!!

P.S. THANK YOU for all the nice words about The Maze Runner lately in the comments. I really appreciate it.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm watching SciFi right now just to see The Maze Runner!!! Can't wait!!

Lindsey Leavitt said...

Hey, I'm watching that marathon right now! Will look for commercial. Congrats on a great year!

Tina Lynn said...

Congrats on the B&N list! I will watch for that commercial, though I already saw it posted on someone else's blog and watched it a couple of times, then had my daughter watch it, then my son. You get the idea. Happy New Year!

shield maiden said...

I'm new to the blog but I just want to say congrats on having a great and productive year!

I really enjoyed the Maze Runner and can't wait for the release of The Scorch Trials!

I wish you continued success for 2010!

Erin G. said...

Yay James! Me and my dad are going to watch for the commercial during the marathon (he's a big twilight zone fan and I'm a big maze runner fan, so it's a win-win situation). :)

Hope you have a great New Year! I can't wait to see what you do in 2010!

P.S. Do you know when the second 13th reality coming out in paperback?

Anonymous said...

Just finished Maze Runner and wanted to give you two thumbs and two big toes way up! Loved the pacing, characters, and the plot. Of course, the concept was the big seller for me. Heard about the book a while back and loved the unique spin...made me think of the movie "Cube" which was a favorite of mine. So, I asked my wife for it for the big "C" and started it the next day. Couldn't put it down from the point Thomas entered the Maze to save Alby and Minho. As an aside, loved the reason for their names (nice idea). The end of that chapter (where Thomas entered the Maze) was a cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. Stopped only for snacks and "other" breaks until I reached the final page. I put it right up there with Hunger Games as my favorites of the year (Catching Fire is next on my list, by the way).

I am a junior high ELA teacher and will be recommending Maze Runner to my students when school starts back up. I am an aspiring author as well, and have my book out to a couple publishers, Shadow Mountain being one of them. Your success with them, along with Mull, made me think my book might be of interest to SM. Your blog entries about SM were encouraging to me. We'll see if 2010 brings that luck my way. Anyways, have a great 2010 and keep up the great work. I'll be pre-ordering Scorch Trials and I'll look forward to reading it.

Best,

Mike

Magenta said...

2009 was the best! That's cool that you were able to be a full-time writer for a full year! ^_^

You have 333 followers right now, did you know that? I wonder about the significance... Well, I remember back when I joined you and there weren't even 50 followers. If I remember correctly.

Maze Runner is in the Best of 2009 list?! Whoo-hoo! Awesome.

Have a rocking New Year!

Peggy said...

Congrats on the commercials! That's huge! So exciting.

Anonymous said...

You've officially hit rock star status. Will you be wearing leather pants to LTUE? I'd wave a glow stick at you. ;)

Seriously, my most heartfelt congratulations, James. What a banner year for you! I wish you a 2010 that exceeds it and know that you'll do even better than that.

Christi said...

Loved Loved Loved The Maze Runner. So much that I just picked up the first 2 books in The 13th Reality series. Looking forward to reading them. Congrats on a great year!

Anonymous said...

Can't wait til 2010 and for book three of 13th reality.
What will the cover look like?
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Now that is awesome! Your book is being advertised on TV...Kudos, James. Here's to more success in 2010! Cheers...

Erin G. said...

I SAW IT!!!! XD

Just thought I'd mention that. You're officially a stud, Dashner. ;)

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the 'Best of 2009' list! Let's hope 2010 will be as productive as 2009! Happy New Year!!!

Gavin Chatterley said...

My parents insisted on making The Maze Runner one of my Christmas gifts, so I didn't get to reading until just a few days ago. Three words: A MAZE ING! It reminded me of Ender's Game and City of Ember, but it's awesome enough not to be in their shadow.

I loved how you made the maze such a tangible place. How do you do it? A lot of my settings end up seeming a bit flat.

You did great balancing the action scenes with calmer development scenes without losing any interest or intensity. That's another thing I have trouble with. Did you prewrite the whole thing, or did the pacing just come intuitively?

I can't wait for Scorch Trials. If you give away ARC's again, sign me up!

Kate Jones said...

Loved Maze Runner! I catch myself using the lingo, and people look at me funny. I am so excited to have picked up your book and added you to my favorite authors... now to pick up some more of your work :)

Angie said...

I got The Maze Runner for Christmas. :) I'll be reading it as soon as I finish The Hero of Ages. My son is enjoying the 13th Reality books he got for Christmas. Thanks for helping to make it a great holiday for us.

Anonymous said...

http://www.djmal.net/thaspot/members/viagrakaufend
[b]VIAGRA Austria VIAGRA REZEPTFREI[/b]
http://www.serataanime.it/forum2/member.php?u=336
[b]VIAGRA bestellen VIAGRA BESTELLEN BILLIG[/b]
VIAGRA BESTELLEN eur 0.85 Pro Pille >> Klicken Sie Hier << BESTELLEN BILLIG VIAGRA CIALIS VIAGRA Rezeptfrei Viagra Online Bestellen
http://www.sembrasil.com.br/assets/snippets/forum/viewtopic.php?t=145
[b]VIAGRA® kaufen VIAGRA BILLIG BESTELLEN[/b]
[url=http://www.einvestorhelp.com/member.php?u=37776]PFIZER VIAGRA[/url] - VIAGRA Apotheke
[b]VIAGRA Nederland PREISVERGLECH BESTELLEN VIAGRA[/b]
[b]VIAGRA alternativ BESTELLEN PREISVERGLECH VIAGRA[/b]
[url=http://www.postyouradforfree.com/showthread.php?p=313013]BESTELLEN VIAGRA[/url] - VIAGRA fuer frau
[b]alternativ zu VIAGRA BESTELLEN BILLIG VIAGRA[/b]
[b]VIAGRA Apotheke VIAGRA PREISVERGLECH REZEPTFREI[/b]
[b]VIAGRA® kaufen
VIAGRA Deutschland
VIAGRA online kaufen
VIAGRA on line
VIAGRA alternativ
VIAGRA rezeptfrei
VIAGRA Kaufen
VIAGRA Apotheke[/b]

J.R. Johansson said...

Dashner! That is so great! I'd list Maze Runner as one of my favorites of '09 as well. Loved the ending and that it is so different from a lot of the other books coming out right now. I'll see you at LTUE.

P.S. I'm also voting for the leather pants at the conference. Do it for the fans James. :)

Heather Moore said...

Congrats on the commercial. I don't think I have the sci fi channel. Oh well. Maybe it will show up on YouTube?

dinaquality said...

I just finished reading your book, The Maze Runner. It's the best book I've ever read, and I truly hope that you write a sequel. I really really loved your book. I literally just put it down after finishing the Epilogue, and I had to visit your website and tell you how much I enjoyed it. I don't think this is the right post to comment, so I hope you don't mind.

You have one more huge fan. :)

wendy smedley said...

Just dropping a note to say thanks for writing books that are creative, engaging, and are about males. As the mother of 5, yes 5 boys, I am always on the look out for titles that we can all read. Keep up the good work and have a great 2010!

Anonymous said...

Hi, just wanted to say that I picked up Maze Runner from Walmart and I started it that night. Little did I know I'd be staying up until 3 finishing it. I have read a ton of books and this book is up there in my mental list of favorite books. Its right next to The Hunger Games. Also, I thought it'd be neat for you to know that I am doing an oral presentation on your book tomorrow and I have also loaned the book to several friends.(sorry, i know how authors hate loaning) Anyway, I, as well as several of my friends, are looking forward to reading the sequel and I will be picking up a copy of the 13th reality just because I enjoyed the Maze Runner so.

Vanessa M. said...

Do you know what the best thing about 2010 is? Your next book comes out, that's what.

Rachelle Christensen said...

Congrats James, you deserve it. I'm looking forward to this new year, too!

Jenny said...

James,
I was in a quaint little new-and-used book shop on Bainbridge Island in Washington over the weekend, and they had a great display of Maze Runner in the youth section.
You're probably getting USED to that type of thing, but I thought you'd still like to know. ;)
Really cool.

Tuning Into YA Books said...

I am just finishing up The Maze Runner. Best book ever and cannot wait for the sequel! I'm planning to write a review on my blog, Tuning Into YA Books (http://tuningintoyabooks.blogspot.com/)

Even though my blog is fairly new, do you mind if I can do an interview or giveaway? Please email me at tuningintoyabooks(at)gmail(dot)com