Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A brand new... ACL!

How's everyone doing out there? I just wanted to say hi and tell everyone that I'm recovering nicely from my ACL surgery. Doctor Cooley told me to keep weight off of it and keep it iced until I go back in tomorrow. Therefore, I'm slowly going insane.

I remember coming home Friday, woozy and giddy from drugs, thinking this was gonna be the best few days in history. Being forced to sit around and do nothing but read, write, and watch TV. Yeah, that was fun for maybe a day. Or two. Now I'd like to saw my leg off and go hop around outside, going all Jackson Pollack on the snow till I bleed to death.

Okay, that was kinda gross. And just to be certain, I'm kidding. But I'm so anxious to get up and move around that my brain has quit working properly.

Modern medicine amazes me. Did you know they took one of my hamstrings and used it to rebuild my ACL, all by barely cutting me open and sending me home just a couple hours after it was complete? I really hope it works! I miss basketball and skiing.

Having said all that, I've had no problem keeping a proper perspective with all the terrible things that have happened in Haiti. What a tragedy. However, it always amazes me the stories of hope and unity that come out of such things. Some inspiring stuff on the news lately. I hope everyone is finding a way to give what they can to help down there.

What else...

I haven't made much progress on THE DEATH CURE (Book 3 of THE MAZE RUNNER). I don't know why, but it's just hard to feel creative in this situation. I expect to get back on it in a big way very soon.

I have a couple of big events coming up soon:

On Saturday, February 6, I'll be signing with a bunch of other authors at the Barnes and Noble in Sandy Utah (by Southtown Mall). It begins at 1:00 pm.

On February 11-13, I'll be at the BYU event called Life, the Universe, and Everything (LTUE), a three day conference that is absolutely FREE. It's a science fiction and fantasy symposium, but many of the panels and workshops focus on writing. Brandon Sanderson is the Guest of Honor and will be giving the keynote address. I'm on quite a few panels and will also be doing a signing (Friday at noon) and reading (Saturday at 3:00, at which I will be reading the first chapter or two of THE SCORCH TRIALS, sequel to MAZE).

For details on LTUE, please CLICK HERE.

I'm still planning on doing a giveaway of the new book, THE DARK DIVINE by Bree Despain, very soon. Stay tuned.

Finally, I still haven't been given word that I can officially announce this, but you might find something at the end of this article in VARIETY magazine interesting: CLICK HERE.

Have a great day!!!

43 comments:

Morgan Ramsey said...

Yes! This is awesome! I love your book it's gonna make an awesome movie! Can't ait till the scorch trials!

Aubrey said...

Wow! I'm very excited.

How was your trip to CA?

About your knee, I totally can sympathize! I had reconstructive surgery on my knee when I shattered my tibia and fractured my femur all around my knee joint. Having to sit does drive you crazy!

The reason why you can't focus is the drugs. Seriously. I thought I would get a lot of reading done when I broke my leg, but I didn't have the brain power to focus. Movies and video games were all I could handle.

Good luck healing!

Anonymous said...

NO FRICKIN' WAY!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, DASHMAN!!! I'm so, so, so, so glad to see that! Not for you but totally for me because it will be so wicked awesome to see! Okay, I'm a tiny bit excited for you but it's mostly for me. =]

Anonymous said...

Oh, and btw, glad everything's kosher on the ACL, except for the boredom. Hang in there. Get better soon and I'll see you hobbling about at LTUE.

Robin Armstrong said...

That there is some awesome news! Hope that they don't pull an "Ender's Game" on you and never actually make the movie...

It looks like I might be seeing you at LTUE again this year. I'm really looking forward to hearing the beginning of "The Scorch Trials". Hope you're well by then! :)

T.J. said...

So did you have to run over your grandmother to get movie rights optioned?

molly said...

rawrg! a movie?? cool!

and I hope you heal very quickly and well.

Laura said...

I knew it! And I can't wait to see it.

My sympathies for the recovery time- but in the end it will all be worth it.

You're already up and about doing book signings next week? That's impressive.

Aubrey said...

P.S. James I had to give you a blog award. Check it out at http://mypileofbooks.blogspot.com

Hoontah said...

Congratulations!

On the ACL, I mean, since I'm not allowed to congratulate you on that other top secret *cough--movie deal--cough* news.

Can't wait to see it on the big screen. The ACL, I mean.

numberonedashnerfan said...

Woot, see you soon! He he, im commenting on your blog with my new droid... Glad your acl surgery went good.....

Heidi said...

Double congrats on the blurb in Variety. Now you have truly "made it!"

Kathi Oram Peterson said...

A movie!!! What super news! Take care of your knee. I'll try and run down to your signing in Sandy. Congrats on the great news!

Erin G. said...

Movie, movie, movie! :D

That's exciting. Sorry about your ACL though. That's a bummer. At least you have that vast imagination of yours to run around and play in all you want, right? And now you can blog every day! (Haha. Just kidding.)

You could always learn to juggle or knit or build a nuclear reactor or something to make the time just fly by. ;)

Yamile said...

I'm looking forward to seeing you at the BYU symposium. And I'm bringing my copy of The Maze Runner for you to sign! I hope you get better soon.

Hillary said...

Only cool people tear their ACLs. (I just tore mine last April and I can already play soccer again.) :)

Stephanie Black said...

Congrats, James!!! That's awesome news.

My copy of Maze Runner just arrived in the mail today from Amazon. I'm looking forward to reading it.

I hope your knee heels quickly. Ouch.

Mundie Moms said...

That is awesome that The Maze Runner was mentioned in Variety! Congratulations!! We're glad you're surgery went well.

Unknown said...

I finally know about LTUE enough in advance, and I HAVE TO BE FRIGGING OUT OF TOWN THAT WEEKEND. I could punch a baby koala bear right now. Grrrr

Vanessa M. said...

What are trying to do, give me a hear failure? Wait. Don't answer that.

I about died when I heard there was a movie coming out. That would have been tragic. You killing your fan of four years when they were going to see it at midnight the night it came out.

You have been evil! You've hinted for so long that there was a movie deal but you never let it truly slip!

Congrats! From now on, you are Mister Big Guy.

Happy Healing.

Danyelle Ferguson said...

James - you sly dog! Congrats a million times over!

The Damsel In DisDress said...

saweet!

see ya at LTUE.
Margot

Anonymous said...

It was only a matter of time before Maze moved to the big screen. And there was certainly not much time wasted. Huge congratulations, James! I love when good things happen to good people.

When I was on bedrest this past year, I thought I was going to get all this writing done, and it just didn't happen. There's something about being chained to a bed that dowses the creative fire. I'm sure you'll get your groove back soon.

Good luck with the recovery and congrats again!

k m kelly said...

James! I'm totally stoked for you. This is wonderful. It couldn't happen to a better person.

Karlene said...

That's great news!

Saw commercial for Maze Runner during Vampire Diaries. :)

Melinda said...

I am not surprised in the least. This book begs to be made into a movie.

Congrats on the new knee!

See you at LTUE.

Kristie Cook said...

Fantabulous news!! Major congratulations sent your way. Can't wait!!

Super healing powers sent your way, too. (I'm very powerful - you should be up and walking by, oh, the end of the week ). Take care! You'll be running around crazy soon enough.

Deb said...

I am getting pretty excited for LTUE... I guess the movie news rocks too :)

Looks like your ACL might be healed just in time for you to jump up and down in excitement for the Saints in their first Super Bowl!

Peggy said...

Congratulations!! How exciting!

David Mudry said...

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Sorry for that all caps... anywho, I really can't attend the meeting in Utah, because... well... I live in Ohio... Can you BlogTV the conference? At least the part where you read SCORCH TRIALS? Or make a youtube page, and post it up there? In other words, I will die if I don't hear at least a chapter. PWEEEEEASSSS? Oh, and you've also gotten me hooked on
13th Reality... Thanks alot.

Lyssa(: said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lyssa(: said...

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE MAZE RUNNER IS BEING MADE INTO A MOVIE!!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

*clears throat* Sorry about that outburst just then but as you can see, I'm am very, very excited about that!!!!

Libby D said...

Just wanted to tell you I really enjoyed reading The Maze Runner and can not wait till October. Hope you are feeling well :) And wondering if you are going to do any book signing or attend any events in Southern California sometime in the future?

Alice said...

That's so exciting about the thing you can't announce yet. I wish you a speedy recovery and will probably see you at LTUE

Heather S said...

Hello James, I just read The Maze Runner and had to say that I totally enjoyed it. Excellent to read...need to get my hands on a copy of the next installment. (My kids will enjoy it in a few more years!)

Sincere congratulations to you for your writing successes!

Heather Butters Smith and Steve Smith

Carrie K. said...

So cool - that's fantastic news!

Thought I'd tell you that I got a comment on my review of Maze Runner that said they loved the book but thought you were a bit strange because you blog about the weirdest things. LOL

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Take it easy...I'm sure you would rather recover once than twice...

Anna said...

James-I'm a librarian who just finished The Maze Runner! The book was fantastic and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. How do I go about booking you for a school visit? Thanks!

gmorninga1986 said...

Hi James!
I am a Children's bookseller at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester VT. I read The Maze Runner just before it was published, which I thought was fantastic and have been able to recommend to many young people.

I am also a full time student and am taking a class in communication and am going to be talking about your book during our "books" section. I was just wondering what the inspiration was for the book?

I am so excited for the next one and can't wait to get my hands on the arc!

Thanks!
Jessica Lourie
jlourie@northshire.com

Anonymous said...

So glad that you're feeling a little better! Fingers crossed for your quick recovery. :)

And CONGRATS on the (*whispers*) potential movie? :D :D :D When I was reading The Maze Runner, one of my first thoughts (as a very visual person) was that it would make an amazing film!!!

Also - this is a completely terrible way to get a hold of you - but would you be interested in doing an interview with a YA lit blog that I write for? You can find us at http://yahighway.blogspot.com. Let me know if you're interested! (Or if I'm completely out of line by asking you via your blog comments! *wince*)

kristinbwriting@gmail.com
~Kristin

Jenny said...

Super excited for you James. I can't wait to see the movie. The book was awesome!
Wish I could come to LTUE. It sounds perfect. But I'm looking forward to the writer's conference in April. It's like Christmas in April for me!

Heather Justesen said...

Very cool, James, and huge congrats!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I'm glad the ACL stuff is going well. You are so great about keeping us all updated (most of the time - ha ha). I can't tell you how thrilled my son and I are about Maze as a movie!! It was my #1 favorite book of 2009 - and then some! :-)