Thursday, June 2, 2011

BEA Report (with pics!)

Warning: There is a picture of me with Tyra Banks in this blog post...

Hi, Duders! Did you miss me? You did? I missed you, too. But there's no reason for that because you can totally hang with me every day over on Twitter, where you can join the new #dashnerarmy. The awesome @verbvixen is helping sign up soldiers. CLICK HERE to follow me.

Anyway, on to BEA, where I saw cool things like this:


BEA (Book Expo America) was an amazing week. This is the biggest event in publishing where the publishers present and promote what they have coming. I honestly don't even know where to start. But I know you guys love a glimpse into the mad world of my industry, so here you go. It'll be brief...

Monday: I arrived in NYC. It took an hour and a half to get to my hotel, which was stinky. But then I walked over to Random House HQ and had a lovely meeting with my editor, Krista Marino and the Delacorte publisher, Beverly Horowitz. Much strategizing and laughing occurred. Then there was a yummy dinner where more of this kind of thing went on.

Actually, I just realized this was the WEEK BEFORE when I also went to NYC for the Random House Fall preview event. Haha. I'll leave it. I mean, it WAS a Monday.

Tuesday: I met up with my AWESOME publicist, Emily Pourciau, who would so kindly escort me throughout the week's events. First up: ABC Speed Dating, where I took 3 minute turns at about 35 tables with booksellers and librarians. Quite the whirlwind! Then I had lunch and good times with my superhuman agents, Michael Bourret and Lauren Abramo. Much strategizing and laughing ensued.

That evening was the Random House Children's Books party, where I was incredibly honored to be one of 10 authors among hundreds of book people. It was very swanky and was held on an aircraft carrier. Yep, first time for me, too. It was so fun!

Here are two pictures of me, one with Christopher Paolini (ERAGON) and one with Tyra Banks (the upcoming MODEL LAND). You can guess which is which.



Afterward, Michael and I had a very fun, long dinner where much strategizing and laughing occurred. He's seriously one of my favorite people on planet Earth, and I love hanging out with him.

Wednesday: I did a video shoot at the Barnes and Noble headquarters for some things you'll see on BN.com this fall when the book comes out. Then we headed back to the Javits center for my signing (the chapter samplers). I met lots of cool people! Afterward I did an interview with Justine Magazine.

That evening, I was honored to be part of a panel at the Mulbery Library that included some amazing authors: Lauren Kate, Scott Westerfeld, Maureen Johnson, Ally Condie, and Ellen Hopkins. We spent an hour or so answering questions and telling stories and laughing. Then we signed and met MORE cool people.

Afterward, another great dinner out with Krista and a few others from Random House.

Thursday: I had a meeting with the good people at Simon & Schuster, including the hilarious and Batman-loving Liesa Abrams, the editor for THE 13TH REALITY. I also got to meet fellow client of Michael's and superstar Lisa McMann, who has a big series debuting this fall called THE UNWANTEDS.

I saw the Buzz Panel for middle grade where Lisa and my good friend Matthew Kirby were honored. Matt's book ICEFALL also comes out this fall.

Then I walked the floor a bit with Michael, went back to my hotel, and wrote over 4,000 words before crashing. BEA inspires you to do such things. (both the writing and the crashing.)

Friday: Flew home!

I'll post again soon about what's going on in the Dashner world. In the meantime, here is a picture of me with the three most important people in my author career: Krista, Michael, and Emily.

43 comments:

Pam said...

That Tyra picture is awesome.

Suey said...

Maybe some day I'll go to that thing!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you laughed your way through BEA. Nice post and shout out to the #dashnerarmy

Hogan's Hero's Swim School said...

Sounds like it was amazing. We'll miss you Monday, *wails* and *moans* Hee Hee

Magenta said...

Wow! You're posing with Christopher Paolini! Awesomeness! ^_^

Gosh, you haven't posted in over a month! I hope this means you'll be posting a bit more often than you have been?

Shallee said...

Wow, a week of awesome! Thanks for sharing the experience for those of us not fortunate enough to be there. :)

Curtis Moser said...

Sounds like a fun week. From one Braves fan to another, I'm happy for all of your success.

Matt Hayes said...

Hey! My grandfather was on the Intrepid during WWII!

And you were with Christopher Paolini? Lucky. I can never find him....does that sound wrong?

RaShelle Workman said...

Fun pics. Glad you had so much fun at BEA!

pen master said...

Cool! And your soo lucky to have met Christopher Paolini, also one of my favorite authors:) Thanks for posting again! Oh and you've mentioned chapter sneak peeks, can you put them on your blog please? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Next time you blog (which I hope you will soon :)can you give some advice to aspiring authors? That would be wonderful!

Melinda said...

blah, blah, blah. Hey don't you owe me dinner?

Kami said...

I hoped you smacked Mr. Poalini for making us all wait so long for his final book!

Katie Dodge said...

Sounds like a crazy fun week! Loved the pics :)

Kathryn Packer Roberts said...

Wow, sounds hectic. Did Tyra have a book coming out, too? I think I'd be too nervous to do much laughing. But, then again, you're the man. =)

Laura said...

A day in the life of the Dashner Dude.

I wish you many equally awesome days in the future.

Alexa said...

Sounds fun! Aircraft Carrier, that sounds totally awesome! (Always wanted to go on one of those....) Great post, looking forward to the next one :)

Emily said...

What? No picture or shout-out of meeting me in the hallway? ;)

BEA was a pile of madness to be sure.

Tess said...

Did you drop my name with Tyra? Because you totally could have, you know.

we're tight.

Erin G. said...

You're such a stud, James!!!!

Erin said...

HOLY COOWWW.... THATS TYRA FRAKING BANKS:DD lol, niiiiceee

Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) said...

It was great to see you again, James! And remember, you were at BEA signing chapter samplers of The Death Cure. I only say this since you thought you came to Burlington, MA for the 13th Reality, when you were really there for The Scorch Trials :)

Great pictures too! I love the one with Tyra.

alicebeesley.blogspot.com said...

My daughter read Maze Runner and can't wait to read the Scorch Trials.

Urthman said...

James -- Hope you have fun at the book signing today at the BYU bookstore.

Janette Rallison said...

And after that, you wrote 4,000 words???!! You're amazing. I think I spent most of yesterday just writing and only did 2,500. (but to my credit it was an action scene I'd put off writing because I think those tense action scenes are hard.)

Anyway, you rock!

Taffy said...

What an awesome week! Loved the first pic w/ your book. And you wrote 4000 words too. Impressive! Thanks for the update on your BEA.

J.R. Johansson said...

What a week! That sounds like a blast. An aircraft carrier? Seriously? Awesome! :)

Anonymous said...

I was really looking forward to meeting you at the Utah Book Festival, unfortunately kids got sick. So, if you respond here to my question, great. If not, maybe at a signing. I was wondering how you came up with the name "The Death Cure" for your latest Maze Runner book? It reminds me of What about Bob...LOL Can't wait to read it! You're a Genius! Refreshing Genius I tell you...or a very disturbed individual....jury is still out :)

Matt Hayes said...

What did you write 4,000 words of?

KA said...

Hi, James! My seven year old son just finished reading all the 13th Reality books that are out, and he loved them. I caught him snickering at lots of funny parts (I think the part about the undies was his favorite). He stayed up late reading--I didn't stop him because I love it. So now you've got another fan.

alicebeesley.blogspot.com said...

Awesome. My daughter is loving her signed copy of The Scorch Trials.

Matt Hayes said...

You should post about 13th Reality Book 4 next. I've seen a lot of stuff about it, like the title and the release date, but not the cover. So far I know that it's called THE VOID OF MIST AND THUNDER, and you confirmed that. But I saw, in multiple places, that it was coming out in August. Is that true?

And I wanna see the cover.

-Matt

Anonymous said...

hola soy de Argentina, me encanto leer the maze runner, no puedo esperar a leer el tercer libro. creo que la trama se desarrolla en el polo norte o en el polo sur.
:)
noralĂ­

Tristi Pinkston said...

You enjoy strategizing, laughing, and ensuing ... I can tell.

Christy said...

You still got in 4,000 words before bed? Amazing! Sounds like fun.

Unknown said...

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS BOOK! Hurry up! October is like waiting forever..

Peggy Eddleman said...

Haha! I love that it inspires both writing and crashing. It's what all good publishing events should do. Looks like you had a fabulous time!

Aydel said...

Sounds like a awesome week!!! :)

(I'm from suth america, and speak in english is a little hard to me, so if I have a mistake with my writing, I'm sorry!!. But I try because I really like your books :)

Matt Hayes said...

Hey, man. Are you dead?

Oh, and guys, he's done with the book. Publishers just like taunting people.

Anonymous said...

Not everybody has twitter! Blog!!

Anonymous said...

hey, when is that new 13 reality book coming out?

Anonymous said...

Hey Dashner Choro,

Greg Hoch here. Can you give me a call when you get a minute? 801-419-3181

Anna Maria Junus said...

Sounds amazing. I'm hoping one day it happens to me.