Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Ketchup, or is that Catch Up?

Well, hi there! Thanks for all the emails, phone calls, texts, and comments telling me to shape up and blog. Sorry about the delay - I just felt like I was saying the exact same thing over and over again: I visited some schools, I did a signing, I toured the town. Blah blah blah.

Aren't you guys sick of that yet? No? Aw shucks.

Okay, then. The last couple of weeks, I visited some schools, did some signings, and toured some towns. It was fun. Good enough? Alright, let's play Catch Up.

1. South Carolina was great. I really enjoyed the schools, and I had a good time walking along the beach, finding seashells for my kids, and touring the old town of Charleston. Oddly, I think my favorite moment was watching this huge freighter ship mosey on by through the harbor. For some reason I love huge ships.

2. Idaho was also great! I stayed with my wife's aunt and uncle for a couple of days, and got to feed their cows and chickens. I also loved hearing and watching the trains go by in the distance - there were a lot of them. And, of course, the schools were awesome as usual. And did you know that Idaho Falls is called Idaho Falls because of really cool waterfalls? Brillliant! (And beautiful)

3. I'm mostly done with the Fall edition of the Change the World Tour, and man oh man, I'm relieved. As much as I love those kids, seeing new places, yada yada yada, the Dashner Dude's brain is spent! It's very emotionally and mentally draining to be so chipper for so long. I'm anxious and excited to get back to what I do best: write books. Good thing, because.....

4. Last Thursday I received my editorial comments from Krista Marino, my editor for THE MAZE RUNNER. Woo boy! Do I have a lot of work to do. Nothing too major, but a lot of little things that are going to make this book much, much better. I already suspected this, but Krista is a genius, and EXTREMELY thorough. I'm not in the least but surprised she's a senior editor at Random House. Wow.

5. I don't really think you're supposed to see this, but . . . hey, it's on the world wide web, what can ya do? The guy who did the artwork for the cover for THE MAZE RUNNER has put it on his website. His name is Philip Straub, and he does amazing digital stuff (more apt for the teen crowd). Wanna see what's gonna be on the cover? Well, then quit sittin' there like a wart on a toadie and CLICK HERE. Isn't it awesome! He nailed the feel of the book itself. I love it.

6. Halloween was once again a success - my kids got ridiculous amounts of free candy from complete strangers. My wife claims it's been proven that sugar doesn't make kids hyperactive. Yah. I believe that one.

7. Today is Election Day. Go and vote!!!!! And don't ever, ever be ashamed of who you choose or what you vote for, as long as you believe it's the right choice. Ain't America great?

8. My Dawgs got blistered and whooped on by the hated, despised, horrible, terrible, monstrous, grotesque, ugly, stupid, stupid, stupid Florida Gators. I'm in deep mourning. But at least my Falcons are doing awesome, with the best rookie QB since Peyton Manning. It's a done deal, folks: NFL Rookie of the Year 2008 is Matt Ryan.

9. My agent is awesome. Have I said that recently? Well, he is. So there.

10. So let's hear it from those people who got ARCs of 13TH REALITY BOOK 2! Did you like it? Is it better than Book 1? Let us know. And I do have a few more to give away.....

Well, it's good to be back. I hope all is well in your neck of the woods, and we'll talk again soon.

17 comments:

TinaFerraro said...

Hey, just jumping in to agree on your statement about our editor. Krista Marino IS a genius. She is remarkably insightful, clever and creative. In my fourth book with her, I find that doing her edits are actually my favorite part of the process because it's so much fun to see my story breathe new (and higher quality) life!

Frank Cole said...

Seriously dude! That is an awesome cover! And I just have to say... Bama's #1 baby!

James Dashner said...

Amen, Tina! Glad to share editors with you. We're practically related.

Frank, I owe you an ARC. I'll come by the store sometime in the next week or so.

Danyelle Ferguson said...

What a gorgeous illustration! I love it!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

One of the great side-effects of a tour like that must be all the fresh fodder for the imagination.

Still waiting on my copy, but hey, things take twice as long to get to Canada, eh?

J.N. Future Author said...

I'm so glad you posted! I began to think you were eaten by the students or something!

The cover to the Maze Runner really does capture the book! I'm glad we get to see it early!

As for the Hunt for Dark Infinity...the ending was amazing! I also really like that book! That makes 2 of your books on my Top 5 list! Imprsive! up there next to David Eddings, philip pullman, and 3 Secrets!

I hope you post more!!!

Carolyn Twede Frank said...

Great illustration of the Maze Runner! I want to read it even more now.
I would love one of your ARCs for The Hunt for Dark Infinity if there is still one up for grabs. I just finished the first in the series, Journel of Curious Letters. I thought it was awesome. I loved how you kept me on the edge of my seat.

Q said...

I sent you an email with my thoughts on HfDI, and I couldn't say it better here than I did there, so check your email.

And that cover? Awesome. I approve. I am so excited. Get that book published ASAP as long as it's also the best you can make it, okay?

Brian said...

Shoot. I'm a Dawgs fan too...

Awesome cover though!

Why Not? Because I Said So! said...

Man that is an awesome cover for Maze Runner! How exciting!

Your travels almost mirrored the presidential candidates..how funny! I grew up close to Idaho Falls (in Blackfoot) so I had to laugh about your comment about the "falls" in Idaho Falls!! ;)

So how do I get one of the last ARC's for 13th Reality 2? I would love to get my hands on one?

Congrats on everything happening right now!

Anonymous said...

Way to rock the Vote man! I'm super proud the you're endorsing it and that you're so supportive of everyone's choices. I mean, it's great to like your candidate but I hate when people bash on someone else's choice. So you're awesome, James!

The cover for Maze Runner is gorgeous and can I just say that as I've been reading through some of your older posts, your creativity is astounding! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the entire concept of the Maze Runner! It's so unique. And I love their slang language too! How funny!
Have a great day!

P.S. If you're tossing out extra ARC's I'll be happy to take one off your hands!

Frank Cole said...

James,

You got me all giddy now! Let me know when you're in the area.

Laurel said...

I loved your first book I want #2 please please kiss up! I was sad when I heard about the book coming out and not getting an ARC.

Michelle J from scrawl

James Dashner said...

I appreciate those of you who want ARCs. Sorry for the tease! I meant that I plan to do some kind of contest thingy soon.

Maybe I'll cheat and help some of you win.....

Thanks for all the nice comments!!!

Annie Bailey said...

The cover to Mazerunner is awesome! It will be fun to see the finished design.

Cheryl said...

James-
Congrats on the cover! It is awesome and now I'm excited to read The Maze Runner. Ooh! Maybe I'll win that ARC, too? Might as well keep my streak going... :)

Speaking of the ARC, it's next in my queue to read. I know, I know, I'm a terrible ARC winner and I should be stripped of my title. But my reading queue is looooong and I kind of obsess with each book as I read them, so I can't read more than one at a time. Brisingr is just about done, and The Hunt For Dark Infinity is next! I peeked at it when I got it in the mail (thank you!) and I have to say I'm very excited to read it. And no, I'm not just saying that; I never just say things!

P.S. I adore Idaho as much as I adore CA. I was married in the IF Temple, and the falls are cool, eh?

Karen Pellett said...

OK I know it took me forever, but hey...for some reason life had to get in the way, I finished reading The Hunt For Dark Infinity.

Not too shabby!!! Just kidding. I so loved the twists and turns...especially that one way REALLY cool thing you through in at the end.

Way to go!