Friday, June 5, 2009

Last Prepub Date for MAZE, Articles

Yesterday was the poor little orphan child prepub date, two weeks after the rest of them. But last was certainly not least! I had an awesome time. I got to hang out with Dandy Conway again, the Random House Sales rep who I met in San Francisco.

I spent the afternoon with almost twenty teenagers at The King's English bookstore. These kids were way too smart, and grilled me ruthlessly until I gave away things about the series I never should have. I can only hope they eat lots of sugar and get hit in the head a couple of times so they'll forget.

You guys were so great, as were Margaret and Jenn and Anne and everyone else at TKE, as always. Here's a picture:



That night we had dinner at the Bambara restaurant with Dandy and representatives from the Salt Lake City Library, TKE, South Jordan Middle School, Sam Weller's Bookstore, BYU, Deseret Book, and Barnes and Noble (remember the Ode to Angie?).

And this time my wife got to come! I was really glad she got to see what it's like, since a prepub tour is kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing. We all had a great time and talked each other's ears off for three hours. Oh, and it sure seemed like everyone liked the book!

In other news, here are a couple of new mentions in Publisher's Weekly (CLICK HERE) and School Library Journal (CLICK HERE).

Spread, buzz, spread! Like a disease! (One of those really nice diseases that gives you great pleasure and doesn't kill you.)

18 comments:

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I've always wanted a nice disease so I could have an excuse to lay about and read books all day . . .

Wait, I already have it, it's called LAZINESS.

Congrats James. And I have a feeling this won't be a once in a liftime experience for you at all.

Anonymous said...

Wunderbar!! Bueno!! Fantastique!!(I'm just prepping you for when Der Laufer des Labyrinths goes global. No, I'm not 100% sure if this translation is correct. It's my version of The Maze Runner in German.)

I'm glad your Frau got to go with you, too. I bet she's proud of everything that you've accomplished.

How are your plans for a book signing in Georgia? I know you're hard at work on that, right?

The Scarlet Tart said...

Awesome! Sounds like good times.

Magenta said...

Looks like you made a bunch of kids really happy!

The Publishers Weekly link was cool. Now you've got me looking forward to so many other awesome books as well as your own!

The Magician’s Elephant, by Kate DiCamillo
Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma, by Trenton Lee Stewart
Witch & Wizard, by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

Congrats on breaking 110 followers! You're so popular. ^,^

Grapid(GRAP-id): a word to describe a particularly wide-spread disease that develops quickly.

Unknown said...

James-

I wanted to let you know that I referenced your book in my blog. Here's the link: http://michellereynoso.blogspot.com/2009/06/ya-bea-book-buzz.html


Michelle Reynoso

writing and photography
www.MichelleReynoso.com
www.michellereynoso.blogstpot.com

Angie said...

Hey James...good to see you last night, BUT, you have really got to quit NAME DROPPING!

Your book is fabulous and I have been talking it up to every single person I meet...so, bring on the buzz!

Anonymous said...

Slave driver! How dare you force us to create buzz for you!

Of course...one might be willing should a mysterious ARC show up on their doorstep...just saying.

Nah. You know I'm kidding! Consider me buzzed. And not the drunk kind of buzzed.

J.N. Future Author said...

wow, lucky lucky!

Karen Pellett said...

Sounds like you had an awesome time.

In order to help you promote the Maze Runner my friend and I are planning on having a James Dashner month (either Septemer or October) on our book review website (fabulousreads.blogspot.com) where we will write reviews of every book that you've written and giveaway that wonderful copy of the 13th Reality that you autographed for me last month. We are so excited to promote your works and really hope this helps your sales and gets new people intrested in reading your stuff.

James Dashner said...

Wow, Michelle and Karen, thanks for the support! I really appreciate that. Karen, a whole month? Sweet.

Angie, what are you talking about? Who did I name drop and when?

nkrell, we shall see.....

LT, I saw an ARC on ebay. I shouldn't tell you, cuz I don't think there supposed to do that. :)

Anonymous said...

Much as I would love to read Maze, I want to support you more. I tease about the ARC's but I'm happy to wait and get my own copy of it when it comes out. Of course, I will have to stalk you down to sign it. Every book you've written, I own and have signed. (Thus far.) Can't break tradition. =]

The Scarlet Tart said...

I don't own an ARC but I sure did read one.

Diva Donna said...

So life has calmed down for a minute and I just wanted to say HA HA HA HA I got my hands on an ARC of MAZE and I'm reading it right now. More to come from Debbie who had a chance to read it before me. I'm sure she'll let everyone know where they can go for a fun review of the hottest new YA adventure coming out this fall.


PS. I heard some funny stories about BEA, James. Sounds like you had a blast. I also heard that Maze Runner WAS the buzz at BEA. Congrats.

Unknown said...

James---


Just finished MAZE! I e-mailed you my rundown on it, but man! What a barn-burner! I loved it!

Magenta said...

Hey James. I just wanted to comment because I felt like reminding you that it's been a couple days since you've written a new post. I don't know, maybe you're busy, but...

I thought by now you'd have written something about how awesome the Teen Writer's Conference on Saturday was! I remember when you told us about it and I was so excited for it, but I couldn't go this year. So I've been waiting patiently for you to say how it was, so I can at least know what happened.

Did a lot of kids show up to the event? How old were the teens, on average? (I want to know because I'm 17 and I'd like to know if there'd be plenty of kids my age if I decide to go next year.) Did everyone (including you) have a lot of fun? Or did something bad happen and you don't want to write about it until you're ready?

Or maybe it was a simple event that was completely neutral and it totally slipped your mind. Whatever the case, just know that this is very suspenseful for me. I hope your next post will answer some of my questions. Until then, peace out. Good luck on your writing!

BTW, my word is ledge. A real word! ha ha.

numberonedashnerfan said...

James whats your oppinion on me taking ap european history and english..........Angie what are the chances of getting a job at barnes and noble?.....How do you write a 5 page essay.........tiki tiki....

Deb said...

Donna, what a surprise that you're right! I did read Maze Runner and have posted a non-spoiler review. Check it out at:

http://inkingcap.blogspot.com/
Or just click on my picture and select the blog "Inking Cap".

I should also mention, James, that I gave you a shout out last Monday. Now I just need to think of what I can say about you for my post next Monday... :)

The Scarlet Tart said...

I'm with you, Magenta.