Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Print Run for THE MAZE RUNNER

Since it's now in Publisher's Weekly, I think I have permission to tell you guys what Random House has announced as our first print run. You can see it for yourself: CLICK HERE, or I can just tell you: 100,000 copies (hardback).

I love seeing people's reaction when they hear this number. Most people aren't very familiar with the book industry, so I can just tell what they're thinking in their minds: Well, that's not very impressive now is it. I mean, Harry Potter and Twilight had first print runs in the millions. What a stinky, stinky boy.

It all depends on what you compare it to, I guess. But just trust me that my agent and I are extremely excited about this announcement, and it's a very good sign that initial book orders are strong. Now we just have to hope people buy all those books!

(By the way, did you notice the first print run of DIARY OF A WIMPY KID BOOK 4? 2 million!!! Amazing.)

Moving along, if you missed it on Monday, we announced the sale of MAZE to the Greek publisher, Platypous. That means we now have three foreign rights sales (Russia, France, Greece), all of whom bought the entire trilogy. I don't know why, but the thought of my book in other languages is definitely one of the coolest aspects of my career so far. Hopefully we'll see even more.

Thanks again for all the awesome comments about how strange the Dashner Duders are. I really, really enjoyed reading them, and so did my family. Feel free to continue if you think of something else!

Here's another one for me: I always sleep with a fan, year round, no matter how cold it is. I became addicted to it growing up in Georgia. It's mainly the noise that puts me to sleep - drowns out everything else. Ah, pure bliss. Oh, and you can bet my wife just LOVES this about me.

30 comments:

Anna said...

That's great about Maze Runner!

And I'm with you. I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS sleep with a fan. Silence is too loud. So, I guess we have a weird thing in common.

When it's hotter, I sleep with TWO fans...both for noise and just to keep cool.

KA said...

Ha ha! If I type fast, I will be the first to comment this time. Congrats on the print run...100,000is HUGE! Those are the kind of numbers most authors dream about, JK Rowling excepted. Most of us will too busy enjoying the movie to be jealous of her anyway. Also, my oddity is that I can whistle by curling my tongue.

J.N. Future Author said...

100,000! That is a ton! I'm sooooo excited to see the final version! I'm going to take it with me everywhere! ^.~

You sleep with a fan on? That sounds really peaceful....I usually turn on an audio book, and listen until I fall asleep ^.^

Peggy said...

Congratulations!!! I am so happy for you!

Magenta said...

When I first saw the number 100,000 I was pretty impressed. I mean, 100,000 copies? When you think about all those books in one big group, it's a little mind-boggling!

But then I read down the list and saw that there were plenty other books that were printing many more thousand copies than you were. I couldn't believe the Wimpy Kid 4 getting 2 mil. Like, come on! He's a wimpy kid! Why is he so popular? (I don't like the series very much, obviously. Does that make me weird?)

But you should still be proud of yourself. It's certainly more books than any of us have ever printed, i.e. zero, zilch and nada. (Except maybe Laura Bingham. She's a new author I'm obsessed with now. She wrote Alvor. I don't know how many copies she'll print, but it's more than zero, to be sure.)

Here are some other books I'm looking forward to that are on the list:
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma, by Trenton Lee Stewart (It's the third in the series.)

Peter and the Sword of Mercy, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (I thought this was a trilogy, but I'm thrilled that there's another book!)

Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographia: The Shadow Dragon, by James A. Owen (I've read the first book so far, not the rest yet, but I'm glad to know a new book will be out soon.)

Tamra Norton said...

Coming out of the woodwork to congratulate my you, Dashman!!! I'm so happy for all your success--truly amazing! (and not in an amazing-that-James-Dashner-ever-accomplished-this kind-of way, but a HOLY-FREAKING-COW-THIS-IS-TOTALLY-AWESOME type of AMAZING!!!) You're the best, James. You've worked so hard to get to where you're at, and I can't think of anyone more deserving! Big hugs and a yee-haw from Texas!

James Dashner said...

Thanks, everybody!

Magenta, remember when you mention those "plenty other books" that PW is only announcing books with large print runs. There are tons of books coming out in Oct. that aren't even mentioned in the article. :-)

(Don't worry, I didn't take what you said the wrong way, just thought it was a good point to clarify.)

Anonymous said...

I think 100,000 is awesome, James. It's just the beginning for you, man. Trust me.

I always sleep with a fan too. I think I might have you beat though. I always, always sleep with TWO fans. Year round. I think my hubby has forgiven me.

Magenta said...

I'm sorry, Dude. You're totally right. I didn't think about all the books that were under 100,000 copies in their print run. Like I said, you should still totally be proud of yourself, because your up there with the big dogs!

Thanks so much for not taking what I said the wrong way. I didn't mean offense. Far from it. But I do see how what I said could have offended.

Ansoree: Something you said that you and wish you could take back as soon as or soon after you say it.
Usage: I've said a few ansorees from time to time, and I always regret them. I hope you'll forgive my ansoree, James.

James Dashner said...

Magenta, you sweet thing. I promise you don't need to apologize!!!!! You're one of the most faithful Duders. Thanks!

Melanie Goldmund said...

Congratulations on your huge print run!

I wish The Maze Runner would be translated into German. I already know the title for it -- Der Labyrinthläufer. If it were in German then maybe, just maybe, I could get my two reluctant reader sons to give it a try. But whether they read it or not, I certainly will, and I'm looking forward to it immensely!

Keep up the great work!

From your Irregular Dashner Duder,
Melanie

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

100k is HUGE James - congratulations!

Unknown said...

Awesome, dude. But there has to be AT LEAST that many ARCs running around now :-)

During the summer I don't sleep well unless I get the sweaty-funk off me via cold shower right before bed. That started when I lived in Spain and it was so humid there that your skin becomes the consistency of recently used chewing gum.

Dave said...

100k books! sounds good to me. So what happens, when all the first 100k books are sold, like the first week, do they immediately print more? and what about your book being in all the stores across the country like barnes and noble, and online? how can that possibly not be more than 100k? i guess thats just the first printing right? how many copies do you have for the 2 13th reality books? anyway, congrats and im sure you will sell out pretty fast too, and word of mouth will get the 2nd 100k books ready soon enough! LASTLY, dont forget my prediction, that this will take over as the new "lord of the flies" and be in schools pretty soon, so that will be a huge order right there....remember, i called that one first. maybe its because i read the book, but it'll happen!
Dave

Paradox said...

Congratulations!!! I can't wait to read The Maze Runner and I'm very jealous of people with ARCs!

Dave said...

just saw the list on PW! YOU JAMES, YOU MADE IT TO PW!!!! How cool is that in itself, never mind getting 100k copies! YOU DA AUTHOR!

Unknown said...

100,000!! Amazing. Congrats. :)

numberonedashnerfan said...

Congrats Dude....can't wait to get it....wouldnt you get cold sleeping with fans I sleep with like 8-10 fleece blankets on in the summer....well im going to camp tommorow 730am tell sat 6pm....tiki tiki

Magenta said...

Hey, I'm back! Thanks, James! *beam* ^_^ Sweet thing? One of your most faithful Duders? Stop, you make me blush!

I swear, someday I'm gonna meet you just so I can shake your hand and tell to your face what a super nice guy you are... that, and maybe get your autograph too. ^,~

Wow. A lot of people confessed they sleep with a fan every night, just because you said you did. Unbelievable. Personally, I don't think it's much of a weird quality. I usually sleep with a fan too. I live in Florida. It's summer. Who cares?

But here's something weird. When I eat popcorn, and there's nearly none left, you know the kernels in the end? I eat the cracked ones that weren't able to pop.

I have really strong teeth. Plus, I like the crunch.

Anonymous said...

Congrats. I read a summary of your book. It looks very good and I have it on my wishlist :)

speaking of fans, my boyfriend likes the sound of the dryer when he's sleeping (he doesn't mind the fan thing either). You're both weird. :D lol.

Heather Moore said...

100K is awesome, James! Huge congrats!

Anonymous said...

100,000 is huge! Congratulations! I can totally relate to the fan thing. At the moment, we have six fans in the house, plus the A/C. This climate demands it.

Clint Johnson said...

100K copies. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious, but I'm truly happy for you as well, James. Here's to selling the printing out in the first quarter.

Luisa Perkins said...

Jawdropping! Fantastic! Congrats.

Deb said...

You always sleep with a fan? You'll have a lot more to choose from when Maze Runner releases. Humor, har.

The strangeness of the Duders is horribly amazing! I myself have no illusions of being close to normal, but to list all my weirdities would take too much space. Suffice it to say, I am one odd duck.

Angie said...

Congrats James! You and your wife deserve all of the great things that are happening!

BTW, I sleep with TWO fans...Year Round...I need the movement of air.

The Scarlet Tart said...

Gross, Graham.

The Scarlet Tart said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
LouMac said...

I sleep with a fan too. And when my parents or siblings break their fans by running it 24/7, they get our fan and we are stuck with nothing. Then I roll and toss and turn all night long. I think I should just superglue it to the floor so they can't take it!

Congrats on the 100,000 prints! That's really cool.

Another odd thing about me is that I can curl my tongue into half a flower. My brother and dad can fold it in half (all the way flat) perfectly. It's really cool. You can see the veins sticking out.

Down where I live, we have a holiday called "Lamb Days". It's really cool, but I hate lamb! Don't tell anyone though. They might boot me outta town!

James Dashner said...

Deb, your comment about fans was way too good. Control yourself!

I'm so glad to know that a lot of the Duders sleep with, I mean, while a fan machine is running.