Monday, April 25, 2011

Three Days.... And a Story

Just making sure that everyone knows we'll be revealing the cover for THE DEATH CURE in three days. On Thursday, the 28th, at 7:00 am EST.


Any predictions on what the cover art may look like?

See you then......

EDIT: Oh, and also, Shannon Hale is hosting an event today where a bunch of authors share an embarrassing or humiliating experience at an event. CLICK HERE.

Here's mine:

I'll never forget one of my very first booksignings. It was my first book, A Door in the Woods, which was done with a small indie publisher. I had grand expectations, of course. I mean, I was a freaking published AUTHOR now!

It was the first of many, many signings which taught me that I wasn't all that, or even close to it. In fact, I was pretty much none of that. I sold one book. I basically accosted this person, begging them to take a look at my newest bestest book. It was a pity sale, no doubt.

One lady asked me where the bathroom is. Another asked me where the cookbooks are. One of the employees stood about five feet from me at one point and kept trying to sell ANOTHER AUTHOR'S BOOK to people as they walked by. I watched as many people studiously examined the store for a way to walk by me without possibility of being engaged in conversation. You would've thought I had leprosy.

I felt about 2 inches tall when it was over. And I swore to always buy a book if I ever saw someone else in the same predicament! Which is why I own some very.... odd books. But they're signed!

See you Thursday.....

32 comments:

Chantele Sedgwick said...

I'm guessing it will be black like death. ;) Love your books by the way! I'm excited to meet you at Storymakers this year! :)

Garrett Matthews said...

I'm guessing it will be awesome... and intriguing. Just saying... :)

Magenta said...

Ahh, that is very exciting! I can't wait to see the cover!!! ^_^

Hmm. Since Maze Runner was mostly green, and Scorch Trials was kind of orange-yellowish, I'll bet that Death Cure will have a very dark color theme. Maybe blue, or gray, or black. Something like that. Or perhaps it'll be red, for danger!

Haha, that's a very humbling story. ^,^ Thanks for telling it. It was really funny!

Hey, when is the next 13th Reality going to come out, btw???

Mardie said...

Since both of the first two books of the series show images of a place, I think the third might also be a place - a dark, eerie place (maybe a cave or the entrance to a volcano) or a sterile hospitalish place.

Love the series, James!

Ashley said...

I love that you now buy books if you see lonely authors! :)

Bethany said...

Phew.. I'm glad I'm not the only person to feel extremely awkward at a book signing :)
Maybe it will be of something inside. Yeah... very general.

Unknown said...

I was at LTUE, so I'm loving reading everyone's guesses. I'm also refraining from further comment.

I love Mortification Monday! Who else is playing? Shannon had some hilarious stories, too.

(That never happens anymore, right? Right??)

Brian said...

Hey, was this the book signing where I ran into you at Seagull Book and Tape like 7 years ago? I was there to pick up my sister-in-law and you had just arrived... otherwise I totally would have bought your book! :)

Soft Tofu said...

I'm so excited about the cover! Would be extra excited if it was the book being released... which leads me to question numero uno: will there be any ARCs? And if yes, how can I get my hands on a copy? And question two... will you ever be visiting NYC?!?!

Erin said...

the cover for the death cure? I have no idea. It's been killing me to wait though!

as for your story, i wish i could relate. I can only imagain how disappointing that may have been so im going to learn from your expirance and buy a book from someone if they are in the same predicament.

im glad you didn't give up on us, James!

Anonymous said...

I think the cover will be something epic. Maybe a giant crowd of thousands and thousands of people infected with the flare.

Heather Justesen said...

Oh yeah, don't we all have events like that? At my big launch party at Barnes and Noble last spring I sold 1 book. Yes, at my launch. Apparently I planned it on the second night of high school graduations in the area and everyone in town was leaving on vacation instead of visiting book stores. Thankfully I had a couple of friends stop in to say hi at least. =)

Unknown said...

From the previous books, I'm guessing... ominous-looking architecture?

;-)

Anonymous said...

I think it'll be black or blue maybe with a large but blurred crowd in the background.
I love your books. BEST EVER. I read em all at least twice.
You know what sucks? I live in Germany so I can't get them easily. Or I would have all your books on my shelf and signed.

M

Colby said...

James--Can't wait for The Death Cure! I love both of the earlier books. I have also bought books from authors in that situation...one of them was actually really good! I am glad you made it out of there and into bigger and better books, though!

Anonymous said...

Since the first two were color themed, I think it'll be either hues of red or noxious yellow. Whatever the cover, I already know I'll be reading it! Your books are some of the best YA ever written!

Jackson Porter said...

I have no idea....

-Jackson

Richard H said...

Hey, isn't it supposed to be up by now...? Anyway, I predict it will be black with dark buildings and swirly red stuff will be floating through and around them.

Kathryn Packer Roberts said...

How sad. That's about how I expect my first book signing to go, if ever I have a first book signing.

I'm excited to see the cover! I have absolutely no idea what it will look like. I can't believe the date is already here.

Amanda said...

I love this series and am super excited to see the cover (even more to read it when it comes out!!) I tell everyone that I think I lost weight reading The Scorch Trials because my heart rate was up so high the entire time. BEST series I have read in a LONG time!

pen master said...

Hmm, dark blues and blacks. Or maybe the complete oposite, whites...probably the first. I am so stinkin excited!!

Well, congrats on the amazing let down for your first booksigning :) I hope to have one of those myself, but at least now I know not to get my hopes up to high (no offense :)

I have a dilemma, the cover will be posted while I'm at school but I dont wanna wait !!! Hahaha well I guess we will see!

lulilut said...

One more day!

The other covers were of large structures so if the third book follows this premise maybe a massive morgue or a gas chamber.

Anonymous said...

i can't wait!! if only the actual book were coming out!
i think the cover is going to be a dark colour and maybe be a picture of the scorch with thomas' silhouette in the background? no matter what it is i know its going to be just as great as the others!

Ilsa J. Bick said...

Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. Signings can be very . . . demoralizing.
OTOH, you weren't you then ;-)

Matt Hayes said...

I predict that the cover will have the words THE DEATH CURE on it.

Krista said...

The cover is gorgeous! I'm quite terrified of my first signing but I still CAN'T WAIT. It was great meeting you at Storymakers! I was kicking myself that I hadn't brought our copy of Scorch Trials for you to sign. And I've decided to set my latest contemporary romance inside a maze of swirling mist and clicking blobs of chocolate.


Not really. Congratulations!

Unknown said...

hi i love ur books so much I finished the second book of the maze runner series I wanted the third book sooooooo bad but i am mad that I cant finish the series I want to sooo bad I think tom should end up with Brenda and jorge and her should get the cure but tom should make up w/ theresa! Is it possible I could get a copy early? I am dying to no what happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeanette said...

If it was a signing at the Seagull Book and Tape in Taylorsville, it was my mother who bought your book. :) We all came to the store together as a family, and I was appalled that my mom was buying a signed book that we'd never even hear of. She felt bad for you and decided to buy it, so it was a pity sale.
BUT, when we got home and I read it, I remember I really liked it. I must have been twelve then, and I still remember one part where Jimmy is in a tree, picks his nose, and wipes it on his pants because that it what any self-respecting boy would do. I remember I laughed and laughed at that part.
So you made fans out of us!

Anonymous said...

Ohhhh. I'm so sorry. That is so mean of them to do. Especially when you wrote the best series ever! I hope that never happens to you again.

Star Catcher said...

Your books are the greatest! PLEASE release the first chapter! I know the wait will kill me even more once I have the first chapter, but seriously, I NEED that first chapter! Please please PLEASE release it!!!!!!!

P.S. You can find me under the disguise name I used on . It's a book website.

Star Catcher said...

oh, um... on Shelfari.com

Carmen said...

Hey ,
I love the books! Check out my blog , www.feedtheread.com! I've reviewed the Maze Runner Books!