Check out the awesome book trailer for James Dashner’s new novel THE MAZE RUNNER! It’s one of the most professional book trailers I’ve ever seen — it’s almost like a real movie! I am a huge fan of James’ books in The Thirteenth Reality series, so you should certainly check out The Maze Runner in stores now 
Posted in Authors
Tags: James Dashner
I have a knack for meeting people at just the right moment. I met Kaza Kingsley through an email I sent after taking a peek at her book in a store. I met Renee, a radio station manager in Florida, who just happened to be looking for a new radio show for teenagers when I called. And recently I met an author named James Dashner, who has been around once with a series but is coming around again to take on the world.
I just got word that James’ soon-to-be-released book has already sold more in presales than his first series in its entirety. Also, his book The 13th Reality: The Journal Of Curious Letters has been chosen as a Border’s Original Voices pick for April. How’s that for a start? It comes out on March 3rd, 2008, so be absolutely sure to get it, and if you’re still not convinced (shame on you) go read my review.
The cleverer side of me (no giggling!) demanded that I nab an interview in case James grows into an elusive author like Lemony Snicket or JK Rowling or Obert Skye (Charles Dickens has been flat-out ignoring my requests for some time now as well). Thankfully, James is awesome and agreed right off to answer what I like to call:
1. Thanks James so much for coming on. To start off, where did you get the inspiration for The Thirteenth Reality?
Thanks Kaleb Nation! I’m glad to be here.
It came from some serious brain pounding after being given one week to come up with a proposal for my eventual publisher. I’d submitted a different book to them, and they liked my writing, but didn’t feel that particular book was right for them. So I worked my tail off to write a proposal for an idea that had always bounced around in my head: The concept of a group recruiting kids by sending out riddles and clues, but also horrible, dangerous things to try to stop them while they solve the mystery.
2. In what ways do you feel your writing changed between your first series (Jimmy Fincher) and The Thirteenth Reality?
Oh, man, it’s not even funny. Sometimes it’s painful to go back and look at my very first book, A Door in the Woods. I’ve come a very long way, and learned many things. Hopefully, this new book knocks the socks off my old stuff. Not that I don’t like Jimmy Fincher-I’ll always love that story.
3. What was the hardest part about writing The Thirteenth Reality?
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Posted in Authors, Interviews, Writing
Tags: Borders, James Dashner, lemony snicket, obert skye
Posted in College, Quick Post
Tags: James Dashner, one tree hill, sophia bush
Soon-to-be bestselling author James Dashner will be answering some questions for me on this site. I will be posting this sometime within the next week. This is going to be awesome because his book The 13th Reality is coming out on March 3rd, and absolutely everyone should be at the stores that day to get a copy. If you don’t already have a reason to be there at opening time, I’ll be sure to convince you by the time the interview’s over.
Posted in Authors
Tags: James Dashner, The 13th Reality
There is so much about The 13th Reality by James Dashner to like, I don’t know where to start. From fresh plotlines to fresh scenarios to fresh hooks, it’s all a party of newness that hasn’t been overused. It’s something we haven’t read before, and that alone is enough to make my timbers shiver.
The story goes that young Atticus Higginbottom, known as Tick, has received a strange note which tells him that very dangerous things are in store. Twelve riddles are to be delivered to him at certain times by post. As Tick accepts the riddles, strange and unusual things begin to happen to him, including but not limited to frightening beasts attacking and strange visitors sent to help him on his quest.
Top of my list of wonderful things about The Thirteenth Reality are certain features to the character Tick that make him hop right out. No catch-phrases like ‘raz’ or ‘radical’ that expired in the 90’s but some authors still think kids use. Upon receiving the riddles, Tick searches the Internet for any bloggers who might have written about it. Then, he posts on a site looking for anybody who has also had these strange happenings, connecting with a girl in Italy by email.
The 13th Reality also has a whiff of nice about it because the main protagonist really cares about his family and shows it easily. I wasn’t in the least bit surprised when I found out that the author grew up with five brothers and sisters: clever mentions of the ‘junk drawer’, playing Scrabble nights and the frequent retreats to the quiet of the library reminded me so much of back home with my own three brothers and sister.
Fans of the Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale will certainly enjoy this book. This is a wonderful start to a new series. It goes to stores March 3rd, 2008, so be absolutely certain to grab a copy for yourself and enjoy a wonderful read!
Posted in Authors, Reviews
Tags: James Dashner, The 13th Reality
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