Stuff and Stuff
POSTED: January 28, 2013 | CATEGORY: General Updates
January is almost over, and the year seems to be running in high gear. I thought I’d pop in and give a few updates and let you guys know what I’m working on.
Before the official numbered list, I want to address the many, many, MANY questions I receive about movie news for THE MAZE RUNNER. I don’t mean that in an annoyed way – I love the questions because I’m just as excited as you and I’m glad that you are! Everything is pretty tight-lipped right now, but all I can tell you is what is public knowledge. Wes Ball is directing, The Gotham Group is producing, 20th Century Fox is the studio, and the film is in pre-production. And the casting process has begun. If you are an interested actor and you know what you’re doing, you probably already know this. I can’t say anything else, but much more to come…
Ok, now onto other updates:
1. THANK YOU for all the oohs and ahs for the cover of THE EYE OF MINDS, coming October 8th. In case you missed it, take a gander: CLICK HERE
2. I’m hard at work on the sequel to that book, Book 2 in THE MORTALITY DOCTRINE series. I feel a lot of pressure because I think you’re going to kinda like how the first book ends and I don’t want to mess up the momentum. I’ll do my best! This one is tentatively titled, THE RULE OF THOUGHTS.
3. I’m really pleased and excited about the building momentum for INFINITY RING. Book 3 comes out next week, by the incredible and slightly looney Lisa McMann. Look for it! And the accompanying online game, too. There’ll be an all-new stage to solve.
4. Speaking of that series, I thought it was really awesome that Scholastic did a huge contest for essays rewriting history, with over 3,000 students entering. The grand prize winner’s name is Anna Freeman, and her story goes back in time to ensure that a certain family named Hitler never had a certain boy named Adolph. Very clever. As a result, I’ll be visiting her school next month. Go Blandford Elementary!
5. This spring I’ll be writing the 7th and last book in that series. So the next few months will be a very busy writing time for me with two books to work on.
6. I don’t really have many events coming up that are public. Sorry! But I’m sure I’ll make up for it a bit when the book comes out this fall.
7. I know many of you have heard of www.TeensRead.com. They are, to borrow a word from the 70s, groovy. (I want to disclose here that I’ve never actually used that word except with an obviously mocking tone. But I was born in the 70s. And therefore, I am old.) They’re ramping up their annual Teens Choice Awards, and you should all go vote. For whatever book you, ahem, want to! CLICK HERE. Hurry before the voting ends on Feb 13.
POP CULTURE updates:
8. I’m not ashamed to admit it: Downton Abby is awesome. That is all.
9. Having finished Book 7 of THE WHEEL OF TIME, I’m now more than halfway through Book 8. Sometimes it’s a labor of love, but I really do like those books. And I’m excited to get to the ones by my friend, Brandon Sanderson. Ya know, books TWELVE through FOURTEEN. By the way, did you know that Brandon has his first YA book coming out this fall? It’s called STEELHEART, and it’s really, really good. He shares my publisher and editor (the one and only Krista Marino) for that book. Cool, eh?
10. I haven’t seen a movie in awhile because nothing has really grabbed my interest and things have been busy. But my family has been watching that AFRICA show on the Discovery Channel. Pretty amazing. And MODERN FAMILY of course. And I want to watch THE FOLLOWING but haven’t quite gotten to it, yet. If it’s anything like DEXTER, I’m in.
11. My son has officially turned into a complete “Magic, the Gathering” Nerd-Freak. Yes, the card game. And he’s sucked me right in. We went to our first official Magic tournament on Saturday and I don’t have to tell you that I got smoked. But it was fun and I’m determined to get better. And may I just say what I’ve always said: Nerds Rule.
12. Oh, nevermind. We saw THE IMPOSSIBLE. Most excellent and will make you hug and squeeze your kids for hours on end. I cried like a baby. Very powerful movie and I think it totally got snubbed by the Oscars.
Have a great week!
Magic The Gathering? When I was a kid we were all into Yu-Gi-Oh!.
Seems that magic games the “best new thing”.
Magic has been around far longer than Yu-Gi-Oh has been, most of the mechanics in the game are based off of the Magic system.
Oh I see, so its only now gaining popularity, but it preceded Yugioh. Hmm, interesting development!
I am so exctied for the maze runner movie and I will definitely for the kill order Teens Choice Awards and I will make to a lot of my friends do it the same. You would love the Following
I remember when I was a kid back in the 90′s and I played Magic: The Gathering. Seems like a passing phase but look at it now! Decades later and still going strong. NERDS FOR LIFE!
BADWOLF
I am very excited about the movie, and I love the trilogy and the film will be incredible. Although I would like to know more about the casting and the actors. You want the movie is released! lol sorry if misspelled but I’m from Argentina and I’m learning English
Looking forward to seeing the Maze Runner movie when it’s finally finished! And the cover for “The Eye of Minds” looks amazing. Good luck on the rest this year’s projects as well. Write like the wind! :)
James,
I’m ever so happy for you, my friend. The Maze Runner was a fantastic read, and I can hardly wait to see the movie. I know you hear this a lot, but I’m going to say it anyway: I’m your biggest fan! :)
Keep on keeping on,
CSH
Oh, yes. I forgot to mention that the cover for “The Eye of Minds” is groovy! ;)
CSH
Not gonna lie. I’m almost sixteen and I say groovy all the time :)
I’m so excited for the movie but also very VERY scared for the casting . Please don’t cast : Josh Hutcherson or Logan Lerman for Thomas. Please;they already have their “movies” and plus they’re not how I Imagined Thomas …. If you would cast Joel Courtney for the role of Thomas , i would literally die of happiness . Joel is an actor from the Super 8 movie directed by Steven Spielberg . And boy Joel is EXACTLY how i imagined Thomas … He is very talented and a really great guy . Please James , Please consider of having Joel Courtney as Thomas . Another choice that could be Thomas is Colin Ford . And last thing Kaya Scodelario needs to get the role of Teresa . Hope ur having the best time with ur son and ur life !
Daniela
TMR biggest fan :)
I really don’t agree. Well, I agree with the Josh Hutcherson/ Logan Lerman thing…but the people you suggested were complete Josh/ Logan wannabes! Go with someone who DOESN’T have Bieber hair…someone who has their own look!
The Maze Runner is being made into a movie?! Wait, actually?! THAT IS MY FAVORITE BOOK SERIES EVER OH MY GOD YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED I AM RIGHT NOW!!
You seriously don’t understand how AMAZING it is that you watch Downton. I mean come on. Tough guys watch Downton ;D Who is your favorite character? Of the twenty thousand of them… I would ask who is your least favorite as well but we all know Thomas needs to die in a hole. Right now. Thanks for the updates!!
I can’t believe that The Maze Runner is going to be in a movie!!!! It is my favourite book!!!!Can’t wait to see it!
Talking about the 2013 Teen Choice Book bla bla bla bla, I voted as 1st: The Kill Order but as 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th… well, I have nothing for them, I wish to voye for The Maze Runner but it wasn’t released in 2012. Anyway, James u have my vote!
I have a question for you:
Will your Utah events cost anything? Thanks!
You are an amazing author and you have a lot of talent. I am looking forward to reading more of your books, but I think I would be a little more intrigued if the synopsis described a little of the cliffhanging content.
Yeah, you should definitely check out ‘The Following’ like you mentioned. Great show. And I’m just a teenager. Looking forward to your upcoming books and the Maze Runner movie!
Hello Mr. Dashner,
I am a 52 yr old mom who was turned onto your books by my good friends 14 yr old son who had them. I borrowed his….and have in turn, gotten my 10 yr. old daughter to love ‘The 13th Reality Series.” She wants the Maze runner but I told her hold off a couple of yrs. He has a few more series for her age. By the way, got the library to buy from Amazon “The Death Cure.” Can you believe they had the first two and not the last one? Now I have to go back and get them to buy ‘The Kill Order.’ You need to take a vacation, some time off, because I can’t keep up with all your books. :)
Hi I am 11 years old and LOVE the 13th reality books. I was just on a website called Mormon.com and I saw your name under writers and publishers. SO COOL!!! I am LDS too. You rock! Email me anytime you want.
PS Are you making a 13th reality movie? I would LOVE to be Sophia. I look just like she is described. I would be amazing as her. If that ever happens, please email me.
hello, my name is laura’m from mexico, I can not stop thinking about how much I liked the trilogy of “the mazer runner”, my imagination is so great that I can imagine every detail according to your fantastic description, I would love to talk to you one day, really, I just that opportunity.
Hello, I have been researching the internet and i could not find out about any open casting calls for this movie, will there be any? Because I am very interested in auditioning. If there is anything open or anything I can do, please let me know ! Thank you!
I am so excited for the maze runner movie I can’t wait!!!! I would love to see Logan Lerman to play Thomas in the movie!
I’m very confused. I’ve been checking IMDb on who’s playing who. I’m not sure who Will Potter is playing. First it said he is Newt. Then Thomas. And now (April 15) the director came out saying he is playing Gally. And he says Aml Ameen is Alby. But what I’m confused about is that they are both British. But neither of the characters are. So…… what’s going on?
look Will is Alby in The Maze Runner Movie.