Member: jamesdashner

Hey JD -
I'm totally slapping myself for missing out on the premier week of Hunt for Dark Infinity. I've got a small pile of ARCs I've promised to read and review in the next week but I can't wait to get back to Tick and The 13th Reality Series! Congrats on the book release, hope the tour and publicity stuff is going awesome! Definitely looking forward to reading it and I must say Maze Runner is sounding fabulous as well!
Best wishes,
lisa :)

posted by elbakerone at 12:08 pm (EST) on Mar 3, 2009

I am sure that it must be frustrating for a writer to see the work he has sweated over compared to another book, however, after reading elbakerone's discussion on the Books Compared group my reaction was:
[The Journal of Curious Letters] must be some book. I need to get a copy and made a note to order it.
Then I read your response. I can certainly see your point, but it only made me want to read the book more since I have already read the Harry Potter series. Good can come out of the strangest places.
Best wishes for the success of your books.
Velma

posted by Kirconnell at 7:20 pm (EST) on Jan 25, 2009

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."
- Helen Keller

posted by theoldman at 1:20 pm (EST) on Oct 2, 2008

Hey JD!
Haven't "seen" you around much lately - guessing you're still recovering from the tour! ;) I wanted to let you know that I read A Door in the Woods and really liked it. I know I said this about Journal too, but I really think your inclusion of family in YA adventure stories is a unique and awesome thing. My book budget is rapidly depleting, but I've already put the rest of the Saga onto my wishlist. Any chance of (re)releasing them as an omnibus? I think it would be great to see all four under one cover. (You can tell your publisher I said so!) Anyways, hope you're doing well and thanks for writing such great, fun books!
:)

posted by elbakerone at 12:14 pm (EST) on Apr 22, 2008

James,

I was sent an ARC way back when...and I just got around to reading it because the kids in my library stole it, and I had to force them to give it back! I kept telling them that I was responsible for posting a review, but once one of my better readers got ahold of it, she just passed it around to all of her friends! Since they're your audience, I just wanted you to know that they loved it! I see there has been some discussion as to the age range for it, but these kids were 16 and 17 years old, and they're all my most voracious readers.

I've been on many ALA book committees, and there is always discussion of whether the characters age and the age of the reader should be similar. I say it doesn't matter if it's a good read, and my students prove that to me time and time again. If, as your book is, it is exciting and the characters are memorable and "real".

Thank you and Shadow Mountain for the ARC. My students have enjoyed it a great deal!

Lynn Evarts
LibraryLynn

posted by LibraryLynn at 3:45 pm (EST) on Mar 28, 2008

Congratulations on the (official) release of Journal of Curious Letters today! We're having a wonderful party in your honor over at the Green Dragon! Hope your tour is going great - even if you can't come to Chicago :P We know you're busy and might not stop by for a while but all of our warm thoughts and best wishes are with you. Hope Tick makes quite the splash in the literary world! - el :)
p.s. Your (un)official fan club is growing remarkably!

posted by elbakerone at 1:26 pm (EST) on Mar 3, 2008

I was just joking about the distance thing. But still you're, like, an author. I'm ,like, a wannabe.

I guess that makes my membership official. Wow. I am really moving up in the world.-It might look good on my resume, especially if I were, say, V.P. or secretary or something official sounding. (I just wrote a resume for my MCOM class and it was pathetic. I haven't "worked" for 14 years. I need something to spice it up.) Actually, didn't I read on your blog somewhere that you have to be a kid to in your Posse? What's up with that? Do I get a t-shirt?

I really do have a friend in Iceland. She is a writer I met through LiveJournal. Her husband works for the US Embassy. (I'd tell you more, but then I'd have to do something drastic and dangerous.) She is moving to China this summer though. Then I can say that I have a friend in China. If she has any kids while she is living there, she can put a tag on them saying "Made in China." Ha ha ha. I am hilarious at night. (sigh)

I think I'll go to the bookstore tomorrow for a homeschool field trip and look for your book. Or not. Depends on the weather.

:) Cya L8R

posted by Pellmel08 at 1:16 am (EST) on Feb 27, 2008

I guess we have two of the same books. Ender's Game and Sun and Wind, Ice and Snow. I saw your name on my page for that reason and thought I'd be friendly, but from a distance of course. I was surprised to actually know someone on here besides my friend in Iceland.

Of course I then put your book on my list because I have read the first page and all.(Don't know where the booklet went, though--my kids probably swiped it.)

My book list is short because I haven't read a lot this year. You know, the algebra thing. (What will I do when I don't have that for an excuse any more?)I have another user name for last year's list as Pellmel.

Anyway, how's it going? Can you believe I am just finally reading Ender's Game? I even took a writing class last year from OSC and I don't think I fully appreciated his genius.It's an amazing book.

posted by Pellmel08 at 2:42 pm (EST) on Feb 26, 2008

Thanks for getting back to me. I love giving books - especially when asked - but have found it hard to think of ones that a young boy might like. J's little sister was so much easier. lol

posted by Irisheyz77 at 10:43 am (EST) on Feb 17, 2008

Quick question...what reading level would you say your other series of books would fall into? Think they'd appeal to a 14 yr old Polish boy who is looking for some books written in English to read?

posted by Irisheyz77 at 2:50 pm (EST) on Feb 15, 2008

You're welcome for the 5 stars! I really think the book deserves it and I honestly am looking forward to the next in the series. The teases about MJ have piqued my interest; I'm curious as to her back story. And Sato! I'm hoping there will be more to his background in the next book as well? Don't keep us in the dark forever.

Good luck with the book release! I'll pass on to everyone I know to check it out when it's released.

posted by tapestry100 at 1:26 pm (EST) on Feb 14, 2008

Hi James-

Just posted up my review of The 13th Reality. Good start to the series. My inner-kid really enjoyed it too!

posted by tapestry100 at 11:22 am (EST) on Feb 14, 2008

My review is now up. And I don't think that I used the phrase 'I liked it but..' though I probably used something similar. Because as an author you have much room for growth and development of a thick skin all that. ;-)

As someone before me said, its a solid begining for a series. But...if I end up developing a fear of yellow from reading the series then I'm sending you the bills for my therapist!

posted by Irisheyz77 at 8:21 pm (EST) on Feb 13, 2008

Ha! A 3.5 is absolutely excellent coming from me. I don't know why, but I'm a difficult judge on books. It may have something to do with being an English professor. :) I really am looking forward to the rest of the series.

posted by EclecticEccentric at 7:35 pm (EST) on Feb 13, 2008

I just read The Journal of Curious Letters and loved it! The premise of the book is, I think, a really solid foundation for an exciting series, and I look forward to reading the rest. So, uh, when do I get book 2? No, really, when?

posted by EclecticEccentric at 7:06 pm (EST) on Feb 13, 2008

I just had a look at the books that you have cataloged so far.. how did The Kite Runner sneak in there? LOL

I am glad that you decided to add more books and hope that you settle in and hang out with us..we LOVE authors and hardly ever even bite them a little, never mind eat them for breakfast! Honest... no really...

:)

posted by mckait at 6:19 pm (EST) on Feb 13, 2008

Thanks for letting me know!

Even with an uncorrected proof there are just some things that I find hard to let go. I can't help it. I'm work in Quality Assurance. Just be thankful that I didn't know you existed in the LT universe until AFTER I finished the book...else you might have gotten an annoying play by play of any other things that I may have noticed but was better able to let go of.

Anywho, I finished the book on the train this morning, I'll most likely be posting my review later on tonight (because I really should be working right about now) and if you need people to read book 2 then I'm willing to make the sacrifice and volunteer. ;-)

posted by Irisheyz77 at 3:21 pm (EST) on Feb 13, 2008

Ok...so I need to ask.

Was the character of Paul always a resident of California? After reading the book and based on some of the things written I kind of get the impression that he was initially located a little more east of Tick.

posted by Irisheyz77 at 1:50 pm (EST) on Feb 13, 2008

I'll be a bit late reviewing your book, as my 5th Grade daughter has absconded with it - I read her the first three chapters at bed time, and the next day she put it in her backpack and I doubt I'll be seeing it until she's finished. She's on Part 3 and is enjoying it immensely. Her only complaint is that she wished Tick would lose the scarf! Prior to your book, she was inhaling the Charlie Bone series, but she is adamant that your book is better, and is over the moon after learning it is a series.
It has been fun watching her read a book that I was supposed to review. She has gasped and exclaimed and shivered through many parts. She found the Tingle Wraith very spooky at bedtime. I'll keep you posted on her final comments. The bit I was able to read was well written and I'm looking forward to the remainder of the story.

posted by readaholic12 at 10:41 pm (EST) on Feb 12, 2008

Not bad James Dasher! Not bad at all...when do we get the next one?
Listen. add a few more books, and get your LT author badge and hang in with us.
Book people support book people you know..

Don't let slow reviews get you down. Remember, we are a bunch of grown up people reviewing a kids book.
Ask some kids!

I am passing mine on to my niece, she read a lot of kid-lit.. bet she likes it a lot!

posted by mckait at 7:53 pm (EST) on Feb 12, 2008

I don't think you're pathetic at all! I think it's tremendously brave to put a book "out there"! IF I could write I know I wouldn't have the courage to publish precisely because I'd be afraid of what the critics would say. So I admire writers who actually have the guts to do it. And The Thirteenth Reality is great, I really think kids will love it. I wish it had come out when my girls were younger 'cause I think they would have really enjoyed it - I know I would have loved reading it to them! I'm going to lend them my copy anyways - even though they're in their 20's now, I still think they'll like it. :-)

Good luck with everything, I hope the release goes really well and that you manage to have some fun with it, nervewracking though I'm sure it must be.

posted by katylit at 6:38 pm (EST) on Feb 12, 2008