Author Interview: James Dashner

I am super excited to welcome James Dashner to The Neverending Shelf today. James is the author of the Maze Runner series, which is in the process of becoming a movie!

Imagine waking up one day in total darkness, unsure of where you are and unable to remember anything about yourself except your first name. You’re in a bizarre place devoid of adults called the Glade. The Glade is an enclosed structure with a jail, a graveyard, a slaughterhouse, living quarters, and gardens. And no way out. Outside the Glade is the Maze, and every day some of the kids — the Runners — venture into the labyrinth, trying to map the ever-changing pattern of walls in an attempt to find an exit from this hellish place. So far, no one has figured it out. And not all of the Runners return from their daily exertions, victims of the maniacal Grievers, part animal, part mechanical killing machines. (… read more)

What’s the best thing about being an author?

The fact that I get to do what I love for a living. I used to work in finance, and I rarely woke up looking forward to work that day. Although I’m busier than I’ve ever been in my life, I’m doing what I love and I never take it for granted. 

The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials have the most innovative set of creatures that I have ever seen. How do these creatures come to you? Do you have a formula when creating them?

I had a lot of fun creating the Grievers and the bulb creatures. I think my biggest spark for creativity is that I don’t want to do something that’s been done before. No werewolves, no trolls or goblins, no dragons. I just brainstormed to come up with something that would horrify me if I saw it, and I was able to do so. My goal is to give people nightmares, maybe even scar them for life.

The Maze Runner is now slated to be a movie. How does that make you feel? Do you forsee the entire series hitting the big screen one day?

I’m a huge movie buff, so this is a dream beginning to come true. We’re still a long ways away from it being set in stone, but things seem to be moving forward. I think cinematically when I write, so I feel that all my books could end up being good movies.

First an amazing series, now a movie… What’s next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?

I’m just ecstatic at how my career has gone so far – it’s really surpassed even my grandest expectations. I hope to never quit. I have lots of cool things coming down the pipeline, but nothing I can talk about yet. Don’t you just love that? But I know my readers will like what’s on the horizon. The next immediate thing is the publication of the final book in this trilogy, The Death Cure, which will be released this fall.

Want to find out more about James and the Maze Runner series? Visit him at:

• Website 
• Goodreads
• Twitter
• Facebook

Kate

Kate is the co-blog owner of The Book Monsters. I am a twenty-something year old who is passionate about reading. I currently hold a B.A. in English and am married to my high school sweetheart. We have two (cat) children, Gracie and Kit, who are total divas. I have an insane and possibly unhealthy passion for reading. You can usually find me with my nose buried in a book.

• View all posts by Kate →
• Blog
• Twitter
• Google+