Author Topic: Ask Brandon  (Read 5095 times)

The Jade Knight

  • Moderator
  • Level 39
  • *****
  • Posts: 2507
  • Fell Points: 1
  • Lord of the Absent-Minded
    • View Profile
    • Don't go here
Ask Brandon
« on: November 24, 2005, 03:22:42 PM »
Hey, EUOL.  I have a few questions that I'm really curious about.

1.  How many words is Elantris?

2.  If you're willing to divulge, how much have you made off of the book to date, and what was your initial signing for?
"Never argue with a fool; they'll bring you down to their level, and then beat you with experience."

EUOL

  • Moderator
  • Level 58
  • *
  • Posts: 4708
  • Fell Points: 33
  • Mr. Prolific [tm]
    • View Profile
    • Brandon Sanderson dot com
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2005, 03:31:32 PM »
200,000 words.  (1000 page manuscript, 500 page hardback.)

20k advance.  I've gotten all of that.  About 20k in foreign sales.  No royalties yet, though I've pretty much earned out the advance.
http://www.BrandonSanderson.com

"Technically, I don't even have a brain."--Fellfrosch

Entsuropi

  • Level 60
  • *
  • Posts: 5033
  • Fell Points: 0
  • =^_^= Captain of the highschool Daydreaming team
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2005, 03:50:36 PM »
Where is it currently in print?
If you're ever in an argument and Entropy winds up looking staid and temperate in comparison, it might be time to cut your losses and start a new thread about something else :)

Fellfrosch

MsFish

  • Level 44
  • *
  • Posts: 2947
  • Fell Points: 7
  • Geek Girl, Undercover
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2005, 02:29:30 AM »
Okay, I'm a dork.  

When I read that first question in the initial post, "How many words is Elantris," my first thought was, "One.  Duh.  Is he serious?"

Then I read the response and it occured to me you were asking about word *count*.  

Hello, Janci.  Get a clue.
Hold fast to dreams, for when dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.  Hold fast to dreams, for when dreams go, life is a barren field frozen with snow.  -Langston Hughes

Tage

  • Moderator
  • Level 29
  • *****
  • Posts: 1615
  • Fell Points: 2
  • That thing exing the machina? That's Deus.
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2005, 06:02:56 PM »
Quote
Hello, Janci.  Get a clue.


You're adorable.
"The Maintenance Shed will sometimes spontaneously explode after being built."

Entsuropi

  • Level 60
  • *
  • Posts: 5033
  • Fell Points: 0
  • =^_^= Captain of the highschool Daydreaming team
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2005, 06:59:47 PM »
I've noticed that when Tage posts it's almost always to say how much he likes one of us. I think he's really just a softie.

/me orders a teddy bear for Tage from Argos
If you're ever in an argument and Entropy winds up looking staid and temperate in comparison, it might be time to cut your losses and start a new thread about something else :)

Fellfrosch

Tink

  • Level 11
  • *
  • Posts: 423
  • Fell Points: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2005, 08:21:35 PM »
So how'd the signing go today? Were there tons of people? Did you sign a lot of books? I would think that today would be a good day for a book signing. Was it?

EUOL

  • Moderator
  • Level 58
  • *
  • Posts: 4708
  • Fell Points: 33
  • Mr. Prolific [tm]
    • View Profile
    • Brandon Sanderson dot com
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2005, 10:09:28 PM »
It went really well.  We sold upwards of 70 copies of the book, which makes this the best signing I've ever done.  The folks at Waldenbooks there were really helpful--they say they're making a determined effort to be known as THE store for sf/f in the area.  

As for languages it's in print...well, so far only English.  It'll be another six to eight months before we see foreign copies.  So far, here's the list:

North American English
North American English Book Club
British English Book Club

French
Spanish
Italian
German
Dutch

Thai
Japanese

Polish
Czech
Russian

http://www.BrandonSanderson.com

"Technically, I don't even have a brain."--Fellfrosch

Faster Master St. Pastor

  • Level 20
  • *
  • Posts: 1031
  • Fell Points: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2005, 10:12:09 PM »
Darn It!

That makes me even more grumpy that I wasn't able to come!
"elantris or evisceration"-Entropy.

Shrain

  • Level 34
  • *
  • Posts: 2030
  • Fell Points: 1
  • Gargoyles have all the fun.
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2005, 10:39:22 PM »
Quote
We sold upwards of 70 copies of the book, which makes this the best signing I've ever done.

Very cool. Hurray for book signings on Black Friday!
« Last Edit: November 25, 2005, 10:40:50 PM by shrain78 »
Lord Ruler and Lady Protractor were off on vacation, thus the angles running amok.
--Spriggan

"The movie of my life must be really low-budget."
--Harry Dresden in DEAD BEAT

Peter Ahlstrom

  • Administrator
  • Level 59
  • *
  • Posts: 4902
  • Fell Points: 2
  • Assistant to Mr. Sanderson
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2005, 10:39:37 PM »
70 copies?!?! They actually had that many books on hand?

That's fantastic. Bet that will bump bookscan. Except of course I told Jonathan that was the last time I'd ask until June...
All Saiyuki fans should check out Dazzle! Emotionally wrenching action-adventure and quirky humor! (At least read chapter 6 and tell me if you're not hooked.) Volume 10 out now!

Shrain

  • Level 34
  • *
  • Posts: 2030
  • Fell Points: 1
  • Gargoyles have all the fun.
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2005, 11:02:49 PM »
I've been curious about the print runs of ELANTRIS now that it's in its third go-round (which is spectacular, by the way!). So... given that Tor is such a large publisher, I've been wondering how many initial copies they ordered? I mean, do you think that was a typical initial run for a first-time writer at Tor? (I just wanted to get some perspective on this stuff. I've read the numbers Ookla puts up, but I'm epically miserable at trying to interpret numbers....???)

Okay, so that leads me to ask how many copies did Tor order for the second and the third press runs?

I'm also really curious about the return rate, percentage-wise. (My book pub prof keeps saying how 30% is the going rate for books that're shipped back to publishers.) Do you get any info on this?

Oh, and has Tor told you how many copies they'll order of MISTBORN? I wonder if that projected number increased after they've watched your first book gain momentum?

Well... I think I'd better leave my questions at that for now! Thanks!  :D
« Last Edit: November 26, 2005, 11:56:22 AM by shrain78 »
Lord Ruler and Lady Protractor were off on vacation, thus the angles running amok.
--Spriggan

"The movie of my life must be really low-budget."
--Harry Dresden in DEAD BEAT

Eric James Stone

  • Level 12
  • *****
  • Posts: 519
  • Fell Points: 0
    • View Profile
    • Eric James Stone's Website
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #12 on: November 26, 2005, 04:43:08 AM »
Wow, sounds like you had a great turnout for the signing.
Eric James Stone
Nebula Award Nominated Author
Read my serialized novel Unforgettable for free online.

MPlease

  • Level 4
  • *
  • Posts: 72
  • Fell Points: 0
  • You mean my character concept can't be 'pink hair?
    • View Profile
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2005, 02:52:50 PM »
I'm curious about the French version. Who picked it up over there? Release date? Are they going to go directly to paperback or come out with hardback too? That sort of thing. Also, are they going to redo the art for the cover? I really hope they don't redo the cover art. The cover here is gorgeous, but my main reason for hoping they don't is that I haven't seen too many French covers on translations of fantasy that aren't absolutely hideous, completely unrelated to the book, or both.
English doesn't borrow from other languages. English follows other languages down dark alleys, knocks them over and goes through their pockets for loose grammar.

Pink Bunkadoo

  • Level 7
  • ****
  • Posts: 214
  • Fell Points: 0
  • Ookla's sister
    • View Profile
    • Helena's webpage
Re: Ask Brandon
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2005, 02:47:34 AM »
Hi Brandon!  I just finished the book last week.  I liked it!  Peter had told me that you were good at creating complex magic systems and explaining how everything works.  It was interesting to see it in action.  I also detected some Korean inspiration, which I got a kick out of.   :)
~금강산도 식후경~