Acknowledgements Draft

[EUOL]

I'm writing it right now.  So, if you've read and commented on ELANTRIS at some point, post your RL name here (even those of you who are obvious) so that I can get spelling and things right.  

[Brenna]

Kristina Kugler (though the last name was different at the time. )

[fuzzyoctopus]

Megan Kauffman

(I <3 Elantris)

[stacer]

I didn't read ELANTRIS. Just wanted to participate.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

Peter Ahlstrom

[Tage]

Benjamin R. Olsen

I want it just like that. Are you seriously going to put everybody who read it? That's a ton of acknowledgements, isn't it?

[EUOL]

Yes, it will be a number.  But, why not?  I think most readers just skip that page anyway.

And, those of you in one of my two long-term writing groups will get a separate paragraph.  Aren't you special?

[House of Mustard]

I never read Elantris.  I feel shafted.  But, then again, I doubt you'd put me in the acknowledgements sections anyway...


       ...you're saving the dedications page for me.

[Prometheus]

Nathan Goodrich

[42]

I didn't read Elantris, but I think my twin might have. I seem to remember something about it in a our collective consiousness. I'll ask him.

[EUOL]

Okay, here's how it looks right now.  Notice that I managed to work in a few of you who had read some of my other early works, but not this one.  

Those of you who have lived around Utah, can you think of anyone that I'm forgetting?  Notice any miss-spelled names?

-------

Acknowledgements:

     First and foremost, I would like to thank my agent, Joshua Bilmes, and my editor, Moshe Feder, for helping me squeeze the fullest potential out of this manuscript.  Without their masterful editorial vision, you'd be holding a very different book in your hands right now.

     Next, high praise and thanks must be offered to the members of my various writing groups.  Alan Layton, Janette Layton, Kaylynne Zobell, Robert Zobell, and Ethan Skarstedt.  Daniel Wells, Benjamin R. Olsen, Nathan Goodrich, and Peter Ahlstrom.  Ryan Dreher, Micah Demoux, Annie Gorringe, and Tom Conrad (you guys were a writing group, even if you didn't know it!)  Thank you all so much for your work and suggestions.

     In addition, there are dozens of people who read this book and others during my years struggling to get published, and I am inexpressibly grateful for their enthusiasm, criticism, and praise. Kristina Kugler, Megan Kauffman, Izzy Whiting, Eric Ehlers, Greg Creer, Ethan Sproat, Laura Bellamy, Mr. M, Kraig Hausmann, Nate Hatfield, Steve Frandson, and Krista Olsen.  If I forgot anyone, I'll get you in the next book!

     I'd also like to give special thanks to those teachers who have helped me in my university career.  Professors Sally Taylor, Dennis Perry, and John Bennion (who worked on my Master's thesis committee.)  Professor Jacqueline Thursby for her faith in me.  David Farland, who sent me out into the world, and professor Douglas Thayer, whom I'll someday convince to read a fantasy book.  (He's getting a copy of this one, whether he wants it or not!)

     Finally, I'd like to thank my family.  My father for buying me books when I was a kid, my mother for turning me into a scholar, my sisters for their smiles, and Jordan for putting up with a domineering older brother.  You can check out his work--along with Jeff Creer's amazing artistic design--on my website, www.brandonsanderson.com.

     Thank you so much, everyone, for believing in me.

[stacer]

I think it looks good. Does Mr. M want his name like that? Isn't it Jason something?

[Lieutenant Kije]

Brandon: I never read Elantris.  Unless you have some hidden reason for including me (i.e. world domination, awakening an ancient evil, imprisoning souls, etc.) please leave me out of it.  I'm sure Elantris is a fine book and I'll read it when it hits the shelves, but I'd feel foolish getting credit where credit is not due.

Oh, and if my name is being used for nefarious purposes, I want my share of the loot.

[Spriggan]

I think he's giveing credit to all that were in the first writeing group(s) even if they hadn't read the book, since it was through their imput that he improved he writeing style to the point that it is.  And since probaly all those first books will never get published so he wants to give all those that helped over the years some credit.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

yeah, I haven't read Elantris either, but
a) i'm not nearly so embarassed by having my accomplishments, however meager, touted and exaggerated
and b) he said "and other novels" before my name, so I figured he was giving me credit for books I have read, like Way of Kings and Dragonsteel.