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Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: Nihility on December 11, 2007, 11:43:47 AM

Title: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Nihility on December 11, 2007, 11:43:47 AM
         

          Well, after about a year of not being motivated enough to read, I stumbled upon Mistborn at the mall inside of a B. Dalton. I liked the cover so I proceeded to reading the back and that left me feeling interested enough to buy the book. I finished it a day after purchasing it, feeling how I did back when all that I did was read [ a.k.a like a druggy wanting a fix], and immediately searched every book store that I was familiar with in the city for The Well of Ascension. No one had it.  :-\
         I finally gave in a decided to order it, paying the extra bux to have it delivered to my house. That was anything but a waste. I'm really excited about having another Trilogy to read and I can't think of a better book to have started me up again.

         So. How did all of you stumble upon Brandon Sandersons' work? Just wondering, and admittingly trying to raise my post count. xD

-- Nil
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on December 11, 2007, 02:11:12 PM
I went to school with him.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: 42 on December 11, 2007, 03:10:43 PM
Let see, my twin served with him in Korea (as missionaries, not soldiers) and then worked with him on a certain university publication. I was then invited to join the publication as their art director and shortly there after I read some of Brandon's early works.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Bookstore Guy on December 11, 2007, 03:52:54 PM
I stalked him down after I read his book for free in the book store i managed.  Wait, does that sound bad?
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Sigyn on December 11, 2007, 04:59:33 PM
I worked on The Leading Edge shortly after he stopped being editor, and everyone would talk about him.  Then I was in a writing group with him.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: stacer on December 11, 2007, 06:13:34 PM
He was the mysterious guy who showed up to Leading Edge in sunglasses at 8:30 pm, talked with SE and Alan for a while, yelled at the slush puppies to get to work, then disappeared downstairs.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Daarian on December 11, 2007, 06:17:21 PM
I read the announcement that he was going to write the 12th book of the Wheel of Time on Robert Jordan's blog at Dragonmount and came check it out.

Said I wasn't going to read any of his works until after the WoT book, but I read the first couple of chapters of Mistborn and now I need to go shopping for his books.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Pink Bunkadoo on December 11, 2007, 06:31:23 PM
He came to my brother's wedding.   ;)  But I'd heard a lot about him before that. 

(I was on the staff at TLE for just a semester, but I think I remember somebody talking about Brandon getting called to Seoul West--this would have been... umm... '96?  Or maybe they were talking about somebody else.)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: The Jade Knight on December 11, 2007, 07:10:31 PM
He was the editor at The Leading Edge when I was there.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Spriggan on December 11, 2007, 08:30:55 PM
When I was born he dropped me a few times on my head.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Nessa on December 11, 2007, 08:59:49 PM
I was the editor-in-chief at The Leading Edge while he was the assistant production editor.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: WriterDan on December 11, 2007, 09:04:46 PM
Saw his book at Media Play.  I emailed him, and he actually emailed me back.  Then I took the class that he teaches at BYU.  Did that a couple years ago.  Now, I've faded into the background of "people Brandon recognizes" when I'm around.  Glad to at least be in that group.  :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: charity on December 11, 2007, 09:54:35 PM
Science Fiction Book Club  8) I bought Elantris on a whim.

Hook, Line, Sinker
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Nihility on December 11, 2007, 10:34:09 PM
         It still surprises me that people can actually know authors. Lmao.
A lot of your answers were really interesting! It's comforting to be around people with similar interests.   =D

-- Nil
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: stacer on December 11, 2007, 11:10:15 PM
What I think everyone who's a regular on here, especially Sprig, isn't how you know Brandon. It's how much you love Sprig.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Spriggan on December 11, 2007, 11:41:20 PM
I'm the most beloved figure on this forum, I tend to ban those that don't love me.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Pink Bunkadoo on December 11, 2007, 11:53:46 PM
I think Bruce Campbell is cool, does that count?
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Spriggan on December 12, 2007, 12:03:11 AM
Since we're the same person (in my mind) yes it does.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Daarian on December 12, 2007, 12:07:54 AM
I just wanted to say that i think everyone here are fun entertaining people and the more I browse around the more I sense that Mr. Sanderson was definitely the right choice for the next WoT novel. I look forward to hanging out here a good bit.

Now back off to reading Warbreaker
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: foodkid95 on December 12, 2007, 04:32:01 PM
Hi everyone,

Infrequent lurker here, but a big fan of Brandon's work.  I had to come and check out the Wheel of Time chatter on here.  I was recommended Elantris by a co-worker probably about 2 years ago.  Apparently he knows someone who knows Brandon, or something like that.  (I no longer work with him, or I'd find out more details)

Anyway, he said Brandon was a local guy (I'm in the Provo UT area) who was new on the Fantasy scene and his debut was excellent.  So I found a copy of Elantris, and I devoured it in 2 days (this is REALLY fast for me).  Needless to say, since then I've bought copies and read all of his available stuff and can be numbered among the masses of rabid Brandon groupies :) .  I even met him at a local signing and got my Mistborn and Elantris signed.  I still need to stalk find him at a local event and get my Mistborn 2 autographed....

And many congrats on landing the WoT deal, Brandon!  I started the series years ago and liked it a lot, but quit because waiting for the next book got really old.  Now that it's finally almost done, I'll probably start re-reading the series in a year or so and be ready for the final volume when it comes out.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Brenna on December 12, 2007, 05:02:36 PM
I was on the staff of Leading Edge with Brandon and I was in a writing group with him for a long time.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Jelly_Belly on December 12, 2007, 05:17:57 PM
I remember him being  a guy in my Sci-fi and Fantasy lit class trying to get people to go to a con (I think world con) in California to share costs of travel and hotel rooms. Then, when I was working at Leading Edge, I found out he had had a book published, Elantris, so I read it and was very impressed. I was an editor for the 50th issue of Leading Edge and asked Brandon to write a short story for it (which was very good and I recommend to anyone).
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on December 12, 2007, 05:40:46 PM
I'm the brother of Pink Bunkadoo above, so I met Brandon at my wedding. (...Wait, let's start over...)

Brandon and I were editors together at the Leading Edge magazine at BYU (and sat around the table together for a couple years before that). We didn't interact much outside of TLE until at least my second year there, because I'm not a very social person. Though I had a job at a computer lab, and several times I let everyone in at night for Starcraft LAN parties. (That was a bunch of fun.) Then I started going to Brandon and Fell and Tage's writing group, where Brandon was just starting a little book called Dragonsteel, after having recently finished going through a little book called Elantris (which I didn't read until a couple years later). I originally wanted to be a writer as well, but the editorial bug bit me at TLE, so I went into that instead. Three years in a row Brandon and Fell and I went to World Fantasy Con, where I was their in with editors, since the theory was that editors would be happier to open up to people who want to be editors than they would to another annoying writer pestering them. I was there for that fateful night in Montreal where we tracked down Moshe Feder and cornered him for two hours at the launch party of some e-publishing thing (which folded a year later), letting him tell us about all the cool stuff he was working on (Moshe is a fun and talkative guy, so this was no chore at all for either side). This resulted in Brandon and Fell both sending him books, which he got around to reading much later—Elantris and Blacker Darkness. (Though Blacker Darkness didn't get picked up, alas.) —Oh, and also, because of these conventions, I ended up owing Brandon $200 for over two years, which he never ever bugged me about (err...don't go asking him for money now). I think it was when I finally got a job teaching English in Japan that I at last sent him the money, and it wasn't long after that that I finally got an editing job (at TOKYOPOP).
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: apbadd on December 12, 2007, 06:17:38 PM
First found out the guy existed yesterday.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Fellfrosch on December 12, 2007, 06:52:55 PM
I've known Brandon for years and years, and I'm one of maybe four people (Ookla is also in this elite group) who's shared a bed with him. He hates it when I share that bit of trivia, and he especially hates it when I don't explain it.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on December 12, 2007, 07:02:39 PM
(Ookla is also in this elite group)
Around Christmas, references like this get tougher to understand.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Insomnius on December 12, 2007, 07:06:07 PM
First found out the guy existed yesterday.

Me too. Was perusing my favorite Wheel of Time site and found out some amazing news - that the series would be completed by some guy named Brandon.

Then I went to the site, downloaded and read Warbreaker.

Now it's Mr. Sanderson :D

Great read by the way there Brandon!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Goradel on December 12, 2007, 07:54:47 PM
I don’t remember the first time I met Brandon, but I do remember the first good conversation we had.   It was on a hiking trip to MOAB, Utah in 104 degree temperature.  (Yes Brandon spent the night in a tent and didn’t have a computer/internet for more than two days). 
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: pengwenn on December 12, 2007, 08:28:10 PM
After Elantris came out it was our book club selection on Wordtrip  (http://www.wordtrip.com) (a writing website I'm a moderator on) and our site admin raved about the book so I read it and loved it.  I met Brandon at LTUE once, briefly, but got the chance to interview him for our podcast It's the Story, Stupid (http://podcast.wordtrip.com/) during CONduit this past summer.  Mistborn:  The Final Empire was also a book club selection.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: kaimipono on December 12, 2007, 09:32:21 PM
I first read about Brandon Sanderson on Eric James Stone's blog, a year or two ago.  Eric's enthusiastic review led me to read Elantris, which led to Mistborn, and then Warbreaker. 

Later, I had a conversation over dinner with John Scalzi (really!) and some mutual friends, where Brandon's name came up.  Scalzi politely noted that Brandon was the world's only recipient of the Scalzi award.  And then we discussed whether or not snorting one's relatives' ashes is a form of cannibalism. 

Later, I got to interview Brandon for a blog. 

And now, I guess I'm going to have to pick up the post-Path of Daggers books in WoT and catch up, since the series is actually going to end.  I had all but given up on it. 

I'm sure that's pretty much what Tor had in mind when they hired Brandon:  Bringing aboard those uncounted legions of rabid Brandon fans to buy books from this Jordan fellow. 

In hardcover, of course. 
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: ImMe on December 12, 2007, 11:17:52 PM
One fateful night I realized that I had never been to a Harry Potter midnight release party and decided that it was something I should probably check out. A half hour into standing in line, I reached over and picked Elantris off of the new local author display where it was sitting, and began to read. I was halfway through the book before It was my turn (loser in middle school=ability to read really, really fast) and put Elantris back. I just had go buy Elantris after a couple of days. I've been able to obtain signed copies of the first two Mistborn books since then, so I have actually met EUOL a few times. Nice guy. I'm super excited to be able to follow what is going to be a fun ride!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: achren99 on December 13, 2007, 01:02:13 AM
My sister worked with him at BYU -- maybe on the Leading Edge?  I don't know.  Then she brought home this manuscript of a book called Dragonsteel one day and told me to read it and make any comments on it.  I read it in like a day (and it was really really long--and I'm a slow reader).  It was my favorite book ever!  (Which is why I'm so persistant about wanting that series published--but it's ok if it isn't...)

Then my other sister read it (who basically never reads--espeically not nerdy fantasy stuff like me...) and she loved it too.

So I just kept my eyes open for his name at bookstores for the next like 5 years *haha*...and he eventually got published!  It was very cool.  I saw him at the Harry Potter signing, but haven't really met him.  (In my opinion, Brandon's books are way better than Harry Potter--unfortunately his books aren't as popular yet. :) )

I'm also an obsessive WoT fan--so it was the best news ever that he's writing AMoL. 
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Eric James Stone on December 13, 2007, 02:13:13 AM
A guy at work said he had a roommate who was a fantasy writer.  I didn't think much about it because there are lots of people who write fantasy.  A few months later, he said his roommate had just sold a novel to Tor.  That got my attention.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on December 13, 2007, 02:30:44 AM
A guy at work
Micah? Ken? someone else? >_>
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Tage on December 13, 2007, 02:32:21 AM
A guy at work
Micah? Ken? someone else? >_>

Earl.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: JymWhythawhy on December 13, 2007, 05:23:50 AM
Well, I actually go to the school Brandon is affiliated with (wonderful BYU!) but I actually was across the country in Wisconsin, in a library,  a year and a half ago, when I discovered Elantris. I read it quickly and loved it. I turned to the back page to find out who this amazing author was, only to discover that he lived in Provo, Utah, which was just cool. I had signed copies of Elantris and Mistborn, but Mistborn II was stolen, so I am going to go buy another copy. When I get payed. Ah well, maybe the thief will be swayed by the beautiful writing and will become a fan as well. Although, if you took the book, I wouldn't mind having it back.  :P

And congrats Brandon! This news made me exceedingly happy!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Eric James Stone on December 13, 2007, 05:54:40 AM
Yes, it was Earl.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Parker on December 13, 2007, 02:29:01 PM
Brandon hunted me down and forced me to join his writing group.

Well, I met him in the MA program at BYU, and he heard I wrote fantasy, and he was working on getting a second writer's group going, and he kindly asked me to participate.

Though I guess I first met him in Dave Wolverton's fantasy class at BYU, though I just knew him as "one of those strange guys that sit over by the wall and wear trenchcoats and fedoras." I believe Fell falls into this category as well. And Alan--whatever his name on the boards is. Anyone else in that class? I sat in the middle of the room.

Away from the fedoras.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Spriggan on December 13, 2007, 06:11:13 PM
Ookla and I were also in that class.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Sigyn on December 13, 2007, 07:36:37 PM
Ooh, I was in that class.  I sat against the opposite walls.  And I definitely remember the fedoras.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on December 13, 2007, 09:05:52 PM
I don't remember them at all, but I never pay attention to what people wear. Sigh.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Brenna on December 13, 2007, 09:43:42 PM
I was in that class, too. :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: dtbmnec on December 14, 2007, 03:18:16 AM
I went to one of my favorite World of Warcraft comic sites to find a post saying something about the WOT series final book being written by someone I'd never heard of. :) At which point I went immediately to the Dragonmount website (well as fast as my sad internet connection would let me) and read the whole story.

So I went out to my local bookstore (had to walk in ten feet of snow uphill both ways ya know ;)) and bought the first Mistborn novel (still on Chapter 1 but hoping to read it after I pry myself away from the boards tonight).

The rest, as they say, is history. :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Seradan on December 14, 2007, 03:43:42 AM
I found out through the Tor Announcement about him writing Wheel of Time 12. As a writer and a content developer for a Wheel of Time based server, I wanted to know what the guy who was going to be taking on a monumental task wrote like, and things of that nature. Needless to say, I've purchased both Mistborn and Elantris after reading the first three chapters of each story. I have to say, it is a great idea to provide such options to potential readers.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Shi on December 14, 2007, 09:29:43 AM
I was browsing in B. Dalton and saw Elantris stting on the new release shelf. Read the inside flap, thought it sounded interesting, but didn't have the cash to buy an adult hardback. Or any hardback, for that matter.

A couple months later I was at the library and miraculously remebered the name of the book. Yup, miraculous, because this is the girl that has to run up from the basement three times to ask 'Mom, what did you need from food storage again?" And that's that. Brandon became my favorite author.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Jhaeli on December 14, 2007, 03:45:25 PM
This makes me wonder if I'm the only Canadian here. :P

Instead of a nice story about meeting him, I picked up Elantris at my local library (which was a second home for me growing up, so I notice every new fantasy that enters that building. Or did, before I moved away. But I digress!). I immediately fell in love with the book and began waving it in the face of all my friends and family. I've only had one convert so far - although that's about to change as I pounce on a WoT fan at work now. I found it about a year or so ago, well before Mistborn.

I've since read Mistborn and am eagerly awaiting the second book to come out as a paperback; I'm not paid enough to buy the hardcover :( and it wouldn't match my collection.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: The Jade Knight on December 15, 2007, 12:41:49 AM
The gArinch graduated from McGill last year…
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: TheLazyWolf on December 15, 2007, 02:11:43 AM
I spy on him from space with my high powered telescope. ???
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Minx on December 15, 2007, 06:43:30 AM
I work at a book store so I had seen his books before, I just had not read any yet. The other night I got called in to work on a day off and he just happened to stop in and sign some books. (he signed a Mistborn for me! yay!) He's a nice guy. I will never refuse to come in on a day off.  :P
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Azhev on December 15, 2007, 08:20:11 PM
I saw Elantris a few years back, but as I was involved in some other books, I never picked it up.  Then I heard that he would be working on Memory of Light, so I thought I would read some of his things now.  Just finised Mistborn, and have Elantris and Well of Acension on reserve at the library.  Some good stuff.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Faster Master St. Pastor on December 16, 2007, 01:48:25 AM
Fell's wife was my Creative Writing teacher in eight grade, and she had Brandon, Fell, and HoM come in and talk to us. I was absent the day Fell came in. After listening to Brandon I figured I might as well give him a shot so I went to Media Play and started reading Elantris. I also lurked around here for a little before I actually joined. The first time I actually met him in person was at a book signing for Mistborn at the Barnes and Noble near my house.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Spider01 on December 18, 2007, 05:55:00 AM
I am sorry to say that until it was announced that Brandon was going to write RJ's WoT Book 12 A Memory of Light and had never heard of him.  Since then I have gone to the local Barns & Nobel store to pickup Brandon's books and discovered that they don't have any of Brandon's books.
ARGH!!!!!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: stacer on December 18, 2007, 07:31:47 AM
You could always ask them to order them in. Takes a couple days, but they love doing that.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on December 18, 2007, 08:11:51 AM
Spoken like a true member of the industry.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: stacer on December 18, 2007, 08:52:56 AM
I'm just saying, so few people know they can order them, especially when ignorant booksellers, too lazy to realize how the big-corporate-chain structure works, tell people a book is out of print rather than go to the trouble of at the very least ordering a book.

It frustrates me to no end to not be able to find a book I want at the bookstore, especially a book I know for a fact to be in demand (whether it's part of a class list or because it's simply an insanely popular book that in earlier times would have been given the full year or two to find its audience). It's ridiculous that I can walk into a store now and not be able to find a book that came out in September (and that includes books I worked on).

But the only way we'll ever show the chains what books to remember to stock is from customer demand. If a customer just gives up and walks out (I mean really give up, walk out, and don't go to whatever local independent or online retailer they have at their disposal, but instead give up on the book altogether), then the chain never knows what business they were missing out on, you know?
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on December 18, 2007, 08:58:25 AM
Exactly. I was just thinking of how many times I've given people the exact same advice.

But you're right, it's also annoying when someone says they were told something was out of print, and I look it up and say, "Well, our distributor HarperCollins has 50 copies in stock, so the bookstore can order from them..."
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: stacer on December 18, 2007, 06:45:45 PM
Of course the way to solve it is to patronize your local independent bookseller. They tend to notice people demanding certain books a whole lot more, because it's good for business to have a returning customer.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Bookstore Guy on December 18, 2007, 09:51:06 PM
<repeats what was mentioned in the above 5 posts>
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Kaldric on December 18, 2007, 10:11:13 PM
Although I had heard his name a couple times before, I didn't really know much about him until the announcement earlier this month that he would be finishing the Wheel of Time.  So, after a few google searches, I found this site.  I'll be getting Elantris for Christmas so I can check out his writing.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: VegasDev on December 18, 2007, 11:28:17 PM
I ran across Brandon's work at just the right time. I was tired of all the cookie-cutter fantasy works put out on the shelf; ones that if you changed the character names, you had probably already read the book.

I walked into a Borders and literally went through each book (in the fantasy section), looking at the cover, reading reviews, etc. trying to find one that was interesting and new. I grabbed Elantris several times and put it back on the shelf only to come back to it later. After a couple hours, I finally decided to buy it.

When I got home, I sat down in my chair preparing to read the first chapter, go to bed and try to force myself to finish the book over the next day(s). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do so. I got hooked from chapter one and finished the book before going to bed. The entire book was a cliffhanger. You would get interested in what Roaden was doing, the chapter would end and then the next chapter would be about Sarene. You'd get interested in what she was doing and it would end on a cliffhanger only to have the next chapter be about Hrathen. It is truly a stand-alone novel.

I woke up the next morning and picked up a copy of Mistborn. I couldn't believe that it could be better than Elantris and that it was going to be a trilogy. I immediately went to Brandon's website and found the Warbreaker download. I was able to read the book as the chapters were written, give my input and actually feel involved in the process.

So, I had finished Elantris, Mistborn and Warbreaker, but there wasn't anything else out there other than the first couple chapters of Scribbler. This was a dark time for this reader. I actually had to work, pay attention to the family etc.

One day I noticed the Mistborn 2 was out, so I went down to Borders to buy a copy. When I was there, I saw a sign that Brandon was going to be doing a book signing the next day. I couldn't believe it. I rushed home and read the book trying to gather as many questions as possible for the next day. When I arrived at the signing, the only question I asked was 'When Scribbler was going to come out'. Stupid me. Anyway, while others were asking questions, I talked with David Farland's wife for about a half an hour to get the perspective from the spouse of an author.

This is the first author that I have gotten this excited over. I have done a bunch of fan art, only one of which I have posted at the moment and am in the process of putting some of the characters (Vin, Kelsier, Eland, Joel, Melody) into 3D space.

As of this post, I have purchased hardcover copies of Elantris, Mistborn 1 and Mistborn 2 for twelve of my friends and family. As soon as I heard the news about Brandon doing WoT 12, I let them know and they are ecstatic.

Long story short: Elantris probably had a 'Bargain Price' sticker on it which was peeling back a little, exposing the glue side which caught on my hand forcing me to look in it's general direction.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Shekotka on December 19, 2007, 02:37:02 AM
I saw the announcement on dragonmount.com and was extremely curious to check out Brandon's work. I'd been looking for a really good new author to follow for a long time, but whenever I went to the store, everything I picked up just sounded like the same recycled story to me. When I saw that Harriet, RJ's widow, had personally selected Brandon to write AMOL, I was both excited and apprehensive. Then I went to his website and read the first couple of chapter's of Mistborn, since that was the book Harriet based her decision on. I was instantly hooked.

I've since raced to the store, raced through Mistborn, and its annotations, and am working on MB2 at the moment. I have to say the amount of online content available from Brandon, and the interaction this affords is really amazing and wonderful. I love the fact that you can get a "behind-the-scenes" view of his writing process. I think he and AMOL will be a perfect fit, and I'm really thrilled that more people will be exposed to his current and future projects because of it. I've completely fallen in love with Mistborn, I'll be reading Elantris and Warbreaker in the near future, and I will be looking forward to everything he comes out with from now on.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Spider01 on December 19, 2007, 05:49:01 PM
You could always ask them to order them in. Takes a couple days, but they love doing that.

I couldn't find Elantris, Mistborn 1 or 2 on the Sci-fi/fantasy shelf.  I went to the B&N self help compter and looked up Mistborn.  It said "Click to order".  So I took it that they were out of stock in the store and I'd have to order it.  I didn't want to wait at the time so I decided to look in the computer to see if they had Elantris. 
The computer locked!  ARGH!!!
I went and located another computer discovered that they did have Elantris (Yippy!!!) in "General Fiction". ???
I found where it was supposed to be on the shelf and it was missing.
Since I was on my lunch break and already had the cookbook my wife wanted for X-Mas I decided to try another time at another book store (Borders is just down the street from the B&N) or possibly just order from Amazon from home.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Spriggan on December 19, 2007, 06:40:53 PM
You could always ask them to order them in. Takes a couple days, but they love doing that.

I'm not going to quote your second thread since it's long but really what's the point in asking them to order it?  The reason I go to a brick & mortar store is so I don't have to wait even though it costs a little more, if I have to special order something in I might as well get it off the internet for less and wait the same amount of time.

If a store can't serve it's purpose in this internet age, which is to provide me with what I want now, there's no reason to keep going to that store.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: stacer on December 19, 2007, 07:52:48 PM
That's the problem, though--B&N and Borders don't think that way. And it can only take enough customers demanding something for them to see the business they're missing out on. For example, we had a recent bestseller. B&N refused to stock it in the children's section, even though it was a children's book. They missed out on the sales that Borders and all the independents, not to mention Wal-Mart and Target, were getting from that book.

I was just suggesting that if you can wait for the order to come in, it might show the chain that perhaps they should think about actually stocking it. But a better solution would be to ask the same of your local independent, who is more likely to listen.

ETA: But I do agree overall--I generally avoid stores that consistently don't stock the books I want. But coming from the publisher perspective, sometimes I wish consumers were a little more demanding.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Bookstore Guy on December 19, 2007, 08:57:37 PM
Its true, most book chains only think about what they get in their weekly shipments.  And if they regularly dont carry the titles that people are looking for, then you are absolutly right - they'll stop going there.  That is the problem many of the mall-type chains (Walden and B Dalton) had, and it is the jusification their parent companies have been using to close them down.  This is where it's really up to the manager and book sellers in that store to anticipate the needs of their clients.  Unfortunatly hardly any chain stores do that. 
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: stacer on December 19, 2007, 09:32:58 PM
And what few B&N booksellers understand, from what I can tell from personal experience both as a bookseller and as a customer, is that they have the power to order one or two copies of something in that they know they'll handsell. It wouldn't go on reorder--when it sold it would have to be re-ordered--but I had the power to do that as a children's bookseller at B&N. I was constantly recommending Howl's Moving Castle and the Dalemark Quartet, neither of which were ever in stock where I worked, so I was able to order one so I could recommend it.

Not the best system ever, but there are workarounds for the motivated ones. Hence, the reason that Brandon's books are so popular at one particular store... :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Bookstore Guy on December 19, 2007, 09:48:58 PM
yup, of course i ignored all those supposed "order limits".  I was that guy that would order 50 copies of one book that I thought everyone should be reading.  It was like Oprah's Book Club...only different...and less hypocritical...
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Spriggan on December 19, 2007, 11:02:37 PM
This is why I think, for the most part, book stores are outdated.

I know I can get what I want from Amazon and it will be cheaper, I don't know if B&N or Borders will have what I want and not only will the book be more but I'll have to spend gas and time getting there and looking around so unless it's a "I need it today" situation or someone looking for a gift that may not know the genre they're shopping for I see bookstores not being around for much longer.

Sure there will be those smaller local ones that market themselfs to a book sub-culture but most people don't care and will go where the best prices and selection are and neither of those are in B&M stores.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: kasper11 on December 19, 2007, 11:06:22 PM
This is why I think, for the most part, book stores are outdated.

I know I can get what I want from Amazon and it will be cheaper, I don't know if B&N or Borders will have what I want and not only will the book be more but I'll have to spend gas and time getting there and looking around so unless it's a "I need it today" situation or someone looking for a gift that may not know the genre they're shopping for I see bookstores not being around for much longer.

Sure there will be those smaller local ones that market themselfs to a book sub-culture but most people don't care and will go where the best prices and selection are and neither of those are in B&M stores.

There is still something you are missing from Amazon though....the ability to flip through the book and see if it interests you.  Not that important when you already know what you want, but when you aren't looking for a specific title it is very important.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: kasper11 on December 19, 2007, 11:09:23 PM
As to the thread title....
I used to be a big fantasy reader, not so much anymore. The one series that I still follow religously is WOT. After seeing Brandon got the job, I checked out his work and read Warbreaker, and thought that for an unfinished novel it was a great read and re-sparked my interest in fantasy. I plan to pick up Elantris after the holidays assuming I don't get it from someone.  I will probably wait until Mistborn until the 3rd book comes out....I hate reading the first couple of parts and then having to wait.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Tink on December 19, 2007, 11:57:27 PM
This is why I think, for the most part, book stores are outdated.

I agree with Spriggan for the most part. If I know what I want, I usually just order it off of Amazon or the like. The only time I go to a bookstore is if I'm excited about a book and don't want to wait to read it; for example, when I got into the Dresden Files, I went out and bought the next one immediately because I couldn't wait to read. If I want to flip through books, I go to the library because I'm much more inclined to borrow books from the library rather than buy them anyway. I only buy books I can see reading over and over.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Guido on December 20, 2007, 08:52:12 PM
I knew Brandon from church when Elantris was published.  Always being on the lookout for new books, and wanting to support someone I knew, I picked it up and gained a new favorite author.  Now if only the books came out faster...   :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: KindaChang on December 23, 2007, 08:54:35 PM
I was recommended to read Elantris on the vnboards book board.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Taleana on December 24, 2007, 01:09:14 AM
I'm a very visual person and if the cover of a book interests me, I'll read it. I was walking through Borders one day and saw Elantris, picked it up, read it, and promptly went on the prowl for more of his books.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: dawncawley on December 24, 2007, 09:31:30 PM
I discovered Brandon when the reading club on another author's board I post on decided to read Elantris for our book discussion group. Needless to say, I was hooked from there and followed the trail of breadcrumbs to here and his official site :) I haven't been able to make it to any of his signings, but I am hoping to be able to the next time he is in, or around, Washington.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Seradan on December 24, 2007, 09:37:52 PM
This makes me wonder if I'm the only Canadian here. :P

Not the only one! I've actually been trying to get the population of the Wheel of Time based Neverwinter Nights server that I co-created into reading Brandon's work after having read Mistborn.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: dtbmnec on December 25, 2007, 07:42:44 PM
This makes me wonder if I'm the only Canadian here. :P

Nah not the only one. :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Elayne on December 26, 2007, 08:34:07 PM
I've looked at Brandon's books more times than I can count, but have lately been in more of an 'urban fantasy' (a la Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, et al), so I hadn't picked them up yet. But with the release of Jim Butcher's lastest cursor novel - Captain's Fury - I've been in the 'mood' to read more high fantasy-type stuff. Luckily, this was at the same time that Harriet announced that he's going to be finishing the WoT books - one of my all-time faves, if you couldn't guess from the name! ;) So I ordered the books, and ended up working Christmas Eve night shift @ work, which was luckily nice and slow, and spent all night reading Warbreaker online! I got up to chapter 30! Whee!! Can't wait to read the rest of 'em!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Asundar on December 27, 2007, 12:23:04 AM
First time poster here, although I've been reading fantasy novels consistently for over 18 years.

To Brandon:

I apologize in advance, but to be honest, I never heard about you till I saw the announcement regarding you being selected to complete the final WOT book. I had my reservations about reading your Mistborn series initially, since I didn't want to "spoil" myself to your style before reading the final WOT book once it was completed, and I didn't want to start reading yet another disappointing, ill-conceived fantasy novel (such has been the trend for me the last few years).

I have to say I am very, very glad I decided to buy Mistborn.  Without getting to verbose, the characters captivated me. Well that's probably too simplistic, but that's what draws me into good fantasy. Not elaborate magic systems, or setting, or lengthy, convoluted plots...and especially not preachy, canonical ranting like certain writers out there. I really enjoyed Mistborn because it put the importance of character development and relating the reader to the characters first, and everyone of the other elements was draw from that characterization. The character development felt natural and human.

 As soon as I finished Mistborn a couple hours ago, I went out and bought the hardcover of Well of Ascension (I'm a cheapass though, I would have bought the paper back if they had it). I can't wait to start on it once I get off work here. My only future criticism is going to be (like with so many other good fantasy series)...three books is not going to be enough for me!

I hope you continue to write and produce excellent novels. I look forward to Well!

Thank you,
Arvind
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: CUBAREY on December 28, 2007, 01:44:00 PM
I must confess that I first heard abount Mr. Sanderson from a friend who happens to work at a book store a frequent. He told be that Sanderson's books where the kind of fantasy I liked. He commended Mistborn. When I inquired as to what it was about he mentioned that it involved a "crew" of talented criminals fighting a Dark Empire. Frankly, it did not sound all that interesting. A few weeks later I read the announcement concerning Mr. Sanderson being choosen to finish A Memory of Light. I then found this forum and started to peek into the different threads. I then dowloaded Warbreaker and buying The Final Empire and The Well of Ascension from Amazon. I have now finished Warbreaker and The Final Empire and am about half way through The Well of Ascension. I have ordered Elantris through Amazon. I now consider myself a Brandon Sanderson fan. I have one question. I have read that Alcatraz was written as a "Young Adult"  novel, is it worth my time picking it up (I am in my 40's and found the Harry Potter Series, a bit--- basic)?
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Bookstore Guy on December 28, 2007, 05:47:18 PM
is it worth my time picking it up (I am in my 40's and found the Harry Potter Series, a bit--- basic)?

Well, Alcatraz is a kids book after-all.  So, naturally, it will be more basic than his Mistborn series.  To me (a 27 year-old), Alcatraz was a fun read, and a bit of refreshment between the heavier fantasy books I read (not to mention there are some pokes at HP that I enjoyed immensly).  If you want that, go for it.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: stacer on December 28, 2007, 09:44:49 PM
Quote
I have read that Alcatraz was written as a "Young Adult"  novel,

Actually, it's not even for young adults (ages 12-18)--it's written for children roughly ages 8-12. But personally I find the best books to be in both of those ranges.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on December 29, 2007, 01:55:03 AM
Alcatraz is very humorous, with a creative magic system as you might expect from Brandon. Its plot is simpler, but it's not completely predictable like you might expect many kids' books to be. It also contains entertaining allusions and satire elements.

If you're unsure, you might check it out from a library (if the Librarians let you, that is).
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: medikman on December 30, 2007, 07:28:37 AM
I was looking for the Alcatraz book today at Barnes and Noble at the Gateway in Salt Lake and couldn't find any. We were getting a book for one of the kids in my wife's primary class and he loves the Harry Potter series so I thought I would get this, but alas I had to settle for something else.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: stacer on December 30, 2007, 08:22:35 AM
Alcatraz is very humorous, with a creative magic system as you might expect from Brandon. Its plot is simpler, but it's not completely predictable like you might expect many kids' books to be. It also contains entertaining allusions and satire elements.

Et tu, Brutus? ;) I know you're just speaking to others' expectations, but it really bugs me that so many people still think so lowly of children's literature that they expect it to be bad. Sure, there's some real duds out there. But there are also plenty of really great kids' books that aren't what you expect kids' books to be because few people really know what's out there in kids' books.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: stacer on December 30, 2007, 08:26:34 AM
Oh, speaking of Alcatraz, Brandon, a sighting at my local library: I was asking the reference librarian a question. He wasn't the regular children's and YA librarian, and I think the desk he was sitting at is hers. A photocopy of Alcatraz sat in a frame on the desk. I asked him about it but he thought it was silly--so I'm sure it was the other librarians', because she seems much cooler and would appreciate the joke more. When I tried to tell him it a satire of librarians controlling the information in the world, he took it way too seriously and blustered, "Well, that just can't be right, because librarians are the ones who are trying to make information available to all!" as if the book were trying to put out misinformation about librarians. He wouldn't listen to me no matter how much I tried to tell him that no, really, it was a very funny book.  ::)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on December 30, 2007, 05:39:13 PM
That guy must actually be part of the Librarian Conspiracy.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: dtbmnec on December 30, 2007, 11:38:28 PM
Our library has three different versions of Alcatraz: two separate sound recordings and the book itself. Not many copies of it though.

Actually I do remember coming across Mistborn though...when I'd picked it up from Chapters I thought the cover looked familiar...mom, who works at the library, was actually cataloging it to put it into circulation...I had other things on my plate then but did tell myself I would pick it up at some point...I'd forgotten about that (oops!)

As to whether she's part of this conspiracy...I'll have to ask  :P
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on December 31, 2007, 12:46:21 AM
Two separate sound recordings? Amazon only lists one, the Scholastic unabridged version. That's all I can find on Scholastic's website as well. Is it with a different publisher/reader?

We've just reserved the unabridged audiobook at the county library, but the library system hasn't received their copies yet. Oddly, they have not ordered in any of the actual books, but 6 or so copies of the audiobook (among several branch locations).

Audio books are dang expensive. (Plus I've broken two tape players in my car listening to just TWO books on tape...argh.)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: dtbmnec on January 01, 2008, 07:19:58 PM
Yes, though I should have said its two different types of recordings.

One's on CD and the other on Tape. :)

My bad!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Azhev on January 03, 2008, 12:23:09 AM
That guy must actually be part of the Librarian Conspiracy.

Shhhh...no one is supposed to know about that!!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Swiggly on January 08, 2008, 01:52:28 AM
I found his book at the library and became obsessed, visiting his website at the back of the book.

Elantris, by the way. Before mistborn ever even came out.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: urbmd on January 10, 2008, 04:26:32 AM
I read the announcement (on wotmania.com) that BS was to finish the Wheel of Time series and decided to read his Mistborn books.  Having the first few chapters online is a great way to hook new readers.  I read the opening chapters and immediately raced through the rest of the books.  They were truly fantastic!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Crux on January 11, 2008, 12:14:30 AM
I was bumming around a Barnes & Noble and came across Elantris in the new release shelf.  I had it read in week (which for me is insanely fast).  Absolutely loved it and couldn't wait for his next book. Then Mistborn came out, same thing happened with MB1, took me 5 days, MB2 took me 3 days...  I just couldn't put them down!  Less-than-3 Vin!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: AgentX7 on January 11, 2008, 02:42:32 AM
Just like a lot of other people: Dragonmount announced that Robert Jordan's series was to be finished by him. I scratched my head and said "Who?"

My wife was nice enough to order me all of his published books for Christmas, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I didn't hate him. (I'm very picky.)

Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Serif on January 13, 2008, 04:10:43 AM
found about thru dragonmount went to his website  read warbreaker thought it was really good and bought mistborn 1 and 2 and thought they were awesome!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Merzbow on January 17, 2008, 02:12:38 AM
Randomly followed Amazon links related to fantasy books, came across Elantris. Amazon is an awesome sales tool... I learn of perhaps 90% of the new CDs and books I buy through Amazon lists and links...
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Natalie Perkins on January 18, 2008, 05:38:53 AM
This girl in my math class basically forced Mistborn onto me. It took her about 6 monthes to convince me to read it, but I did eventually. I enjoyed it very much and looked into Elantris and wanted to find out when Mistborn's sequal was coming out so I searched for an official website and Voila! BrandonSanderson.com.

The girl in my math class found him because her dad read Mistborn and he reccomended it to her.
He found it because he was at the book store and thought it had a cool cover so he bought it.
^^ And I agree, I really like the cover to Mistborn. It was really vivid and I liked it very much
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Reckalie on January 22, 2008, 09:29:29 PM
I took Brandon's Scifi writing class at BYU.  One of our required reading materials was Elantris.  It was an excellent class that taught me a lot of about writing a novel.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Azhev on January 23, 2008, 05:09:02 AM
I took Brandon's Scifi writing class at BYU.  One of our required reading materials was Elantris.  It was an excellent class that taught me a lot of about writing a novel.

Must be good to be the teacher when you can use your own stuff for required reading.   ;D
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: laddr on January 23, 2008, 02:37:36 PM
From the blog/announcement on dragonmount.com. Quickly picked up Mistborn 1, it rocked, picked up Mistborn 2, it rocked. Now I am hooked and cant wait for Mistborn 3, and especially WOT.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: ~M@rl3E~ on January 24, 2008, 09:58:25 PM
This is my first post (yea for me).  I judged Mistborn by it's cover and bought it.  I couldn't put it down!  I went shopping all day yesterday looking for book 2 and couldn't find it  :(.  So I ordered it off Amazon and it should be coming 1/29.  I can't wait!!!  I haven't been this excited about a book in a long time.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Hero of Ages on January 28, 2008, 09:33:34 AM
It is interesting how most of us came to read Brandon's books.

As for me, I was in B&N about a year ago just browsing like I always do and saw 2 books that looked interesting.  The covers for Elantris and Mistborn really caught my eye.  I looked thru them and saw a familiar name pop out.  Isaac Stewart, the map artist for MB, and I went to high school together.  Even better was the fact that Brandon had been there just days before and had signed all of the copies in the store.  I love signed books so I bought one of each and am now hooked.  When MB 2 came out Brandon and Isaac came for a signing and signed all of my unsigned copies (at this point just MB2 and Alcatraz).  Fun times.

I even got my wife (who hates fantasy because of all the weird made up names and places that she can't figure out the pronunciations for) hooked on them.  I think she was more excited about meeting Brandon than I was.

She even hinted that she wanted to name our next child Vin if it were a girl.  I think she was just joking but we find out what number 4 is in 2 months and see if she still feels that way when the baby is born in August.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: CrystalKitten on January 28, 2008, 06:24:13 PM
I have to admit I'd never even heard of Brandon Sanderson before Harriet announce on dragonmount.com that he was who she had chosen to finish the Wheel of Time series.

I'm very picky with my fantasy writers.  I find that while some have good concepts, they tend to almost forget that while the book can be all bout magic, and strange enigmatic problems, you need people to tell the story through, generally.  I find some books particularly painful to read, and before Brandon, there were only 3 authors that were able to get me to hang onto their every word, and finish 800 page books in a single weekend.

When I picked up Brandon's first book, I ,honestly, thought I would have to force myself through another mediocre writer, in an attempt to find out more about his writing style, so that Wheel of Time 12 wouldn't be a complete shock.  I have to say I was more than simply pleasantly surprised.  I couldn't put the book down.

I started with Mistborn, finished very quickly, and picked up Well of Ascension.  Couldn't find Elantris anywhere, so I downloaded Warbreaker, and finished in a matter of days.  I'm now desperately awaiting WoT12, Mistborn 3, and am desperately hoping for a Warbreaker sequel, as I need to know what happens next!

Brandon Sanderson is now part of an elite group of writers that I will be keeping close tabs on, waiting for new books, preordering if necessary.  He came around just in time, as the other writers I enjoy have just finished their series.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Bryant on January 29, 2008, 01:10:15 PM
I'm a bit ashamed to say the WoT announcement was the first time I learned of Brandon. I decided that I needed to read his stuff before the 12th Wheel of Time book was released, but ended up putting it off for some time - and now I really wish I hadn't. I finally bought Elantris and the two Mistborn novels about a week ago. I sat down and started reading Elantris, and was roughly halfway through before I stopped to finally go to sleep - I had only planned on reading for an hour, but it had turned into three. The next day, I finished it.

At first, I was a bit sad, or even almost outraged - Such a rich world, and no sequels? Instead, a trilogy entirely separate? What a waste!

Then I started Mistborn, and completely forgot any half-complaints I might have had about Elantris being a stand alone novel. I wasn't able to put either of the novels down, and I just finished The Well of Ascension about an hour ago.

Now I'm about to start on Warbreaker, and begin twiddling my thumbs until this October.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: JLVin on June 10, 2009, 10:58:56 PM
My theatre professor and I were on Facebook one night and he was like, "I have a reading suggestion for you," so of course I asked what that was, and he said the Mistborn trilogy. I had never heard of Brandon Sanderson previously, and honestly fantasy wasn't a genre that really interested me before. I figured that my professor must know what he's talking about if he recommended them to me. I did a background check on B&N as I am prone to do and Mistborn sounded exciting and well worth investigating. After controlling my rabid excitement about having someone I so respect give me a reading suggestion, I asked him if he'd actually ever read them, to which he said yes, he had read up to the second book and said that HoA was coming out soon (this was somewhere around the end of March.) And advised me to buy the paperback rather than the hardcover because it would be cheaper.

Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: KChan on June 11, 2009, 02:42:21 AM
I found out that he was going to be finishing Wheel of Time, and started following his blog posts. Eventually I found my way to his sample chapters and ended up buying paperback copies of Elantris and Mistborn: The Final Empire. I've been hooked ever since.  ;D
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: AGrey on June 11, 2009, 05:50:26 AM
I was working in a library when Elantris first came out, and got bored behind the desk, so I took a copy out of the returns dump and started reading.

I checked it out for myself at the end of the day, and bought a copy for myself the next weekend.

I still have that copy, and it's so smudged and battered, I want to get myself another copy that looks nice for the bookshelf.


as soon as i get a bookshelf to put it on...  ;D

I've also been a WOT fan since around winter's heart released

you can imagine my joy when I found out my second favorite author would be stepping in to fill the shoes of my favorite author  ;D
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Renoard on June 11, 2009, 09:19:12 AM
A post by Rigney's brother on Rigney's blog.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Bastille on June 11, 2009, 11:02:40 AM
My friends family and I where driving somewhere and I don't remember where but their dad popped the Alcatraz Audio in and we listened to it and I thought it was hilarious. Of cource we listened to this in like December and i didn't get my hands on the audio again until May then shortly after that the second book came out. After reading that I thought he's pretty good author and I have read all of his books (except for Warbreaker) and he is now one of my favorite authors.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Rrikor on June 11, 2009, 02:33:09 PM
Every few months I was checking when the next Wheel of Time book came out.  Then I was checking on status every day after RJ got ill to see how he was doing.  After he passed and it was announced that BS was going to be finishing the series I looked into what he had published.  The only problem was everytime I ended up in a bookstore I forgot his name so it took me a couple months to get Elantris.  After Elantris I was hook on BS.  I never forgot his name again either ;).  
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: torwolf on June 11, 2009, 03:11:16 PM
I was looking through wikipedia's list of fantasy novels and came across WOT. While searching for more information about WOT I landed up on Brandon's site.

His novels looked interesting so decided to order Elantris from Amazon but the shipping fees to India for a single book were too expensive for me.  I took a gamble and ordered Elantris, Mistborn 1 and 2 all at the same time as the shipping fees are combined and less per book. Started reading Mistborn the day it arrived and was hooked. I ordered HOA on Amazon the day it came out and have already ordered Warbreaker, this time through Flipkart.

So rest assured, you have at least one fan in India Brandon.

Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Rrikor on June 11, 2009, 09:46:05 PM
Brandon made a comment on his site today about a book store in India that just imported his books.  There is a link to it as well.  That might be cheaper for you now.  http://brandonsanderson.com/blog/795/Various-Warbreaker-Notes
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: douglas on June 11, 2009, 09:58:23 PM
Considering he mentioned ordering Warbreaker through that specific store, I think he already knows.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: SomeHackWriter on June 11, 2009, 10:33:13 PM
Count me among those who discovered Brandon's books after he was chosen to complete the Wheel of Time.  I started listening to Writing Excuses, and then I read Elantris.  I was hooked.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: masterofnone on June 11, 2009, 10:35:15 PM
First off, hi!  Brand new to the forums here.  Haven't done author forums since way back in early WoT.  Anyway, I found out about Brandon's stuff a few months ago.  Happened to be looking for a new author as well as curious about the latest WoT book.  I went to B&N and wrote down a few names from books that looked interesting.  Got home and decided to find out what was going on with Jordan's series, saw Brandon Sanderson was attached to it.  Looked at my list from my B&N and there his name was.

Picked up Elantris and Mistborn #1 the next day.  Ended up going through them as well as Mistborn 2 and 3 in the span of a couple of weeks.  With an 18 month old around the house that is an accomplishment now days for me.  Obviously I have become pretty hooked and have had his website bookmarked for quite a while and check it daily for information.  I must say that I am extremely impressed with how hands-on/involved he is with his readers.  Waiting for my signed copy of Warbreaker to get here from Sam Weller's and trying not to read spoilers for now.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: zas678 on June 12, 2009, 04:03:36 AM
A couple of friends actually recommended it to me, back when he only had Elantris out. One of his books (I can't remember which one) was in the top ten books at my sister's junior high.

It's amazing that the librarians allowed poll counts for him though. He is after all publishing a Smedry's work  ;)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: chaosmodifier on June 12, 2009, 02:16:01 PM
The first time I saw anything about Brandon was when I was walking through a Barnes & Noble that he was going to be doing a signing at, for the release of Mistborn. I looked over the book, thought it looked interesting, couldn't afford the hardback and put it back down and walked away without a second glance.

The next year at Christmas I was looking for books for several people on my list at the same B & N and they had a table displaying signed paperbacks of both Mistborn and Elantris. I read the back of Elantris and decided to grab them both for people on my list. The day after Christmas I ended up getting phone calls from both of the people I had given the books to, wanting to discuss them. They both yelled at me for never reading the books I gave them and demanded that I do so. I was loaned Elantris but had to go get my own copy of Mistborn, and was appalled that there wasn't any more of the signed copies.

I now own everything but book one of the Alcatraz books in hardback, but will hopefully be fixing that soon!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: happyman on June 12, 2009, 04:53:10 PM
I heard about Brandon Sanderson from:

(1) Orson Scott Card's review of Elantris
(2) A friend who was reading Elantris said she liked it
(3) I followed the link to writing excuses from Schlock Mercenary

With all of these, I finally broke down and bought it Elantris and Mistborn I and II.  I've been following him ever since.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: jahmes on June 12, 2009, 07:17:59 PM
i envy all of you... sigh... in a backward place such as me... it's be a couple of years till a sanderson will reach the shelves of our local bookstore *sniffs* heard about him coz he's supposed to finish WoT,  but I hope I can read more of his works... sigh... my favorite is L.E. Modesitt and never has his books graced the shelves of our top bookstore in the country... only in second hand bookstores could I get a copy of books... sigh... this is all so frustrating...
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Euphrasie on June 12, 2009, 09:11:37 PM
I also read Orson Scott Card's review of Elantris.  Got it from the library.  Snapped up every books that's come out since.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Inkthinker on June 15, 2009, 06:57:55 AM
The DragonPage Cover-to-Cover podcast. I heard him interview for Mistborn, loved the premise, checked out the book and got hooked.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Pieces on June 16, 2009, 04:30:57 AM
I was in a Borders in Chicago with a few friends on a class trip. Of course, we were in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section, and my friend pointed out Mistborn. I didn't have a book to read at the time, so I bought it on a whim. Well, that turned out to be a bad idea because its cost me ~$50 for the rest of his books  ::). Oh well. Maybe someday I'll try and drop into a release party.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: SomeHackWriter on June 17, 2009, 01:07:31 AM
Brandon Sanderson books considered a waste of money?  GASP!  Those are fighting words, lol.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Liathiana on June 18, 2009, 07:41:02 AM
Well I'm going to be different from all of the Dragonmount peeps and say that I heard about Brandon from Tarvalon.net! ;D

>.>

<.<

Okay so not that different :P I actually didn't decide to read any of his books until some of my friends from tv.net said that Mistborn was really good. I picked it up and have been hooked ever since! My boyfriend loved Mistborn as well and we've decided if we ever have kids we're naming the girl Vin. My real life name came from a fantasy book as well so it continues on a tradition!

I really became a fan though, after starting to continually read his blog and after listening to Writing Excuses. He is definitely one of my favorite writers as well as Patrick Rothfuss (Yes I know he's only published one book but I really loved it and his blog is a must read!).
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: little wilson on June 18, 2009, 08:29:30 AM
My dad told me about Brandon. He's a WoT fan. He read the sample chapters of Mistborn on-line and figured I would like it, so he called me to tell me to check it out. Which I did, right after I got off the phone...

If it had been the way I am now, I probably would've went out and bought the book immediately just based on those chapters, because I loved them so much. But alas, I'd just bought 3 books that I really shouldn't have bought since they turned out to be just terribad, and so I wasn't feeling too risky. I checked it out from the library instead...And THEN I bought it. Later. After I'd bought Elantris. Since the school bookstore had Elantris but not Mistborn, which I thought was odd, since it's BYU-I, but whatev.

And now I'm a huge fan. He's my favorite author. I personally think he's a literary genius. At least, literary in the fiction fantasy world...and I would say the whole fiction world in general, but that's just me....
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Valkynphyre on June 19, 2009, 06:03:37 PM
I heard he was going to finish the Wheel of Time and decided I needed to know whether he was good enough to pick up after Robert Jordan. I read Elantris and enjoyed it enough to look up the Mistborn Series. <Insert the best praise possible here.>
Best series I have ever read. I loved the political complexities, the story moved quickly, the magic was amazing, etc, etc. And then I came to the end. Perfect. I love an author who is true to the story and will kill off characters when it becomes necessary, even when they have grown attached.

I have introduced as many people as i can lend the books to to him. <--- commence with gramar mocking.

I'm looking forward to everything he will ever put out.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: AGrey on June 19, 2009, 07:50:16 PM
I have introduced as many people as i can lend the books to to him. <--- commence with gramar mocking.

I have introduced him to all the people to which the books can be lent

?

does that work?
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: necronos on June 19, 2009, 10:56:27 PM
I friend of mine from Provo, who is a huge Wheel of Time fan, told me about him so I took the internet to learn more. I found his site (and this one through that) and have been following along on his blog for a few weeks now. I haven't bought any of his books yet since I blew my book budget way before finding him. I'm going to break a few personal finance rules of mine and spring for Warbreaker tomorrow when Brandon comes to Idaho Falls for a book signing.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on June 20, 2009, 12:41:45 AM
wotmania.com

but does it matter... we found out we like him and we continue to read him else we wouldn't be using this thread end of discussion
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Liathiana on June 20, 2009, 02:28:28 AM
Obviously people are interested with 9 pages of replies :P I read every post before I posted and I quite enjoyed reading it :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: echigo109 on June 22, 2009, 07:36:29 PM
My parents bought me Elantris for my birthday i loved it so i tried to find more books by him
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Jindael on June 23, 2009, 07:20:10 PM
One day after work, my wife looked up from her computer and told me that "some dude named Brandon Sanderson” was going to finish the Wheel of Time. My response was “Who?”

We bought Mistborn that night. We just had to read and see. We were both immediately impressed, and went out and picked up the second Mistborn book and Elantris a few days later. Despite the fact that our budget really doesn’t allow for hardcovers, we’ve put Sanderson in the very small group of authors whose books we purchase immediately, rather than waiting for paperback. We’re both Librarians, but we still support the authors we enjoy by purchasing their books (and also making them available on the library shelves). Oddly, it’s only through our library vendors that we can find the Alcatraz books. We never see them in our book store.

So I guess we’re part of the WoT influx. I don’t mind because it meant I only had to wait a few months to read the entire Mistborn Trilogy.  :) (I had enough waiting since I was ground floor on Stephen Kings Dark Tower books; I’ve done my time.)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Danimari on June 25, 2009, 11:36:16 AM
Ironically, I heard about him a few years ago before tWoT announcement. I live in eastern Idaho, and frequently go to the library, where one of my friends was working as a page. She suggested this new book called Elantris by a somewhat local guy (seriously, eastern Idaho might as well be an annex of Utah...). I checked it out, but I (still) have a bad habit of checking out more books than I can read before they're due, and other people had holds on Elantris.

Cue several years... a few minor mentions, like another friend's new puppy accidentally teething on someone else's signed copy of Elantris... sad day for any book lover.

Then I pop over to wotmania (NOT dragonmount- hee) and see that Harriet's decided on someone to finish aMoL... and it happens to be Sanderson. I received a copy of Mistborn for my birthday, and well, got hooked. This past year, I got some of my fellow bibliophiles on campus to read Mistborn, feeling vaguely like a missionary... oh well.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: revel on June 25, 2009, 03:50:41 PM
Just about a year after Elantris was published I was walking through a bookstore saw the book read the dust cover on the shelf and bought the book.  Read it, absolutely was enthralled, and left me just wanting more, and more.  The book left me in what I call reading starvation, where you want more of that story.  So looked up on the internet to see if a sequel was coming out soon (not realizing that it was a stand alone) and found out that Mistborn: the Final Empire was out.  Went that same day bought it and have been eagerly waiting for every new Brandon Sanderson book since.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Jurisprude on June 25, 2009, 10:45:55 PM
My wife and I got hooked on Wheel of Time from her sister, who loaned us all of her hardcover/softcover WoT books, as well as through audiobooks of the same.  Not sure how I became aware that B.S. was chosen to finish the series, but at some point I did.  Proceeded to find his website, read his blog, read Warbreaker, and become a fan.  Intend to pick up Elantris and the Mistborn books at some point, but for now simply waiting for The Gathering Storm to come out.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: eVeNtInE on June 26, 2009, 06:08:27 AM
I read about him being the new WoT author and decided to look him up. Have been ordering any new books of his to be sent straight here to Ireland since. :D
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Euphrasie on June 26, 2009, 07:52:48 AM
For those who came via Orson Scott Card, Brandon is featured again (http://www.hatrack.com/osc/reviews/everything/2009-06-14.shtml).
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Renoard on June 26, 2009, 09:04:12 AM
I'm wondering if there might be a book in the topic/title A Missiology of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time.

Hah. I joke.  But some fans are pretty dogged about forcing new readers. :P
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: AllWrong on June 26, 2009, 11:38:13 AM
I read he would be the new WoT author.  I had never heard of him, and was prepared to be disappointed (like I was with the Brian Herbert Dune novels).  I bought Mistborn to give him a fair shot.  I've now read all of his epic fantasy published works, will probably be buying his Alcatraz books soon, and can't WAIT for the WoT books to come out.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Bio on February 07, 2010, 02:44:39 PM
Like a lot of people it seems, it unfortunately had to come from Robert Jordan's death for me. At least there was a silver lining in allowing me to discover this guy. I was talking to a friend of mine, asking him if he was still going to read The Wheel of Time now that another author had taken over, and his words were "...Of Course, you haven't read any of Sanderson's books?"

He directed me toward the Mistborn series, which I loved every minute of, and then I read The Gathering Storm, finished that a week ago (I waited to read it because I wanted to re-read all of the WoT books before reading it), which was wonderful, and just yesterday I finished Elantris. Today I'm going to start reading Warbreaker, which I have been looking forward to doing.

I'm always glad to find a new Fantasy author that I really like.  Doesn't happen too often for me.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Lord Terrisman on February 07, 2010, 07:17:27 PM
I found out about Mr. Sanderson's work form a friend of mine who was going crazy over his Mistborn books.  I mainly ignored her until a year later she found out about Elantris and bought the hardcover and got it signed by him at the Colorado Sci Fi convention.  So then I started looking him up on barnesandnobles.com and made up my mind to read his books.  Now I'm almost done with Hero of Ages and can't wait to read Elantris.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Shivertongue on February 07, 2010, 08:52:42 PM
I picked up Elantris shortly after it came out as part of my ongoing effort to prove that you can, in fact, judge a book by it's cover. When I have the money, I go to the bookstore and purchase two books - one which I read the synopsis and maybe a few pages, often something by an author I've heard of, and then a second with which I look at nothing but the cover. The cover of Elantris grabbed me, so I bought it.

I don't even remember the other book I got that day. Elantris blew me away. Been a fan ever since.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: KhyEllie on February 07, 2010, 10:46:13 PM
I had a friend who was trying to explain Mistborn(because he was currently reading it and way into it), and since I'm heavy into reading, I asked if I could borrow it. From there, I just couldn't stop, particularly after I noticed the Hoid phenomenon.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Aginor221 on February 08, 2010, 04:34:25 AM
Ok, so I'm a lurker, I've been around these forums for a good two years just reading everything that is discussed and marveling at the humor some of the posters have. Anyway, My brother came home on day from B&N with Mistborn and told me to read it or die. So naturally fearing for my life I started it. I had heard that Brandon was writing the WOT series now and I wanted to read it for analysis and such. Ash fell from the sky - completely threw me into the story. I couldn't  get enough of it, and after I bought my Kindle I got the other two. I laugh now when my english teacher says that the first line of a book can draw readers in because, Brandon had the best I'd read in a long time. Ash fell from the sky - I just dont know where he comes up with it, but he's a fantastic writer.
   I've downloaded Warbreaker(and later bought the hardcover from amazon, along with Elantris) and loved the magic system, I actually gave Warbreaker to a friend at work like 3 months ago and converted him(although I havent gotten the book back.) I have two TGS copies, one of which is signed, and I am eagerly devouring information on WOK. Oh, I also scourged the forums for the Liar of Partinel download from like 5 years ago I think, which I have on my computer and numerous flash drives.
   Brandon is also the reason why I've started writing more, and am thinking about a career in either editing or writing.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Fireborn on March 24, 2010, 05:47:25 AM
I was at, if I remember right, our school's fall band concert near the beginning of the year.  Afterward I ran into a friend who had graduated the previous year and he had a friend with him who was a bit older and a film buff.  Our mutual friend went off to talk to someone else, and I wound up talking to him about various things.  The subject of books came up and he mentioned the WoT, he asked if I'd read it, and I admitted I hadn't.  Well, he didn't really tell me about the books, but about how the series was going to be continued after RJ died.  I'm not actually sure if he said the name Brandon Sanderson, but that was where I first witnessed his influence.  I didn't think about it at all after that.
In December, I was getting a ride home from a friend after one of very many Christmas choir performances, and another choir friend was in the car.  The subject of books came up, and he recommended Mistborn to me, spilling out buckets of praise about the books, which I decided to take with a grain of salt (unnecessary, of course).  When I was getting out of the car he mentioned how it had three magic systems, which earned a raise eyebrow and a "what the?" when he told me the names of the systems.
So I put a hold on FE at the library and about mid January I got my hands on it.  I proceeded to ravenously devour it, reading late into the night.  I then got the next two from the library and glutted myself on those, confiding in my friend about different plot twists as I got to them.
I've since read everything that Brandon has put out, save for the WoT, which I'm actually downloading the audiobook for right now.  Interesting how life works, isn't it?
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Link von Kelsier Harvey XXIV on March 24, 2010, 06:41:24 PM
I was walking through the BYU bookstore in late 2006.  The cover of a certain book caught my eye.  I walked over and picked it up.  There was a blurb on the front by Orson Scott Card, proclaiming it to be the greatest book of fantasy to be written in many years.  I flipped it over and read the back.  At the line, "Eternity ended ten years ago," I knew I had to read the book.  I bought Elantris, which was only $7.00 hardback, presumably because Brandon teaches at BYU, took it home and loved it.  As soon as I finished, I went looking for more.  There was Mistborn.  That was actually full price, and I was poor, so every day between classes I would go to the bookstore, sit, and read.  Once 2007 hit, I went to Japan for two years for the same reason Brandon went to Korea.  But I gave explicit instructions that Well of Ascension be waiting for me when I got back.  I now own all three of the books, and all signed too.  I attended the Warbreaker release party and got #17.  And now, I'm reading the entire Wheel of Time for the first time because I'm a Brandon Sanderson fan, rather than the other way around.  Go Brandon! ;D
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: linuxwolf on March 25, 2010, 05:22:49 PM
I saw on /. that Robert Jordan died, and his wife had chosen Brandon to finish the books.  Anybody here knows /. knows that criticism from the geek crowd there can be pretty harsh.

I looked up Brandon Sanderson, found his website, and read the first three chapters of Mistborn.  Even if it wasn't a great book, I would have finished it for no other reason than he posted the first three chapters for free. 

I have since purchased all 3 mistborn books and elantris, gotten my wife into them and now she's read them all.  Wife pulled up his page and started reading Alcatraz, we thought it would be great to assign my 11 yr old daughter for a book report (homeschool), so I bought it and have read the entire alcatraz series to date.

We're currently reading the first book to my 8 yr old son.

Unlike most, I had not read WoT before I heard of Brandon.  I had heard of WoT as the epitomy of Fantasy series, but never gotten around to it.  I'm not trying to collect all of the WoT series in Hard Cover, and have read them all.

Will also be getting all of Brandon's works in hard cover as I can.  Before Brandon, I  read little Fantasy novels primarily reading mystery, suspense, and thrillers.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: whitetrash on March 27, 2010, 05:57:19 AM
From a thread on Terrybrooks .net and took the advice of some people on there to give him a try..
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Rezo on March 28, 2010, 03:37:05 PM
Went to a bookshop and saw Elantris. It had a nice cover, and since it was large enough*, I bought it. Been a fan ever since, even though Elantris and MB1 and 2 are the only Brandon's books printed in Poland. I had to order this (http://jewkesfamily.com/snarkyreviews/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/hero-ages.jpg) ugly softcover and wait for it for a few weeks after reading MB2.



* Books in Poland are usually printed on wider paper than in US, which makes them much larger in size. For example, my Polish MB1 is around two times the size of my English MB3, even though it's around 200 pages shorter.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: WHearth on March 30, 2010, 06:40:43 PM
A friend referred me to Elantris, shortly after it came out. Been hooked ever since   ;D
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: doode999 on March 30, 2010, 11:00:41 PM
His wife taught my brother. Brandon came one day and read my bro's class some of Elantris.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Hibron on April 04, 2010, 04:16:45 PM
A friend from church reccomended Elantris to my sister and let her borrow it. I stole it (with permission), read it, and bought all of his books.

Oddly enough, I heard about Wheel of Time because of Brandon's association with it, not vice versa.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: helios1014 on April 06, 2010, 01:54:42 AM
I was listening to writing excuses and decided to read Mistborn. Then I polished off the series and moved on to Eleantris and Warbreaker, have not fished either one. I only started the Wheel of Time because Brandon was finishing it. The first book did not sell me on the series like the second book.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: pixcalcis on April 14, 2010, 04:43:19 PM
I first read something when TOR gave away those promotional ebooks  a few years back each month on their website. Mistborn was the first of these books.....and best of the ones that I read.

I think I heard he was finishing WOT before this promotional thing started though and was interested to see what he had written.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: helios1014 on April 16, 2010, 08:17:33 PM
Listed to the podcast Writing Excuses and decided to read Mistborn. After devouering the series I had to start the Wheel of Time to read his book and I bought Warbreaker yesterday. I also have Elantris, but have yet to finish it.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Yuoaman on April 19, 2010, 02:27:53 AM
My library got Elantris and I decided to read it because it seemed interesting, and became hooked on Brandon Sanderson. When I heard that he would be completing the Wheel of Time series I re-read Elantris and knew that they had picked the right guy for the job. :P
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: clarissavandell on April 22, 2010, 01:08:11 AM
I got the first Mistborn book as a birthday present and loved it.  So I've been trying to read as much of his work as I can.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: sylph on April 22, 2010, 06:10:52 PM
After reading that he would be finishing the Wheel of Time I bought Mistborn and couldn't wait for the other two to come out to buy and read. I knew then that he was the right choice to finish WoT. I bought the first Alcatraz and plan to buy the others. I borrowed Elantris and Warbreaker from the library and will purchase the hard covers for my collection.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Korwin on May 10, 2010, 02:28:15 PM
Promotion from TOR where I got Mistborn as an free E-Book, hooked me...
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Casco on May 16, 2010, 10:50:15 PM
Well, Robert Jordan died :(  his death didn have one positive thing about it (in all its sadness), i did discover a new brilliant writer :) Elantris and the Mistborn trilogi is great!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: steelbacchus on May 29, 2010, 05:40:24 AM
I read the announcement that he was going to write the 12th book of the Wheel of Time on Robert Jordan's blog at Dragonmount and came check it out.

Said I wasn't going to read any of his works until after the WoT book, but I read the first couple of chapters of Mistborn and now I need to go shopping for his books.

From Dragonmount

I emailed him and told him to hurry up with WoT or I'd have to go looking for his books. After finishing The Gathering Storm twice over, I had no choice but to hunt down the Mistborn Trilogy.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peeps on June 24, 2010, 01:38:47 PM
I found out about him through amazon recommendations, which I usually delete without looking at.  I'm glad I decided to look at that one because it was a recommendation for Elantris.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: MaeLavanya on June 25, 2010, 10:26:34 AM
I found out through the Wheel of Time, honestly. I was really curious to who was going to finish the story and was very happy after I read Elantris as I thought the Wheel of Time was left in very capable hands.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: DeathBite on June 26, 2010, 01:46:17 AM
Most people have a lot more interesting ways of knowing about him. I feel mediocre in mine. xD His first Mistborn book was given to me as a Birthday present.

...The exciting version, however, involves corruption, deceit, monumental explosions and plenty of violence.
It all ends with me receiving a free copy of the book after I saved the Queen from ninja assassins. 
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Shivertongue on June 26, 2010, 07:10:29 AM
...The exciting version, however, involves corruption, deceit, monumental explosions and plenty of violence.
It all ends with me receiving a free copy of the book after I saved the Queen from ninja assassins. 


That happened to you too? If your ninja assassins were also monkeys, I'm gonna freak...
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: WrittenOnTheStars on June 26, 2010, 07:35:36 AM
Well... my sister gave me Elantris for my birthday because she had read it and had had dinner with Mr. Sanderson and talked to him. Took me about almost two years to finally crack open Elantris. I started it a few times, but I just couldn't get into it. I just wasn't ready for epic fantasy yet. Well...that all changed after Elantris. When I actually sat down to read it, it took me about three days to get through. I was moving about 1000 miles during this time and so I wasn't much help as I was tired everyday from staying up late reading Elantris. And, in order to finish Elantris, I stayed up until 2 a.m. (when I should have been sleeping because I was helping drive up to where I was moving) and read the entire third part in that night. It was pretty epic.

Needless to say, Sanderson books have hooked me onto the epic fantasy genre. Instead of going to the YA section first of a store, I head straight to the fantasy/sci-fi section. It's pretty much awesome. It's about a year later since I first picked and read Elantris and I've now read all Sanderson epic fantasy books and am on my way cruising through book 3 of WoT and I am so excited for WoK it's not even funny. Sanderson seriously has me hooked on an entire genre now and I'm loving this fact.  ;D
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: DeathBite on June 26, 2010, 06:33:42 PM
...The exciting version, however, involves corruption, deceit, monumental explosions and plenty of violence.
It all ends with me receiving a free copy of the book after I saved the Queen from ninja assassins. 


That happened to you too? If your ninja assassins were also monkeys, I'm gonna freak...


Well they were orangutans.  :o Pretty much the same, both in the ape family..
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: happyman on June 27, 2010, 11:18:03 PM
...The exciting version, however, involves corruption, deceit, monumental explosions and plenty of violence.
It all ends with me receiving a free copy of the book after I saved the Queen from ninja assassins. 


That happened to you too? If your ninja assassins were also monkeys, I'm gonna freak...


Well they were orangutans.  :o Pretty much the same, both in the ape family..

I know a librarian who would disagree with you.  Violently.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Obsessiforge on June 28, 2010, 08:02:30 AM
I found out about Brandon when, in an attempt to reacquaint myself with the fantasy genre I'd lost touch with, I walked into a bookstore. I looked in the fantasy section and found Mistborn. I read the back cover and was intrigued enough to buy it - moreso than by any of the other stuff on the shelves. I was rewarded heavily for that gamble, and was so emphatic about my love for the book that my best friend went out and got me the next two books in the series. In fact, the Mistborn trilogy inspired me to start writing myself, and its been a lot of fun. So I've got him to thank for that as well.

I think I've got to get on some of Brandon's other books, though. I think there's a larger picture I'm missing.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Miyabi on June 28, 2010, 09:29:10 AM
I think I've got to get on some of Brandon's other books, though. I think there's a larger picture I'm missing.

An entire universe of a picture you are missing, though most of it comes from QnA and theorizing on here until certain books come to light and give us more information.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Obsessiforge on June 28, 2010, 10:06:25 AM
well then I better get to it! I'm gonna head down to the library and try to get Elantris tomorrow.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Renoard on June 28, 2010, 01:02:41 PM
Interestingly my city library has three campuses and they've disposed of every copy of Sanderson's work.  They never purchased Mistborn, so we're talking about Elantris and the Alcatraz books.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Miyabi on June 28, 2010, 01:12:07 PM

Oh noes!  The librarians are catching on!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Hobbun on June 28, 2010, 01:30:41 PM
Mine is nowhere near as special as a lot of yours. I probably fall under a large majority of the people.

I heard about Brandon when he was announced to finish the WoT. I will admit I was nervous at first if he would be able to finish the series justly. However, after reading his blogs (especially the one where he explains why he split the books into three), the response of TGS and then finally meeting him on tour for TGS, I knew the series was in the right hands.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: DeathBite on June 28, 2010, 03:40:32 PM

I know a librarian who would disagree with you.  Violently.


That Orangutans are pretty much the same as monkeys? I guess monkey's have tails and orangutans don't, but I'm going to have to disagree to your librarian disagreeing..
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Link von Kelsier Harvey XXIV on June 28, 2010, 05:48:20 PM
Yeah, except that monkeys and apes are totally different.  Gorilla? Ape.  Monkey? Not an ape.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Creative_Vortx on June 28, 2010, 06:37:10 PM
Yeah, except that monkeys and apes are totally different.  Gorilla? Ape.  Monkey? Not an ape.

I evolved from an ape, not a monkey. There is your difference.  :D

:waits for this convo to explode into thread killing proportions:

 
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on June 28, 2010, 09:29:38 PM
Um, keep it on topic: How you found out about Brandon Sanderson.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on July 01, 2010, 04:17:00 AM
My TV evolved enough to tell me i should read more and gave me Final Empire!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Eich on July 03, 2010, 04:21:01 AM
I had never heard about Sanderson before it was known he was to complete the WoT series.  Started to read the current version of Warbreaker, and really liked it.  From there it was to Mistborn triology (I was totally hooked half way through the Final Empire). Elantris and final version of Warbreaker followed afterwards.  Sanderson has become one of my absolute favourite authors in fantasy, and this forum has been a great resource in delving deeper in the material.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Renoard on July 03, 2010, 08:20:49 AM
I overheard an Orangutan discussing WoT with a Chimpanzee.  The Tamarin's were completely oblivious to Sanderson, being great fans of Dave Farland and Orson Scott Card.  That of course lead me to Sanderson's website and here from there.

P.S. the Orangutan was called Nea and the Chimp was called Styve. ;P
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: JimJam on July 03, 2010, 09:09:04 AM
Technically I first heard about Brandon when I read TGS earlier this year, but for some reason never got round to checking out the rest of his work. About a month ago I was in need of something to read and saw The Final Empire displayed at the front of the store. There was a review on the back by Robin Hobb (another of my favourite authors - I would definitely recommend her) and so I thought it was worth a try, it wasn't until halfway through that book that I realised the author was the same guy writing the rest of the WoT books! I steamed through the rest of the trilogy, which I loved, but have yet to decide what to read next.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Comatose on July 03, 2010, 01:05:35 PM
I've read Robin Hobb's soldier son trilogy.  I took me about half of the first book to get into it, but in the end, I liked it.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: JimJam on July 03, 2010, 11:05:08 PM
Thats the one trilogy of hers I haven't read, I loved all the others though.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on July 06, 2010, 03:29:57 AM
I finished the first book and realized I didn't care about any of the characters. So I didn't read the others.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Comatose on July 06, 2010, 04:27:37 AM
True, there isn't much for character in those.  It's pretty much all just Nevare. 
I didn't say they were my favorites, not by far, but I did enjoy them.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on July 06, 2010, 04:40:58 AM
Oh oops, I didn't realize which thread this was, so continued the off-topicness, which I shouldn't have done.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Obsessiforge on July 06, 2010, 07:14:44 AM
I'm reading Warbreaker, and I'm really enjoying Lightsong's sense of humor. It reminds me of Breeze in a lot of ways.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Comatose on July 06, 2010, 10:11:45 PM
Lightsong was definately my favorite character in those books.  Well, maybe second favorite.  The first was Nightblood.  Best character ever!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Renoard on July 08, 2010, 07:30:27 AM
Still with the off topicness. :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Rrikor on July 08, 2010, 02:26:49 PM
Welcome all you new readers.  :D  I am glad that people have been finding Brandon through other major fantasy authors.  I think finishing WoT is a great boon for Brandon and will help attract him a large audience base so that we get to experience a lot more of his writing.   

I went back through this post and relized the thread has been around for 3 years.  I have probably said it before on this thread but I started reading Brandon's book when it was announced that he was finishing WoT.  I have read all but the Alcatraz books.  I have only read the first on of them.  I plan saving for a kindle now that the price has dropped.  Is there plans to put the alcatraz books out on it.  I know the rest of Brandon's books are on it.  
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Liadan on July 15, 2010, 07:44:56 PM
New Poster but Old Brandon Fan (Kinda)  ::)

I found out about Brandon when one of my co-workers came in and said.. Hey Have you heard that RJ Died???? I was in shock... However long after it was when they announced that Brandon would complete the series my coworker came back in.. Have you ever heard of this Brandon Sanderson guy?? I told him I hadn't. He said that it was announced that Brandon would finish the WoT books, and since he hadn't heard of him, and I read like 80+ books a year, that he had wondered if I had.

It was then and there that I decided I had to determine if Brandon really was the right choice to finish RJ's books, because in my mind if he wasn't I would write off WoT.

I went over to B&N and bought Elantris which was the only Sanderson book in stock, and read it. I loved it and knew that Brandon was the right choice for the job.

Over time I bought the Mistborn books and read them, loved them. Got the WoT Book for my birthday (Yes I had to wait like 3 weeks for it cause hubby wanted to get it for my bday present) and thought Brandon did an awesome job. He stayed true to RJ's characters and visions, and any changes to characters felt to me like a normal progression that would be expected with the journey the characters had taken.

I held off on buying and Warbreaker due to the fact that my hubby bought me 22 books for Christmas this last year. I would have finished them in May if it hadn't been that I needed to take a me break in March...

I finished the 22 books on Friday July 9th and bought Warbreaker on the same day at lunch. Read it in 3 days and loved it.  (Like I couldn't at this point). Brandon has now made a very short list of Authors I'll buy without reading the first chapter of the book since I know he is guaranteed not to disappoint.

Taking some time off reading now so I can work on my own writings, but my next book will be bought August 31st where I'll get at least a 30 second opportunity to meet Brandon (Fingers crossed).
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Warbreaker on July 16, 2010, 01:12:58 AM
I heard about Brandon because he was chosen to finish WOT so I decided to see if he was any good.  I've listened to the Mistborn trilogy, Elantris and Warbreaker.  Haven't gotten around to Alcatraz yet, I'm waiting to see if they release the other 3 on audio so needlessly to say I approve.

P.S. eagerly awaiting Way of Kings
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: darkfiction13 on July 29, 2010, 11:58:53 PM
I came to Brandon's work in what I think is an interesting way.

I was at the World Horror Convention of 2007 in Toronto. I went to a panel about agents, and on that panel was a man names Joshua Bilmes.  Later that night, I had a short discussion with Joshua about my own work. Then, the next day, I saw Joshua again in the book store. He was wandering the fantasy section, and we nodded at each other. Then, he said he had a suggestion for me, and he took me to Brandon Sanderson's book, Elantris. He said that Brandon was a client of his, and that Elantris was something he was really proud of.

I thought, why the heck not? It's not everyday you get a literary agent suggesting a book. I got it and have never looked back. Brandon is a fantastic writer!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Aaants on August 10, 2010, 02:30:26 PM
I read the Farseer and Tawny man trilogies by Robin Hobb then went after something similar, I noticed she was quoted on the back of Brandon's books and never looked back :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Creative_Vortx on August 10, 2010, 05:16:20 PM
I read the Farseer and Tawny man trilogies by Robin Hobb then went after something similar, I noticed she was quoted on the back of Brandon's books and never looked back :)

This always gets me. If I see any quote from Orson Scott Card on a sci-fi book, I usually have to at least read the first 2 chapters. I'm a sucker.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Link von Kelsier Harvey XXIV on August 11, 2010, 04:53:19 AM
A quote from Orson Scott Card  (and the fact that it was $7 hardback) is the reason I bought and read Elantris!  OSC changed my life!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Hearttlight on August 31, 2010, 03:23:17 PM
Having registered to these forums today (hi all!), for the sole purpose of talking about Brandon's books, I think it's fitting to start by posting in this topic. No big story there, however. I wish I would've found out about Brandon Sanderson in another way than most of his readers. Not the case. I started out as a Wheel of Time fan, and easily found my way to Brandon's books through those.

I actually only recently started reading fantasy. I read the Lord of the Rings when I was just a kid, but other than that, there isn't all that much fantasy to come by here in Holland (if my English sucks, there's my excuse!). It wasn't until someone pointed me towards The Wheel of Time, that I rediscovered the genre.

That was about two years ago. I started reading and didn't stop reading. In four months, I had read all eleven books and New Spring. In Dutch, all of them. After that, I started on the Song of Ice and Fire series, but well, let's face it, though it's good, it isn't WoT. On the internet, I found out about Sanderson completing the WoT series, and decided I wanted to give his books a try.

As none of his books are translated to Dutch, the first Mistborn was also the first English book I read. It opened up a whole new world. The last year, I've read about seventy different books of a whole lot of different writers. None ever did to me what Mistborn, Elantris and Warbreaker did, however. And now, I'm just a huge fan of Brandon. What's left for me to do, is try to convert my fellow Dutchies to fans as well. Noone's ever even heard of him!
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: calvin on August 31, 2010, 04:46:02 PM
None ever did to me what Mistborn, Elantris and Warbreaker did, however. And now, I'm just a huge fan of Brandon. What's left for me to do, is try to convert my fellow Dutchies to fans as well. Noone's ever even heard of him!
  It's just a matter of time!  I love that Brandon's younger than me and a prolific writer...just means that we'll be seeing a LOT more of him!  (but never quite enough...*sigh*)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on August 31, 2010, 07:34:21 PM
Actually a Dutch version of ELANTRIS came out from De Boekerij.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Hearttlight on August 31, 2010, 08:28:11 PM
It did? Awesome! Hadn't noticed yet! Well, that's a start then. Do you know if there are any plans to translate any of the other books to Dutch, Peter?
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Nessa on August 31, 2010, 09:25:18 PM
Having registered to these forums today (hi all!), for the sole purpose of talking about Brandon's books, I think it's fitting to start by posting in this topic...

Welcome! Feel free to introduce yourself here (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=3.new#new) and take a look at our other forums.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Twim'c on August 31, 2010, 10:32:48 PM
I found out about Brandon Sanderson through my uncle, who listens/ed to Writing Excuses. We listened to the Mistborn series as an audio book while fixing a roof. After that, I went to his website and downloaded Warbreaker. I read it in two days.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on September 01, 2010, 07:32:52 AM
I haven't heard of any other Dutch edition plans. If there's more to say about that, it should be in a separate thread.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: zebobes on September 01, 2010, 07:49:09 AM
I was lurking on Robin Hobb's message board, and heard how she highly recommended the Mistborn books, and the Name of the Wind by Pat Rothfuss. I think she read both of them as ARCs, as they weren't out yet. I read Elantris first, and then Mistborn and Name of the Wind came out.

Wow, and I'm still waiting for the sequel to Name of the Wind, and Brandon has finished the Mistborn trilogy AND Warbreaker AND Way of Kings AND the Gathering Storm...
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Kierlionn on September 01, 2010, 09:13:16 AM
My parents and I were visiting Provo while we were on a road trip, I convinced them to take me into the BYU Book Store, and went straight to the Fantasy/Sci-Fi section, the huge stack of numbered and signed Warbreaker books sitting in a pile caught my attention, it looked quite interesting and I needed more books to read so I tried to convince my parents to get it for me. Sadly they said no, but they said they would get me three other books if they were cheap paperbacks, I saw the Mistborn series and decided to grab those. I haven't regretted it yet, and I doubt I will.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: LoneStar on September 23, 2010, 10:15:26 PM
I loved the energy and cadence he brought into the WOT series, he has certainly refreshed my interest in the universe even prompting me to re-read the first three books that i originally read over 10 years ago.

After that i went looking for other books and since the first 2 volumes of Mistborn were sold out i went with Warbreaker, Absolutely loved this book and the preview of tWOK at the back had me desperately awaiting it arrival, i was at Chapters first thing on its release date and have been taking slightly long lunch breaks ever since....

Just finished Way of Kings today and man oh man this is going to be an awesome ride!  anyone know when the next book is planned?  I'm already impatient. 
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: rjl on September 24, 2010, 12:59:51 AM
Unfortuanately we're unlikely to see the sequel to the way of kings untill 2012, because Brandon has pledged to write A memory of Light first...
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: yakumo fujii on September 24, 2010, 06:33:56 AM
I heard he was going to finish the Wheel of Time, so I started reading his books and liked them.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Stormblessed on September 24, 2010, 09:31:35 AM
I heard he was going to finish the Wheel of Time, so I started reading his books and liked them.

Same here. Though to be honest, if I had seen his books earlier, I would have read them years ago. Unfortunately Brandon's books weren't available in Australia at the time (in fact the Mistborn Trilogy was only released about 3 months ago). So even when I had heard about Brandon through WoT, it took me some time to get the books shipped from the US.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Kykeon on September 24, 2010, 11:09:54 AM
Yea, I'm a WoT-fan (there never was a good name for us, meh  :-\) and when I saw Warbreaker on manybooks.net, I downloaded it.
I'm not sure when I started reading Mistborn, before, during or after Warbreaker (maybe I was abour an alien ship during that time).
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: guy on September 24, 2010, 09:03:20 PM
I was looking through my highschool library and I pulled out the book next to Elantris, which promptly fell to the floor, and since it looked interesting I decided to read it
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Winterdawn Lor'ee on September 24, 2010, 11:39:41 PM
My best friend was reading Elantris and she loaned it to me after she finished.  I read it, got my husband to read it, and we loved it and eventually read Warbreaker and Mistborn, and now The Way of Kings.  I've started reading The Wheel of Time because Mr. Sanderson is finishing it.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: BlueRuin on September 25, 2010, 01:32:19 AM
I found a Mistborn paperback at the bookstore. I read the first paragraph in chapter one and was hooked.

The ash fall description was such a great evocative image I just had to know more.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: bookWorm on September 25, 2010, 08:34:28 PM
I only came across him after Robert Jordon died, but since then I have been doing my duty and spreading Sandersonism. My brothers, (who haven't read Wheel of Time yet) all love him, and my younger sisters have loved the Alcatraz books. I have yet to feel anything even close to regret for buying the first Mistborn book and then every other book of his that I could get my hands on.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Stormblessed on September 26, 2010, 01:49:00 AM
Its amazing how many people I have recommend Brandon's books to have been reluctant at first to do so. But I push and I push and I push, so they relent a little, read the first chapter, but by then they are 100% hooked, and then spend the next days just reading his books and doing nothing else.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Raketen on September 26, 2010, 02:00:04 AM
I found out about Brandon Sanderson after the announsment that he would finish The Wheel of Times series (Like alot of others I guess). Both a very sad and joyous time all together. RIP James :(

Its amazing how many people I have recommend Brandon's books to have been reluctant at first to do so. But I push and I push and I push, so they relent a little, read the first chapter, but by then they are 100% hooked, and then spend the next days just reading his books and doing nothing else.

I know what you mean. I bugged my brother for 2 weaks before I got him to read it and now he wont stop! He keeps asking me from time too time to lend him books from my Brandon Sanderson collection. Very satisfactory  :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Celegus on October 13, 2010, 07:43:04 PM
Its amazing how many people I have recommend Brandon's books to have been reluctant at first to do so. But I push and I push and I push, so they relent a little, read the first chapter, but by then they are 100% hooked, and then spend the next days just reading his books and doing nothing else.
I've been pestering my wife for a while now to read something of his to see if she likes it, and promised she'll read Mistborn soon. If she doesn't like them, that's grounds for divorce right? ;D

My first Brandon book was Mistborn after I started getting back into reading a couple years ago with A Song of Ice and Fire, and then it kept showing up in the "similar products" on Amazon on other books I liked. I blasted through them and all of his other books faster than I've ever read before, and then the annotations on the website really solidified him as my favorite author ever.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: EvilNuff on October 14, 2010, 02:17:21 AM
Warbreaker...a free book how can I pass that up?  Oh wait this is actually pretty good...hmm this is quite good...hmm he has other books?  Well this way of kings thing sounds pretty interesting...what the heck I liked warbreaker I should donate or something...might as well just buy one of his books this time.  Oh...way of kings is pretty fantastic...  Hmm what else has he written?  <present day> :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: jkincaid on October 14, 2010, 03:08:05 AM
Elantris was suggested to me on Amazon after it had received some award, I forget what it was.  The book had rave reviews, and it was a standalone fantasy book, which was all but unheard of for me in all the years I'd been reading fantasy.  I waited a bit until it was out in paperback, just cause I've become cautious buying hardcovers for authors new to me.  Anyway I read Elantris back in 2006, and I've been a huge Sanderson fan ever since. 

Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: junestormcrow on December 17, 2010, 11:19:41 PM
The first year I did NaNo he was on the fantasy forum taking about how he managed to get published. He seemed nice and so when I saw Elantris on the shelf when I went to buy my prize for winning I picked it up. His take over of WoT was just a bonus for me, I was already hooked on Mistborn and ecstatic I could stick my tongue out at my brother because I knew the WoT would finally be finished and he made fun of me for years for following a series that would never be complete. 
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: andygal on December 18, 2010, 12:29:26 AM
I found out about Brandon after he was picked to finish WoT, read Elantris to find out if this random author I'd never heard of was any good,  got sucked in, and the rest is history.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Zombric on December 19, 2010, 10:45:31 PM
I saw his work on TV Tropes  (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BrandonSanderson) and got interested, so I got some of his books from my library. My first thought were , HOLY CRAP THESE ARE HUGE, so I started with the one easeist to digest, Mistborn. I'm almost done, and I am loving it.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: randomaximus on December 21, 2010, 12:30:07 PM
Wheel of Time --> Mistborn --> Elantris --> Warbreaker --> Another Wheel of Time --> The Way of Kings --> Met him 3 days ago at the B & N booksigning in Bountiful, UT.  Thank goodness I live in Salt Lake.  He is awesome.  Great guy, respectful, gracious, and patient with the fans, and great author. 

Have influenced 7 people so far to be huge fans.  (e.g. "Do you want your life to be better?  Then you need to know about this guy.")
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: me2wired on December 28, 2010, 10:58:11 PM
My brother-in-law gave me the Mistborn series. I was hooked. I literally recommend and force it on everyone I meet now. I'm an avid reader and I've never been so enthralled with an author's work.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: michaelramm on December 29, 2010, 03:15:12 PM
I was looking through a GoodReads  (http://www.goodreads.com)group discussion that was reading Mistborn: The Final Empire. I was reading how innovative the magic system was, so I decided to grab it and read it.

I absolutely LOVED it. I have yet to read the other two (or any other Sanderson) for trying to weed down my TBR pile. But in 2011, I will re-read Mistborn as well as Well and Hero and Way of the Kings. So I am super psyched to start this project. I think that I will treat Mistborn Trilogy as I do Lord of the Rings and re-read it every year.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Dragon Shard on March 07, 2011, 02:41:07 PM
Pretty much came across his wiki page while reading about WOT. Bought The Final Empire from my local bookstore and I've been hooked ever since. :)
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Duke on March 08, 2011, 11:46:36 PM
This is easy.

He was announced as the RJ replacement for WoT.  Then I e-mailed him, and he actually replied. I started listening to his podcast. He seemed like a bright guy who was friendly, so I bought all of his books. I went to my first book signing ever when he was in Vegas a couple years ago for TGS and he signed a couple. I went completely against his online request to have in mind what I wanted him to write, since I would rather have him come up with crappy lines than just regurgitate whatever it was that I thought was clever.

I like how he tells stories. If I were to hire someone to sit around and tell stories, It'd be Brandon. That is, of course, if I couldn't get all 3 from their podcast in one place at the same time.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: sandersonfan987 on March 14, 2011, 10:56:49 PM
My cousins recommended this book for my family and bought us a copy. I didn't think much of it, and quickly forgot about it. My mom asked me and my brother if we needed something to read. My brother said something along the lines of "I'm almost done with my book, so I'll take it." I didn't have anything at the time so I told my mom that I would take it with a displeasing look from my brother. I soon started it and could not put it down. I'm still reading Sanderson books and am dying of anticipation waiting for his new books.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: the Monik Ieron on March 14, 2011, 11:59:16 PM
well, me and my dad found Elantris in the library, i read it, and the rest is history
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Dark_Prophecy on March 18, 2011, 12:03:47 PM
My local Waldenbooks guy recommended Elantris to me just shortly after it came out. I read it, loved it, and just a couple of weeks later Brandon did a signing at that same Waldenbooks. Sadly, I lent my hardback first edition Elantris, signed, to a friend of mine and it never returned. :(
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: ork on March 22, 2011, 03:36:01 PM
while searching about R.J i found out brandon was finishing WOT, that made me want to find out more about him. thats when i stumbled upon mistborn. but i couldn't get my any copies on it. so i had to download any available book that when i got a taste of his writing with WARBREAKER. i looked for his books in bookshops all in vain. i mean the capital city of my country still couldn't find. but eventually i got it online.
since then i have been hooked, recommended it to  some of my workmates they too loved it. that was just last year. 
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Juan Dolor on March 22, 2011, 08:06:11 PM
I was talking to a friend of mine about fantasy books.  I said that I hadn't really branched out and tried a new author in a while, and asked if he had any good recommendations.  He said that there was this guy named Brandon Sanderson who had written two really good books, called Mistborn and Elantris.  So I bought a copy of each, although I ended up giving them to my brothers for Christmas before I had a chance to read either one. 

That December it was announced that he would finish the Wheel of Time.  And I thought, gee, maybe I should have actually read those books.  But I decided instead to just borrow them from my brothers when they were finished.

And then in the first week of January another friend told me that Brandon Sanderson was teaching a class on writing at the university  where I was working (BYU) .  So I went to see if I could audit the class, and even though there were 40 people there for a class that was capped at 10, he added us all.  What a guy!  After a couple of weeks in the class, I decided I couldn't wait for my brothers, so I bought my own copies and was instantly hooked. 

Now I consider myself a Brandon Sanderson evangelist. 
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Areus on March 23, 2011, 07:25:39 AM
In 2008 I was waiting for a bus on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. It was raining and generally miserable so I decided to wander across the street to a Borders just to look around. I saw The Hero of Ages positioned prominently atop their "New Fiction" table and took a look. I have to admit I was drawn by the cover art mostly, and so noticed the quote from Orson Scott Card about Brandon being very wise, and that made my decision very easy. Never one to read a series out of order I put HoA back on the table and went searching for Mistborn 1. They had one copy of the paperback version (The one I'm sorry to say looks like a trashy-romance novel), purple and girlie as it was. With chagrin I paid for it and threw it in my bag for when I could get settled on the bus.

As the journey proceeded the bus began to have engine trouble, losing all power and coasting along the road intermittently which, when combined with heavy Thanksgiving traffic, turned a 3 hour ride into a 10 hour ordeal. My fellow passengers were outraged, but I was completely oblivious to our communal suffering. Kelsier and Vin had me enthralled. That horrible bus ride was perhaps the best thing to happen to me that year; it introduced me to Brandon Sanderson. I've since read all his works more than once. I even bought the entire Wheel of Time series so that I could read TGS and TOM and I eagerly anticipate the next Stormlight archive installment (The Way of Kings was the best book I've read in this decade).

Keep them coming Mr. Sanderson, and take care of yourself. I want to be looking forward to your next book for years and years to come.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: chandran on March 26, 2011, 05:09:05 PM
I found out he was finishing WoT... Then went to his site, saw he had a book up to read for free (Warbreaker), read it, then bought/read everything else he's published. Except Alcatraz. Going to get around to those at some point.
Oh, and Areus... I agree, The Way of Kings was an amazing read.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: tilionvevfet on March 31, 2011, 08:04:49 PM
I was browsing the local library and saw Mistborn and Elantris, liked how they looked and thought they sounded interesting. Been a fan ever since.  :D
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Peppermint on April 29, 2011, 07:18:36 AM
I first heard of Brandon Sanderson through "Beyond Reality", a reading circle on goodreads.com. Someone posted there was a free book available on his website there and I checked it out ... and now I read most of the titles I could get my hands on. :) Dunno, there may be people saying "you put up a book online for free noone will buy it", but in my case it worked, anyway. Right now I'm listening to Way of Kings, and it brightens up my day.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: brendon2424 on May 05, 2011, 05:18:16 AM
My sister had recommended the Mistborn trilogy ,which I don't believe were finished at that time, but I was in the middle of too many books at that time. Then, I found out he was going to finish the WoT series, my favorite series of all time, and I went and read every book Brandon had ever written, and I've kept up with him ever since. I even love his podcast which honestly surprised me, but its interesting seeing things from a writers perspective.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: Braden Michaels on May 11, 2011, 02:26:54 AM
My story is a few years behind the times I've discovered.

I'm a casual reader who read through the WOT series as I attended college, full time work on top of internships and all while taking care of my new family.  It was a very busy time in my life but I became a fan of Robert Jordan from the start. His ability to paint his world in such detail allowed me to leave the stress behind and escape to another world where it seemed so much was possible.  Mr. Jordan's ability to transition between characters and portray them all so differently was incredible and I enjoyed his work.

When I first learned  Mr. Jordan had passed away I was deeply saddened. I was also worried that his epic series would never have the ending it truly deserved. After all, who could match such an impressive and detailed writer? Amusingly, at the time my brother-in-law (Who happens to attend BYU) told me that Robert Jordan's son had taken up the series and would be finishing it.  ;D At the time, I knew no different and did not bother to do the research myself. Needless to say, I've learned my lesson: Don't trust a brother-in-law.  ;)

However,  the (false) news gave me enough hope that once I finished college and had some time to read again, I turned back to the WOT series and read it again, beginning with the 'Eye of the World' this last summer. Once again I enjoyed the richness of the Wheel of Time and the ability of Mr. Jordan to paint his story on a grand scale. I was again amazed by his ability to portray his characters so differently. As I read I could imagine the same chapter being re-written from another character's perspective and knew it would be just as riveting. Even characters who only had their perspective shown once had distinctive personalities that left an impression.(Semiherge anyone?)

As I finished the last pages of "The Knife of Dreams" I set the book down with a heavy heart knowing that from here on it just might not be the same.

I was right, it certainly was not the same.  It was better.

I picked up "The Gathering Storm" and read the opening letter from Brandon Sanderson explaining  how he had been offered the opportunity to finish the series at the request of Mr. Jordan's wife. This wasn't a family member, or even a close friend, but a dedicated author and a fellow fan. I then proceeded to devour the entire novel in less than a week.

All that Mr. Jordan captured with this series, Mr. Sanderson kept alive.  I was amazed to find each character I had grown to love over the years carefully preserved, each maintaining their unique personalities and attributes. The world Mr. Jordan had allowed us to visit had continued to thrive, thanks to a brilliantly talented author.

To Brandon Sanderson, I say thank you.

Thank you, from your new fan,  for preserving and saving such a work from a potentially disappointing end. Such a work deserves an author as talented as you to continue it and see it completed at it was meant to be. Also, it seems from reading reviews about your other books here that I need to head to the bookstore soon.

I'll be reading "The Towers of Midnight" soon and have no doubt that I will hardly be able to put it down.
Title: Re: How did you find out about Brandon Sanderson?
Post by: gancho on May 15, 2011, 05:30:59 PM
I first heard about Brandon Sanderson, when he was announced as the person who would finish Wheel of Time. When I wiki'd him, I was also pleasantly surprised to find that he was a fellow member of my church. I must admit that I was not expecting the series to be anywhere near as good as Mr. Jordan's work, but they were. I went out and bought Elantris and the rest is history.