Brent Weeks's Blog, page 20
August 17, 2018
Contest: NIGHT ANGEL #BattleWornBooks
To celebrate the launch of the NIGHT ANGEL 10TH Anniversary Omnibus, we’re giving fans a chance to win some pretty awesome Night Angel swag. The contest is open to fans in the U.S. and abroad. One grand prize winner will receive a stellar collection of NIGHT ANGEL books, and five others will receive an EXCLUSIVE Night Angel t-shirt!
Via Twitter or Facebook, post a photo of your favorite, most-loved, battle-worn Night Angel book (or set of books) using the hashtag #BattleWornBooks and a line or two about how the book got that way. We’d love to see some creative scenery or settings (though no digital enhancement, please).
By the way, if you’re that one person who brought in that super bloody book that I signed? You should totally submit that. Also, I’m never signing an actually bloody book again. I was young and foolish then.
Oh, and don’t beat up your book just to win this contest…. I mean, unless you’re going to go out and buy new copies afterward. Then you should DEFINITELY beat up your book just to win this contest.
More details below.
Loot:
ONE (1) Person will receive: a NIGHT ANGEL 10TH Anniversary Omnibus, a copy of THE WAY OF SHADOWS graphic novel, and a foreign-language edition of your choice (we’ll have a list of editions for you to choose from).
FIVE (5) People will win a copy of the NIGHT ANGEL Omnibus an exclusive, black-on-black Night Angel t-shirt.
Rules:
1. Entries may be submitted starting TODAY (Friday, August 17) until Wednesday, September 12 at 9am Pacific Daylight Time.
2. Entry must include:
a) a picture of your favorite NIGHT ANGEL book
b) a one or two sentence description, telling everyone how your poor book got to this state
c) #BattleWornBooks
3. International entries are allowed and encouraged!
4. Some photo editing is fine: think enhancement, not special effects.
5. You can only win once–but three books, so it’s like winning three times. Three times is enough.
6. If you email rather than post to Twitter or Facebook, the subject line of the email should read: #battlewornbooks. If you choose to use email, address the email to admin@brentweeks.com. (as in previous years, I will be selecting the winners).
7. Other: I will judge the photos and will select the six winners. You must be 18 or older to win (younger participants are welcome, but by law we can’t give you a prize). No purchase is necessary. Odds of winning are based on the number of entries, but definitely higher if you submit. We will notify winners via Twitter, Facebook, or email, depending on how you submitted the photo. You must respond within 7 days, or another winner will be chosen. That would be sad for you. They’d be happy. So maybe the net happiness would be neither increased nor decreased. We could try it out if you win.
8. Winners will be announced on Monday, September 17, 2018.
The post Contest: NIGHT ANGEL #BattleWornBooks appeared first on Brent Weeks.
August 16, 2018
Throwback Thursday: An Agent Finds Brent
It’s likely true that Brent Weeks was presented to the world on one balmy summer night in New York in 2006. Legend has it his agent was enjoying a nightcap on a sidewalk patio in Brooklyn that fateful evening and—according to an anonymous friend sitting next to him—wondered aloud when the Next Great Novelist would emerge from the dark recesses of unpublished obscurity. By some accounts, a choir of angelic voices could be heard singing a wistful “Ahhhhh” in C minor when the sky opened up, and Weeks fell from the heavens directly into his agent’s lap.
But we’re not here to discuss legends, per se. We’re here to present a more believable story of writing, revision, research, rewriting, blood, sweat, tears, aphorisms, more revising and rewriting, and landing your dream agent.
First, Brent wrote a novel in college, a sprawling manuscript full of… words. Then he revised it. Then he revised it again. Then he abandoned the book entirely. But one particular character stuck with him, and he decided to take that character and…. Write a screenplay.
Which he then abandoned.
Then he wrote another novel, focusing entirely on this one kid. He called it Reaper of Shadows Mortal. He went through every word to the point where he was changing things back to the way they were before his last editing pass. The manuscript sparkled. The climax shattered expectations, broke hearts, moved mountains.
Brent, being an industrious and intelligent fantasy reader, found some 40-odd authors whose books were similar to his and looked in the acknowledgements. The result of this research was a list of 33 agents who he thought he would be happy to have represent him. Some were longshots that he knew were too big for him. He tried anyway.
Fifteen never wrote back. Fifteen rejected him. Three were interested enough to ask to see more. Two dropped out after seeing the whole MS.
While waiting to hear the wet squish of rejection from those agents, he looked into writing conferences. As luck would have it, two agents from his list were going to the Willamette Writers’ Conference–and they both were accepting pitches! He almost didn’t go. The cost was a huge stretch for him and his wife. He went anyway.
He walked into that conference with a checklist of weapons:
great novel (or so he thought).
extrovert mask–Check.
logline– wait, huh?
one paragraph pitch–what?
two minute pitch–ummmmm…
anti-perspirant. Check.
At this conference, one of the agents was… well, a little too strange for Brent. But the other one gave a talk that blew Brent’s mind. Donald Maass asked, “What is the one thing your main character would never do?” Brent imagined his response, and the agent followed with, “Now what happens to your novel if your main character does that?”
It was at that moment a small, hard shell in Brent’s brain cracked open with a faint “Ahhh, shit.” Because inside that shell lay the key to making Mortal Then Dies A Hero twice as good. (What would Kylar never do? What would Durzo never do?)
He’d come to the conference thinking his novel was ready to sell. Now, knowing he needed to do a major re-write, he had to pitch it anyway.
Ouch.
The first pitch to Don Maass went something like this: “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon meets Pulp Fiction meets Batman.” Don gave Brent a very puzzled look, like he was really trying to follow and just had no idea where he was going. Weeks had blown it.
But the inimitable Maass knew that the people with whom he met at writing conferences were serious about treating writing as a profession. (Unlike many of the other 300 pitches that cross his desk every week.) So he told Brent to remind him that they had met at the Willamette Writers’ Conference in his next query letter. (Brent didn’t mention Don had already rejected this book.)
Nine months later, Brent was ready. He sent a second query. The blacker-than-black sky parted, and Don heard what may have been bells ringing—the sweet, tinny chime of a cash register. A mere two years later, Don sold the book to Orbit. It became a New York Times bestseller, and continues to sell well to this day. Oh, did you want to see some of this legendary correspondence? Well, I happen to know where you can get an exclusive look.
We’re celebrating Night Angel’s 10th birthday with a special edition Hardcover Omnibus, to be released in the US on September 18, and in the UK on September 20, 2018. (Because 10/10 would read it again.) If you haven’t already, pre-order a copy today!
The post Throwback Thursday: An Agent Finds Brent appeared first on Brent Weeks.
Night Angel TBT: An Agent Finds Brent
It’s likely true that Brent Weeks was presented to the world on one balmy summer night in New York in 2006. Legend has it his agent was enjoying a nightcap on a sidewalk patio in Brooklyn that fateful evening and—according to an anonymous friend sitting next to him—wondered aloud when the Next Great Novelist would emerge from the dark recesses of unpublished obscurity. By some accounts, a choir of angelic voices could be heard singing a wistful “Ahhhhh” in C minor when the sky opened up, and Weeks fell from the heavens directly into his agent’s lap.
But we’re not here to discuss legends, per se. We’re here to present a more believable story of writing, revision, research, rewriting, blood, sweat, tears, aphorisms, more revising and rewriting, and landing your dream agent.
First, Brent wrote a novel in college, a sprawling manuscript full of… words. Then he revised it. Then he revised it again. Then he abandoned the book entirely. But one particular character stuck with him, and he decided to take that character and…. Write a screenplay.
Which he then abandoned.
Then he wrote another novel, focusing entirely on this one kid. He called it Reaper of Shadows Mortal. He went through every word to the point where he was changing things back to the way they were before his last editing pass. The manuscript sparkled. The climax shattered expectations, broke hearts, moved mountains.
Brent, being an industrious and intelligent fantasy reader, found some 40-odd authors whose books were similar to his and looked in the acknowledgements. The result of this research was a list of 33 agents who he thought he would be happy to have represent him. Some were longshots that he knew were too big for him. He tried anyway.
Fifteen never wrote back. Fifteen rejected him. Three were interested enough to ask to see more. Two dropped out after seeing the whole MS.
While waiting to hear the wet squish of rejection from those agents, he looked into writing conferences. As luck would have it, two agents from his list were going to the Willamette Writers’ Conference–and they both were accepting pitches! He almost didn’t go. The cost was a huge stretch for him and his wife. He went anyway.
He walked into that conference with a checklist of weapons:
great novel (or so he thought).
extrovert mask–Check.
logline– wait, huh?
one paragraph pitch–what?
two minute pitch–ummmmm…
anti-perspirant. Check.
At this conference, one of the agents was… well, a little too strange for Brent. But the other one gave a talk that blew Brent’s mind. Donald Maass asked, “What is the one thing your main character would never do?” Brent imagined his response, and the agent followed with, “Now what happens to your novel if your main character does that?”
It was at that moment a small, hard shell in Brent’s brain cracked open with a faint “Ahhh, shit.” Because inside that shell lay the key to making Mortal Then Dies A Hero twice as good. (What would Kylar never do? What would Durzo never do?)
He’d come to the conference thinking his novel was ready to sell. Now, knowing he needed to do a major re-write, he had to pitch it anyway.
Ouch.
The first pitch to Don Maass went something like this: “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon meets Pulp Fiction meets Batman.” Don gave Brent a very puzzled look, like he was really trying to follow and just had no idea where he was going. Weeks had blown it.
But the inimitable Maass knew that the people with whom he met at writing conferences were serious about treating writing as a profession. (Unlike many of the other 300 pitches that cross his desk every week.) So he told Brent to remind him that they had met at the Willamette Writers’ Conference in his next query letter. (Brent didn’t mention Don had already rejected this book.)
Nine months later, Brent was ready. He sent a second query. The blacker-than-black sky parted, and Don heard what may have been bells ringing—the sweet, tinny chime of a cash register. A mere two years later, Don sold the book to Orbit. It became a New York Times bestseller, and continues to sell well to this day. Oh, did you want to see some of this legendary correspondence? Well, I happen to know where you can get an exclusive look.
We’re celebrating Night Angel’s 10th birthday with a special edition Hardcover Omnibus, to be released in the US on September 18, and in the UK on September 20, 2018. (Because 10/10 would read it again.) If you haven’t already, pre-order a copy today!
The post Night Angel TBT: An Agent Finds Brent appeared first on Brent Weeks.
August 7, 2018
Fan Art Tuesday: @dllecky
Check out this illustration of Logan at Pavvil’s Grove, from Instagram user @dllecky . We’ve featured his work before, and we liked it so much we’re sharing another!
The post Fan Art Tuesday: @dllecky appeared first on Brent Weeks.
August 2, 2018
THE BURNING WHITE cover reveal
Here it is–the stunning cover image for Lightbringer 5: The Burning White.
How’s this for gutsy? I love it! With an appearance by our good friend The Hooded Man! (Hey, buddy, fancy seeing you here!)
An enormous thank you to Lauren Panepinto (design) and Gene Mollica (illustration)–Lauren has worked to create beautiful covers for all five Lightbringer novels. The Burning White will be released in late summer/early fall 2019. (Yes, that’s next year. Patience, grasshopper.) If you’d like to leave your fulsome praise for their work, please do comment below.
This is the first I’ve let CAPSLOCK see it. (It’s fun to keep her out of the loop sometimes.) I think her head just exploded. Oh, MAN! Who’s gonna clean that up. CAPSLOCK 2, where are you?!
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July 26, 2018
July Facebook Q&A video is live!
Brent went with a longer Q&A this month, focusing on a couple of writing advice questions. You can watch the video below.
Show Notes:
“How many characters are modeled after real people? What are your favorite hunting spots for random characters?” .34
“How do you keep track of all the clues and foreshadowing from your previous books and tie any new ideas into what you’ve already published?” 3.26
Got any other questions? Ask them in the comments, and he’ll answer a few more next month.
The post July Facebook Q&A video is live! appeared first on Brent Weeks.
July 25, 2018
Good News: The Signed Page has copies of the NAT Hardcover Omnibus
Why the long face, friend?
Is it because Barnes and Noble sold out of their signed copies of the Night Angel 10th Anniversary Omnibus MINUTES before you were going to buy one?
Aww, buddy, don’t fret. We have good news…
After a bit of juggling, we’ve been able to arrange to have THE SIGNED PAGE sell signed copies now! They’ll even ship internationally! (See, we didn’t forget you.)
Also, for a very limited time, you can get your copy personalized! (Please note, Brent isn’t able to write extra lines this time–just a name or two.) A link directly to the NAT pre-order page is HERE… But The Signed Page has an impressive collection of other signed titles, so spend a few minutes, and browse a little.
It’s worth noting that the Signed Page does everything possible to get these books to you in pristine condition. As they state:
“[W]e package our books better than anyone with bubblewrap tucked snugly within strong boxes. Damaged books rarely happen with us. We will also work on getting some goodies to include in the packages too. [Also] as a reminder, The Signed Page does not charge extra for shipping. We charge exactly what USPS charges us to ship.”
Happy reading!
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July 18, 2018
Signed Copies of the Night Angel Omnibus Are Nearly SOLD OUT!
In case you were so excited you skipped reading the title of this post: signed copies of the 10th Anniversary Night Angel Hardcover Omnibus are about 75% sold out! You only have a few more days (if that long) to grab yours while they’re still available. So if you’re holding out, start digging between your couch cushions and under your car seats. Check all of your pockets and handbags. Find that $30 and order your copy from Barnes and Noble!
Yesterday’s B&N Top 100 list. *chant with me!* Who’s #1? Brent’s #1!
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July 16, 2018
Night Angel Omnibus: 10th Anniversary Cover
We are all excited to reveal the cover for the 10th Anniversary Hardcover edition of The Night Angel Trilogy! Without further ado:
The cover, designed by Lauren Panepinto, is blacker-than-black, as it were: the page edges are dyed black, and there’s a great visual effect when you view the cover from different angles.
I’m so happy that Orbit didn’t simply repackage the old Night Angel art, great as it was. When it hit, those covers were a big gamble, as they were so different from the narrative covers that dominated the shelves. I truly believe that the stark central figure against the simple white background had no small part in getting a lot of people (maybe even you!) to pick up my work for the first time. Thus, Orbit’s art was integral to me getting to do the work I love even to this day, and for that reason, it will always be very, very close to my heart.
But now, ten years on, so many people have loved that art style that it’s been imitated many times, so a re-issue with the original art would fit in, rather than stand out. And let’s be honest, Durzo Blint only fits in when he wants to fit in. So I’m gratified that Orbit wasn’t contented to do the same old thing, and are instead innovating as they so often do, while still staying true to the spirit of the work.
Oh, you want one? I have good news! BARNES & NOBLE has again partnered with Orbit (and my now-cramped hand, ouch) to offer a limited run of these omnibuses SIGNED, for no extra cost. The pre-order page is live now HERE (U.S. only, sorry.) As I’m currently using every day to sprint toward the earth-shattering finish of THE BURNING WHITE, I won’t be touring for this release. So, if you’re in the US and you want your Night Angel hardcover omnibus signed, this is your best chance. Stock is limited, and B&N does usually sell out, so if you’re on the fence, go ahead and borrow the money from that friendly loanshark. I’m sure it’ll all work out fine!
If you want to pre-order a copy but aren’t in the US, you can grab one from any of these fine retailers:
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July 12, 2018
The Blinding Knife – International Edition
My publisher sent a preview of the beautiful cover for the soon-to-be-released Taiwan issue of The Blinding Knife! Fans can pre-order it now for release in August.
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