Brandon Sanderson's Blog, page 63

Tweets February 2014

BrandSanderson Mon Feb 03
With Firefight first draft done, Peter is doing a quick pass edit for me. That gives me a few days free time. Time for the Legion sequel.

BrandSanderson Tue Feb 04
Tor will email you new daily snippets from WORDS OF RADIANCE starting Feb. 11th. Sign up here: link

BrandSanderson Tue Feb 04
Here’s an interview I did during the STEELHEART tour. link

BrandSanderson Wed Feb 05
The first copy of WORDS OF RADIANCE arrived at the house. I put some photos here: pics Comes out March 4th/6th.

BrandSanderson Wed Feb 05
Part 3 of the GraphicAudio full-cast version of Mistborn 1 features a new Kelsier cover illustration by Ben McSweeney link

BrandSanderson Thu Feb 06
This week’s Tor.com reread post for THE WAY OF KINGS hits chapter 56, when Dalinar saves someone’s life. link

BrandSanderson Fri Feb 07
Full details on how to get a signed copy of WORDS OF RADIANCE are here! link The tour, the midnight release, Weller, etc.

mamontazeri Fri Feb 07
@BrandSanderson Wait. No New York? heartbroken

JennySlife87 Fri Feb 07
@mamontazeri @BrandSanderson Yeah I was sad when I saw there was no New York signing too.

BrandSanderson Fri Feb 07
@JennySlife87 @mamontazeri I am in NYC so often that we alternate it with other cities for tour.

BrandSanderson Fri Feb 07
Denver airport Hudson Books by the C gates has two signed Steelheart and two Mistborn books, all with goodies inside.

BrandSanderson Mon Feb 10
Con or Bust is auctioning a bunch of autographed books including a hardcover of the Hugo-winning The Emperor’s Soul. link

BrandSanderson Mon Feb 10
Update on WORDS OF RADIANCE copies through Weller: They’re now sold out. But don’t worry if you’ve not been invoiced. link

BrandSanderson Tue Feb 11
If you signed up for the Glimpses of Radiance: link the first one has been sent out. Discuss here: link

BrandSanderson Tue Feb 11
The 2014 charity calendar that I and many other fantasy authors appear in is now half off. link

BrandSanderson Tue Feb 11
Still working my way through reading Jonathan Strange & Mister Norrell. I’m liking the second part a great deal more than the first.

s80t699 Tue Feb 11
@BrandSanderson I know what you mean re: Strange & Norrell, 7 hrs into 28 total audiobook and hoping for a pickup in pace

BrandSanderson Tue Feb 11
@s80t699 You’ve got a little while left to go before it picks up—started doing so for me at about 10–12hrs or so.

kharrisbob Tue Feb 11
@BrandSanderson are you reading the footnotes?

BrandSanderson Tue Feb 11
@kharrisbob Audiobook, so yes.

kharrisbob Tue Feb 11
@BrandSanderson @kharrisbob I can’t imagine trying to follow that. Are the footnotes read inline?

BrandSanderson Tue Feb 11
@kharrisbob Yes, but it’s not as hard to follow as it might sound. The narrator keeps them pretty distinct.

BrandSanderson Tue Feb 11
Working on Legion 2 while doing Firefight revisions is making it hard to keep David’s bad metaphors from bleeding into other books.

theuntergeek Tue Feb 11
@BrandSanderson Do we get steelcodes if we find one in the finished product?

BrandSanderson Tue Feb 11
@theuntergeek Lol.

BrandSanderson Wed Feb 12
I added a video to a @YouTube playlist link Lecture #1

BrandSanderson Wed Feb 12
I’m not looking for beta readers currently, but here’s what it was like to beta read WORDS OF RADIANCE. link

BrandSanderson Wed Feb 12
I added a video to a @YouTube playlist link Lecture #2

BrandSanderson Wed Feb 12
I added a video to a @YouTube playlist link Lecture #3

BrandSanderson Wed Feb 12
Tomorrow I’ll be at LTUE in Provo. I’m doing the toastmaster speech Saturday night, my response to an NYT article. link

BrandSanderson Thu Feb 13
LTUE starts today in Provo! I’m doing the toastmaster speech Saturday night, my response to a certain NYT article. link

BrandSanderson Thu Feb 13
Tor.com’s reread of THE WAY OF KINGS hits Wandersail. link And the Glimpses of Radiance reach day 3. link

BrandSanderson Fri Feb 14
WORDS OF RADIANCE has broken the top 100 on Amazon. It comes out March 4th. Worldwide store links are here: link

BrandSanderson Fri Feb 14
Look at this awesome Mistborn Valentine’s day card. pic

BrandSanderson Fri Feb 14
Here are some more Mistborn Valentine’s day cards: pics Printable versions: link

BrandSanderson Fri Feb 14
Here are some more Mistborn and Stormlight Valentine’s day cards from last year. pics pics

BrandSanderson Fri Feb 14
New signed books and merchandise are now in the store! AMoL, Bridge 4 patches & shirts, etc. link

I’m the toastmaster at LTUE this weekend

LTUE starts tomorrow (Thursday) in Provo, with guest of honor Orson Scott Card, and I’ll be playing in the Magic tournament on Thursday night. I’ll also be on a couple of panels on Friday and Saturday, and I’ll do a reading and signing Saturday afternoon.

Saturday evening I’ll be the toastmaster at the yearly banquet, and my toastmaster speech will be a rousing response to a certain recent New York Times article. Registration for the banquet is separate from the rest of the symposium, as it involves dinner.

Here are some more details about the symposium, followed by my personal schedule for the weekend.

Life, the Universe, & Everything symposium, commonly referred to as LTUE, is a three-day academic symposium on all aspects of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

LTUE is comprised of panels, workshops, presentations and papers on writing, art, literature, media, science and other aspects of speculative fiction. It is the longest, student run symposium of its nature in the nation (or so we have been told).

At-the-door registration: $45

Student registration: Free with valid current student ID

2014 Guest of Honor: Orson Scott Card

Special Guests: Blake Casselman, Michael Collings, Michaelbrent Collings, David Farland, Brian Hailes, L.E. Modesitt Jr., Brandon Sanderson, Anne Sowards

Banquet toastmaster: Brandon Sanderson

Thursday, February 13, 2014

8:00 p.m., Canyon Room

Magic the Gathering Celebrity Tournament (4–6 hours)

LTUE is proud to announce its first ever celebrity Magic the Gathering tournament for its 2014 Symposium. The event will be an official tournament sponsored by Dragon’s Keep, so if you have a Wizards Playing Network (WPN) number, remember to bring it when you sign in. You don’t need to bring anything to participate—your WPN is only required if you wish to receive tournament points, and Dragon’s Keep will also be our sponsor for the draft.

This tournament is not only a celebrity event where you will be given the chance to interact with some of our celebrity guests, but also a charity event to raise money for Ben Wolverton. As such, all of our prizes have been donated by our celebrity participants, such as signed copies of Kevin J Anderson and Brian Herbert’s The Winds of Dune and The Sisterhood of Dune. There will be multiple opportunities to win prizes.

The fee for tournament participation is $15. At-the-door registrations will be accepted begining February 13, 2014 at 7:00 a.m. Check in will start at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 13 so we can start the tournament at 8:15 p.m.

Here’s a list of our celebrity players:

Brandon Sanderson, Scott William Taylor, Tom Carr, Isaac Stewart, Adam Meyers, Peter Orullian, Shirley Bahlmann, Bryan Beus, Johnny Worthen, Bryce Cundick, Stacy Whitman, Stan Johnson, Brett T M Peterson, Travis Walton, Karen Anne Webb

Friday, February 14, 2014

12:00 p.m., Canyon Room

Prologues and Epilogues (1 hour)

Find out what sets prologues and epilogues apart from ordinary chapters, and learn how to use them to enhance your story.

Brandon Sanderson, David Powers King, Anne Sowards, Marinne Carter, Michael Young, Paul Genesse

5:00 p.m., Zion Room

Rules for Writing Magic (1 hour)

Writing magic can be tricky; this panel discusses what boundaries and limitations to set for the way magic works in your story.

Al Carlisle, Brandon Sanderson, Emily Martha Sorensen, John Brown, Natalie Whipple, Teri Harman

Saturday, February 15, 2014

1:00 p.m., Bryce Room

Reading and Signing: Brandon Sanderson (1+ hour)

3:00 p.m., Canyon Room

Wrapping Things Up (1 hour)

The hero is victorious and the villain’s evil plan lies in ruins…now what?

Bree Despain, Chad Morris, Janci Patterson, Megan Hutchins, Michael Young, Brandon Sanderson

6:00 p.m., Cedar Room

The Funny Men: Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett (1 hour)

Humor, especially broad humor, in speculative fiction

Jaleta Clegg, Brandon Sanderson, Daniel Coleman, Karen Anne Webb, Jenniffer Wardell

7:00 p.m., Zion Room

Banquet ($30, prepaid. Purchase in advance.)

Toastmaster: Brandon Sanderson

This year’s menu is house salad, grilled pork chop or chicken chasseur, and garlic mashed potatoes. There will be an option of cakes for dessert. Please tell us about any dietary requirements you might have, and we’ll try to accommodate them. At-the-door banquet registrations will be accepted beginning February 13, 2014 at 7:00 a.m.

WORDS OF RADIANCE Release Events

This is going to be a long post. If you want to know how to get numbered copies of Words of Radiance, scroll down to the general release events info, the info on the BYU signing, on the San Diego signing, or on the Weller Book Works signing-by-mail is here.

Item #1: The Tour

Here are the places I’m stopping at on my tour: Provo, San Diego, Los Angeles/Orange County, the Bay Area, Portland OR, Seattle, Houston, Omaha, Phoenix, Tucson, Lexington KY, Dayton, Washington DC/Northern VA, Philadelphia, Chicago, Milwaukee. For details, plus a few conventions I’ll be at later in the year, check my events page.

I do plan to take a trip to Europe later this year, for the Celsius 232 convention in Spain in July/August. I should make a brief stop in London right before or after that as well, but it’s not yet finalized. I’ll also go to Calgary in Canada for When Words Collide the week after that. If you want a signed copy of the book and won’t be able to make it to one of my tour cities, there will be a couple additional ways to get signed copies. But if you want your book personalized, the best way to make that happen is through Weller Book Works or to call one of the bookstores on my tour and ask if they can arrange it for you.

The focus of my tour stops will be on getting everyone’s books signed. I do plan to do a reading and answer questions at every stop, but I will also try to pre-sign some stock so that if you want a signed book and don’t want to stand in line for me to personalize it for you, you can just grab the book and go. But depending on scheduling, I may not have time to do this at every stop.

Some of the events are ticketed, which means that the bookstore requires you to buy the book from them in order to get it signed. I’ve asked for this to happen at as few booksellers as possible, but each store has the final call. Why would they do this? Well, a lot of stores have to bring in extra staff (or even rent extra space) in order to handle an enormous event like this. In the past, they’ve spent this money and then had everyone bring in books they bought from Amazon to get signed. It can be disheartening, as they lose money after all the work they put into holding an event. (In one famous case I heard of, a small bookstore held a signing where they spent hundreds on staff, promotion, and cookies, only to have over a hundred people, out of the hundred and twenty who came, bring in books they bought from Amazon.)

As I said, I’ve requested that the signings all be open to anyone. However, I can see the bookstores’ point. Please be respectful and realize one of the reasons that places like Amazon can give you the books so cheaply is that they don’t have to maintain or pay rent on expensive storefronts in retail areas. Support your local booksellers; it’s because of them that we can have signing events. If possible, I’d ask that you go and buy the book from the store where you’re planning to see me. You can buy it early and keep the receipt. If you bring the receipt with you to the signing, that’s as good as buying the book at the signing. Generally, at ticketed events, as long as you buy any hardcover book, they will let you get your other books signed. So, for instance, you could buy Words of Radiance and then get it, The Way of Kings, and Steelheart (or any of my other books) signed. And even if you don’t buy your copy of WoR at the signing, it’s nice to support the store hosting me by buying at least one book (by any author) while you’re there.

I don’t yet have full details on which events are ticketed. I’m slowly gathering information on this. There probably won’t be many that are, but I wanted to lay the groundwork just in case. I’ll add more information to the events page as it trickles in.

Finally, there may be a cap on the number of books I will personalize for you at a time. I’ll sign all your books, but personalizations can take a while, so if there’s a large crowd, to keep the line moving I may only personalize three books at a time. However, it’s just fine if you want to go to the end of the line again and wait to get three more books personalized. I will sign paperbacks. I will not sign books I did not write—e.g. the Wheel of Time books before The Gathering Storm. Yes, people have asked; often about one per signing.

The ebook and audiobook will be released the same day as the hardcover: March 4th in the US/Canada and March 6th in the UK/Australia/New Zealand. (If you live elsewhere, you’ll probably be able to import either the US or UK version.) I will sign audiobook CD sets, and even ebook readers, or anything else within reason (I don’t sign body parts).

Item #2: Release Events

I will be doing three special signings in conjunction with the book’s release on March 4th. As with my previous books, I will be numbering copies at these release events. The three events are: the BYU Bookstore midnight release, the Weller Book Works mail order event, and the Mysterious Galaxy signing.

What does it mean to get a numbered copy? Well, just what it sounds like. If you get a book from one of the three release events, I’ll write a number on the title page that I sign. I intend to give out as many numbers as there are people who participate in those events (unless we run out of books). In a way, these numbers are less about being limited editions and more about getting a special add-on, an indication that you made it to one of the initial events. This is something I started doing for fun with my first book, and I had originally intended to limit the numbers to the first fifty people who got to me. However, I found that I felt bad stopping numbering if someone went to all the trouble to come to a release event, so I shifted to doing it this way.

I generally stagger my numbering so that lower numbers can be picked up from each signing. Each number is unique. I will rotate by 100s. (So, 1–100 are at BYU, 101–200 are at Weller Book Works, 201–300 are at Mysterious Galaxy, 301–400 are at BYU, etc.)

Each event will have its own rules regarding how you get your number and which number you get. Read on for info.

Item #3: BYU Midnight Release

At 12:00 a.m. on March 4th, I will be doing the world’s first signing for Words of Radiance. Numbers 1–100 will be given out at this signing. (Though everyone who comes will get a numbered copy unless they run out of books.) All numbers will be given out in the order you arrive to wait in line in. Let me make this clear. It doesn’t matter how early you preorder. Numbers will be given out based on line order. Here are some more details from the bookstore:

Prepayment is required to reserve a copy of the book. Books can be ordered online at byubookstore.com (choose the shipping option “Service Desk Pickup, 3rd Floor” for pickup at the midnight release party) or order in the store.

This year the BYU Bookstore will be handing out numbered wristbands. The numbered wristband will be given according to the order in which guests show up to wait in line. All books purchased at this event will be signed and numbered, and the number on your wristband will correspond with the number on the book that you will receive. The first person in line will receive book #1, the second person in line will receive book #2, etc. Books distributed at this event will be numbers 1–100, 301–400, 601–700, 901–1000, etc.

You will need to show proof of payment to receive a wristband.

The line for the book release will form outside of the northwest entrance to the BYU Bookstore (as it has for the past several years):

One book per person. All books purchased at this event will be presigned & numbered. For example, if you want to receive books #4, #5, and #6 you will need to have a separate person in line for each book. If you want more than one book and you do not care what the number is, your additional book(s) will come from higher numbers that have not already been assigned to others in line.

The numbered wristbands will be handed out at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, March 3rd. At that this point those who have been waiting in line are free to leave until the store reopens for the book release party.

The BYU Bookstore will reopen at 10:00 p.m. to host the book release party. Prizes will be given out throughout the evening.

Around 10:45 p.m. Brandon will hold a reading and Q&A.

At 11:45 p.m., guests will be asked to begin lining up in numerical order in preparation for the distribution of books at midnight.

Once guests have picked up their signed & numbered book, they are free to leave or to get into a separate line to have their books personalized by Brandon.

If you receive a numbered wristband and do not pick up your book by 1:00 a.m., your numbered book will be given to someone else. If you show up after this point to pick up your book you will be given a different number or a refund.

Cash registers will close at 1:00 a.m. All purchases must be made by this time.

The bookstore has asked me to get there a bit early so I can be finished signing and numbering all the books by 10:00 or so. Once I am done, they will let everyone in and we’ll have a meet & greet where you can talk to me, ask me your burning questions, take pictures, etc. (The idea is that this will help the personalization line move more quickly after midnight.) There will also be things like trivia contests going on during this time.

Around 10:45 I will do a reading and/or a general Q&A, and sometime after that there will be a prize drawing. Then at 11:45 they want everyone to line up again in preparation for midnight, as explained above.

Based on past events, I should be able to personalize everyone’s books, even if it takes until 3:00 a.m. Since all of the books will be pre-signed and numbered, everyone will get a numbered edition if they come. As I’m local, you can always just come, pick up a book, and leave—then get it personalized at some other signing when things aren’t so crazy. This will probably be a busy event, but it should be very easy to just come, get a pre-signed/numbered book, then buy it and take off without waiting in any lines after midnight.

Now, here’s the important part. It’s hard for stores to judge how many copies to order for this sort of event, and I’m worried that BYU might not order enough. They might run out. Therefore, they are letting you preorder to be assured you get a book. If you preorder, you are guaranteed a book. If you don’t preorder, it’s first come first served. If a lot of people preorder, they will get in more books to make sure everyone who ordered early is covered.

So, for this event, I strongly encourage you to call and buy your book ahead of time. It will save you money and will make things easier for us. Let me say one more time, however, that you do not get your number based on when you preorder, though you do have to have paid for the book before you can get your number. You get the number based on where you are in line at 7:00 a.m. (or later). Preordering just guarantees that you get a copy, not that you get a low number. Still—please, please preorder soon so they can be sure to have enough books for the event.

Details:

BYU Bookstore, Provo, UT

12:00 a.m. March 4th (Monday night/Tuesday morning) (book released)

10:00 p.m. March 3rd (doors open)

7:00 a.m. March 3rd (numbers distributed)

Preorder <!–by calling (801) 422-2400 or (800) 253-2578, or –/>by going to the BYU Bookstore website. (For the shipping option, choose “Service Desk Pickup, 3rd Floor.”) You’ll need to bring your receipt or confirmation number to the midnight release and stand in line with everyone else in order to get your number.

Item #4: Mysterious Galaxy

My signing at Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego will run like most of the other signings I’ve done there in the past, except that since it’s taking place on release day, all copies of Words of Radiance that I sign there will also get numbered. The numbers will start at #201 and rotate every third hundred with the other two events.

I’m not completely sure how the numbers will be handed out, but I believe that the numbers for the books will correspond with your number for the signing line, which Mysterious Galaxy will hand out with Words of Radiance purchases starting at 10:00 a.m. on the day of the event. The store says: “If you are planning to attend the event, please do not place your order through the website, as all such orders are processed after the event. Instead, please contact the store and purchase the book on the on-sale date.”

Since you can pick up your book starting Tuesday morning, hours before I arrive, obviously I won’t be able to pre-number the books. I’ll probably just put the numbers in while I sign after doing my reading and Q&A.

Item #5: Weller Book Works by Mail

I will be going to Weller Book Works in mid-February to sign, number, and personalize 500 copies. Weller’s will then ship them out; they will try to time the shipping so the book arrives at your door on March 4th. However, they’re not allowed to deliver before that date, so they can’t cut things too close and some books may arrive after the 4th. If that’s the case, though, they’ll try to keep the delay as short as possible. International orders will be shipped first, since those have the longest transit time. (Note that Weller Book Works cannot track packages internationally. They’ve tried.) I’m really very sorry that the shipping cost is so high this year, but the size of a book like this limits their shipping options. Details from Weller Book Works:

Customers should email books@wellerbookworks.com to order the book.

Please include your shipping address and how you’d like the book inscribed. If you’ve ordered from us before, please confirm the ship-to address.

The price is discounted 20%, and all orders must be prepaid in full. $23.19 + tax and/or shipping if applicable (the list price is $28.99). See below for price quotes.

Shipping is via USPS Priority Mail medium box only. The book is too large to have books reliably arrive undamaged when shipped in envelopes. Prices are as follows (totals are below):

Utah / USA / Territories
$13.00


Canada
$42.00


All other International including Mexico
$62.00

Ordering period is February 7 – February 15, 2014 or while supplies last. Orders must be made and prepaid in full by February 15, 2014.

Payments accepted via Paypal only.

Offer good while supplies last, 500 copies.

Limit 2 copies per customer.

We will respond as quickly as possible. We will ship orders as soon as we can in order to have them arrive as close to the publication date as possible. Customers may pick up orders on March 4, 2014.

Prices below are for books being shipped to one address. Additional shipping must be charged for each separate address.

Total price (including shipping) for:
1 copy
2 copies


In-store pickup
$24.78
$49.56


In state shipping, USPS Priority Mail box
$37.78
$62.56


Out of state shipping, Priority Mail box
$36.19
$59.38


Canada, USPS Priority Mail box
$65.19
$88.38


All other International, Priority Mail box
$85.19
$108.38

If you contact Weller’s or any other tour bookstore to order a signed book, please be certain to tell them (even if they don’t ask) specifically how you want the book personalized. If you don’t tell them specifically, they will have it signed but not personalized. Simply telling them your name is not enough. You have to tell them “I want it personalized to John” (for example). If you don’t want it personalized, tell them “Signature Only” just in case.

Thank you all for reading, and I hope to sign a book for you at one of the tour events. Let me apologize in advance for how sloppy my signature is.

Tweets January 2014

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 01
Happy New Year! I’m told that STEELHEART is now $1.99 on Kindle in the US, January 1st only! link

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 01
Today only, STEELHEART is $1.99 in the US on Kindle: link and Nook: link

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 01
The STEELHEART $1.99 price ends today in the US. Kindle: link Nook: link

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
This week’s Tor.com reread of THE WAY OF KINGS covers chapters 50 and 51, which feature betrayal. link

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
I finished The Amulet of Samarkand on the trip. I give it a thumbs up, but Nathaniel (the human character) was really annoying.

ameyc Thu Jan 02
@BrandSanderson Spoiler: he gets a bit more annoying before getting better.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
@ameyc Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard. So, maybe I’ll put off book two for a while.

WayTooLoose Thu Jan 02
@BrandSanderson currently halfway through Hero of Ages. Mistborn has grown to be my favorite Trilogy ever. Kudos.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
@WayTooLoose Thanks!

JessDayGeorge Thu Jan 02
@BrandSanderson It took me two tries to get through that book, and I’ve never read 2, because of the high level of annoying.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
@JessDayGeorge

metteharrison Thu Jan 02
@BrandSanderson Should have read Daughter of Smoke and Bone instead! I told you so!

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
@metteharrison When will I learn to just listen to Mette? Sigh.

[deleted tweet]

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
@deshavu_ It’s one I read during my trip.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
I wanted more growth, or something, from him. In the end, as delightful as Bartimaeus was, I don’t find myself immediately wanting book 2.

AutumnSeybert Tue Jan 21
@BrandSanderson Stroud doesn’t follow the law of trilogy. The second is better and so is the third. Take a break and come back.

BrandSanderson Tue Jan 21
@AutumnSeybert A lot of people have been saying the same thing to me. I’m certain I’ll come back to it eventually.

[deleted tweet]

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
@deshavu_ Yes, it was pretty good. (See my other tweets for more.)

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
The really interesting thing is, Nathaniel was really well written. Stroud is an excellent writer. It’s not about skill, just about taste.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
Reading this, with a djinni viewpoint, really maked me want to write a book I’ve been planning for years, one told from a magic sword’s VP.

scalzi Thu Jan 02
@BrandSanderson Sounds like a hack-n-slash fantasy to me.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
@scalzi Well, that’s beside the point.

TigerUnderGlass Thu Jan 02
@BrandSanderson I had a somewhat similar idea, told from viewpoint of a man trapped in mask hanging from walls of a succession of conquerors

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
@TigerUnderGlass Wow. Cool idea.

SuperBlonde1792 Thu Jan 02
@BrandSanderson How long until we get a new Stormlight archives book?

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
@SuperBlonde1792 March.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
One final note on the Amulet of Samarkand—the reader was really, really good. I’ll try to post a longer review on @audible_com.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 02
Anyway, onward to working on Firefight! Need to turn it in sometime this month. Book is looking good so far.

JessDayGeorge Fri Jan 03
@BrandSanderson Does this mean you’re going to read/listen to Daughter of Smoke & Bone now? Because it’s amazing, and you should!

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 03
@JessDayGeorge I really do want to read it. I’ll probably put it in another vote when I ask my fans what I should listen to.

blaze001sa Fri Jan 03
Three @BrandSanderson books to start off 2014. #Elantris, #Steelheart, #TheWayOfKings. If this isn’t heaven, I don’t know what is.

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 03
@blaze001sa

colinahiggins Fri Jan 03
@BrandSanderson Will WoR have a digital audiobook release Mar 4? I loved the WoK audiobook but don’t have a CD-ROM drive! It’s 2014!

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 03
@colinahiggins Yes, it will. @audible_com should have it up same day as print release, I believe.

boosiv Fri Jan 03
@BrandSanderson will you ever stop by Lisbon, Portugal to do a signing?

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 03
@boosiv I’d like to. I’m heading to Spain next year. Maybe I’ll try to swing by.

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 08
Want to read the prologue and first two chapters of WORDS OF RADIANCE? They’re up on Tor.com. link

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 09
This week’s Tor.com reread of THE WAY OF KINGS covers the third set of interludes link +WoR preview chapters yesterday

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 10
Salt Lake Valley! I will be signing at the Costco in Sandy tomorrow at noon. Details here: link

BrandSanderson Sat Jan 11
Salt Lake Valley folks! If you’re a Costco member, come see me in Sandy at noon today. Details: link

KiyorlinSeries Mon Jan 13
@BrandSanderson would you consider doing a read and review for an #IndieAuthor?

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 13
@KiyorlinSeries The source of the publication is not of much importance to me, only the quality of the book.

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 13
@KiyorlinSeries But I have very, very little time these days for reviewing books. Most books I read, I need to do via audiobook.

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 13
Man. I spend a lot of time researching guns these days. (David from the Steelheart series is a gun nut.) Hope I don’t end up on any lists…

CantrellJason Mon Jan 13
@BrandSanderson I’m constantly researching how nuclear missiles work. I think you’re safe.

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 13
@CantrellJason I’ll tell them you put me up to it.

swordedge Mon Jan 13
@BrandSanderson Have a fan who is a gun nut help you.

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 13
@swordedge Yes, I have a few—but the way to have a good book is to get yourself mostly the way there, then have an expert fix mistakes.

monsterhunter45 Mon Jan 13
@BrandSanderson If you need professional advice, you’ve got my email.

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 13
@monsterhunter45 I’ve always felt like I didn’t want to bother you. But I might take you up on that offer…

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 13
I need another audiobook to download from @audible_com. I’ll give you two options in the next post. Let me know your pick.

VariaHarsh Mon Jan 13
@BrandSanderson I really liked codex alera. Not sure if you have heard that. The middle books of that series are really good.

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 13
@VariaHarsh I’ve actually read one of those, and really liked it. Intend to read more.

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 13
The two books I’m thinking of listening to are: Acacia (by David Anthony Durham) and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (by Susanna Clarke.)

adribbleofink Mon Jan 13
@BrandSanderson I didn’t love JS&MN when I first tried to read it, but I’ve been thinking of revisiting it as an audio book.

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 13
@adribbleofink The audio seems an upside, from what people are saying here. Did you read Acacia?

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 13
Okay, looks like Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is the winner, so I’ll download the audiobook now. Acacia had a strong showing, though.

BrandSanderson Tue Jan 14
The second batch of WORDS OF RADIANCE preview chapters is now online! link The first batch is here: link

AndrewValorson Wed Jan 15
@BrandSanderson How much is Hoid/Wit supposed to look like @neilhimself? Because I cannot separate the two.

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 15
@AndrewValorson @neilhimself Wit would approve of that association.

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 15
This Friday I’ll livestream writing a story, taking your suggestions as I go. For Worldbuilders charity! Details here link

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 15
Shawn Speakman asked me about my favorite place to read. My answer (with a picture) is in this post: link

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 16
If you missed it yesterday: Tomorrow I’ll livestream writing a story for Worldbuilders charity, and you can help. link

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 16
This week’s The Way of Kings reread post on Tor.com talks about chapter 52, with Feverstone Keep. link

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 16
Registration for the second Writing Excuses writing retreat opens (and probably closes) in two days. Some details: link

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 16
Audio of WORDS OF RADIANCE is up for preorder on Audible in the US. Michael & Kate are recording now. March 4 release link

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 16
Reminder: I’ll be livestreaming writing a story tomorrow, and you help decide how the story goes. For Worldbuilders! link

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 17
Here’s the info about the Writing Excuses retreat scholarship. link

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 17
In a little over 4 hours, I’ll start livestreaming writing a story, for the Worldbuilders charity. You can help! link

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 17
Hey, all. The live broadcast of me writing is having a few glitches. My technical people are working on it. Hope to be up and going soon.

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 17
I’m writing a story live right now, and the stream is working. Right now, help me brainstorm. link

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 17
I’m writing a short story live with your help to benefit @Worldbuilders_ and @Waygatefound link

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 17
Now help me brainstorm an 81-year-old barber who’s a former priest, in a noir sci-fi. Please RT! link

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 17
Now I’m brainstorming a female steampunk taxidermist necromancer heist story. Come join me and RT! link

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 17
Now I’ve started writing the livestreamed story for charity. It begins in a bathroom. (Please RT.) link

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 17
I’m writing live w/input from the audience for about two more hours. Donations benefit @Worldbuilders_ and @Waygate. link

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 17
If you’ve ever wondered more about my writing process and want to take part in it, this is the event for you. link

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 17
40 minutes left in the @Waygatefound @Worldbuilders_ donation drive, where I write a short story live with your help. link

BrandSanderson Tue Jan 21
Here are the next 3 preview chapters of Words of Radiance. link

MaggieMelchior Tue Jan 21
@BrandSanderson I LOVE how you slipped a pronunciation of Kaladin’s name into Words of Radiance. Were people badgering you with questions?

BrandSanderson Tue Jan 21
@MaggieMelchior No, but I know they enjoy it when I can slip in things like that, so I try to manage it when possible.

theEyedea Tue Jan 21
@BrandSanderson Sorry idk how to tweet, all I want to know is if there is a way for me to watch the live stream you did, I missed it

BrandSanderson Tue Jan 21
@theEyedea Yes, you can. I’m not sure how yet, though we should be posting a link up soon.

BrandSanderson Tue Jan 21
Listening to Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, as fans suggested. I really liked the first hour or so, but the next part has been VERY slow.

not_that_ryan Tue Jan 21
@BrandSanderson What was your opinion of The Amulet of Samarkand? Did I miss that update?

BrandSanderson Tue Jan 21
@not_that_ryan I really liked Bartimaeus, and really disliked reading about the kid. Overall, good book, but could use more Bartimaeus

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 22
Writing update: Just finished part 3 (of 4) of Firefight, sequel to Steelheart. Writing the climax next. Should be done before too long!

flyleaffan Wed Jan 22
@BrandSanderson what will you be writing next? hoping it’s #stormlightarchive 3 #fingerscrossed

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 22
@flyleaffan Next is Rithmatist 2. But Stormlight 3 will be coming up very quickly.

cpetroMD Wed Jan 22
@BrandSanderson published this year?

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 22
@cpetroMD Very late in the year, but yes, I think it’s scheduled for December.

michaelasmith Wed Jan 22
@BrandSanderson I’m excited. Have you booked a voice actor/narrator yet? @audible_com

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 22
@michaelasmith @audible_com Hope to have the same reader. He did a great job.

dasamigo Wed Jan 22
@BrandSanderson awesome! Any guess at how long the book will be in the end?

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 22
@dasamigo Around the same length as the first.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 23
Tor.com has posted wallpapers of Michael Whelan’s revised cover for WORDS OF RADIANCE. link

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 23
Tor.com’s reread of THE WAY OF KINGS this week has a mention of Adonalsium. link

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 24
I added a video to a @YouTube playlist link Waygate Foundation – Brandon Sanderson Write-a-thon, January 17, 2014

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 24
New blog post up with a rundown of preview chapters and recent Writing Excuses developments. link

BrandSanderson Mon Jan 27
Marc Simonetti’s Mistborn trilogy cover illustration triptych for the Brazil edition is finished. Check it out! pic

BrandSanderson Tue Jan 28
The final batch of preview chapters for WORDS OF RADIANCE is now up! link The book comes out March 4th/6th in US/UK.

BrandSanderson Tue Jan 28
Here are my award-eligible works this year. link I’ll send “Shadows of Silence” to Worldcon members. Also, WoT eligibility

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 29
Look at this fan-made cover for Warbreaker. Pretty cool. pic Thanks @am_stevens

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 29
Tor has announced my March US tour for WORDS OF RADIANCE: link

BrandSanderson Wed Jan 29
UK folks: I hear WORDS OF RADIANCE is only £6.99 preorder on Kindle. link Check other ebook stores to see if they match.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 30
Trying hard to wrap up the first draft of Firefight (sequel to Steelheart) tonight. One short chapter and an epilogue left to do.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 30
Okay, first draft of Firefight is done. Sent it to my editor. Needs lots of revision, but at least I have something to work with. Huzzah!

Razakan Thu Jan 30
It’s going to be another great year from @BrandSanderson. Words of Radiance, Firefight and …?? Possibly Rithmatist 2 or New Mistborn 2??

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 30
@Razakan Revisions. Then, some short fiction, I hope.

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 30
On Starships & Dragonwings is giving away copies of THE WAY OF KINGS and WORDS OF RADIANCE (when it comes out). link

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 30
This week’s reread post on Tor.com for THE WAY OF KINGS talks about getting spheres out of the chasms. link

linc8485 Thu Jan 30
@BrandSanderson Is Sam Wellers going to be offering signed copies of WoR?

BrandSanderson Thu Jan 30
@linc8485 Yes! Post will go up about it soon.

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 31
UK readers! The ebook of THE WAY OF KINGS is on sale at £1.99, and the sale ends today. link

agrimes1991 Fri Jan 31
@BrandSanderson Is Maximus from Tangled a Ryshadium? I mean he is clearly not a normal horse.

BrandSanderson Fri Jan 31
@agrimes1991 He totally is. It’s pretty obvious to me.

THE WAY OF KINGS at £1.99 in the UK, sale ends today

It’s evening there in the UK, but I’ve so far neglected to mention the £1.99 ebook sale on The Way of Kings on Kindle. And now it’s the final day of the sale, as far as we know.

Some of the other ebook stores have matched the £1.99 price, so if you prefer to use a different ebook store there in the UK, check the UK tab in the widget to the right to see the other store links.

It’s also a good time to start your reread of The Way of Kings if you haven’t read it recently and want a refresher before Words of Radiance comes out (in the UK) in 34 days.

Regarding Awards

I’m a little late to the party this year, but I wanted to post a few words about awards season. If you want to nominate for the Hugo Awards you either need to have had a membership to last year’s Worldcon in San Antonio, or you need to be registered for this year’s Worldcon in London by this Friday, the 31st of January. (Note that you don’t have to nominate by then, you simply have to have your membership by then to be able to nominate.) A membership to next year’s Worldcon in Spokane will also let you nominate this year.

I’ve spoken before about the benefits of a supporting membership to Worldcon. This is the membership you buy if you’re not actually planning to attend, but still want to vote. It costs £25/$40 (until the end of February, when the rates go up), and along with that you get the voter packet, which historically has contained electronic copies of every nominated fiction work (but whether all works are included each year is up to the authors and publishers). So it’s a fantastic deal, and you also get to be part of a grand tradition in science fiction and fantasy. (Note: Only supporting or attending members of this year’s Worldcon in London will be able to receive the voter packet and vote on the final ballot.)

Shadows for Silence

This year, I have a few works that are eligible. The first I’d draw your attention to is “Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell,” my story in the anthology Dangerous Women, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois. I think this is my strongest short fiction piece of the year, and it is eligible in the novella category.

As I did last year with The Emperor’s Soul, I will send an electronic copy of “Shadows for Silence” to anyone who is eligible to vote or nominate for either the Hugos or the Nebula Awards. So if you had a membership for last year’s Worldcon, or if you’re planning to attend this year, please drop me an email at ebooks@brandonsanderson.com requesting an ebook of “Shadows for Silence” and saying which Worldcon you’re a member of (or saying you’re an active SFWA member), and we’ll respond with a copy of the story.

Other Eligible Works

Writing Excuses Season Eight is also eligible in the Best Related Work category. We won last year, which was thrilling. Thank you all for your nominations and votes! (I believe we won by three votes.)

“Lift,” which you can read for free here, is eligible in the novelette category. Though it is part of Words of Radiance, it also stands on its own, and is worth consideration.

Both Steelheart and The Rithmatist are eligible in the Hugo novel category and are, I believe, eligible for the Andre Norton Award.

I also have other shorts eligible in various categories, but I think the ones listed above are the stronger works.

The Wheel of Time

The final item I want to talk about is a little more tricky. Others have been posting about this online, and I thought I should mention it. One feature of the Hugo Awards is a rule that exists to make certain a longer work which is serialized has a chance at an award if the serialized version was overlooked. In short, if no smaller piece of a large work has ever been nominated, the larger work is eligible once completed.

That means the Wheel of Time, as a whole, is eligible for a Hugo Award in the novel category.

This is both awesome and a little frightening. I’m certain I don’t have to make the case to you why I think that Robert Jordan’s masterpiece deserves award recognition. It was the driving force in fantasy for over two decades, deeply influencing an entire generation of authors. Beyond that, I believe it has great literary merit. Robert Jordan did incredible things with worldbuilding and character viewpoint. He was one of the most skilled writers of this genre who has ever lived.

I’m quite close to this topic, however—probably too close to speak without deep bias. I try to avoid campaigning too much for my work to gain award attention, instead limiting myself to posts that explain what of mine is eligible, then letting the pieces speak for themselves. The Wheel of Time puts me in a strange position, then, because I’d want to talk all day about how awesome Robert Jordan is—yet at the same time, I’ve now been involved in the series on a fundamental level. So…yeah. Conflict of interest.

So, I’ll stop here, by posting Guy Gavriel Kay’s toastmaster address at the World Fantasy Awards the year Robert Jordan died. He made some wonderful points.

Some Words of Caution

Now, above, I said this eligibility is something both awesome and frightening. Let’s get into the frightening part. I’ve posted about my love and respect for the Hugo Awards. This award has a great deal of history and integrity attached to it. It is a Fan-voted award—but I use that capital letter intentionally. It’s not voted on by fans of a specific work, but Fans of the genre. People who want to see science fiction and fantasy progress, succeed, and improve.

I have little doubt that the Wheel of Time community could “buy” this award for their series. In so doing, they would make the award meaningless. The Hugo Award works because such a large portion of the voting audience takes it so seriously. This award really is what we make of it. It belongs to us.

And so, I give a charge to the Wheel of Time fans who might be reading this and considering the Hugo Awards for the first time. We want you to be involved. We love new blood, and new enthusiasm. However, agreeing to nominate and vote for the Hugos is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. If you decide to join in—and I sincerely hope you will—please nominate liberally. But when it comes time to vote, please vote only in categories where you have read the majority (preferably all) of the nominees. And please vote only for the piece you work is the best work. Don’t vote by author; vote by work.

This doesn’t mean you have use anyone else’s criteria for determining the “best” work. Follow your heart. For some of you, that will mean voting for the work that is the most fun. For some, it will mean choosing the one with the most literary merit. Personally, I try to find the work that walks a line between the two, having a solid and engaging narrative but also advancing the genre or doing something impressive with it. (Redshirts, last year’s novel winner, is a good example of a work that does this for me.)

Pick your own criteria, but read before you vote. The last thing I want to hear about is a ballot box filled with people who listed “The Wheel of Time” or some of my solo works, but nothing else.

Conclusion

That said, if you are eligible to nominate and you weren’t considering The Wheel of Time, do be aware that that it is eligible. It is certainly deserving. I can’t think of a series in our genre since Tolkien that has inspired so much devotion, passion, imitators, and discussion—all without ever receiving a single Hugo nomination. This is our last chance to fix that.

I’m personally very curious to see what happens if it does get a nomination.

Brandon

Preview Chapters, Writing Video, Writing Excuses & Updates

The Words of Radiance audiobook is now available for preorder on Audible in the US, as well as on CD via the links at the right. Kate Reading and Michael Kramer are well into recording the narration, and it will be released the same day as the hardcover and ebook.

The final version of Michael Whelan’s cover art has been revealed, and you can download desktop wallpapers on Tor.com to go along with the Shallan endpaper wallpaper (I know some people with dual monitor setups are using both!).

More chapter previews have been released; the final batch is coming on Tuesday. Here are the previews released so far:

Lift interlude
Prologue, chapter 1, chapter 2
Chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 5
Chapter 6, chapter 8, chapter 9

Tor.com has also been doing a series of reread posts for The Way of Kings. If you want to refresh your memory and theorize with other readers before the second book comes out, consider giving it a look.

Last Friday I did a live writing session to benefit the Waygate Foundation and Worldbuilders. The session was recorded and you can see it here. Thanks to everyone who donated and who gave suggestions in the chat during the recording!

My assistant Peter has uploaded a couple more Twitter archive posts, for November and December.

Writing Excuses—the Hugo Award-winning writing advice show that I host alongside Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler—has been absent from the iTunes podcast listings for a few weeks for some unknown reason. But now it’s back and you can subscribe (for free) here. Or you can listen to the episodes at the website, or download the mp3s from the link at the bottom of each post and listen however you like. If you have some other way you subscribe to podcasts, the direct feed link is here.

The following are the most recent episodes we’ve released. Each is around 15 minutes long, so they get to the point and don’t take a huge bite out of your day:

“You Think You Don’t Have Time to Write” with Mette Ivie Harrison
“Chronology of a Book Deal” with Eric James Stone
“Hard Science Fiction” with Eric James Stone
“Character Perception vs Narrative Perception” with Nancy Fulda

The Out of Excuses writing retreat and workshop that we’re putting on in September/October sold out in about three minutes, but in partnership with the Carl Brandon Society we are offering a scholarship for one slot. For more details, see Mary’s explanation here.

Friday’s the day!

Worldbuilders hit its goal, so we’re going to give this write-a-thon thing a try. I’ve settled on this Friday, January 17th, from 2:00 p.m. Mountain time until 7:00 p.m.

If you missed the blog post explaining this, I go into detail here. However, the short of it is this: I’m going to stream myself writing for those hours, and will take your suggestions on what to do. We’ll write a story together, and I’ll also answer questions about whatever. The streaming service we’re going to use is Justin.tv on the Waygate Foundation channel, since if any of you have Twitch.tv accounts they will work there. [EDIT: Unfortunately, while this was once the case, it is no longer true. Twitch users will have to create a separate Justin.tv account to chat next to the video. Many apologies about this.]

As I said before, I’m uncertain how this is going to go. I think it will be fun, but I don’t know if what we devise for a story will be any good at all. We’ll see. This is all for charity anyway, and I do intend to try to raise some more money for Worldbuilders as we go. Really, the only way this can be a bad experience is if nobody shows up.

So, if you’ve got some time on Friday and have any curiosity regarding my writing process, please stop by. It shouldn’t require any special setup on your part, unless you want to ask questions or give suggestions for the story, whereupon you’ll need an account. (You can make one here.)

See you on Friday!

Brandon

Signing on Saturday at the Sandy Costco!

Sorry for the late notice on this—my assistants have been busy getting a book ready.

Tomorrow at noon I’m signing in the Salt Lake City area, at the Costco in Sandy. This probably won’t be a good venue for me to do a reading and group Q&A, but I will answer questions individually when you come up to get your book signed. Hope to see many of you there!

Date: Saturday, January 11, 2014

Time: 12:00 noon–2:00 p.m.

Place: Costco

Address: 11100 S. Auto Mall Drive

Sandy, UT 84070-4171

Phone Number: (801) 790-0003

Event Type: Signing

Notes: For Costco members only. Costco will have many copies of Steelheart on hand, but is not likely to have any other book. Brandon will also sign any other book he wrote that you bring.

My Class Starts Today

For those who aren’t aware, I teach a course entitled “How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy” at Brigham Young University. The course is focused on the nuts and bolts of having a writing career. Characterization, worldbuilding, plotting, and publication. In previous years, a graduate student recorded my lectures as a personal project, and posted them online.

I want this course to be available to as many people as possible. This year, that became easier than it has ever been, and many of you who live locally have signed up until the class is once again at seating capacity. If you don’t live locally, then know that I intend to get the class filmed this year and release it online (details yet to be arranged).

Why BYU?

I get asked this question more than I expected that I would, so I’ll address it here. People are curious why I don’t:

A: Teach the class on my own, like David Farland does, or

B: Teach the class at a state university, rather than a place like BYU, which has a more difficult enrollment policy.

Addressing the first, I think the resources (such as Dave’s courses) that already exist in this realm are very good, and see no need to go that direction myself. Dave’s aforementioned classes are excellent, and I’d refer you to him. Clarion has an excellent reputation, and my friends who have attended have spoken very highly of their time. Orson Scott Card’s literary boot camps likewise have excellent reccomendations from people I trust. Mary Robinette Kowal also hosts writing retreats, like the one this summer focusing on Writing the Other. I would point you those directions.

I like having my class where it is. I took this class in 2000, when it was taught by Dave, and feel that it offers an excellent resource in a much-needed setting. BYU does have its quirks (even aggravations), but I owe this school, and its community, payback. In 2001 and 2002, I applied to some dozen or so creative writing programs around the country, submitting Elantris as my writing sample. Of them, only one—BYU—agreed to let me in. (Even going so far as to name me their #2 applicant to that department for the year, and waiving all fees.)

I like BYU. My time there was wonderful. I support it and the LDS church, which administers it. It is possible that, in the future sometime, some situation will require me to go elsewhere. For now, however, we’re doing it here. That’s why I want you to know about the following.

My course is part of Evening Classes, which means it is much easier to take than a regular BYU class. The mission statement of BYU evening classes is to offer courses for continuing education and improvement to the entire community, without the need for people to have to apply formally to BYU.

I believe I started this class in 2004, making this year number ten. We’ve made some changes this year. The most relevant one to you is that we added a special “Lecture Only” version that students could sign up for. It gives you one credit hour, and basically involves coming each week, listening to the lectures, and getting an A. (The only requirement is that you sign your name each week saying you attended, and write a short paragraph on what you thought of the lecture. And if you were wanting to get into the main class, but didn’t make it this year, having taken the lecture-only course gives you a leg up on getting into the class next year.)

You should be aware, though, that even this lecture-only class has proven very popular and has essentially filled the big classroom they gave me. I wasn’t expecting that and was going to give you all the info on why you should apply to Evening Classes and come down tonight, but instead I’m going to recommend that you keep this in mind for next year. All of you in the community who want to take the class next year can do so (space allowing!) for a small fee. (Ranging between $257 and $680, depending on your student status.) That means you can sign up and attend the lecture portion from 5:10 to 6:25, once a week, for minimal cost—and do so even if you have a full-time job.

This year the university has given me a very large classroom to fit all of the extra students who want to take the class, and I’m filling every seat with an enrolled class member. If you’d like to be one of those students next year, please keep this in mind for when registration opens in the fall of 2014. I’ll try to do another blog post then to remind you. I’d like to thank all the students who have enrolled and shown the university how important a class this is to the community.