Jesse B. Booth's Blog: Cuio Nin Mellyn, page 3

Inspiration Shows

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So I took a 2 week break from writing... which isn't a good thing. I had to reread what I had already written to make sure I was being consistent once I started back up again. That being said, I was able to read a couple of books that have been on my to-read shelf for awhile now. It got me thinking how cool it is to glean inspiration from other authors. Last night, I wrote quite a bit, and part of my writing I tried to do something JRR Tolkien loved to do in his writing: creating songs. Brian Jacques, author of the Redwall series, also had a passion for this kind of addition to his novel writing. I got to a point in my story that begged me to follow suit.
I'm 36,000 words in to The Shadow Wielder, and a few of my characters have found themselves upon a ship on the water called "Ol' Slugger." This, of course, called for a sailors song. So here it is, in all of it's glory (the accent has been included in memory of Jacques brilliance):

I ‘ear yer ‘ave a bonnie lass
An’ tha’ yer like ter hug ‘er.
Bu’ I ‘ave one o’ higher class
I love me dear Ol’ Slugger!
Yer lass’ll ‘ave yer watch yer tongue
Bad language’ll nought bu’ bug ‘er.
Bu’ upon this ship yer mouth ‘as no bung
Speak freely while on Ol’ Slugger!

The longer yer spend with yer bonnie lass
The more yer’ll wan’ ter slug ‘er.
Instead o’ fightin’, unfurl the mast
Relaxin’ with good Ol’ Slugger!

An’ when yer lass forever sleeps
Inside the grave yer dug ‘er,
Follow the trail o' tears tha’ yer weeps
Back to me true-blue Ol’ Slugger.

Finding the balance between reading and writing is still an ongoing battle for me. I really try to read in the mornings, and write in the evenings, but sometimes I get too invested in one of those tasks. This is likely something every author deals with, and I'm sure each one has their own way of dealing with it. With Brandon Sanderson's 5th Mistborn book coming out in a few months, I was wanting to go back and reread the series. Hopefully I'll be able to get to it!
Lastly, I wanted to mention a few things about musical inspiration. Movie soundtracks are what do it for me. They help me stay in the zone and help with the overall moods involved in my writing. This past week or so, my son has gotten obsessed with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Can I just say, the song Pure Imagination is simply awesome! One of my favorite things about writing fiction,  particularly Fantasy, is that it literally is a world my creation. Endless possibilities! As much as I have structured The Shadow Wielder, there are scenes that end up surprising me. Characters appear that were not originally planned for. I can't describe how fun such experiences are! So, in conclusion, here are the lyrics to Pure Imagination. Maybe they'll inspire you, too!
Come with me
And you'll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you'll see
Into your imagination

We'll begin
With a spin
Traveling in
The world of my creation
What we'll see
Will defy
Explanation

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Wanna change the world?
There's nothing
To it

There is no
Life I know
To compare with
Pure imagination
Living there
You'll be free
If you truly wish to be

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Wanna change the world?
There's nothing
To it

There is no
Life I know
To compare with
Pure imagination
Living there
You'll be free
If you truly
Wish to be

The Writing Continues

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Six months since my last blog post... wow, that went by fast. A lot has happened to me in that time. I graduated from college, got a sweet promotion at work, and have been writing like crazy. Yesterday, I reached the 25,000 word mark (half of a NaNoWriMo. It's funny to think that the initial draft of my first novel, Core of the Nations, ended around this word count).

I've been a fan of the Fantasy genre for most of my life. It started when I was 7 years old, when my brother introduced me to Brian Jacques Redwall series. Funny, at almost age 30, I'm on book 18 (High Rhulain) of the same series right now. When I was about 10 years old, the same brother introduced me to The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. I've revisited those 5 books multiple times over the years, and they still have a profound effect over me. When I was 15, my brother finally convinced me to read The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, and my life was changed forever by its depth and brilliance. These days, Brandon Sanderson's novels are the fine dining I attend to as much as possible. The Mistborn series and Stormlight Archive are by far some of the best fantasy collections currently being worked on.

Now, since graduating, I really wanted to dive into writing a Fantasy novel that I've been playing around with in my head for a little while. For some strange reason, I've been terrified of writing in this genre, probably because I have read from so many good authors in the genre I don't feel like I can really contribute much. However, I just decided to go with it, to try it out, and I'm so glad I have done so. But, prior to beginning, I went through some writing training, which was so beneficial.

Brandon Sanderson teaches a Sci Fi/Fantasy course at Brigham Young University. He has all of his lectures from two of these semesters posted on Youtube. I went through them both and it helped me organize my ideas into well thought-out plots, settings, and characters -- all driven behind some awesome conflict. I then read a book called Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Her perspectives really helped me, especially with the concept of first drafts, and how the expectation on quality with them should not be high.

And so, since then, I've managed to populate 25,000 words, a general 25% of my first draft. Things are going well, I'm loving my characters, the locations they go to, the stakes they are up against, and the magic system.

I'm in a writing group, and the feedback I've been receiving from them has been extremely helpful. I had to revise the first 5 chapters quite a bit initially (this is a no-no... just write and get it all out before revising, otherwise, revising is all you'll do!). It took me a while to get through that, and now I'm back to the creation of the story. It's taken me to places I hadn't initially planned for, and the story is stronger for it. The only other set back that knocked me out of writing for a week was all because of Patrick Rothfuss, author of the King Killer Chronicles. I started the first book in February and had to stop reading from its gloriousness because it gave me writers' block. I discovered that this is actually a common phenomenon. Trying to write in the same genre of a book/series you are brand new to can negatively impact your ability to write. Your mind thinks about the other world, the new magic system, everything new, and it interferes with your own world. If you are already familiar with that world, it doesn't have the same effect. So I can read a new Mistborn book without any problems because I'm already familiar with things. Sure, characters and plots are new, but I know the magic system, I know the lay of the land, etc. Interesting phenomenon. Needless to say, I had to put the book down (I will return to it once I finish The Shadow Wielder).

That's it! I'm pumping out a fair amount of words every day. I'm excited with the story. Besides my writing group, I have one person reading through the first drafts of the fist 6 chapters and awaiting feedback. If you are interested in the story, or want to know more, let me know. I'd love to fill you in. Also, just a side note, the prologue in my December blog post has changed quite a bit, but the spirit of my story still sits there, so if you want a taste of what the story is about, go ahead and read it.

Okay, that's it for now. Back to my favorite kind of writing! Cheers!

It is WRITING Time!

Ok, I made it. on Monday December 8th, I took my last Final Exam of my college career. Yesterday, I submitted my last Final Paper of my college career (it was a fun paper to write - an analysis of leadership on the TV show "Lost" from a Burkean perspective). I am done with school! It's been a long time coming. To celebrate, I wrote the prologue to my next novel project. This is going to be a fantasy trilogy, and I've been playing with this idea for over a year now! I am so glad I can focus on it now that school is over! The trilogy title is "The Shadow Wielder." I haven't come up with a title for the first book, but probably won't until I'm deeper into it.

So, here is the prologue. Hope you like it!

Viimeinen could feel the draft before the door even opened. His long grey beard rustled to the side of his face, and his dark eyes squinted - not to see who was standing at the threshold of the door of his cottage, but because of the air rushing against him. He knew who had come.
 
���Varjo, old friend, you have returned.���
 
The silhouette didn���t respond, but began to approach slowly.
 
���So the rumors are true: you are the one who has murdered the Wizards of Light?���
 
Again, no response. The cool air coming from behind the robed figure began to feel as cold as ice. The room appeared to grow darker.

Viimeinen���s eyes saddened. ���I see you have dabbled in black magic, my old apprentice.���
 
The figure stopped just a foot away. Viimeinen held his ground; not an ounce of fear fell from his brow.
 
At last a deep, echoing voice came from the hooded being.
 
���You speak as if black magic is lesser than your light magic.��� The voice paused, but not out of hesitation. His words were cold, his tone like icicles. ���But one is not greater than the other. To believe so would contradict universal balance. Is the sun greater than the storm clouds that hide it?���
 
���What happened to you, Varjo?��� Viimeinen asked. No bitterness encompassed the question. Only concern and pity.
 
���You left me to die,��� Varjo spat. ���During the Two-Tone War. The entire group of Light Wizards left me to die.���
 
���You went missing. I personally searched for you for days.���
 
���Among the dead.���
 
Viimeinen slowly nodded. ���So many wizards died that day.���
 
���Some were taken captive by the Dark Wizards. All of them died, eventually. After terrible things had been done to them.���
 
���But you survived and escaped,��� Viimeinen said.
 
���I found balance and power between light and dark magic, and I grasped it.���
 
Another long, dark pause stilled the night air.
 
At last, Varjo answered. ���I was ignorant of such things during my apprenticeship. Just like you are. Just like you always have been.���
 
���And so me, being a lesser being, will now die at your hands because I am ignorant to your balance and power?���
 
���You will not die at my hands, old man,��� said Varjo, eyes sparkling in the moonlight. ���You will die the same way every wizard has since my escape. By your own hands.���
 
Varjo���s sparkling eyes disappeared as his eyelids shut. A deep exhalation came from his mouth, and Viimeinen noticed an increase in darkness within his room, spilling from Varjo���s mouth. They were distinct shadows. Very many of them, as if dozens of people were in the room.
 
Chills crept up and down his body��� not out of fear, but out of pure coldness. He could see wisps of his breath melting into the moonlight, and he continued to get colder and colder.
 
Varjo inhaled deeply, his eyes still closed. Viimeinen, shivering from the sudden chill in the room stepped back slowly. The candlelight illuminating the room shook by wind unseen, but did not fade away. He felt a tearing at his feet. Not a searing tear, but like ice cold knives were slicing the bottoms of his feet. He screamed and fell down, reaching for his right foot. There, hanging freely next to his foot was a shadow: his shadow. He reached his hand toward it, but was stopped short as his left foot underwent the same cold slicing.
 
���What is this madness?��� Viimeinen sobbed loudly.
 
���There is no madness here, old man,��� replied Varjo. ���Just a taste of true power for you.���

Viimeinen looked from Varjo to his shadow standing freely in the air. The candlelight flickered once more and disappeared. The moonlight silhouetted his shadow still, it moved a hair���s breadth away. 

���Goodbye, old friend,��� whispered Varjo.
 
Viimeinen, still sitting on the ground opened his mouth to scream, but any sound he tried to make was cut short. His own shadow jumped into his gaping mouth, ransacking his insides like a tornado. His body slumped to floor, his eyes still wide with horror and pain.
 
Varjo again breathed deeply, and the shadows who witnessed the murder dematerialized back through his open mouth. The shadow of Viimeinen exited the lifeless body and followed the other shadows. Varjo slowly turned away, his dark cape sweeping the floor as he walked out of the room.
 
Thus ended the days of the Wizards of Light and Dark, and only the Shadow Wielder remained.

The Writing Jitters

I'm getting them again - the Writing Jitters. I'm pretty sure they're an official condition many people suffer from worldwide.

Leisure writing is something I haven't done for quite some time, and it makes me sad! I am about to enter my final semester of college, and since I've been going to school every Spring/Summer/Fall semester for the past 2 years, I haven't been able to write for fun for about the same amount of time. So it is unfair that the Writing Jitters are attacking me.

I want to continue my latest work, the first book in a fantasy trilogy. While i have chunks and pieces put together along with a solid plot (or several of them mixing together in an awesome Brandon Sanderson-y way), I just CAN'T wait to write, write, write!

So, you may be asking... "Jesse, why don't you just write already?" Trust me, I want to. Very badly. These jitters are driving me crazy! However, I've learned that when I begin writing a particularly good, engaging story, I can't put it down. It consumes my free time. It consumes my thoughts. Not a problem, right? Well, I have a week and a half before my final semester begins. And I've learned that when my focus is on a writing a story, very rarely do I want to switch gears and write an academic paper. In the past, I've tried to balance things. I have failed each time! Something always ends up lacking (like my first novel while I focused on schoolwork, or like my grades while I wrote my second book).

So I have to wait. I have to somehow subdue the Writing Jitters for 4 more months. Then, I can regain my focus and really create a magical story that gets the appropriate love and attention it deserves! That academic writing (as good at it as I am, I don't enjoy it) will have to hold me over until Christmas time. No NaNoWriMo for me this year...

That's OK. I can last 4 more months... right? Thanks for the silent shout-outs! :)


Great. I got that off of my chest. Last bit for this post - if any authors out there (not limited to friends I already know, but hopefully I'll convince some of them) are interested in joining a writing group, I am going to start one up in January. I will be calling it "The Other Inklings." I'll be creating the group on Facebook, then once we have some members, we will start meeting in person and go over each others writing and help each other improve!

Take Luck!

JBB

Improve Your Life: Don't Impair It

Alcohol is bad. It doesn't do any good. In fact, there are so many negatives involved, I don't understand why it is so prevalent in our world.

My wife's cousin was in a tragic accident on Saturday night. He had taken his two sons to watch the Utah Jazz play against the Washington Wizards. I am sure the game was fun for all three of them. But what happened next probably erased all of those feelings from the basketball game.

A truck, going speeds as high as 70 MPH rear-ended my wife's cousin's car while he was parked at a stoplight - killing his 3 year-old on impact. This caused a chain reaction of 3 more cars crashing. Luckily, nobody else was seriously hurt.

The man driving the truck hobbled away from the wreckage, hoping to mix in with the gathering witnesses. One of the other witnesses saw him and restrained him until the police were on sight to take over. This man was drunk. He'd been weaving in and out of lanes on 40 MPH roads.

Senseless. So senseless. All because a guy had to guzzle some foul tasting drink to let him escape the world for awhile. Well, he won't be escaping the bars he's behind for awhile.

Alcohol impairs judgment. It literally causes one to do things that he/she would never do in a sober state.

"I couldn't help it, I was drunk."
"I can't remember doing that, I was drunk."
"I don't know why, I was drunk."

Three phrases I could likely infinitely multiply with different excuses. In each case, responsibility is shifted from the person to the drink. "I don't drive like that normally, I was drunk."

Is that why people still intoxicate themselves? So they can mindlessly cause problems (big or little) and cast away the responsibilities? What a sad pathetic world we live in.

Even advertisers get things mixed up. "Use a DD. Be responsible." Hmmm, how about DON'T DRINK IN THE FIRST PLACE. Just an idea. I can't think of a better way to be responsible.

Don't even get me started on addiction. Drink enough, and it'll happen to you. I have family members who have this problem.

There are so many other things to do with our time than waste it get wasted. Wholesome, good things. The man in the truck could have decided to improve his life by focusing on his talents, improving and progressing at something he is good at. Or he could have tried to pick up a new skill. Instead, he has his entire life to regret ONE NIGHT in January, 2014.

I don't know if people will listen to this. A lot will likely think I'm ignorant or stupid for writing this. All I'm asking is for anyone who willing consumes alcohol to take a step back and think about what you're putting your money towards. Even if you're a "casual" drinker. Why not put that money you would have spent on a drink towards something of use. Something that can improve your life, not impair it.

So that's my slogan on life right now. It can apply to everyone in multiple ways. But in regards to this post... please stop and think before you buy that drink. Improve your life: don't impair it.

A New Year

Happy 2014!2014 is upon us... What happened to 2013? It flew by. Is it just me, or do the years seem to speed up as I get older? Maybe it isn't a bad thing, though.
Looking back, some pretty awesome things happened to me in 2013. I'll list a few here:
1. My second child came into the world in August. She has brought me and my family so much happiness and joy! I can't wait to see what the future holds for her!
2. I went back to college to work on finishing my bachelor's degree. After a 2 year break, I felt fresh and rejuvenated... and even more determined to finish my degree. I still have a bit more to go, but I did take out a good chunk of what I have left. Even better, I feel like a better student. I think I have matured a bit, and have learned to be a student who knows how to excel. I had the best performance academically this year than I have ever had in college.
3. I discovered how epic Brandon Sanderson's novels/series' really are. A couple of years back, I read his first published novel, Elantris, and simply loved it. It was the best piece of fantasy I had read in awhile, and gave me the wonderful relief that the Fantasy genre actually still had some decency! Sadly, I didn't read anymore Sanderson until this year. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Here's a list of his books I read just this year:
Mistborn: The Final EmpireMistborn: The Well of AscensionMistborn: The Hero of AgesWarbreakerThe Emperor's SoulSteelheartMitosisThe Rithmatist
Wow... 8 books by Brandon Sanderson read this year. They were all so good... so good, in fact, that I have started collecting the hardbacks to all of them. I was lucky enough to go to Sanderson's book signing for his Steelheart release back in September, and talking with him was very refreshing. I have known too many authors who acted like they were above everything and everyone. Brandon is very humble and down to earth. And the fact that his writing is so good makes him all that much better of a person! This year, I collected hardbacks of Steelheart, The Emperor's Soul, The Rithmatist, The Alloy of Law, and Warbreaker. I hope to have the rest of his collection next year. He has at least 2 more books coming out next year (rumored to be 3) so I have my hands full catching up on his books!
4. My second novel, The Network, was published in September. I wrote the initial first draft in 2010, then sent the next 3 years rewriting, revising, and editing it. After several beta readers sent me their suggestions on things, I went back to tighten the final screws. At long last, I was happy with the end product. The revision process took 3 times as long as I allowed for my first novel, Core of the Nations, and it really shows. I still look at my first novel as a rough draft, one that I will go back and spend quality time revising and editing.
Here are a couple of interesting facts about The Network:-Since it's release in September, roughly 200 people own a copy (digital or hard).-Although the book appears to be the same length as Core of the Nations, it is actually about 15,000 words longer, totaling at about 72k. The font sizes are marginally different.
Some praise for The Network:
"The author has created a captivating novel I think everyone should read. I especially like the part where.... actually, I'd better let you read it. Go ahead, it might just open your mind to some new ideas you wouldn't expect."
"An imaginative, yet plausible, depiction of what the distant future might look like. There is also a good amount of insight into the emotions of the characters and their sense of love. The book definitely peaks your interest. I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Keep up the good work, Jesse."
Okay, maybe this is too long already, but I am going to mention a few things I look forward to in 2014:
1. Finally graduating from the University of Utah! Fall 2014 will be my last semester! It will have been a very long and hard road, enough to write a book about (hmmm....), but so worth it! I have 2 brothers who got their bachelor's degrees at the same school. My father and grandfather also got their degrees at the U of U, too. My brother-in-law got his MBA at the U of U. Finally I'll be able to add my name to the list! My little brother is currently enrolled at the U of U, as well. My turn to urge him on to join the club!
2. I get to read more Sanderson! I started reading The Way of Kings today, and will hopefully have the time to finish it over the next 2 months. The sequel comes out the first part of March... I still need to read The Alloy of Law. Hopefully between these 3 books, I'll be ready to read Firefight, and if Brandon finishes it, the sequel to The Alloy of Law. Gotta finish collecting them hardcovers, too!
3. I haven't let this info out too much, but I have started another novel. This one is the first book of a series (something I have never tried before, but have outlined some pretty good stuff). This will also be my first attempt at the fantasy genre, which has always seemed very scary to me. I have a particular love for Tolkien and Middle-Earth in general, and it seems like nobody has ever been able to do what he was able to do. Nothing has the depth of Tolkien's world. I have come to decide that I will be frustrated with anything if I try to compare it to Middle-Earth, so I have decided not to make the comparisons. It's not fair to me, or to other authors for that matter, and I'm limiting my enjoyment and capacity. And so, I enter my new series currently titled as The Shadow Wielder. Stay tuned for more info (remember that I am taking 20 credit hours over the next year, on top of working full time. I have a family that is the most important thing to me, so movement on this story will be slow, at least until 2015. At that point, I will be able to spend the time I am used to utilize for studying and focus my efforts on The Shadow Wielder.).
These are the only things I can currently plan for in 2014. I am sure there will be much more to report on, and I will do my best to blog when I can. In the meantime, I hope you all have the Happiest New Year ever, and if you feel daunted or nervous about the future, take control. Be yourself, and be proud of the person you are. Grab the next year by the horns and make it the best possible. I know I plan on doing just that.

Thanksgiving Freebie!

Hello everyone! If you haven't already been bugged by me, I'm giving The Network away for free via the Kindle Store this coming week! Happy Thanksgiving! It is available starting November 26th, and it ends on November 30th.

Here is the link to The Network on the Kindle Store.

If you want in on the giveaway, but don't have a kindle, NO WORRIES! Message me with your email address and I'll send you a PDF version!

NaNoWriMo is Upon Us!

I work for the University of Utah, providing IT support for multiple departments on campus. Last night there was a scheduled power outage at one of the buildings I support, so I came in early first thing this morning to make sure all critical systems were A-OK (previous power outages have caused major problems to some systems). Fortunately, all systems came up just fine, and as I waited around for the rest of the employees to show up (to make sure all PCs turned on properly), one of them approached me and asked about my latest book The Network. This is one of the many reasons I love about being an author.

She had heard me talk about the book several times and had shown interest in the plot. Throughout the past couple of years, she has asked me about it. She asked for an update today and I told her that it was published and available. Her face lit up. She asked for the ISBN and instantly looked it up on Amazon. She was ecstatic, going off about how she has loved to read ever since she could sound out letters into words. She gets up every morning at 4:30 just so she can read for an hour and a half. That's awesome.

Not enough people leisurely read anymore.  Steve Jobs said "The fact is people don't read anymore." Dang. That sentence makes me want to cry. Are we too wrapped up in the world around us? Or do we just not like to read? I commute to work every day via public transportation. I spend most of that time reading. Leisure reading, if possible. That's 2 hours every business day. I look around sometimes and see people staring out the windows, doing nothing. That's fine. If what they need is some quiet time on the bus to think and ponder, that's great. But it just seems like a waste of time! Any time I see someone reading a book, it brings a smile to my face, particularly if it is a book I have enjoyed myself.

I've also noticed a lot of people remarking that reading is "nerdy" or "geeky." I don't understand this, but if this type of learning is considered nerdy, I'm all for it. And I'll keep it up, and I'll keep writing.

Speaking of writing, NaNoWriMo is upon us! Ahhhh! This Friday, National Novel Writing Month begins. For those of you reading, and don't know what NaNoWriMo is, every November is National Novel Writing Month. I have had a few successful NaNo's. Core of the Nations and The Network were originally written as NaNos.  50,000 words in 30 days! Sound easy? Give it a try. You have 2 days!

Book Review: Steelheart - By Brandon Sanderson

Where there are villains, there will be heroes. Just wait. They will come.

Wow. I'm blown away. This was such an amazing book on so many levels. I would say it is "epic," but that is just a little cheezy for this book review.

I went to Brandon Sanderson's book signing for this book on September 25th along with one of my buddies. It was a blast; Sanderson is as good of a person as he is a writer. The 40 minute Q & A/readings of upcoming releases was amazing. But when I actually got to meet him as he signed my book... well, let's just say I could have talked to him for hours had it not been for the uber line behind me.

Where to start? The book is non-stop action. Just when you think things are starting to slow down, BAM! something even crazier happens. This happens all the way to the very last page of the book. The characters are easy to relate to, particularly David, the main character. Cody is hilarious, and can't really decide what nationality he is. Then there is Prof, the main man of the Reckoners (the group fighting against the Epics)... not gonna give up any spoilers here, but some of his moments had my jaw dropping. Megan plays an essential role, particularly for David, throughout the book. Abraham is pretty cool, and the last member of the team, Tia, is probably the Reckoner I would want to be most like.

Then there are the Epics, the mad, crazy superhumans that have been given so much power, they can't think about doing anything but control others. Steelheart, obviously, is the main bad guy. You learn to really hate him. Then there are other "high Epics" like Nightwielder and Conflux.

Then there is Firefight (the title of the next book, too...). Dang. I want to go back and reread the entire book just because of Firefight! That's all I'm saying here.

Pick up a copy. You won't regret it. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Hollywood picks this one up. A movie version of this story (ok, I'm gonna get cheezy) would be so EPIC!

The Network is Here!

Well, my friends, my project of 3 years has finally come to its culminating end: The Network has been published and is available everywhere! (Most stores will likely have to order it in, or just go to Amazon and order it)

What a fun ride. The Network was a book I was excited about throughout the entire process. I loved the creation, the twists and turns the story brought me. I even loved the editing! If you want a quick look, just click here. If you buy your copy from Amazon, you'll get a free Kindle version, too! Yay for freebies!

Yesterday I was privileged to meet Brandon Sanderson at a book signing in Salt Lake City. He signed my new copy of Steelheart. He spoke for about 40 minutes, which was awesome. He read a few excerpts from 2 upcoming books - the sequel to The Way of Kings, as well as the sequel to The Alloy of Law. Both were awesome.

I'm 7 chapters into Steelheart, and I must say, it is really good! Sanderson sold the movie rights to the book, and I sure hope someone picks it up and makes a film out of it!

In any case, you need to get yourself a copy of this book! You won't be disappointed!