And to think I know this guy!!!
Brandon Sanderson, who wrote the popular Mistborn and Elantris books with Tor was asked to complete the Wheel of Time Series. I’m thrilled by this since Brandon is one of my writer friends. I cannot imagine a task so huge. This is very exciting news indeed. Brandon will do a great job and this means that there is something fabulous to look forward to! While you wait for the Memory of Light to be released, I strongly encourage you to go buy one of his other books. Brandon’s a great writer and you won’t be disappointed.
I am in the middle of reading Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians with my kids right now. We read a chapter every night and the kids feel tortured that I won’t sneak in extra chapters. (okay, okay . . . I have sneaked in extra chapters a couple of times)
Congratulations Brandon!!!! Here is the press release:
—–Press Release—- Tor Books announced today that novelist Brandon Sanderson has been chosen to finish writing the final novel in Robert Jordan’s bestselling Wheel of Time fantasy series.
Jordan–described by some as Tolkien’s heir–died Sept. 16 from a rare blood disease. The new novel, A Memory of Light, will be the 12th and final book in the fantasy series which has sold more than 14 million copies in
North America and more than 30 million copies worldwide. The last four books in the series were all #1 New York Times bestsellers.
Harriet Popham Rigney, Jordan’s widow and editor, chose Sanderson to complete A Memory of Light–which Jordan worked on almost daily for the last few months of his life–and will edit it. Rigney said some scenes from the book were completed by
Jordan before his death, and some exist in draft form. “He left copious notes and hours of audio recordings,” she said. He also revealed details about the end of the series to close members of his family.Sanderson, who acknowledged
Jordan as an inspiration to him as a writer, has established a loyal fan base as the author of three fantasy novels: Elantris, Mistborn and The Well of Ascension (Tor), as well as a YA novel, Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (Scholastic Press). Sanderson said, “I’m both extremely excited and daunted by this opportunity. There is only one man who could have done this book the way it deserved to be written, and we lost him in September. However, I promise to do my very best to remain true to Mr. Jordan’s vision and produce the book we have all been waiting to read.”A Memory of Light is scheduled for publication in fall 2009.
That is really cool! He’s coming to the Storymaker conference in March. I’m glad we got him booked before he’s way too famous!!
Very cool. What an amazing thing for him. Dreams really can come true!
I was so shocked to hear of his death yesterday…what a blow. I’ve been reading the Wheel of Time since I graduated High School. So excited to hear good things about his successor though.