Cover to Cover #283A: Brandon Sanderson

Brandon SandersonMichael and Michael start the show off talking about the chatter and the buildup around the impending start of NaNoWriMo 2007, and Stackpole suggests starting with his "21 Days to a Novel" tips, featured in "The Secrets", as a warmup, since while finishing a 50,000 word story in a month is beyond admirable, the finished product by itself is not a complete saleable novel.

Which by coincidence is a process Summer's doing for this year...

So, if you're doing NaNoWriMo this year, let us know!

Interview: Brandon Sanderson joins us near the end of his book tour (with David Farland), to talk about his latest book, "The Well of Ascension", the second book in the Mistborn series.

The Mistborn trilogy follows a band of thieves as they set out to take down the dark lord who beat the prophesied hero and subjected the land to oppression and darkness. "The Well of Ascension" deals with the aftermath, because there's always unexpected fallout when you assume the bad guy is all bad.

Brandon also has a young adult story "Alcatraz vs The Evil Librarians" that's just come out, and a new work-in-progress called "Dragonsteel". He expands on the story behind Evil Librarians, because you can't say that title and not want to know more.

Brandon is also releasing the first draft of a new fantasy "Warbreaker" under Creative Commons License on his website. Go check it out!

The Library: New to the Library this week: Angel Isle by Peter Dickinson; Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin; The Battle at the Moons of Hell by Graham Sharp Paul; Dog Days by John Levitt; Awakened Mage by Karen Miller; Chris Longknife: Audacious by Mike Shepard; Sex and the Immortal Bad Boy by Stephanie Rowe.

Summer made an error... there is not a 3rd book in Karen Miller's "Kingmaker, Kingbreaker" series. Awakened Mage is the second and concluding book in the series.

Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know!

Can you do an audio book review no longer than 3 minutes? Here's what we're looking for:

  • Book title, author, publisher, cost
  • Must have been published within the past calendar year
  • Why did you like the book?
  • What about the book will you remember a year from now?
  • Why do you want to recommend this book to other potential readers?

Link: Brandon Sanderson
Promo: Scott Sigler's "Nocturnal"

Comments

  1. I'm doing NaNo this year. http://arklewrimo.blogspot.com

    My mom and step-dad did it last year, but I've not heard word one on if they're going to this year.

    I'm really excited about this project, which my inflated ego hopes will be the birth of a new sub-genre; dark romantic comedy. I think my proposed tag line for the book (if it gets published) says it all;

    "At long last, a romantic tale for the people who yelled FINALLY at the end of Love Story."

    >:-)

  2. I'm participating in NaNoWriMo again this year. I'd be writing the novel anyhow, but I found it to be a great motivator last year.

    One thing you mentioned a few times was the 50,000 word length. The way it's set up you need to write 50,000 words of a new novel in November. There isn't a requirement that the novel is finished by then (which is non-obvious, but NaFirFifThouWoOfNoWriMo really doesn't work). The novel I'm planning has a projected wordcount of about 90,000 words, so I'm using NaNo to kickstart it.

  3. Hi guys.
    Ever since I heard about "21 Days to a Novel" tip in one of the shpws I've been looking for it like crazy and didn't find it anyware.
    google gives nothing, stormwolf site search goves nothing back.

    Help?

    I'm planing on using NaNoWriMo to motivate me to finish my second book

  4. The mixing of stormwolf.com and michaelastackpole.com has made a few important links disappear, unfortunately, but I'll mention that to him next time I see him.

    Your best bet is to search of The Secrets in the iTunes store, and subscribe there.

    The 21 Days series starts in episode #17.

  5. Thanks Summer