Retiring this mirror blog

I'm retiring this mirror blog, after the launch of my new website. I'm pretty sure very few people actually followed this mirror. My new blog is right on my new site's front page, and it has a new RSS feed. You can also get more frequent updates from me on Twitter and Facebook.

If you haven't seen the Steelheart book trailer, the prologue, or the teaser chapters (Chapter Ten and Chapter Eleven), please go give them a look! The release date is fast approaching, so think about preordering the book from your favorite vendor. Weller Book Works has a few signed & numbered copies left. You can also come to the release event at the Orem Barnes & Noble on September 24th. (More details later.) Mysterious Galaxy and Shawn Speakman's The Signed Page will also have signed books available to preorder, but they won't be shipped until I sign them in October. I have worldwide links to other places you can preorder the book here.

Many of you know that my good friend Dan Wells’s Serial Killer books were published in Germany before they were printed in the US (see Writing Excuses Episode 8.29 for a description of how this happened). Since then, Dan’s books have done very well in Germany. In fact, he’s living there now partly because of this.

Dan’s success in Germany has made me curious about what my readers think of the German translations of my own novels. I’ve never visited Germany. It’s a big market that I don’t know very much about, and I’m curious about it.

In fact, I would love to know how my foreign translations in any language compare to the original English. If there are those of you out there who are familiar with both editions of some of my works, we would love to hear from you, particularly if you are bilingual or have read both the original and a foreign translation. Specifically we would like to hear from my German readers.

We would also like to know who your favorite translators are in your language. Are there ones that do a particularly good job? Please email your thoughts through the contact form on my website or post on Facebook.

Website redesign launch

My website debuted a major redesign yesterday. I kick it off with a post about winning two Hugo Awards this past weekend.

Infinity Blade: Redemption + Updates

Hey, all! I had an exciting time at Worldcon, as you might have heard. I'm working on a long blog post about the experience, and it will go up tomorrow. (Actually, be sure to check my site tomorrow, regardless...)

For today, though, I wanted to announce the release of my second and final Infinity Blade novella! It's out now on the iBookstore, with a short exclusive period for them. It will move to other ebook platforms next week.

If you aren't familiar with this project, these are based on a game series made by some friends of mine in Salt Lake City. The games are awesome, and have been bestsellers on iOS devices. I did one other novella bridging the first and second games, and now have written one taking place after the second game. It's been a fun experience; they've really let me onto the team, and I've been able to have a lot to do with the story development of the entire series.

Pictures of Hugo Awards tomorrow!

In other news, my assistant Peter has uploaded another Twitter posts archive, covering August.

A bit of catch-up on the Writing Excuses podcast: We did episodes on making non-human characters relatable, survivorship bias, and a guest episode with Jeph Jacques of Questionable Content about digging yourself out of holes.

Brandon

Spokane 2015

Hey, all. This is a post that may not be relevant for everyone, but I thought it was an important one to make anyway.

I had the pleasure of being Guest of Honor a few weeks back at SpoCon, a sf/fantasy convention in Spokane, Washington. Well, it turns out that the same group who run SpoCon have a bid out for Worldcon in 2015. The voting will happen this weekend at Worldcon in San Antonio, which I'm attending. (Though kind of last-minute.)

Voting costs $40, and unfortunately it's too late to mail in ballots; it has to be done in person. Voting also gets you a supporting membership to whichever Worldcon wins for 2015—meaning you can vote in that year's Hugos as well (and get that year's Hugo Voter Packet), for cheaper than it will cost to buy a supporting membership once 2015 rolls around. And a supporting membership can be upgraded to an attending membership very easily.

Since I was just hosted by these people, I think I'm in a unique position to give them—and their Worldcon bid—a shout-out. The guest liaison team was top-notch, and the entire convention was extremely well organized. I was surprised by how pretty Spokane was this time of year to boot.

If anyone is debating where to put their vote for Worldcon, let me nudge you toward Spokane. I don't know anything about the other Worldcon bid teams, and I'm sure there are plenty of great people on them—but I know for certain the team in Spokane knows what they're doing. The city itself is pushing hard for the convention, even going so far to send city representatives to Worldcon this year to lobby.

Hats off to the entire crew. I had a wonderful time, and would love to return in two years for Worldcon. This is a bid to take very seriously.

Brandon

Worldcon This Weekend

Worldcon in San Antonio (LoneStarCon 3) starts tomorrow. Here's my schedule! There are hundreds of industry luminaries at the convention, so be sure to check out all the great programming.

World Science Fiction Convention, San Antonio

Place: LoneStarCon 3
Address: Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center
200 E Market St
San Antonio, TX 78205

Schedule: August 29th–September 2nd, 2013

SATURDAY

6:00–7:00 p.m., 006A
Brandon Sanderson Reading

SUNDAY

1:00–2:00 p.m., Autographing Area
Autographing: John Maddox Roberts, Brandon Sanderson, John Scalzi, Laura Underwood

8:00 p.m., Grand Ballroom
The Hugo Awards
The Emperor's Soul is nominated in the Best Novella category, and Writing Excuses in the Best Related Work category. Best of luck to all the nominees! You can also watch the awards live on UStream.

Notes:

The "Firstborn"/"Defending Elysium" convention exclusive hardcover will be available in limited numbers at Howard Tayler's booth in the dealers' room.

Steelheart Preorders from Weller Book Works Start Today + My Gen Con Schedule

Tomorrow and Saturday I'll be at Gen Con. My schedule is below. See you there! But first, if you haven't seen the STEELHEART teaser trailer, the prologue, or teaser chapters, please go give them a look! The release date is fast approaching, so think about preordering the book from your favorite vendor. (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, Audible, Apple, Kobo, Google Play.) If you would like a signed and numbered copy, Weller Book Works will begin accepting orders TODAY for delivery on or very shortly after September 24th. (Or you can come to the release event at the Orem Barnes & Noble on September 24th. More details later.) Mysterious Galaxy and Shawn Speakman's The Signed Page will also have signed books available to preorder, but they won't be shipped until I sign them in October.

Steelheart Signed & Numbered Copies

Weller Book Works is excited to offer signed and numbered copies of Brandon Sanderson's Steelheart.

A maximum of two copies may be ordered per customer. The price is $15.19 per copy plus tax and/or shipping if applicable. That's 20% off the cover price of $18.99.

United States shipping is via USPS Priority Mail. You may choose to have orders for a single copy shipped in a padded envelope or in a box. Orders for two copies will be shipped in a box. Shipping prices are as follows:

• US Domestic padded envelope - $7.00
• US Domestic box - $13.00

In addition, orders picked up in-store or shipped to destinations in Utah will be charged sales tax of $1.04 per book.

International shipping is via USPS 1st Class or Priority Mail for single copies. You may choose to have single copy orders shipped in a 1st Class padded envelope, a Priority Mail padded envelope, or a Priority Mail box. Orders for two copies will be shipped in a Priority Mail box. Unfortunately, we are not able to ship two copies 1st Class due to weight limits. Please note that 1st Class orders will not arrive until significantly after the release date. Shipping prices are as follows:

• Canada & Mexico 1st Class padded envelope - $16.00
• Canada & Mexico Priority Mail padded envelope - $21.00
• Canada & Mexico Priority Mail box - $ 42.00
• All other international 1st Class padded envelope - $23.00
• All other international Priority Mail padded envelope - $25.00
• All other international Priority Mail box - $62.00

Orders may be paid for with credit card or Paypal only. All orders must be placed via e-mail by e-mailing books@wellerbookworks.com.

When you order, please let us know how you would like your copy personalized. Tell us "signature only" if you just want it signed and numbered. If you would like it signed to you or to a friend, say, e.g., "Sign it 'to John.'" If you are paying by Paypal, please include your paypal email in your order so that we can invoice you. Please include your shipping address when ordering.

This promotion is limited to 500 copies of Steelheart, and all orders must be received and paid for by August 31, 2013.

E-mail books@wellerbookworks.com to order today!

Gen Con Indy

Place: Gen Con Indy 2013
Address: Indiana Convention Center
100 S Capitol Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46225

Schedule: August 16–17, 2013

FRIDAY

11:00 a.m.–12:00 noon, ICC Room 244 (SEM1345269)
Panel: Worldbuilding: Magic & Mysticism
Learn to weave magic into your setting in a way that drives the story and satisfies the reader.
Elizabeth Vaughan, John Helfers, Lou Anders, Dave Gross, Brandon Sanderson

2:00–3:30 p.m., ICC Room 500 Ballroom/Reception (ENT1350579)
Event: Epic Villains Bestselling authors Brandon Sanderson (STEELHEART, Sept. 2013) and James Dashner (EYE OF MINDS, Oct. 2013) introduce their new series and discuss the creation of the most horrifying villains within their fiction—past and present. For a chance to win an epic prize, collect some cool swag, and receive a limited edition signed poster, come check out this sneak peek!
Cost: $2.00

4:00–5:00 p.m., ICC Room 245 (SEM1345264)
Panel: Writer's Craft: Novel Outlines
Discover the techniques and tricks for creating effective, compelling, and pitchable novel outlines.
John Helfers, Jerry Gordon, Saladin Ahmed, Brandon Sanderson, Erik Scott De Bie

7:00–9:00 p.m., ICC Room 244 (SEM1350944)
Panel: Writing Excuses: Live Audience Session 1
Join Writing Excuses hosts Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, and Mary Robinette Kowal for a live audience recording session Friday evening. The team will record four to six episodes of their popular podcast between 7pm and 9pm, interviewing special guests from the symposium and VIG's and others from the wider convention. During this session at least one episode will be a rapid-fire Q&A using questions taken from the audience, so be sure to bring some stumpers.

9:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. VIG Lounge, ICC Rooms 116–117 (TCG1352591)
VIG: Magic: The Gathering draft and tournament with Brandon Sanderson
Come draft and play MTG with Brandon Sanderson, author of the Mistborn series and the continuation of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time saga. Prizes awarded! VIG and VIG Companions only.
Cost: $24.00

SATURDAY

12:00 noon–2:00 p.m., Exhibit Hall Booth 1749
Signing: Brandon Sanderson at Howard Tayler's Schlock Mercenary booth
Brandon's books (including this year's convention exclusive hardcover) will be available for purchase, or you can bring your own books. Howard Tayler, Jim Zub, and Tracy Hickman will also be at the booth at various times throughout the day. And you can also ask Brandon to sign your books any other time during the convention that you can catch him between panels.

2:00–3:00 p.m., ICC Room 245 (SEM1345288)
Panel: Exploring Genres: Young Adult
Get the inside scoop on what it takes to write fiction for the lucrative YA market.
Kelly Swails, David Farland, James Dashner, Ari Marmell, Brandon Sanderson

3:00–4:00 p.m., ICC Room 245 (SEM1345289)
Panel: Exploring Genres: Dark Fantasy
Explore techniques for writing fantasy with an edge as we discuss the darker side of the genre.
Paul Genesse, Kelly Swails, Chris Pierson, Lucy Snyder, Brandon Sanderson

4:00–5:00 p.m., Crowne Plaza Grand Central Ballroom D (SEM1343796)
Panel: Scheming through Scadrial: Making Mistborn Yours
The Final Empire is hard on Crews but it's also tricky for Narrators. Join the creators of the Mistborn Adventure Game for an interactive panel about adventuring in Brandon Sanderson's unique world.
NOTE: This panel is a two-hour panel beginning at 3:00. Brandon will show up for the final hour of the panel.
Patrick Kapera, Brandon Sanderson

7:00–9:00 p.m., ICC Room 244 (SEM1350945)
Panel: Writing Excuses: Live Audience Session 2
Join Writing Excuses hosts Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, and Mary Robinette Kowal for a live audience recording session Friday evening. The team will record four to six episodes of their popular podcast between 7pm and 9pm, interviewing special guests from the symposium and VIG's and others from the wider convention. During this session at least one episode will be a rapid-fire Q&A using questions taken from the audience, so be sure to bring some stumpers.

NOTE:
Brandon's books (including this year's convention exclusive hardcover) will be available for purchase at Howard Tayler's Schlock Mercenary booth 1749 in the Exhibit Hall.