Isaac Stewart: August 2007 Archives
Brandon Sanderson's pre-release party for the second Mistborn book, The Well of Ascension, at the Provo Waldenbooks was a great success. Everyone who came and purchased one of the new books had it signed and numbered by Sanderson. Waldenbooks also had copies of Elantris (in hardcover and paperback) and the first Mistborn book (Mistborn: The Final Empire, in paperback) on hand for anyone who wanted one.
The line stretched out the door, across the bridge, and around the corner, eventually holding 150-200 people (the line ended back by that Pepsi machine in the back of the picture by the palm tree).Waldenbooks ended up selling between 130-150 books--I lost count after I got through the line (books #121 and #122), and there were 20 or so people after me. Some fans purchased as many as five books (I saw one person carrying that many to the register after Sanderson signed them).
After the signing, Sanderson answered several questions from the gathered fans about tips for getting published, finding an agent, and what to expect when trying to break into the writer's market. After the questions and answers, he drew out the winners of the raffle, the first prize being an edited copy of the third Mistborn novel (left) which isn't due out for another year. Four other lucky winners received gift cards from Waldenbooks. 
Also at the signing was Isaac Stewart (right), the illustrator for the maps and internal ornaments found in both Mistborn books. He also signed all of the books and spoke with people at the release party.
Eric James Stone (left, watching Sanderson sign books) was at the event and told me that he has a story ("Premature Emergence" according to his bibliography page) coming out in Jim Baen's Universe in February 2008, and that he just sold a story to Analog, though he doesn't yet know the issue in which the story will appear. Keep an eye on this blog for more information as I find out. On a "that's just cool" note, Stone was wearing a "Mistborn Llamas" t-shirt.
