 |
Brandon SandersonAmerican fantasy author.
Date of Birth: 19.12.1975
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson is an American fantasy author and a prominent member of the younger generation of American writers in the fantasy genre. Although his bibliography is not extensive, he is best known as the author of the "Mistborn" series and as the continuation writer of the unfinished epic fantasy saga "The Wheel of Time" by the late Robert Jordan. Sanderson's works have topped the bestseller lists seven times, and in less than ten years of his career, he has received literary awards such as the "UPC" and "Hugo" awards, as well as four "Best Choice" awards from "Romantic Times" magazine, among others.
Early Life and Education
Brandon Sanderson was born on December 19, 1975, in Lincoln, Nebraska. As a child, he developed a love for reading, particularly children's detective stories. However, in middle school, he began to prefer other activities over reading. This changed when his literature teacher called him out for his lack of interest in reading and recommended Barbara Hambly's fantasy novel "Dragonsbane." This book, as Sanderson later admitted, changed his perspective on reading. He bought all the books in the bookstore with the word "dragon" in the title and then proceeded to read all the fantasy literature in the school library.
After high school, Sanderson initially pursued a degree in biochemistry at college but realized during his first year that he had made a mistake in career choice. He then transferred to the English department at Brigham Young University, where he studied creative writing. He wrote his own works and even published them in the university magazine "Frontiers," which served as a launching pad for many American writers and critics. In 2000, Sanderson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He continued his education and obtained a Master's degree in 2005.
Writing Career
In 1999, while preparing for his Bachelor's exams, Sanderson wrote his first novel "Elantris," which was published in 2005. In this fantasy novel, Sanderson explored a world where magic had vanished, turning the once-magical beings into walking corpses. The book received critical acclaim for its complex plot twists, well-developed characters, and profound religious and philosophical musings. It was nominated for the John W. Campbell Award and received the "Best Choice" award from "Romantic Times" magazine.
In 2006, Sanderson signed a contract with "Tor Books," and his first book of the "Mistborn" trilogy, "Mistborn: The Final Empire," was published. This dark empire, born from mist, featured characters who could use magic from all metals and had unexpected plot twists. Sanderson's masterful storytelling and the development of two main characters determined to overthrow the empire propelled him into the spotlight. The next two books in the trilogy, "The Well of Ascension" and "The Hero of Ages," were published in the following two years and were awarded the David Gemmell Award.
In 2007, Sanderson published the fantasy book "Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians," which marked the beginning of the "Alcatraz" series. The story revolves around a young orphan boy with a strange gift for destruction and a mysterious bag of sand that transforms the world around him. As of now, the series consists of three books.
In the same year, Robert Jordan, the author of the epic fantasy series "The Wheel of Time," passed away, leaving behind an unfinished novel. Impressed by Sanderson's "Mistborn" novel, Jordan's widow, Harriet McDougal, offered Sanderson the opportunity to complete her late husband's work. After reaching an agreement with the publisher, Sanderson wrote three books in "The Wheel of Time" series: "The Gathering Storm" (2009), "Towers of Midnight" (2010), and "A Memory of Light" (2013). He also penned the short story "River of Souls" (2013) set in the same universe.
Personal Life
Brandon Sanderson currently resides in Provo, Utah. In 2006, he married his wife, Emily Bushman, who is a teacher, and they have three children together. Apart from his writing career, Sanderson teaches at the university and is a regular participant in the weekly podcast "Writing Excuses," which provides a fifteen-minute review of literary works and comics.
