This is the third of our Storm Leader reports we’ll be posting throughout the U.S. book tour for THE GATHERING STORM. At each tour location, Dragonmount and Tor Books recruited a select group of volunteer fans to help run the event, hand out promotional materials, and represent us to the fans. In return, they were given the opportunity to meet with Brandon Sanderson and (if present for their event) Robert Jordan’s wife Harriet. We will have a full report with photos and possibly video for each one of the tour stops. Prior Storm Leader reports can be found here.

Report by Peter Binkowski

I wrote a post on my blog site entitled “The Storm is coming to Chicago: A Storm Leaders take on one of the most highly anticipated novels of the last four year” I thought it was rather creative at the time, two days ago, so this is a sequel if you will. Originally I wasn’t even supposed to write this post. The “First Among Equals” in our storm leader group, known on dragonmount as “Barmacral” was going to, however, time constraints and a few communication difficulties, and I’m here!

I was also the note-taker for the event, originally saying that I would be happy with any of the jobs that would be presented.

I mentioned in my earlier blog that I was near giddy with excitement to be actually doing this, I had never been to a book signing, and I was going to be a Storm Leader and this was THE GATHERING STORM! Nearly blew my mind. I have no idea how I finally fell asleep the night before, I was reading the spoiler forum on DM and suddenly I’m waking up to my blearing alarm clock on Wednesday.

I trudged through my day, eager to be finally getting the book into my hands, I’m sure anyone looking saw my eyes intense in concentration staring at the spoiler forum in my 9am Chem lecture, ignoring the mundane of stoichiometry.

I stopped at my brother’s house, he applied as a storm leader, yet was not chosen, however, he was allowed to be part of the festivities. Next stop, my parent’s house, where we argued with my sister just how great this book is going to be.

Finally, we were off, taking less than expected time to get to get to the borders, I arrived with my brother at 3pm at Borders, three hours earlier than the scheduled meeting with Brandon at Six. So like any decent, raving mad fan, I ran to get my copy, waited patiently for my Americano from Seattle’s Best coffee, and proceeded to plop down at a table a read, I had been waiting four years you should remember. One brief change of setting happened when we went to a hotel lobby to wait for the rest of the storm leaders to show up.

We get together and find that two are missing, Greg and Renae. Greg, I get ahold of and he is in a cab coming, Renae, however, we try multiple times to get ahold of and no response. Sadly she was not able to make it to the event.

Brendan and Meesha go pick up their copies of the book and in we walk to the restaurant to meet with Brandon. Heart pounding. We walk in and there sits Brandon, Greg (who just arrived as well), and Brandon’s media escort, Judy.

The Dinner was nice; we were still all getting our bearing and were on the quiet side. We obviously talked about the books. However, as most of us had not read them yet, we didn’t get too much into spoilers. I did find out that I am the least self-controlled out of everyone, I spoiled myself, and knew just about every major plot arc in the book. Brandon himself confided in us that he absolutely hates spoilers. I felt slightly inadequate.

As the time approached seven (the signing was scheduled for seven thirty) we wrapped up conversation, which I believe was now on the topic of Brandon’s own Mistborn series, and headed over to the Borders.
Immediately we split up, my brother and I went in back to stack pre-signed books, and the rest went to set up and pass things out to the rather large crowd.

In the back with Brandon, we simply continued the discussion on his own books, including something things about future books.

We promptly began at seven thirty, striding out of the backroom, one of the Borders employees started off with an intro from one of the borders employees. Explaining Robert Jordan’s death and how Brandon got to be chosen.
Then Brandon started to speak, cracked a few jokes to the crowd started and proceeded to do a reading from the book.

“The Wheel of time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Aged that gave it birth comes again.”

Saying he has never read that passage out loud before, Brandon read through a portion of the first chapter. Brandon did do a quick Q&A Section.

Q&A Section

1. What is the setup for the prequels?

Brandon responded that he is not sure, He states that he doesn’t want it to be an eternal series, and suggests being very careful. He will go with whatever is the will of Harriet. Also possible to do outriggers, again depends on Harriet. There is a chance of both, Tom Doherty wants them both, so in the end it will be up to Harriet and BS will go along with whatever she wants and decides on.

2. What are the new chapter symbols?

Harriet names the chapters actually, so she sent over a list of all symbols and chapter, and wanted me to pick out symbols to go with the chapters, BS pushed for new symbols. He wanted a symbol to show the pattern unfurling. So that’s what you get with chapter. Also Brandon chose Perrin’s black smith puzzle for his own symbol on the author page.

3. Which character do you most identify with?

Brandon said that it depends on when he read the series through. When he first started reading he really was identifying with Rand, simply because they were both teenagers, so he naturally connected with how he felt. Then he started feeling for Perrin, slightly more mature, also because of the similarities in personality. This last time he read through the series for TGS, he most identified with Moraine, and Nyneave, because he, as a father in his 30’s, can see the wisdom and guidance that they have to impart, and how better things would be if the boys just did what they were supposed to, unlike when he was younger when he would simply wish that they would stop butting in all the time.

4. How do you keep from being burnt out?

Brandon said that he switches projects continually. He wrote 13 standalone books before he ever got one published, that being Elantris, his 6th novel, “I write compulsively” that’s where Alcatraz came from, he needed a break from Mistborn, and so he stopped for a time and wrote a light YA novel. He would often take a Saturday off in the middle of a project, and write something completely different, something he wasn’t necessarily supposed to.

Let the Signing Begin!

Who wants a bumper sticker?

The line wrapping around the book store

Brandon Signing for fans

Here are some fan questions and Brandon’s quotes from during the signing.

“There are a surprising amount of deaths in the notes, so I get to play headsman” -Brandon

Q: “Is Mat’s humor changing?”
A: “His world turned upside down. Usually, he’s the guy who leaves, he doesn’t know how to handle someone he loves leaving him.” – Brandon

Q: If you could kill one character gruesomely (with out regard to plot) who would it be?
A: “Cadsuane” – Brandon

When asked about his favourite part of writing this series in specific: “The Characters feel like old highschool buddies.” – Brandon

On going into Robert Jordan study: “It felt like wondering into davinci’s workshop seeing his unfinished work” picking up RJ’s notes.“ -Brandon

Whats most difficult in the writing process?
“Keeping track of everyone” “I was confused about who was with Perrin, so I ask Charleston for a file with every one of the two river, whose with them, then send over a file of a complete list of two rivers folk with Perrin, most of whom hadn’t even been mentioned, and it had things like they’re names, relations, and most of them what they did in the army.” -Brandon

How do you keep sane? “Writing compulsively. Actually, I’m not sane, I’m a writer” – Brandon

More Photos

An Asha’man showed up for the latest book.

Honorary Storm Leader, Michal Binkowksi, presents Brandon with a Fan’s huge stack of books to sign.

Brandon posting a Tweet for a fan.

Fan, Matt Sweeny, won an autographed poster of TGS

And finally a shot of Brandon and the Storm Leaders! From left to right: Brendan Oxford, Brandon Sanderson, Myself (Peter Binkowski), Michal Binkowski, Greg Andrus, Meesha Meserole, and Brian Gyrion

Thanks to: Brendan, for organizing this crazy mess, and being the point of contact.
My Brother who was my ride and stepped up to help in Renae’s absence.
Greg for organizing the raffle, and being so knowledgeable about the books,
Meesha who I texted late at night to get the pictures (she was the photographer)
Brian, for making sure all the supplies got to us and for folding to supplies up to stuff into signed books.

Special Thanks To: Tor, for agree to take a swing at the storm leader shindig,
Jason and Jennifer of Dragonmount, who organized and set this all up,
Brandon Sanderson, for being such a great guy and author,
Border Bookstore in Oakbrook, thank God we got a signing stop in Chicago.