Brandon Sanderson Signing Event: Scottsdale, Arizona

While the vast majority of content on this blog is not focused toward the geographic area I call home, occasionally I do post local events. The event below is the Brandon Sanderson signing event for The Gathering Storm, Book 12 of The Wheel of Time (US, UK, Canada, Indiebound). What makes it extra nice for me is that I'm a Storm Leader through Tor and Dragonmount, which basically means I'm a volunteer for the event and in exchange I get a t-shirt and the chance to meet and hang out with Brandon over dinner. Anyway, on to the event info (along with some nice fliers put together by a fellow Storm Leader).

Brandon Sanderson Signs

The Gathering Storm

The Wheel of Time Book 12

Monday, November 16th, 7:00 PM
Civic Center Library Auditorium

3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251-4452

More information is available at the Scottsdale Public Library website and at The Poisoned Pen bookstore who is sponsoring the event and will have books and refreshments for sale at the event.

If you are in Arizona, spread the word and I hope to see you there!

Storm Leaders

As part of the signing tour that Brandon Sanderson will be doing for The Gathering Storm (US, UK, Canada, Indiebound), Dragonmount.com is teaming up with Tor to provide volunteers at each event location. These 4-6 individuals will get an opportunity for some behind-the-scenes time with Sanderson and will provide some logistical support (such as handing out swag) at the events. Dragonmount.com has just announced the people who have been selected (there were over 500 applications).

I’m happy to say that I was selected to be one of the Storm Leaders. I’ll be at the Phoenix/Scottsdale signing on November 16th. It’s celebration time.

John Scalzi Signs My Books

This evening John Scalzi was in town as part of his book tour for The Last Colony up at The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale. As with pretty much every book signing I’ve been to, I had a good time. Scalzi is a very personable kind of guy who manages to come off quite genuine as he tells stories – stories that you don’t necessarily get the sense of being stock stories for the tour. He was very animated as he jumped from many varied subjects – how he met his wife, his first failed book tour, interpretive dance, how he missed much of college (the class part) and the old girlfriend from those days, and some actual talk about his books – pretty much the same sort of thing he blogs about sans politics. I found it interesting at just how much emphasis he puts on the opening lines to his books – I think the Scalzi writes very good opening lines, and have featured the opening line of his books in two of the reviews I’ve done.

As he signed my books we had the usual nice small talk – I mentioned the opening line thing and that I reviewed his books at FBS. He responded with recognition that I’m the Neth Space guy and complimented me on my review style. I like to think that people appreciate what I do and it was reassuring to hear Scalzi compliment me – particularly since he’s written a fair share of reviews since his movie critic days out of college.

Scalzi has rather brief post here about the event (and a more in-depth one here), with a picture. I'm in there....well half of my head and a quarter of my torso is anyway.