Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Winn Sanderson (born December 19, 1975, in Lincoln, Nebraska) is an award‑winning American author renowned for epic fantasy and science fiction. He earned a BA and MA from Brigham Young University—during which he served as a Mormon missionary in South Korea—and began his writing career editing the speculative fiction magazine The Leading Edge.

Sanderson burst onto the fantasy scene with Elantris (2005), followed by the bestselling Mistborn trilogy (2006–2008), which introduced the innovative magic systems of Allomancy and Feruchemy. His enduring legacy includes finishing Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series after Jordan’s death—a task that catapulted him into the global spotlight with The Gathering Storm reaching #1 on +the New York Times list.

He’s best known for the ongoing, ambitious Stormlight Archive saga (2010–present), with five books published including Wind and Truth (December 6, 2024) within a planned 10‑book arc, and a broader shared-universe concept called the “Cosmere” that also encompasses Elantris, Mistborn, Warbreaker, and various novellas.

Sanderson created the influential “Sanderson’s Laws of Magic” to guide fantasy authors, and co‑hosts the long‑running Writing Excuses and newer Intentionally Blank podcasts. As adjunct creative writing faculty at BYU, he balances his roles as teacher, writer, and entrepreneur.

Through his Lightweaver Foundation and Kickstarter campaigns, Sanderson has funded ambitious creative projects—most notably a historic $41 million crowdfunding campaign for four secret Cosmere novels. He also launched Dragonsteel Entertainment to maintain ownership and creative independence, with ventures spanning leatherbound editions, merchandise, and a forthcoming tabletop RPG that raised $14.7 million in 2024