Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson, born on December 19, 1975, is a prolific American author renowned for his contributions to high fantasy, science fiction, and young adult literature. He is best known for his acclaimed series, including the Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive, both set within the expansive Cosmere fictional universe. Beyond the Cosmere, Sanderson has crafted several popular young adult and juvenile series, such as The Reckoners, the Skyward series, and the Alcatraz series.

In addition to his original works, Sanderson gained recognition for completing Robert Jordan's legendary high fantasy series, The Wheel of Time. His creative endeavors extend to graphic novels, with titles like White Sand and Dark One showcasing his versatility as a writer. Sanderson's influence in the literary community is further highlighted by his innovative concepts, including Sanderson's Laws of Magic, which have popularized the distinction between 'hard magic' and 'soft magic' systems.

In 2008, he co-founded the creative writing podcast Writing Excuses alongside horror writer Dan Wells and cartoonist Howard Tayler, providing aspiring writers with valuable insights. More recently, in mid-2022, he and Wells launched another podcast, Intentionally Blank, focusing on writing and pop culture discussions. Sanderson's impressive output includes seventy-one published works as of 2023, many of which have achieved best-seller status on the New York Times list.

In a groundbreaking move, Sanderson's March 2022 Kickstarter campaign to self-publish four novels became the most successful in history, garnering over one hundred eighty-five thousand backers and raising more than forty-one million dollars. In January 2026, Apple TV acquired the film and television rights to Sanderson's Cosmere universe in an unprecedented deal, granting him extensive creative control over the adaptations.