Gathering Storm Release Party

Last night, on the eve of The Gathering Storm’s release, Wheel of Time fans gathered in Charleston at Brigham Young University for a release party with Brandon Sanderson. Reporting from the ground was Spencer Powell, and below the cut is some of the magic and madness he witnessed there. (If, like us, you couldn't make the Charleston JUST KIDDING BYU shindig, see if you can catch Brandon at another one of his tour stops, including one in Charleston for reals.)

Storm Leaders, the volunteer elves to Brandon’s Santa Claus, at dinner with Brandon before the event: clockwise from the front, we have Karen, Nick, Emily, Brandon, Sarah, Sarah’s husband (we know you have a name, we just don’t know what it is!), Matt, Matt’s wife (ditto), Jennifer, Kayley, and Spencer.

Meanwhile, as the line stretches out to Shayol Ghul and beyond, one fan can’t take it anymore and decides to do some sword-forms to calm himself. Homemade heron-mark blade + flame + void = this face:

Inside, finally!

Where Brandon is signing copies of his previous books (looks like Warbreaker there).

And where the shiny things are....

Fly free, little Gathering Storms!

Brandon and the Storm Leaders post for their heroic portrait after a heroic effort.

Thanks again for the pictures, Spencer! Enjoy the book, all.

Megan Messinger is a production assistant at Tor.com, and her copy of The Gathering Storm is by her left elbow as she types this.