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Daniel Henney cast as Lan Mandragoran

Amazon announced today, via the official Wheel of Time TV show twitter account, as part of their monthly #WoTWednesday, that actor Daniel Henney has been cast in the role of Lan Mandragoran. 
Here’s the provided press release:
 
For those of you fans wondering, Daniel turns 40 years old in a few months, making him right within the proper age range for the character.  
 
We’ve long speculated that Rafe Judkins, the showrunner, and Kelly Valentine Hendry, the casting director, and their teams would seek out well-established actors for the roles of Moiraine (played by Rosamund Pike) and Lan. These actors will anchor the show to begin with, just like their characters do in the series. Over time they will pave the way for the younger, more “unknown” actors to blossom into their iconic roles. 
 
Daniel is an outstanding actor and we could’t be more delighted to welcome him to the Wheel of Time community. 
Tell us what you think! We want to hear from you. Leave a comment here on this article, post on our forums, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Discord. 
And later tonight, at 8:30 PM US eastern (5:30 PM US Pacific), join our friend Matt Hatch in The Dusty Wheel YouTube channel to discuss Daniel’s casting. 
 

  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Daniel Henny has been cast in the role of Lan Mandragoran for the upcoming Wheel of Time TV show.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Dragonmount on Discord

The Dragonmount staff have re-opened our Discord chat server and invite you to come and join live discussions about the Wheel of Time books, TV show, and community. 
 
If you're not familiar with it, Discord is a popular text and voice chat application. You can use it for free in your browser, in a desktop app, or on a mobile device.  
 
We'll especially be publicizing the Discord chat during live events or on popular news days, such as #WoTWednesday when the WoT TV show producers share exciting information about the upcoming show. 
 
Also, if you're a Patreon subscriber, we'll be using Discord for our bi-monthly chats with notable members of the Wheel of Time franchise and community.  
 
Come join this awesome part of the WoT and DM community!
 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Our Discord server is now open!

Dragonmount.com
Dragonmount.com

Brandon Sanderson discusses changes to the WoT TV show

Brandon Sanderson responded to some fans' concerns on reddit about the adaptation to the Wheel of Time TV show. Although the majority of fan reactions over the past week to the big casting announcement have been positive, some people have had concerns with the actors not looking like how they would expect. Brandon addressed these concerns by saying:
 
 
 
He continued with:
 
 
 
Filming of the WoT TV show will begin in September. Although we don't know the exact start date or production schedule, we know that the announced actors are either currently in Prague or on their way there to begin. No release date for the show has been announced, but the production schedule is expected to be unusually long because of the complicated material, diverse locations, and large number of visual effects. 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Brandon Sanderson shared some of his thoughts on the necessary changes to the Wheel of Time TV show.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Wheel of Time main characters cast

Sony and Amazon announced today, through the official Wheel of Time Twitter account, the casting of the show's main characters. The "Big 5" Two Rivers characters.
 
Madeleine Madden as Egwene al’Vere
Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara
Barney Harris as Mat Cauthon
Zoë Robins as Nynaeve al'Meara
Josha Stradowski as Rand al’Thor
 
Here are their official bios, as provided by Amazon:
 
Josha Stradowski
Josha Stradowski started acting as a kid in musicals like The Sound of Music and Ciske de Rat, then began playing roles in television as a teenager. He graduated from the AHK theatre school in Amsterdam and worked on multiple plays such as Oedipus, directed by Robert Icke, at Ivo van Hove's theater company ITA in 2018. He recently completed filming on a new TV series about fighter pilots. He also played the lead role in an indie feature film, Just Friends, for which he and the film received a number of awards on the international film festival circuit.
 
Zoe Robbins
New Zealand native, Zoë Robins, will soon appear in Universal & Blumhouse feature, Black Christmas, directed by Sophia Takal.  She starred in the ABC pilot, The Finest, and recurred on The Shannara Chroniclesfor MTV, as well as The Killian Curse. Zoë rose to fame portraying the “White Power Ranger” on the action adventure series, Power Rangers Ninja Steel.  
 
Barney Harris
In 2016 Harris shot his first feature: Ang Lee’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. His other films include:  Billionaire Boy’s Club with Ansel Elgort, Taron Edgerton and Emma Roberts and Russian American, an independent feature produced by Molly Connors (Birdman, Child 44). Harris’ UK television include: Dominic Cooke's epic BBC Shakespeare series The Hollow Crown opposite Benedict Cumberbatch. 
 
Marcus Rutherford
British Independent Film Award’s Most Promising Newcomer nominee, Marcus Rutherford made his screen debut as the lead in Jamie Jones’ feature film Obey. The story follows a young man’s struggle in bettering himself against the backdrop of the 2011 London Riots, meshing real and staged footage of the events. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, winning Best Cinematography, and has since received high praise from critics. Peter Bradshaw, writing for The Guardian said, “there is a strong central performance from Marcus Rutherford as Leon, a young man just out of care”.  
 
For his performance in Obey, Marcus was also named “One to Watch in 2019” by the Observer and received three UK National Film Awards nominations: Best Actor, Best Breakthrough Performance and Best Newcomer.
 
Most recently, Marcus wrapped filming County Lines. The drama about a mother and her fourteen-year old boy who is groomed into a lethal nationwide drug selling enterprise, also starring Harris Dickinson and directed by Henry Blake. 
 
Marcus discovered acting through the Nottingham Television Workshop, the BAFTA-winning charity dedicated to training young talent, whose alumni include Vicky McClure, Joe Dempsie, Jack O’Connell and Samantha Morton. 
 
Madeleine Madden
Madeleine Madden is a young rising star with a fast-growing list of impressive credits to her name. She first came to the attention of her home country by being the first Australian teenager to deliver an Address to the Nation on behalf of the Generation One campaign’s call for action to create a better future for indigenous people. Her eloquent and considered speech was watched by more than six million people on national TV in 2010.
 
Madeleine has appeared in numerous Aussie productions including ABC TV’s critically acclaimed series The Code, in Redfern Now Series 1 &2, Jack Irish: Dead Point,The Moodys,My Place,Ready for This,Tomorrow When the War Began and Doctor Doctor Series 2. She also co-starred in the Amazon mini-series Picnic at Hanging Rock alongside Natalie Dormer, inthe Screentime/Netflix seriesPine Gapand the critically acclaimed Mystery Road,a television series based on the highly celebrated film. She can currently be seen in the Netflix fantasy/drama series Tidelandsalongside Elsa Pataky. 
 
Madeleine will next be seen on the big screen this August 9thin Paramount’s Dora and the Lost Cityof Gold. Sarah Spillane’sAround the Blockwas her first feature film starring opposite Christina Ricci. 
 
Madeleine made her stage debut in Sydney Theatre Company’s production of The Secret River, directed by Neil Armfield.
 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Amazon has announced the casting of the main characters for the forthcoming Wheel of Time TV show. 

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Dragonmount Patreon Launched

For 21 years Dragonmount has provided what I think is top-notch WoT content. (That's more than half my life!) The vast majority of it has been self-funded, or done with the assistance of ad revenue, online store sales, or (on occasion), member donations. 
 
In addition, a large portion of my earnings from my own book sales have also gone to fund this grand enterprise. (I'm happy to do it!)
 
But with the Wheel of Time TV show coming soon, along with a major boom of new fans, my volunteer staff and I have stepped up our game in order to be ready for the challenge. Here's a run-down of some of the things we've already done recently so far:
 
Upgraded hardware. Invested in cloud-based redundancy & backups. Integrated w/ bleeding-edge content & security systems. Revamped the entire website. Improved the mobile experience. Overhauled our forums.  Launched online Clubs. Countless other small things....  
And most notably, you've probably already noticed but we've drastically improved our social media presence. 
 
So the volunteer staff and I are ready to take DM, and the WoT community, to the next level. But to do that, we need your help. That's where this Patreon comes in.
 
We're seeking people to help us fund our efforts by donating as little as $5 per month. In return, you'll get some notable incentives including:
Additional WoT history, insight, content. Extra 4th Age podcast episodes. Access to live online chats w/ cool people like Team Jordan & Brandon Sanderson. Instant access to download "Finding Robert Jordan", a short story written by me.  
If you love what we're doing, and want to see us take it to the next level, I hope you'll consider supporting us. Take a look at our Patreon page to read the details. Spread the word. Tell people how much you love getting exclusive stuff that provides insight to the series.
 
We all know how special the Wheel of Time is. Our community is about to be Reborn into a new Age of fandom. This is an exciting time for the franchise, and it's my goal to have Dragonmount continue to be a top-notch location for all things WoT.
 
Thanks for reading this thread, and I hope you'll consider backing us!
 
(PS: Backers will also get occasional special content for my sci-fi & fantasy books as well! So it you enjoyed the Mystic Trilogy, or want to learn more, or want to be the first to hear about my next writing projects, you can get that through the Patreon!)
 
Patreon Link
https://www.patreon.com/dragonmount
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Dragonmount has launched a Patreon fundraiser in order to provide even more incredible Wheel of Time content.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Dragonmount launches new Clubs feature

As part of our on-going effort to prepare the website for the forthcoming Wheel of Time TV show, we've added a "new" (really older, but improved) website feature called Clubs. 
 
A Club is a group you can join at Dragonmount where you can meet people with shared interests. We have 3 basic types of clubs:  Specific Interest Clubs, Wheel of Time themed clubs, and a role-playing club. 
 
Specific-Interest Clubs: such as the Bela Fan Club, Brandon Sanderson Cosmere Club, or the DM Writers Club, are mostly unstructured and intended to foster discussion around those topics.  Themed Clubs:  these clubs are based on Wheel of Time organizations such as the White Tower, Band of the Red Hand, or Ogier. Each club will have some sort of structure to it and is a great way to meet fans with similar interests. Role Playing Club: Our Wheel of Time roleplaying Club allows you to participate in forum-based role-playing, a feature we've had since 1998!  
All Clubs are 100% free to join. Just had over to https://dragonmount.com/clubs and join as many as you like. You can even inquire with the Club leader about being a moderator or co-leader, or start your own club. (New Club requirements)
 
In addition to adding Clubs, we've archived many of our older forums in order to better focus them on 3 areas:  the books, the TV show, and "Off Topic."  For long-time members, don't worry, all of the older social groups, role-playing, and forum games have been shifted over to the Clubs. If you are looking for something specific, just ask!
 
If you'd like to participate, just register for a free account and get started! 
 
Visit our Clubs now More info on our forums Requirements to start your own Club
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Read about the changes to our forums and the new Dragonmount Clubs 

Dragonmount.com
Dragonmount.com

Tor Books to release new Wheel of Time book covers

Tor Books, the U.S. publisher of The Wheel of Time, is planning to release new editions of the entire series, beginning October of this year. The new editions will feature brand-new cover designs. 
 
These new editions are wisely being timed to coincide with the forthcoming TV show from Amazon Studios. The cover art doesn't feature any new art featuring characters or scenes from the books but instead aims for mass appear with a stylized look. The covers are reminiscent of the UK mass market editions that were first released in 2014. 
 
Only the covers for the first six books have been released so far. Below you'll find the release schedule, links to purchase them, and the full-sized covers. 
 
The Eye of the World - October 29, 2019
The Great Hunt - October 29, 2019
The Dragon Reborn - October 29, 2019
The Shadow Rising - December 31, 2019
The Fires of Heaven - December 31, 2019
Lord of Chaos - December 31, 2019
A Crown of Swords - February 2020
The Path of Daggers - February 2020
Winter's Heart - February 2020
The Crossroads of Twilight - Spring 2020
Knife of Dreams - Spring 2020
The Gathering Storm - Spring 2020
Towers of Midnight - Summer 2020
A Memory of Light - Summer 2020
New Spring - Summer 2020
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Robert Jordan's U.S. publisher is giving The Wheel of Time series new mass-market book covers. 

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Five things to expect from the Wheel of Time TV show

After four years of relative quiet, excitement for the Wheel of Time is surging again thanks to the forthcoming TV show, scheduled for a 2020 or 2021 release on Amazon Prime. We know very little about the creative direction the show will take, but we know it left a positive impression on Brandon Sanderson, who recently shared his admiration for both the first two episode scripts, and for Rafe Judkins, the executive producer, writer, and showrunner.

And, of course, there was a bit of excitement last week when Rafe and the studio announced that Rosamund Pike would be playing Moiraine.

So what else can we expect from the forthcoming TV show? Here are my best guesses.

First, some disclaimers: I have no involvement with the forthcoming TV show, although I've been in touch with some of the folks at Amazon. Before that, from around 2005-2011, I was a consultant to Red Eagle Entertainment, the group that originally acquired the rights to the series and remains executive producers on the show (though the scope of their creative involvement is unknown.) Back then I was heavily involved in the creation of outlines and story treatments for a potential theatrical film release.

That project fizzled, but it helped familiarize me with the scale that the executives were going for at the time, and how the thinking has evolved over the years. While none of that makes me an expert in the TV effort, the ideas below come from a reasonably well-informed position.

Without further ado, here are the Top 5 things I think we can expect to see in the Wheel of Time TV show.
Adult Content
We all know that Amazon's Wheel of Time show, along with a million other TV shows, are going for the, er, throne, that Game of Thrones until recently occupied. GoT succeeded for many reasons, and one of those reasons was that it didn't pull any punches. The WoT books are full of battles and romance, but in a strictly PG-13 manner. I expect to see the WoT TV show dive into the sex and battles more (especially the One Power battles). It'll help sell the show to a wider, more general audience that's hungry for adult fantasy.

This idea is further confirmed by a casting call notice from last April that the show was seeking two female actresses to play characters named “Eliza” and “Nadie” (probably code names for Egwene and Nynaeve) that would require scenes of a sexual nature and partial nudity. It could be just a rumor, but the original source has a decent track record of accurate information, including correctly revealing Rosamund's role in the production before the official announcement.

All this is to say, don't be surprised if we see the Two Rivers characters, and others, getting busy on screen.
 
8-10 episodes, focused on Eye of the World
Amazon and Rafe haven't announced the official number of episodes, but we know each one will be an hour long. 8-10 episodes is consistent with other Amazon Originals in recent years. WoT could certainly receive more than 10, but I think it's a stretch that it'll happen that way for the first season, especially since the episode budgets could quickly balloon with visual effects.

As for whether or not we'll see more than The Eye of the World portrayed on screen in season 1: Rafe has already said the show will pull from everywhere as needed, but I believe the main season arc will focus on the flights from the Two Rivers, leading ultimately to the Blight, where the season finale will focus on the Eye itself. A fan asked Rafe this question on Twitter and he gave a short, cryptic response:
 

The main argument for season1 focusing on book 1 comes down to the fact that if you pull too much from book 2 and beyond, it's just too much to develop and get a general audience to buy into. In 8-10 episodes they already need to introduce a complicated world and backstory, 7 major protagonists, 3-5 major antagonists (Fain, Ba'alzamon, Whitecloaks), trollocs, Aes Sedai, and so on. Once you add in the Horn of Valere and the Seanchan, it simply becomes too much, too soon. The whole “Hunt for the Horn” makes great season 2 material, and possibly getting into book 3 depending on how many episodes get greenlit.

Yes, there are lots of ways to skin a cat, but it feels right to do season 1 = book 1, just like Game of Thrones did to great success.
Expanding Secondary characters...and maybe a few big omissions
Since the project was green-lit last October, there's been nonstop talk that Moiraine will be the focus of the series, or, at least of season 1. We don't know how that will play out, of course, but it's likely that all the attention on her in the press releases has been due to the fact that Rafe and company have planned to cast a big-name actress for that role from the very start. She (and Lan) are the most logical choices for bringing brand-name actors on board in order to reach a wider audience. I expect we'll get into their backstories sooner than the books do, and also deeper into the Aes Sedai / Warder connection. I don't think we'll be seeing lengthy, full-episode New Spring flashbacks, per se, but pulling from Moiraine's younger years wouldn't surprise me either.

Rafe has also stated that he plans to expand Logain's character, which is a great idea. Seeing more Logain allows us to see male channelers before Rand really gets going. If you buy into the earlier idea that season 1 will focus on Eye of the World , then that means they have 8-10 hours to explore the first book, which is plenty of time to expand on a brooding false Dragon. I have a hunch he might steal the show early on with his charisma and power.

Other expanded roles that we're likely to see: the Children of the Light (Geofram Bornhald would make a great bad guy), Elyas, Hopper and the other wolves, the Tinkers (Aram?), and Padan Fain.

The jury's still out on what the production plans to do with Min, Thom, Elyane, Galad, Gawyn, and Loial. All of those except Thom and Loial only have cameo roles in the first book, so I suspect they will either get expanded roles in season 1, or possibly... sorry... get cut from the season. I know, I know. It's hard to imagine a WoT show without Elyane or Min. But everything's fair game, people! Maybe if Moiraine leads everyone to Tar Valon instead of Caemlyn, then the writers can easily introduce Elayne and her brothers being there for training. Logain can also be gentled there, which would give us introductions to Elaida and the Amyrlin Seat all in one nice location that's visually amazing to look at. Or maybe those secondary characters: Min, Elayne, etc, are introduced in the second season.
Less Binary Evil
The Eye of the World was written in the late 1980's and published in early 1990. Robert Jordan intentionally designed the opening to resemble Lord of the Rings, with its dark riders and quiet, idealistic rural countryside, and then flipped everyone's expectations after Shadar Logoth. At the time this approach was groundbreaking, and where he takes the sequels is still, to this day, original and remarkable. But many of the ideas in the first book have been copied and done many time since by a lot of writers, and the result is that the binary “good farmboys vs a pure evil Dark One” isn't going to cut it with a general audience anymore. Rafe touched on this subject during his Twitter Q&A:
 

The easy solution is to introduce more nuanced antagonists as early as possible. The Whitecloaks, Elaida, and even Padan Fain (who could hold onto a shred of his humanity, perhaps?) offer opportunities to craft bad guys who have somewhat relatable (or at least understandable) motivations beyond simply wanting the world destroyed. I doubt we'll see many of the Forsaken besides Ba'alzamon in the first season (unless by flashback), but if we do, I wouldn't be surprised if they became less pure-evil as well. Robert Jordan's Forsaken, while interesting and fun, were admittedly somewhat flat until Asmodean arrived on the scene. (Lanfear / Selene is a possible exception, but I would be stunned if she had a role in season 1. She could be a big-name actress they could bring in for season 2)
More Diversity
Finally, expect the Wheel of Time TV show to double down on its diverseity of characters and relationships. Rafe has been very public about this, stating outright that this is an important theme to him.
 

The most obvious place we're likely to see changes is in the romantic relationships. While I don't think we'll see Rand and Perrin kissing each other (imagine those ‘shipping debates! Can I coin the term “Rarrin”? “Perrand”?) it wouldn't shock me if Egwene, Moiraine, Elyas, Aram, Galad, or Logain became involved in same-sex relationships. (Besides, did any of you really, really, totally buy the Moiraine-Thom romance from the books?) Some of these might not blossom in season 1, but certainly could later.

We're also more likely to see wider racial diversity in the cast. I know Robert Jordan is very specific with his descriptions of every character and culture, but when it comes to adaptations like this, nothing is guaranteed. Rafe and his team already cast a “tall Moiraine”, so who knows, right?

Take a look at this script excerpt Rafe shared on Twitter last August, which points this out on the very first page:
 
 

The Eye of the World portrays all seven of the main characters (the five Two Rivers people + Moiraine and Lan) as light-skinned. Add in Elayne, her brothers, and Min, and we have a whole lot of similar-looking characters. This is in fact a trend throughout the books. Sure there's differences between the Cairhien and Andorans, but it isn't really until later books where we see the Seanchan (especially Tuon), the Sea Folk, Faile, and some of the western nations with more racial diversity. (An exception to this is the Shienarans, who appear at the end of the first book. )

Here's what Rafe had to say about this when questioned by a fan on Twitter:
 
 

I know we could all debate what certain characters look like for days and weeks, but that also sort of supports my point that there's plenty of room for interpretation, especially as we move away from the Two Rivers. My hunch is that the Emond's Fielders will look a lot like what we expect, but beyond that, there will be more racial diversity. Logain, Elyas, Siuan Sanche, and the Shienarans are all easy candidates for looking different than Robert Jordan perhaps portrayed them.
The books are great... why change all this?
Everyone knows that TV and movie adaptations bring changes, and passionate fans like you and I are likely to scratch our heads and wonder why they'd change something when it works well on the page. As discussed above, the first book in this series was written 30 years before its TV adaptation release, and audience expectations have changed since then. We also have the hindsight now to understand what works in the books, and what could stand to be better. (Do you really think they'll have Perrin spend three seasons trying to rescue Faile?)

I'm looking at this TV show as a fresh turn of the Wheel. The Third Age that I read about in the books has passed, and been reborn now that the Wheel has turned all the way around. With every coming of an Age, it's the same story again, yet different. While this may not be the official explanation from the show's producers, I think it's a good way to look at it. We'll always have the books to return to: those aren't going anywhere. By allowing ourselves to accept changes from book to screen, even ones we don't fully like, we open ourselves to having a better experience. I, for one, and beyond excited to see what Rafe and his team do.

So what do you think? Leave a comment below, or discuss it on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram channels. What do you think we should expect from the upcoming Wheel of Time show?

Jason Denzel
Jason@dragonmount.com
 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    The Wheel of Time TV show is ramping up fast, so naturally, we explore what to expect when it finally airs. 

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Rosamund Pike cast as Moiraine

Academy Award-nominated actress Rosamund Pike has been cast as Moiraine Damodred in the upcoming Wheel of Time TV show.  The announcement came today when the official Wheel of Time writer's room Twitter account shared an image of the actress reading The Eye of the World. 
 
Rafe Judkins, the executive producer on the show, said this on Twitter shortly after the announcement:
 
 
Pike is a well-known actress with significant credits to her name that showcase her amazing range. Some of her notable roles include the lead in Gone Girl, and the James Bond film, Die Another Day. She has the right blend of strength and confidence to carry this essential role in the series. Amazon Studios, the studio that will be airing the show, said with their first official press release that the Wheel of TimeTV show would feature Moiraine's character prominently. Pike will also be credited as a producer on the show. 
 
In the books, Moiraine has an important role as a mentor and guide. She's the Aes Sedai who finds a handful of young characters, one of whom may potentially turn out to be the prophesied and greatly-feared Dragon Reborn. Her prominently featured role in the show doesn't necessarily mean she'll be the main character for the series, but it's likely Pike will be one of the major headliners. 
 
Be sure to check out our full summary of everything we know about the forthcoming TV show.
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Academy Award-nominated actress Rosamund Pike has been cast as Moiraine Damodred in the upcoming Wheel of Time TV show.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

DM is now on Instagram

Dragonmount is delighted to announce that we've (finally) launched our own Instagram account, @dragonmount_ 
 
Like our other social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter, we hope to provide frequent, unique, and enjoyable Wheel of Time content.  We hope you'll join us on each of these accounts and become part of our growing community. 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    We've launched our new Instagram account, full of awesome Wheel of Time content.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Brandon Sanderson's early thoughts on the upcoming Wheel of Time TV show

There's been considerable hype this past week after Brandon Sanderson made numerous comments on reddit about his opinions of the early Wheel of Time TV show scripts. Brandon indicated that what he's seen so far has bee "really good" overall, but he also explained that changes might be coming. 
 
In the first of multiple reddit threads, Brandon explained: 
 
 
We don't know what these "unexpected decisions" are; Brandon could not say because he's under NDA. Naturally, that hasn't stopped WoT fans from generating theories. There's been speculation for a while that the show will focus more heavily on Moiraine, perhaps elevating her role to equal, or even exceed, that of the main characters in the books. This hasn't been confirmed, and the rumor is largely based on Amazon's original press release annoucing the show which includes:
 
 
Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene and Nynaeve are not mentioned by name in the show's official description, but that doesn't necessarily mean their roles or importance will be diminished. It's almost certain that they will be played by lesser-known actors, while it's more likely that the role of Moiraine will be given to a headline-grabbing actress. Her role may be elevated, but the extra attention given by the studio could always be part of the way they plan to market the show to audiences, not to mention to potential big-name actresses they want to cast.
 
Later in the comments of the original reddit thread, Brandon expanded his thoughts:
 
 
Brandon has made similar comments at book signing events in recent months. Expect more comments, and more speculation from fans as the show quickly ramps up. And we agree with his comments about Rafe: his interactions with the fans have been friendly, knowledgable, confident, and engaging. 
 
According to this Instagram account, Rafe recently moved to Prague, presumably to focus on producing the show there. Casting for the main characters is currently underway, with announcements expected in the near future. 
 
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@dragonmount) for more newsstand commentary related to the forthcoming TV show. 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Brandon Sanderson has read some early scripts and says there are some changes coming, but overall, things look great. 

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

ConQuesT 50 Schedule

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the ConQuesT science-fiction and fantasy convention.  As stated earlier, our own Jennifer Liang and Jimmy Liang will be the con's Fan Guests of Honor!  The con is this weekend (May 24th-26th, 2019) in Kansas City, Missouri. 
 
The schedule for ConQuesT is now live!  If you're going to be attending, check out Jenn's and Jimmy's schedules!
 
For those who don't know about ConQuesT, here's what they say about themselves:
 


 
If you're in the area, it's a fantastic con to attend!
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Jennifer and James Liang will be ConQuesT 50's Fan Guests of Honor

Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Last chance to get licensed WoT jewelry

Badali Jewelry, a long-time provider of officially-licensed Wheel of Time merchandise, is shutting down their WoT product line at the end of this month.  The final day to place new custom orders is April 28, 2019. 
 
From the Badali Jewelry Facebook page:
 
 
Some of their bestselling items were the Aes Sedai Great Serpent ring, their Asha'man pins, and their foxhead medallion. 
 
Dragonmount has been a long-time reseller of their products and we're sad to see them shuttering their line of quality goods.  The reason for the shutdown is related to their license expiring and now being held exclusively by Sony (and potentially Radar Pictures and Amazon Studios, although those details aren't clear at the moment). There's a possibility that a new license to produce these products will be granted in the future, but only time will tell if that happens, or if the same products will be re-released if it does. 
 
Make your orders now at Badali Jewelry website, and look for their remaining inventory through October 2019. 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    The last day to order licensed WoT items from Badali jewelry is April 28, 2019.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Wheel of Time TV show casting underway

Casting for the forthcoming Wheel of Time TV show has begun according to the London-based KVH Casting agency. KVH is run by Kelly Valentine Henry, who has been tapped as the show's casting director. 
 
The TV show is scheduled to film sometime this fall 2019 (likely September) in Prague in the Czech Republic. 
 
No actors have been officially announced yet, but that's expected to change in the coming weeks or months. 
 
The KVH website originally encouraged actors to send "submissions only" to submissions@wotcasting.com, but that notice was quickly taken offline, possibly in response to what is likely to be an overwhelming flood of fan interest. 
 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Casting for the upcoming Wheel of Time TV show has begun!

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

JordanCon Anthology Author: Sarah Sover

JordanCon 11 kicks off this Friday afternoon!  I can’t wait to mingle with other Wheel of Time fans.  It’s like a family reunion getting to see familiar faces and meeting new additions.  If you’re able to be in attendance, don’t forget to check out the Anthology signing session on Sunday morning at 10:00!
 
Our last interview is with Sarah Sover, talking about her submission “A Faerie Tale.”
 
First, can you tell us about your writing?  Is this your first published work?
 
I write fantasy hybrids, but this is my only short story so far. My debut novel, a comedic fantasy about grog-chugging trolls pulling a perilous heist, releases in September. So this is my first published work of fiction by 5 months!
 
Where does your story fall on the speculative fiction scale?
 
Fantasy meets Horror.
 
What excited you the most with writing this story?
 
The most exciting part has been discovering that there are people who appreciate my deranged brain-children. My weird stories finding a place to exist in the world is something I never actually thought would happen, let alone twice in one year. As exciting as the actual writing is, that beats it all, hands-down. And working with Robyn Huss. She’s amazing.
 
Are there any themes you want readers to get a sense of?
 
I’m going to have to go with the dangers of messing with forces beyond comprehension and flat out nihilism. For my work as a whole, there’s a definite baby-eating theme.
 
Is there a specific inspirational source you used for this story?
 
An image popped into my head and remained there for an entire day, so I had to jot it down. The story grew from that black-and-white picture and sat on my desktop, untouched, until I saw the call for submissions two days before the deadline.
 
What else would you like to say to your readers?
 
I’m thrilled to have my story featured in this Anthology alongside the works of some fantastic authors. I hope you’ll check out Double-Crossing the Bridge in the fall, and, as always, #BewareTheGoats. You can find me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SarahJSover.
 
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

JordanCon Anthology Author: Tim Lewis

JordanCon is quickly approaching, and our eagerness is beginning to show!   This week's interview is with Tim Lewis.  He tells us about "Switch," his addition to the JordanCon Anthology.
 
First, can you tell us about your writing?  Is this your first published work?
 
This will be my first published work! I’ve been writing for decades, but only for myself as one of many hobbies. Richard Fife’s idea to create short stories for the anthology inspired me to finally stop procrastinating. The publishing process is very daunting and this was a tremendous opportunity to break into the writing world. As to my writing, is “chaotic sugar induced child at a puppy farm” a style? I have piles of notes about writing best practices from the Writer’s Track at JordanCon, and I tried to incorporate each to some level as I work to find my niche. In the beginning it was random pieces as ideas came to mind, then slowly stitching them together, reluctantly killing a few “little darlings,” and then finally obsessing about each word and phrase until I had to walk away.
 
Where does your story fall on the speculative fiction scale?
 
After Googling “speculative fiction scale,” this is a soft science fiction story based on a near future to add some plot devices to move the story along, but it could be placed in any era. I started down a fantasy route but as the pieces begin to evolve then sci-fi seemed to be the best world for the story.
 
What excited you the most with writing this story?
 
My wife reads in bed and I can gauge how good a book is when she has an emotional outburst (and wakes me up). Whether it is a laugh, a cry, a gasp, or swearing like an East Indian sailor, I can see how much joy she gets from reading. When writing “Switch,” I tried to create each of those elements, and if I’m lucky, I may have succeeded with one.
 
Are there any themes you want readers to get a sense of?
 
I tried to paint a normal person that people could relate to that, of course, is put into extraordinary circumstances. I have always been a fan of the reluctant hero that rises to challenge rather than racing to it head on. I also added a few references to our current political and social climate that some may find entertaining, or even frustrating. Mostly I just wanted to be able to tell a story of a person that people could identify with as themselves, or someone they know, to create that emotional connection.
 
Is there a specific inspirational source you used for this story?
 
I drew inspiration initially from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep to create a future with minor changes in technology, but grounded in something relatable to the reader. That is why the story takes place in my home city of Huntsville, AL, so I had some specific ground to build on. I walked down the streets and by the buildings of the exact places that are talked about in the story to inspire the writing; at one point running like an idiot around the courthouse to see if my character could actually do what I described. For the science, a YouTube video about acoustic physics and the floating drop of water became the impetus for the technology. The story also evolved into a pseudo detective noir theme, not by intention, but just organically possibly from my obsession with watching movies. The biggest inspiration and the drive of the secondary narrative was a personal view of society and unconscious bias that I wanted to portray, but I will leave it there so as not to reveal spoilers. And a huge nod to the professional editors Robyn Huss and Chris Kennedy, who were critical in pulling me off the puppy farm to get everything together into a cogent story!
 
What else would you like to say to your readers?
 
Simply, thank you. I hope this gives you a moment to disconnect from the world and find some enjoyment; and if I was able to get you to wake your partner up while reading my story in bed, then my work was done! If you would like to see more, check out my site at www.LewisVenture.com.
 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    So You Want Stories?: Tim Lewis talks about his story "Switch"

Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Wheel of Time "most excited for" TV adaptation

According to a Twitter poll from Amazon Prime Video, The Wheel of Time television adaptation is the most anticipated series.
 
(IMAGE TEXT: We have a lot of shows that started as books, but which UPCOMING book adaptation series are you most excited for? #WorldBookDay; 20% Good Omens, 26% The Expanse, 18% The Lord of the Rings, 36% The Wheel of Time)
 
While fans of the show rejoice, and agree, it's pretty amazing that Wheel of Time could top some of the other anticipated series.  Bleeding Cool states how they "were NOT expecting Wheel of Time to top that list."  Understandable, considering The Lord of the Rings has been hyped up.  As has Good Omens, which already has trailers, cast, and an official release date (May 31, 2019--for those who were wondering).  
 
With Wheel of Time barely in production, this is a great indicator of how much we've wanted a show to represent our beloved series!
 
You can catch the latest updates from Rafe Judkins' Twitter feed, which he updates pretty regularly with interesting hints and tidbits.  Also, stay tuned to Dragonmount for more news.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

JordanCon Anthology Author: Alexandra Hill

For our next entry in the first ever JordanCon Anthology—So You Want Stories?—I got to talk to Alexandra Hill about her submission "The Bakery: Prelude to a Fairy Tale."
 
 
First, can you tell us about your writing?  Is this your first published work?
 
I read really broadly, and I think that translates into what I write; I’ve either finished or am in the process of stories in a number of genres, including sci-fi, mystery, fantasy, memoir, and so-called “literary fiction.” Fantasy feels like home, though, especially in atemporal or modern settings. I love how the genre lets me ask “what if…?” not just of my characters, but of the world in which they live.
 
I’ve published academic writing under my real name – I’m a computational biologist by training, and have a few papers out under my real name – but “The Bakery” is my first work of published fiction.
 
Where does your story fall on the speculative fiction scale?
 
I think the title gives it away! “The Bakery: Prelude to a Fairy Tale” is fantasy, and sets up the world before “Once upon a time.”
 
What excited you the most with writing this story?
 
A million years ago, my Grade 12 English class was able to pick whatever topic they wanted for their final project. My subject: “Freudian Psychoanalysis and the Evolution of the Modern Day Villain.” I had a blast. I interpreted how Freud would have interpreted the backstories of villains in three 90s Batman Movies and three novels (Perfume, Harry Potter, and Hannibal Rising).
 
Writing this story felt as fun as that project. I loved creating my own spin on the backstory of a female villain. I think the world sees a lot of stories of men behaving badly, and having some kind of origin story for their evil and/or redemption arcs, but historically, women’s stories haven’t been explored that way. I don’t think that Elle’s life justifies any of her more “established” story, but I hope I’ve managed to create more depth to the character!
 
Are there any themes you want readers to get a sense of?
 
I’ve always been fascinated in peoples’ opinions of themselves. I think most people think that they’re fairly good people, but situations like Elle’s, where you’re stuck between impossible options through no fault of your own, mean that most people’s moral sense gets thrown out the window. I hope that readers ask themselves what they’d do in her place – and then really ask themselves what they’d do if they were her.
 
Is there a specific inspirational source you used for this story?
 
Yes.
 
…What, you think I’m going to give away the ending?
 
What else would you like to say to your readers?
 
I hope you enjoy this story! If you see me at JordanCon, be sure to stop and tell me who your favorite fictional villains are. 
 
 
Thanks, Alexandra, for joining us at Dragonmount! 
 
And don't forget today is the last day to preorder So You Want Stories? from JordanCon's website.  The convention will have a few copies on hand, but don't risk it!
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    So You Want Stories: Alexandra Hill talks about her submission "The Bakery: Prelude to a Fairy Tale."

Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

JordanCon Anthology Author: Andy Floyd

With JordanCon fast approaching, I want to take this opportunity to give a preview of what the 2019 anthology, So You Want Stories, will entail.  First some background information. This is the first year JordanCon put out a call to past and present members, seeking submissions of speculative fiction short stories to feature in an anthology—with proceeds going to JordanCon Charities, which get donated to the Mayo Clinic. Twenty of the submitted stories were chosen, and some are written by authors we know and love, including Brandon Sanderson and Jason Denzel!  Some, however, are relatively unknown. Leading up to JordanCon, I will feature one of the lesser known authors each week.
 
This week’s author is Andy Floyd, with his contribution “Doorbuster.”
 
First, can you tell us about your writing?  Is this your first published work?
 
It is my first published work! But it’s definitely not the first thing I’ve written. The very first thing I ever wrote was Deep Space Nine fanfiction. I was in high school and it was just before the internet became a huge thing, so I had no idea what fanfiction was. I just thought I could write a Star Trek novel and submit it to someone to be published! After that, I mostly dabbled in song parodies and web comics until I graduated college. Then, a friend of mine (who also happens to be the one who introduced me to DragonCon and cons in general) told me I should join him for NaNoWriMo. I felt overwhelmed, but I had a blast and actually made my goal word count! All I wanted to do after that was write. Though, thankfully everything from that era is lost to a hard drive crash as it was all very, very terrible. (Seriously! I fridged not one, but TWO characters in my first novel. It’s all better off lost to the ether.) But, I kept it up until about ten years ago when for a number of reasons I just stopped. I continued having ideas, but with a very few and minor exceptions, I didn’t write them down. Then, a couple of years ago I got an idea for a novel about magic tech support. So, with motivation I hadn’t felt in nearly a decade, I sped to around nine thousand words... and then I got stuck. Fast forward to JordanCon 2018. It was my wife’s and my first JordanCon and we were blown away! Not only that, but the whole thing inspired me to write again! I picked back up that novel and tried to get back into it. But, no matter what I did, I just couldn’t connect with my characters. Then, the anthology contest was announced. I decided I had to submit something, anything to it. After a lot of thought I finally decided on a prequel to my novel. I thought it’d make a great short story, but could maybe also help me connect with my characters. It worked like a charm! As soon as I finished it, I launched into the novel and completed it as well. So, not only is “Doorbuster” my first published work, but it’s also the first story I finished after a very long writing hiatus which makes it very special to me. I’m extremely excited to see it in print!
 
Where does your story fall on the speculative fiction scale?
 
I mean, it’s probably just Contemporary Fantasy, but I like to say it’s “Suburban Fantasy.” This started off as a joke to me, because it has a lot of Urban Fantasy elements, but the whole story takes place in a big box store at a shopping center during broad daylight. But, I really liked the idea, so I googled it. I was sure someone else had used it before, but the only reference I could find with my very quick searching was, “Untitled Pixar Suburban Fantasy Movie.” I figure, if it’s good enough for Pixar, it’s good enough for me. So I’ve stuck with it and that’s what I use in my queries.
 
What excited you the most with writing this story?
 
That it got me back into the writing habit! But, really -- and actually I should clarify first -- even though my JordanCon Anthology short story “Doorbuster” stands on its own, it’s hard for me to separate it from my novel. I wrote them at the same time and one leads right into the other. So, some of the things that really excited me about writing it don’t really pay off until the novel. I’m sorry if that’s cheating, but it’s true. And those “things” were getting to explore how I felt about my day job and where I wanted to be five, ten years down the road. “Doorbuster” is about how the main character Taryn first gets into magic support, which mirrors my own story with tech support. Then, the novel jumps to five years later and we really get into her (and my) thoughts and feelings on being stuck in a job while also self sabotaging herself into not moving on to anything else. Getting all of that out onto the page really helped me not only do what I love by writing more, but it also helped me start the process of finding a different and better day job myself.
 
Are there any themes you want readers to get a sense of?
 
I’m not their English teacher! They have to do their own homework! Kidding, but not really? It’s not that there aren’t themes. There are. I mean, that keeps things interesting, right? But I enjoy genre fiction for its escapism, so that’s really the main thing I want people to get from my writing. If they get anything else out of it, that’s a huge bonus, but not necessarily the first thing I’m thinking of when crafting a story.
 
Is there a specific inspirational source you used for this story?
 
You mean apart from JordanCon? Well, my day job is tech support and I keep a Google Doc open the entire time I’m working. I’m constantly adding either transcripts or cliffs notes of calls I get. Every single “magic support call” in “Doorbuster” and my unpublished novel comes from that file. Apart from that, the characters are mostly based on friends. I tend to give them the positive traits I love from my friends and then add my own flaws and insecurities on top.
 
What else would you like to say to your readers?
 
First off, I really hope that if you can get a copy of the JordanCon Anthology You Want Stories? that you enjoy Doorbuster. Though, if you can’t get your hands on it, don’t worry. Once the publishing rights revert to me, I’ll put it up on my website. Until then, you can follow me on the tweeter (@pandrewfloyd) and check my site for other content. It’s still under construction, but I’ve got a few things up like the first chapter of Factory Defect (the aforementioned novel sequel to “Doorbuster”) and a deleted scene or two.
 
Second, keep an eye out for me. I’ve gotten a taste of what it’s like to see my words in a printed book, and I’m not going to stop until it happens again and again.
 
 
Thanks, Andy, for joining us at Dragonmount today!
 
If you would like to get a copy of So You Want Stories? preorders are available until April 8th.  Check out JordanCon’s website for more information.
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    So You Want Stories: Andy Floyd talks about his contribution "Doorbuster."

Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Unfettered III and A Fire Within The Ways released

Unfettered III, the fantasy anthology from Grim Oak Press, is now available for purchase. The book features stories from some of today's top names in fantasy literature including Terry Brooks, Lev Grossman, Delilah S. Dawson, Seanan McGuire, Naomi Novik, and Tad Williams. It also, very notably, includes a new "deleted novella" from Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson, as well as a short story from Dragonmount founder Jason Denzel.
 
A Fire Within the Ways is the name of the deleted sequence of chapters that was originally written for A Memory of Light. It's a non-canon story that features Perrin within the Ways.  Here's a portion of what Brandon had to say about it:
 
 
Brandon's blog post about the story. You can read its opening portion for free on Tor.com, and join a discussion on our forums. 
 
In addition to the Wheel of Time story, Unfettered III includes a short story from Dragonmount founder Jason Denzel entitled, "The Stone Golem of Qual'Jom." From Jason:
 
 
You can read more about that story on Jason's website. 
 
Unfettered III is currently available in hardcover and ebook. An audiobook edition is coming soon. The publisher reported that they've had some issues with Amazon, and are working to get the book available there. But in the meantime you can get the ebook edition from other vendors such Barnes & Noble and Kobo. 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Unfettered III, the fantasy anthology featuring brand new scenes from A Memory of Light, is now available.

JenniferL
JenniferL

Meme Monday: Rand's Relationships

Welcome back to another exciting edition of "Meme Monday."  Today we'll look at some of the woes that plague the Dragon Reborn in his relationships.
 
We covered one of the major negative impacts on Rand's girl troubles a few weeks ago.  But let's add another log to that fire.
 

 
And still on the subject of his love interests, Rand has an awful lot to deal with to keep his sigfigs happy.
 

 
And let's not overlook Rand's not-romantic relationships.  He is a ruler, you know.  A king.  A chief.  He makes a lot of important decisions.
 

 
The memes this week come from Kevin O'Bryan of DMEN Designs.  If you have memes you want to share, email me at frontpage@dragonmount.com.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Meme Monday: Wheel of Time First Read

I wanted to take a break from our normal memes to talk about a new reader who’s taking the Wheel of Time fandom by storm.  Christopher Green started reading The Wheel of Time in January.  His father is a huge fan, and Christopher started reading after his father suggested it to him.  Around the middle of his read of The Eye of the World, Christopher began to post real time updates about his progress and his reactions on the Facebook public group Screw You All, I Love Wheel of Time.  The journey has been amazing so far, and many fans are reliving the joys of a first read through Randland.
 
Some of Christopher’s first posts into The Great Hunt:
 

(Alright..... how in the WORLD..... am I gonna sit down all relaxed to read this book before my wife made super sweet awesome dinner of chili.... to find in the first two chapters before dinner...... The dark one is alive and apparently regaining his physical form with like 100 darkfriends AND this [amyrlin] person the queen of the aes sedai shows up the end of chapter there isn't any messing around I hope that [amyrlin] lady helps him)
 

(This is me trying [to] help rand find a way to avoid the [amyrlin] seat right now lol all the gates are barred and he can’t leave)
 

(Ladies and gentleman... WE HAVE A BLADEMASTER!!! GO RAND GO)
 

(MAN EGWENE IS GOING NUTS KILLING SEANCHAN PEOPLE WITH LIGHTNING!!!!)
 

(LORD INGTAR NOOOOOOOOO WHYYY!!!!!!)
 
Christopher started using the hashtag #firstwalkthroughrandland on all his posts once his followers begged him to.  And some have even expressed their anxiety that Christopher hadn’t posted yet that day.
 
And naturally, everyone is waiting with anticipation for Christopher to reach certain scenes. 
 

(I can't wait till Christopher gets to the end of Fires of Heaven, and asks the biggest burning question of the series that we all fought and theorized over for years.  Who ___ed ___an?)
 
And this past weekend, he finally hit the turning point for Mat.  Christopher didn’t care for Mat at first:
 

(I woke up and was thinking.... that I have no idea how mat is important to the story other than comic relief and mischief? He literally got stabbed by a knife and that's it so [far]. I mean rand can channel and is the dragon, Perrin talks to wolf's and the women are aes sedai.)
 
But the scene where Mat challenges Galad and Gawyn to a spar changed his mind.
 

(WHAT THE HELL HE WON AND WHOOPED EM.... I LIKE NEW MAT)
 
Almost everyone has been kind and considerate to Christopher, and they are going out of their way to avoid spoiling major parts later in the books.  Christopher is happy that everyone is being nice and getting such joy out of his shared experience.
 
You can read with Christopher on his journey at the Screw You All, I Love Wheel of Time Facebook group!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Jennifer Liang Ask Me Anything

This past week, Dragonmount's second-in-command Jennifer Liang participated in an Ask Me Anything discussion for JordanCon!
 
The questions asked range from favorite con memory:
 
Jenn: When I got the Chodan Kal at opening Ceremonies last year. I was so shocked and touched that y’all did that for us.
 

 
To "what's your favorite thing to do at JordanCon" (asked by Jimmy, her husband):
 
Jenn: Bother you.
 
She also talked about this year's JordanCon theme:
 
Jenn: This year is “Shai’Con”. We decided to embrace our darker natures this year. So expect an evil twist on the usual things like opening ceremonies and the dance.
 
And the growing trend of wearing tiaras:
 
Jenn: At #JordanCon? In 2013 I was elected Pres of the Southern Fandom Confederation. Jimmy did not believe I’d win & promised to buy me a tiara if I did. I proved him wrong and now I have five.
 
To learn more about Jenn and other JordanCon shenanigans, you can read the whole thread here.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai