Year of Sanderson
Year of Sanderson was a Kickstarter campaign by Dragonsteel Entertainment that released in 2023.[1]
The Kickstarter campaign was announced and went live on March 1, 2022.[2] The campaign's goal was set at one million dollars, and it surpassed that amount in 35 minutes. Within 24 hours, it had raised $15.4 million, the single most successful day of any Kickstarter campaign.[3] After three days, the campaign broke the previous Kickstarter funding record of $20,338,986 held by the Pebble Time smartwatch.[4] The project ended on March 31, 2022, with 185,341 backers and $41,754,153 in funding, attracting widespread media attention due to its sheer size and groundbreaking nature within the publishing industry.[5]
Rewards
The campaign gave rewards every month, with four new books, called Secret Projects, being released quarterly. Swag boxes, each based around a theme of Brandon's books, were released in the remaining eight months. There was also a free download on Brandon's website, matching the theme of each month.[6] Extra boxes were sold on Brandon's website after the Kickstarter ended.[7]
The Cosmere Character Pin were designed by Sandara Tang.[6]
January
Tress of the Emerald Sea (Secret Project 1) released on January 1, 2023. It would later have a standard publishing which was released on April 4, 2023.[8] On March 3, 2022, Brandon released the first five chapters along with some brief commentary, which can be read on his website and listened to on his YouTube channel. He also did a full spoiler Q&A about these preview chapters, which can be listened to on his YouTube channel.
The box also included:
- Vin character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #1)
The free download for January was a Teacup Color Sheet.[6]
February
A Hoid themed box was released in February.[6] The box included:
- Hoid for President t-shirt
- Hoid mousepad
- Wit sticky notes
- Hoid gold-colored seals
- Hoid character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #2)
The free download for February was an Mad Lib called a "Hoid-Lib".[6]
March
A Cytoverse themed box was released in March.[6] The box included:
- Premium M-Bot model
- Doomslug silicone mold
- Doomslug “go fish” playing card deck
- Steris character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #3)
The free download for March was a Doomslug Crochet Pattern and a game called "Don't Eat Doomslug".[6]
April
The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England (Secret Project 2) released on April 1, 2023. It would later have a standard publishing which was released on June 27, 2023.[9] On March 10, 2022, Brandon released the first six chapters, along with some brief commentary, which can be read on his website and listened to on his YouTube channel.
The box also included:
- Vasher character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #4)
The free download for April was a create your own comic featuring Mervin the Wyzrd.[6]
May
A Mistborn themed box was released in May.[6] The box included:
- Mistborn themed metal bookends
- Reversible soonie pup plushie
- Mistborn Era 1 themed sticker pack
- Wax character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #5)
The free download for May was a Mistwraith Crochet Pattern and a secret message written in the Steel alphabet.[6]
June
A Sel themed box was released in June.[6] The box included:
- Sel symbol wax seal—with two wax sticks
- Emperor’s Soul ink stamp
- Elantri-Fix latex-free adhesive bandages and metal tin
- Glow-in-the-dark Aon magnets
- Raoden character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #6)
The free download for June was a word search featuring words from Sel books.[6]
July
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (Secret Project 3) released on July 1, 2023. It would later have a standard publishing which was released on October 3, 2023.[10] On March 17, 2022, Brandon released the first seven chapters, along with some brief commentary, which can be read on his website and listened to on his YouTube channel. He also did a full spoiler Q&A about these preview chapters, which can be listened to on his YouTube channel.
The box also included:
- Shallan character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #7)
The free download for July was a Connect the Dots.[6]
August
A Cosmere themed box was released in August.[6] The box included:
- Worldhopper Toiletry Bag
- Worldhopper Luggage Tag
- Cosmere Destination Postcards
- Khriss character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #8)
The free download for August was a Maze.[6]
September
A Warbreaker themed box was released in September.[6] The box included:
- Nightblood Letter Opener
- Nalthis Symbol Drink Coasters
- Lightsong & Blushweaver Mints
- Vivenna character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #9)
The free download for September was a Color Sheet featuring artwork of T'Telir.[6]
October
The Sunlit Man (Secret Project 4) released on October 1, 2023. It would later have a standard publishing which was released on March 5, 2024.[11] On March 24, 2022, Brandon released the first ten chapters along with some brief commentary, which can be found on his website, as well as listened to on YouTube.
The box also included:
- Kaladin character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #10)
The free download for October was a model of Canticle's sun cycle.[6]
November
A Stormlight themed box was released in November.[6] The box included:
- Bridge Four Designer Satchel
- Oathbringer Bottle Opener
- Roshar Air Fresheners: Larkin (orange), Chull (leather), and Windspren (rain)
- Syl character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #11)
The free download for November was a Knights Radiant Snowflake Template.[6]
December
A Sanderson Fan themed box was released in December.[6] The box included:
- Long Chills & Case Dough Hardcover Book (A Sanderson Curiosity)
- Writer’s Notebook (125 pages)
- Dragonsteel Branded Socks
- Kelsier character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #12)
- Brandon character pin (Cosmere Character Pin series 1, pin #0)
The free download for December was the pdf of Long Chills & Case Dough.[6]
External Links
- The Kickstarter campaign can be found on Surprise! Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson
Notes
- ↑ Kickstarter Campaign
— Kickstarter # - ↑ Brandon's Announcement Video
— Youtube # - ↑ "Fantasy Author Raises $15.4 Million in 24 Hours to Self-Publish"
— nytimes.com - 2022-02-03# - ↑ Brandon Sanderson's surprise novels overtake Pebble watch as most successful Kickstarter ever
— theverge.com - 2022-03-04# - ↑ Most Funded Kickstarters
— Kickstarter # - ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Secret Novels
— brandonsanderson.com # - ↑ Year of Sanderson
— dragonsteelbooks.com # - ↑ Tress of the Emerald Sea on Amazon
— Amazon.com # - ↑ Frugal Wizard's Handbook on Amazon
— Amazon.com # - ↑ Yumi and the Nightmare Painter on Amazon
— Amazon.com # - ↑ The Sunlit Man on Amazon
— Amazon.com #