Brandonitis- Be careful! It's contagious!
Entry posted by Nehex
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It should come as no surprise to you that I am something of a nerd. It’s a humbling experience to be so closely associated with the object of your fandom. I’m willing to bet a large number of you have met Brandon in person at least once, and he is an awesome guy, to say the least.
It’s been a neat experience, getting to see him grow as an author. I’ve been a big SanderFan from almost the beginning (See blog post # 1 for a more detailed account), and I like to think I have a closer relationship with him than a lot of other fans out there.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not trying to be boastful, and I’m not telling you all that I’m a more dedicated fan than you are. Truth be told, there are plenty of you out there that know more about the Cosmere and his published work than I do. But, if you’ve met Brandon, you know that he really cares about his fan base, and it really shows in his interaction with them.
Back in the good ol’ days, when he was still stopping everyone that walked past his table asking if they wanted to read a book, a few of us got to build a real friendship with him. Nowadays, he’s a little harder to get a hold of, what with his busy writing schedule and enormous amount of fans, but he still makes time to dote upon us nerds and make connections with people.
This is one thing that really sets Brandon apart from other authors. I’ve been to other signings for a few different authors, and many of them are nervous – scared, even – to be around their fans. They come in, sit at their table, sign your book, and send you on your merry way. They make little to no eye contact, they barely talk to you other than to ask for your name, and then they leave at the first chance they get.
Other writers are cut from what I call the “Better Than You” cloth. They sweep in, talk about how amazing they are, shun the oddballs and somewhat awkward fans, and then remind everyone several times over how awesome they are, how much more talented they are than everyone else, and that they are better than you.
Not our Brandon. He takes effort to be as sociable as possible with everyone at his signings, treating everyone with respect and kindness. He loves talking and connecting with his fans. Often times, he’ll be having so much fun talking to his fans that the store he’s signing at closes before he’s ready to go home and leave his new friends behind. This may lead to special interaction, such as playing Magic at Dennys’ until midnight or later.
This is why I’m such an avid fan. Sure, his books are amazing and his stories and characters captivating, but most importantly, he takes the time and makes the effort to make us, as fans and nerds alike, feel important and needed and appreciated.
What experiences have you had with Brandon? Please share.
Are there any topics anyone wants me to blog about? Anything in particular you want to hear ranted upon or nerded over? Let me know!
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