News Roundup: White Sand Cover, Stormlight Companion, & Graphic Audio Release

In case you missed it last week we reported that io9 had posted an extended preview of the White Sand graphic novel. Since then Dynamite Entertainment has released a press release with the cover art for the first volume. I for one really love the cover, as someone who has read the prose version it is nice to finally see what certain characters look like. The release is still a few months away but it is safe to say that I am already hyped for it!

In other news the first of a five volume Graphic Audio adaptation of The Way of Kings was released this week. For those who aren't familiar, Graphic Audio is a full-cast (meaning each character is voiced by a different person) reading of the book with sound effects and music. Sort of like a cross between an audiobook and a radio play. Brandon has a short preview of it in a post over on his site. These versions might not be everyone's cup of tea but I know that fans of them are very excited as it was unclear whether The Way of Kings would be adapted in this way.

Lastly April 30th is Independent Bookstore Day, which seeks to celebrate the place indie bookstores serve in communities. This year a special Sanderson related item is being given away for free as a promotion at participating stores, a "pocket companion" to the Way of Kings and Words of Radiance. Here is the description from the Tattered Cover website:

The Stormlight Archive: A Pocket Companion to the Way of Kings and Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson

A limited-edition hardcover book of trivia from The Stormlight Archive epic fantasy series written by Brandon Sanderson. The Stormlight Archive is an ongoing epic fantasy, planned as a ten-book series. Included content is drawn from the first two series’ books which are the only books currently available. Compiles interesting details, character profiles, deeper descriptions of the landscape, maps, illustrations, unanswered questions to ponder until the next book. This is a fan collectible as the content would not be gathered in this way anywhere else. (Free item. Limited to one per customer.)

Here is an image of it from the Tor books tumblr:

This is the first we've heard of this item so we still do not know much about it but we will be posting more about this as more information comes to light. To find a participating store there is a searchable map here.