Dragonmount is pleased to announce that our friends at the Waygate Foundation have launched their first fundraising campaign, entitled "A Story Begins."

The Waygate Foundation is a non-profit organization which strives to unite fans and authors in the science-fiction and fantasy field to work together for philanthropic purposes. The goal of their first campaign is to raise $10,000 to benefit Patrick Rothfuss’ Worldbuilders charity.

If they are successful in raising their goal, then they've been given permission to share a sneak peak of the forthcoming Wheel of Time Encyclopedia. The Encyclopedia will be the definitive reference book for all things related to the WoT saga. It will most likely be published in 2014.

Please consider donating to this charity. It goes to a great cause, which you can learn about on author Patrick Rothfuss' website. To read more, and make a contribution, visit WaygateFoundation.org.

Here's the full press release:

Waygate Foundation is excited to announce our “A Story Begins” campaign benefiting Worldbuilders.

 

Every epic journey begins with a humble first step – this is ours!

 

"A Story Begins" is the official launch of the Waygate Foundation and the first chance for you to support the authors and charities that make the Sci-Fi and Fantasy literature community such an incredible group. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to kick off the launch of Waygate while supporting Patrick Rothfuss’ Worldbuilders charity. This campaign recognizes the breakthrough organizations founded to foster philanthropic giving while creating a new model to encourage partnership and generosity.

 

We are especially excited to announce that when this campaign reaches our goal, Waygate has received permission to share a sneak peek of the Wheel of Time Encyclopedia! The Encyclopedia is a new reference work which will be produced by Team Jordan, including editor Harriet McDougal and continuity editors Maria Simons and Alan Romanczuk. Though it is not expected to be released until at least 2014, it will include detailed entries on history, geography, weaponry, natural life such as plants, birds and animals, and character descriptions and backgrounds. Waygate is thrilled to have an opportunity to provide the first look at this addition to the Wheel of Time universe and plans to publish it on-line for all fans to enjoy when we reach the $10,000 goal. We can’t wait to hear what you think about it!

 

As a final piece to our kick-off campaign, we are introducing our charter sponsorship program. For a limited time, individuals and organizations can earn recognition as a charter sponsor of Waygate and be perpetually listed on our website. These sponsorships are available at Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels, for donations of $200, $500, $1000 and $2500. This program recognizes our early contributors who significantly advance our foundation toward its goals. Together our charter sponsors and individual donors will help Waygate take those first humble steps on our epic journey.

More Information

• WaygateFoundation.org
  
• Waygate Foundation on Facebook (Please "Like" them!)
  

Our friends at Ta'veren Tees have some goodies in store for you this week!  First of all, it's time for their annual Black (Ajah) Friday sale.  Second, they have a stunning new shirt available for pre-order.  Here's what they have to say:

 

Black (Ajah) Friday is coming to Ta’veren Tees. Evil forces are taking over www.TaverenTees.com, and will be slashing prices by 20%-40%! Starting at midnight on November 23, 2012, all items in the store will be on sale.



Also:

We have a new shirt available for pre-order: A commemorative A Memory of Light tee in honor of the upcoming release in January for fans to wear to release parties, signings (even to have the shirt signed), and perhaps to wear simply while finishing the greatest series ever written. The front features a part of the “Prophecies of the Dragon,” while the back has details about the book. It is a 50% cotton, 50% polyester tee available is S-5XL. The tee is available at www.TaverenTees.com/AMOL

Sorry I didn't get a chance to post this last week, but better late than never! This time, the featured eBook wallpaper is for The Gathering Storm. The artwork is by Todd Lockwood. Here is the image:

Go here to download different sizes of the wallpaper and to read more about how this art was created. How do you like the art for this eBook?

It's time for more wallpaper from Tor.com! This time, the featured eBook wallpaper is for Knife of Dreams. The artwork is by Michael Komarck. Here is the image:

Go here to download different sizes of the wallpaper and to read more about how this art was created. How do you like the art for this eBook?

If you're looking for a way to dress up your Facebook page and show your love for The Wheel of Time, Tor.com is here to help! Each day this week, they will post a different banner featuring art from the eBooks. Here's their press release:

We'll also be posting links to the images right here in this article as they are released.

Monday: Mat Cauthon

Tuesday: Moiraine Sedai

Wednesday: Perrin Aybara

Thursday: Rand al’Thor

Friday: Egwene al’Vere

It's time for more wallpaper from Tor.com! This time, the featured eBook wallpaper is for Crossroads of Twilight. The artwork is by Greg Ruth. Here is the image:

Go here to download different sizes of the wallpaper and to read more about how this art was created. How do you like the art for this eBook?

It's the shirt many of us have been waiting for--the new "Servant of All" shirt from Ta'veren Tees.  The shirt comes in every Ajah color, so you can proudly show your allegiance.  Read more in the press release below:

“SERVANT OF ALL” TEE AVAILABLE IN ALL AJAH COLORS; 10% OF PRE-ORDERS TO BENEFIT WAYGATE FOUNDATION

Ta’veren Tees is pleased to announce our new “Servant of All” shirt, now available for pre-order at www.TaverenTees.com/SoA. The ladies tee comes in all Ajah colors – including black* – and features the serpent and flame in metallic silver ink. 

 

This shirt is available in sizes S-3XL. Pre-orders begin shipping September 28. All shirts purchased in the same order as the “Servant of All” tee will be held and shipped at the same time.

Donation to Waygate Foundation

Ta’veren Tees is proud to partner with the newly founded Waygate Foundation. Now through September 28, 10% of pre-order sales of the “Servant of All” tees, as well as 10% of sales for “Asha’man” long-sleeve tees (www.TaverenTees.com/ashaman), will be donated to the Waygate Foundation.

Waygate Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to bringing together authors and fans of science fiction and fantasy in global charitable efforts. Waygate works with authors to run fundraising drives and events for charities of their choice. To learn more about them visit www.Facebook.com/WaygateFoundation. 

*Ta’veren Tees neither confirms nor denies the existence of a Black Ajah.

###

Ta’veren Tees is an officially licensed creator of Wheel of Time® merchandise. Find them online at www.TaverenTees.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/taverentees, and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/taverentees.

 

Red Eagle games announced today that they are taking new forward steps to produce multiple video games based on The Wheel of Time. The first game, which they hope to release in January around the time A Memory of Light is published, will be a "tactical RPG" called First Banner of the Rising Sun. It will be designed for Apple iOS and Google Android devices.

Red Eagle intends to fund this first game by running a Kickstarter campaign. This campaign, which goes live today, is seeking to raise $450,000 from fans interested in supporting their cause to produce Wheel of Time video games. Supporters will receive different incentives depending on how much they donate, such as exclusive in-game items, or (for big donators), their name and likeness somewhere in the game itself.

To produce the game, Red Eagle has partnered with Jet Set Games, the creators of the popular Highborn mobile game on iOS and Android.

First Banner of the Rising Sun will take place during the early days of the Aiel War. The player will control characters not seen in the books, but get the chance to fight against the hoards of Aiel invaders.

In the coming years, Red Eagle Games intends to publish a series of other video games for all major platforms.

Saladin Ahmed, the author of Throne of the Crescent Moon, recently visited Dragonmount for a Q&A session. The following is a compilation of all the questions and answers from his visit. This session was hosted by Mashiara Sedai of the Dragonmount Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild.

Host: Dragonmount is pleased to welcome Saladin Ahmed for a week long author Q&A session. Mr. Ahmed's short fiction has been nominated for the Nebula and Campbell awards, and his debut fantasy novel, Throne of the Crescent Moon, has received rave reviews from outlets ranging from Kirkus to NPR to io9. Mr. Ahmed has also been a guest on Brandon Sanderson's "Writing Excuses" podcast.

And now, he's here to answer your questions! Please post your questions below, and remember to be respectful and follow Dragonmount's Code of Conduct. Help me give Mr. Ahmed a warm welcome!

Mr. Ahmed, thank you for joining us for this event!

QUICK EDIT:

Mr. Ahmed might not be able to start answering questions until Tuesday (the 24th), but please feel free to post your questions now. He will answer all of them!

Ahmed: Hi there, folks! I'm THRILLED to be a guest here at Dragonmount. The early Wheel of Time books (embarrassingly, I'm WAY behind on the series) are some of my all-time favorite fantasy novels, and they've been a profound influence on my own work. (To give an example, Aviendha was one of the inspirations for Zamia Banu Laith Badawi, one of the main characters in my first novel.) So to be given a chance to talk a bit about my writing to this community means a lot to me.

As Mashiara Sedai indicated, I'm on the road right now, so I may be a bit slow with responses. Also, please bear with me as I figure out how the forum works, as I'm a bit of a techno-klutz. (I hope my Thom avatar shows up properly!)

With all of that out of the way, here we go!

Q: I'll start off with the first question. In Throne of the Crescent Moon, how much of the story, characters, myth, and magic are based on actual Middle Eastern culture and traditions? How much is pure imagination? How did you find a balance between the two?

A: Balancing real-world historical and cultural influences with Just Plain Made Up Stuff was one of the big challenges I faced in writing Throne of the Crescent Moon. For example, while the main in-world religion of Throne is very clearly influenced by medieval Islam, there are massive departures as well. Same with the monsters, which are lifted as much from Ray Harryhausen movies as they are from the actual mythology of the Islamic world. Ultimately, this is the reason I wrote a secondary-world fantasy instead of a historical one. You just plain have more freedom in writing the former. So what ended up on the pages of Throne is basically 1/3 genuine Islamic history/culture, 1/3 conventions and tropes from western fantasy novels (incl. WoT!), and 1/3 stuff from my own imagination. It's a Frankenstein's monster of a novel in some ways, but hopefully the stitches don't show.

Q: How difficult is it to juggle professional writing and your personal life? How much writing do you accomplish each day? Do you have a strict word count you have to keep to?

A: As to your second question...I won't jinx myself by talking about word count per se, but I will say that the personal/professional balance is hard, hard, hard. Did I mention it's hard? I'm a father to twin two-year-olds, which makes the already EXTREMELY difficult life of a non-bestselling author that much tougher. Full disclosure: I had a public semibreakdown on the internet a month or so back. One of the most remarkable things that emerged from that post was the flood of email I received from other writers--ranging from unpublished folks to NY Times Bestselling authors--who basically said "I don't admit it in public, but I'm going through/have gone through something very similar." Going kind of crazy trying to strike a balance seems almost to be a sort of occupational hazard. But I keep at it in part because of the inspiration provided by writers like Robert Jordan. The chance to bring the sort of pleasure to other readers that he brought to me...that's a powerful, powerful motivator.

Q: Do you have any tips for kick-starting inspiration? For example, is there a movie you watch, a book you read, or a song you listen to in order to get in a creative mood?

A: I almost never write to music because I find it distracting. One of the things I've had to reconcile myself to as I've gone pro is that I no longer have the luxury to wait on the muses, or even to coax them out of hiding. Once you sell a trilogy, you're on a deadline and need to produce words come hell or high water. So mostly it's all about massive amounts of coffee for me.

Thanks for the questions, guys! Looking forward to more!

Q: How valuable do you find meeting fans in person at either signings or conventions? Is it necessary for a new author to hit the road and meet potential fans, or does the work speak for itself?

A: Meeting fans at cons is extremely gratifying, and the networking with other professionals at cons can be great. More than that, the camaraderie and just-plain-fun is something I'd be miserable without.

But.

Cons cost time and money. I'd never describe them as *necessary*--more like a wonderful indulgence that can *sometimes* yield professional benefits. The best way to approach them is as a sort of working vacation with fellow nerds.

Q: Okay, I have a bit of a complex question...In your writing, how do you get from point A to point B (let's say point A is the beginning and point B is the end)? For example, I have a work, I know how I want it to begin and I know how I want it to end, but everything in between is blank space. How do you fill the blank spaces in your work? Do you have any tricks that help you in this area?

A: Actually *writing* chunks of the last chapter--before the middle of the book has been written--helps me to build a "bridge" between it and the first few chapters. I'm forced to think in detail about everything that needs to be mentioned in a final chapter. Which plot questions are answered, which characters are still there, *where* the last scene takes place, and how the characters got there, etc. By the time I've figured out what exactly I'm going to say in the last chapter, I've done a great deal of thinking about the couple of hundred pages preceding it.

Q: I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I LOVED the Falcon Prince as a character. Is he going to be prominent in the next book?

A: I'm glad you liked him! Yes, the Falcon Prince will be a VERY major character in Book II. The events at the end of Throne will have huge repercussions across the Crescent Moon Kingdoms (and beyond), and Pharaad Az Hammaz will be at the center of the maelstrom.

Q: Hi, Mr. Ahmed! I LOVED the novel! Can't wait to read your next one!

I think the thing that struck me most, trying not to do too many spoilers, was how true to themselves Zamia and Raseed stayed. Was it hard to leave loose ends and kind of forgo the more typical ending?

I also really liked that we joined the story near the end of Adoulla's career. Do you think we will ever see any prequels that tell more of his beginnings?

A: Thanks for reading! Trying to avoid spoilers here, but as far as Z & R go, I'll just say that the nice thing about writing the first book in a series is that it leaves a fair amount of room for loose ends. Zamia and Raseed each have some pretty intense challenges facing them in Book II. I'll give this much away: Zamia will learn more than she ever wanted to know about the djenn (who are mentioned but not seen in Book I), and Raseed will cross swords with a rogue dervish of the Order.

As to your second point: The Crescent Moon Kingdoms was conceived (and sold) as a trilogy. But if I do ever write a fourth book, there's a pretty good chance it would be a prequel.

Q: Do you ever find yourself in a place where you personally want things to go one way but know that the reader would want something else? If so, what do you do in such situations?

A: That's a really interesting question. I think while I'm writing I want things to go pleasantly for my characters, and I want my characters to be completely likable. But as a reader I love biting my nails or getting choked up over a character's tribulations, and I love characters' imperfections. So I try to give those things to my readers.

Q: How do you go about setting up a scene in your head and then transferring it to written word? The same goes for people. I can see the images in my head but I can never find the right words to describe them. Do you ever have these issues?

Have you ever initially created a character that you intended to kill very early on (like chapter 1) and turn around and keep them as a supporting character?

A: Perhaps because I spent many years writing and publishing poetry, I don't tend to have trouble finding the right *words*--cooking up plots is more where I have to work my hardest. Writer's block is less of a problem for me than finding *time* and *energy* to write.

As to question 2: I almost experience the opposite as far as killing characters goes--I *like* my characters, and if left to my own devices I'd probably not do them harm. But sometimes the story calls for what the story calls for, and I have to push myself into it.

Q: Have you ever experienced that a character "takes control" and starts doing things that you hadn't intended him/her to do?

A: Heh. Hearing writers talk about that--and I have many dear friends who experience "characters taking control"--always makes me angry and jealous. Why? Because *I've* never experienced it, and I wish I could, because it seems like it could be very helpful.

Q: Honored to meet you.

What drew you to writing?

A: My father, who--against certain socioeconomic odds--surrounded me with fun books, and encouraged my literary creativity from a young age.

Q: Okay, next question: did you study writing academically, or just start pursuing it as a hobby at first?

A: I've always been an "amateur" writer of some sort, since I was a kid. I did do formal training in creative writing--I have an MFA in Poetry--but being a member of various SF/F workshops & writers' groups has been more directly relevant to my current work.

Q: Have you ever had a thought or a dream that you just had to write down right that minute no matter what?

A: Yes, lots! Don't get to do it as often now that I have kids, though--I need to guard sleep-time more jealously, since it's so rare...

Q: Hey Saladin, I was curious, is there anything that you see writers doing that annoys the hell out of you? For instance Stephen King's comments about overuse of "he said blandly," "she said hotly."

What are the things you think new writers need to avoid?

A: Honestly, I think most "rules" (DON'T USE ADVERBS! DON'T BREAK POV! MAKE YOUR CHARACTER WANT SOMETHING!) are useless in the abstract. Any given work can violate them if it does so well.

Q: What do you look for in a good story?

A: A good story for me TENDS to offer some triangulation of entertainment value, writing skill, and ethos. Have something to say, say it well, and make it enjoyable (or rewarding) to read. YMMV, of course.

Q: Who is your favorite Wheel of Time character and why? Which scene in the series is your favorite?

After you finish the Crescent Moon Kingdoms series, do you have plans for another story/series already in mind?

A: That's tough. Of the "big three" guys, it's probably Perrin. But some of my very favorites are second-string characters. Thom Merrillin, Bayle Domon, Aviendha, Rhuarc, Min. And of course Lan. Lan is like the Wolverine of WoT--who *doesn't* like him?

I think almost all of The Eye of the World and The Great Hunt is just jaw-dropping stuff, honestly. But as far as a single scene, it's hard to top the Die Hard-type ending of Dragon Reborn. I mean, to have transplanted the style of the action thriller into an epic fantasy novel so powerfully--I don't think anyone did it before RJ did, and I don't think anyone's done it better since.

Finally, yes, I have several back-burner projects, some of which may end up getting written simultaneously as the Crescent Moon Kingdoms books.

Q: Do you ever include scenes with references or jokes purely for your own enjoyment? As in that the readers might not get the joke or understand the reference.

A: Yes, I do that a fair amount. But usually by the time I've revised and edited they become unrecognizable as in-jokes.

Q: What books would you for recommend someone to read?

A: That's pretty broad, so here are two random favorite writers I think people should read: Naguib Mahfouz and Fritz Leiber.

THANKS A TON FOR HAVING ME HERE, ALL!

Host: Thank you, Mr. Ahmed, for joining us. We really appreciate you making yourself available for your fans. And as Ireond said, please come back again!

Ta'veren Tees is at it yet again! Guest artist Paul Bielaczyc is back, and this time he's designed a stunning Perrin shirt for us. Here's the press release:

 

WOLF KING SHIRT AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER; 10%, 15%, AND 20% OFF COUPON CODES UP FOR GRABS

 

"When the Wolf King carries the hammer, thus are the final days known.”

 

Ta’veren Tees is excited to add the “Wolf King” shirt to the Special Edition collection of www.TaverenTees.com – the first tee featuring the character of Perrin Aybara. The artwork was created by Paul Bielaczyc and is a companion to his “Ravens” shirt.

 

 

 

 

 

The “Wolf King” tee comes in both men’s and ladies’ styles and will be available for pre-order beginning July 17 at www.taverentees.com/wolfking and www.taverentees.com/wolfkingladies. As always, pre-ordering this shirt ensures it will be shipped as soon as it is in stock on July 31.

 

In addition to the new shirt, three coupon codes are available so you can stock up on all things WoT:

10% off an order of $40 or more: 10%off$40

15% off an order of $75 or more: 15%off$75

20% off an order of $100 or more: 20%off$100

 

The “Wolf King” tee features Perrin amid ethereal wolves, representing his connection to the animals in both the waking and dreaming worlds. Men’s shirts are available in S-5XL and ladies shirts are available in S-2XL. All Special Edition shirts have the Snake/Wheel logo on the left sleeve.

 

Paul Bielaczyc

Paul Bielaczyc is an avid Wheel of Time^® fan and costumer. He created his first Rand al’Thor costume in 2003 and has been making WoT costumes ever since. Paul co-owns Aradani Studios with his siblings, where they sell art and costumes. To read more about Paul, visit www.taverentees.com/artists.

 

 

Dragonmount is pleased to host fantasy author Saladin Ahmed for a week-long author Q&A session! Saladin Ahmed's debut novel, Throne of the Crescent Moon, released in February of this year, is gaining attention in the fantasy genre, particularly because of Mr. Ahmed's unique choice of setting. Last year, Saladin Ahmed was a guest podcaster on Brandon Sanderson's "Writing Excuses," Season 5 Episode 36. He has also been nominated for both the Nebula and Campbell awards.

Saladin Ahmed will visit Dragonmount July 22nd - 28th to answer questions from fans. Everyone is welcome to join in. The discussion will take place on the General Discussion board. I hope you will all come over and take part in this exciting event!

We recently received the following exciting news from our friends at Ta'veren Tees:  

 

          

 

 

 

 

TA’VEREN TEES AND INKWING ARTS ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

Ta’veren Tees, creators of officially licensed Wheel of Time® apparel and merchandise, and InkWing Arts, creators of epic goods from the worlds of Brandon Sanderson, are teaming up to make sure you can find apparel from BOTH companies no matter what convention you attend.

 

The agreement allows each company to sell the other’s products at conventions, which will increase access to apparel for Wheel of Time® and Brandon Sanderson’s other novels for the fans.

 

“This is great for both companies, because our products can be at conventions that we would not normally be able to attend,” said Jeffrey Daniel, co-owner of Ta’verern Tees. “We want to make our shirts as accessible as possible to the Wheel of Time fandom, and this distribution agreement with InkWing will allow us to do that. We’re also excited to be able to provide InkWing’s apparel based on The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn for fans of Brandon’s other series.”

 

“We at Inkwing Arts are long-time fans of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series,” said Kara Stewart, business manager of InkWing Arts, “so we are excited to be partnering with the good folks at Ta’veren Tees to bring official Wheel of Time t-shirts to epic fans at conventions we attend.”

 

Since fans of Sanderson’s other series and WoT often overlap, and each company is located in different parts of the U.S., the partnership is mutually beneficial. The two companies will begin selling limited quantities and selections of each other’s products in July.

 

InkWing will have a booth at Comic-Con in California, July 12-15, and will have Ta’veren Tees’ newest “Mat Cauthon by Seamas Gallagher” design on hand. Ta’veren Tees will have a booth at LibertyCon in Tennessee, July 20-22, with both Alloy of Law and Way of Kings designs for sale.

 

If you can’t be at a convention, don’t worry. You can check out InkWing’s full catalog at http://www.inkwing.com and Ta’veren Tees’ catalog at http://www.taverentees.com.

 

 

###

 

If you are interested in buying wholesale orders from Ta’veren Tees, please write to: contact AT taverentees DOT com.

 

If you are interested in buying wholesale orders from InkWing Arts, please write to inkwingarts AT gmail DOT com.

 

 

 

It's time for more wallpaper!  After a quiet month from them, Tor.com will now continue to post eBook wallpaper for each Wheel of Time book.  It's one of many ways in which they are celebrating the countdown to the final book.

This week, the featured eBook wallpaper is for The Path of Daggers. The artwork is by Julie Bell. Here is the image:

Go here to download different sizes of the wallpaper and to read more about how this art was created. How do you like the art for this eBook?

TarValon.Net just announced that they have begun taking applications for the 2012 Robert Jordan Memorial Scholarship!  This annual scholarship awards $500 to an undergraduate student at an accredited college or university.  This opportunity is open to all Wheel of Time fans, so you do not have to be a member of TarValon.Net or attend school in the USA to enter.  

More information can be found in their site announcement and on the application form.  Applications are due July 6, 2012 and a recipient will be chosen by August 3, 2012.  Good luck!

Our friends at Ta'veren Tees have unveiled a creative new campaign and a new Mat shirt!  Check out this awesome press release:

Ta’veren Tees sends Wheel of Time® themed care packages to soldiers serving overseas, releases new “Mat Cauthon” shirt with portion of proceeds to Wounded Warriors

Before he ever penned The Wheel of Time®, Jim Rigney (known to fans as Robert Jordan), was a soldier in the U.S. Army and fought in the Vietnam War – an experience that profoundly affected his life and the epic series he would create.

In honor of Memorial Day, Jim Rigney, and soldiers past and present, Ta’veren Tees is proud to announce the first ever “Sons & Daughters of Battles Campaign.” During the week of May 28, 2012, we will be sending Wheel of Time-themed packages to 10 U.S. soldiers currently serving overseas or preparing to leave their families to serve. Each soldier will receive: 1 Ta’veren Tee-shirt; 1 Siswai’aman Bandanna; 1 officially licensed piece of WoT art donated by Ta’veren Tees guest artists, including Paul Bielaczyc and Ariel Burgess; and 1 “A Memory of Light” messenger bag and bumper stickers, which were provided by Tor.com to JordanCon, and generously donated to Ta’veren Tees.

We reached out to fans via Facebook and Twitter to send the names of WoTfans serving in the military, and from there we narrowed the field to 10 soldiers away from home, or soon to leave, who might appreciate a small token of thanks – and some Wheel of Time® swag.

New “Mat Cauthon” Tee Available for Pre-order!

In addition to “Sons and Daughters of Battles”, we are extremely pleased to announce the release of a new shirt based on the Son of Battles himself, Mat Cauthon. “Mat Cauthon by Seamas” is the second tee created by Wheel of Time® comic book artist Seamas Gallagher. The shirt will be available for pre-order starting May 25 at https://www.taverentees.com/matbyseamas and will ship by July 1.

As with the “Robert Jordan’s ‘Wheel of Time’” tee pre-orders last year, 10% of proceeds from the pre-order sales through June 8 will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, which enlists the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members.

The tee shirt is based on Seamas’s image of everyone’s favorite gambler, and features the dice chapter icon on gray, as well as the snake and wheel icon on the left sleeve. The back features the verse of “Jak o’ the Shadows” altered by The Band of the Red Hand to include Mat’s name. The shirt is 100% cotton and available up to size 5XL.

Ta’veren Tees is an officially licensed creator of Wheel of Time®merchandise. Find them online at www.TaverenTees.com, on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/taverentees, and on Twitter atwww.Twitter.com/taverentees.

It's time for more wallpaper!  Remember, every other week, Tor.com will post eBook wallpaper for each Wheel of Time book.  It's one of many ways in which they are celebrating the countdown to the final book.

This week, the featured eBook wallpaper is for A Crown of Swords. The artwork is by Mélanie Delon. Here is the image:

Go here to download different sizes of the wallpaper and to read more about how this art was created. How do you like the art this week?

Ta'veren Tees has partnered with artist Ariel Burgess to bring you the first ever officially licensed Wheel of Time playing cards.  No release date for the cards has been set yet, but they are coming soon, and we will be here to let you know as soon as they are available.  In the meantime, check out their press release:

Official Wheel of Time® Playing Cards with Art by Ariel Burgess Coming Soon to Ta’veren Tees, Portion of Proceeds to Benefit Mayo Clinic

 

Ta’veren Tees, the creator of Wheel of Time^® tee shirts, is proud to announce officially licensed Wheel of Time^® Playing Cards, featuring the breathtaking character art of Ariel Burgess, coming soon to www.TaverenTees.com. A portion of the proceeds from each deck will be donated to Mayo Clinic to fund Amyloidosis research.

 

The deck will be comprised of 54 cards, including two jokers, and every card will feature a different character from the series. Ariel has spent over 400 hours on the project, and she and Ta’veren Tees are excited to provide fans with a means to own 54 individual pieces of art in one box.

 

Ariel initially began the project on commission, but her stunning artwork captured the attention of many WoT fans, including Ta’veren Tees. All art has been approved by Harriet McDougal, Robert Jordan’s widow and editor, as well as the rest of “Team Jordan.”

 

No release date has been set for the playing cards as of yet, and more details will be released as they are available. Keep watch at www.TaverenTees.com/playingcards for the upcoming release, and watch for news on:

Ta’veren Tees’ Facebook: www.facebook.com/taverentees

Ta’veren Tees’ Twitter: www.twitter.com/taverentees

Ariel’s Facebook page dedicated to the project and artwork: http://www.facebook.com/pages/In-Memory-of-Robert-Jordan/164127706972822

 

Ariel Burgess

Ariel Burgess hails from the Washington, D.C area, where she has lived most of her life. Her family is filled with artists and red heads, so she was destined to become both.  At an early age she set her sights on a career in comic book illustration, and is currently finishing her Associates of Web Design at Montgomery College. Ariel’s art can be seen at http://arielburgess.daportfolio.com/, as well as on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ariel-B/241658989208793.

I had the opportunity to meet Ariel Burgess at JordanCon this past weekend, as well as to view preview pictures for some of the cards.  She is an incredibly sweet, talented woman, and I am confident that you will be blown away by the art on the cards.

You may remember that we recently reported on the Suvudu Cage Matches. I am thrilled to announce that the finals are upon us, and that Wheel of Time fan favorite Moiraine Damodred is one of the two characters who will be duking it out this week. Her opponent is Kylar Stern from The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks. Kylar most recently beat Granny Weatherwax from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. Moiraine most recently defeated Anomander Rake from Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series.

The final battle starts tomorrow (Monday, April 9th) at 10:00 a.m. EST. Go here to vote in the fight. Be sure to get out there and vote!

It's time for more wallpaper! Remember, during the weeks between Brandon Sanderson's "musings" on each Wheel of Time book, Tor.com will post eBook art wallpaper for each of the books. Sanderson didn't get a chance to do his musing last week, but the wallpapers are still coming out on schedule.

This week, the featured eBook wallpaper is for The Fires of Heaven. The artwork is by Dan Dos Santos. Here is the image:

Go here to download different sizes of the wallpaper and to read more about how this art was created. How do you like the art this week?

Ta'veren Tees has once again produced an astounding work of art. This one is based on fan favorite Mat Cauthon:

“Ravens” tee available for pre-order on March 23

 

Ta’veren Tees is excited to add a third design, called “Ravens,” to their Special Edition collection. The artwork was created by Paul Bielaczyc and is based around one of the series’ best-loved characters, Mat Cauthon.

 

The “Ravens” tee comes in both men’s and ladies’ styles and will be available for pre-order beginning March 23 at www.taverentees.com/ravens and www.taverentees.com/ravensladies. As always, pre-ordering this shirt ensures it will be shipped as soon as it is in stock on April 13. In addition, Ta’veren Tees’ current Mat-related shirt, “Toss the Dice” will be on sale during the pre-order period. These shirts are available in limited quantities, so get them while you can!

 

The “Ravens” tee shirt features various themes that make up the character of Mat Cauthon, including his wide-brimmed hat and ashandarei. Fans who have read the entire series to date will fully appreciate the artwork surrounding Mat, but anyone who loves the trickster will enjoy this tee. All Special Edition shirts include the snake and wheel logo on the left sleeve.

 

Paul Bielaczyc

Paul Bielaczyc is an avid Wheel of Time^® fan and costumer. He created his first Rand al’Thor costume in 2003 and has been making WoT costumes ever since. Paul co-owns Aradani Studios with his siblings, where they sell art and costumes. See his work at www.aradanistudios.com. To read more about Paul, visit www.taverentees.com/artists.

 

It's time for more wallpaper! Remember, during the weeks between Brandon Sanderson's "musings" on each Wheel of Time book, Tor.com will post eBook art wallpaper for each of the books.

This week, the featured eBook wallpaper is for The Shadow Rising. The artwork is by Sam Weber. Here is the image:

Go here to download different sizes of the wallpaper and to read more about how this art was created. How do you like the art this week?

It's time for another Tor.com feature! This week, Brandon Sanderson shares his thoughts on The Shadow Rising. You can read the full article here.

Next up will be an eBook wallpaper for The Shadow Rising.