wotwiki

Interview #639: Twitter: Fan Names in the WoT Books, Entry #1

Terez

Here is an alphabetical list of names chosen, with details if given. They will be linked to EWOT pages when those are updated after the A Memory of Light comes out. The main auction for the speaking part was won by Sandip Mehta.

Eric Allen (In the Tower Guard; gets sworn at by someone who swears a lot. Perhaps Uno?)

Jesamyn Angelica

Charlie Bachelder (Aiel fighting in Last Battle)

Johnnie Lee Barrington, Jr. (Deathwatch Guard)

Paul Benish (Malkieri)

Melissa Bergevin

Jonathan Brockelman (Whitecloak)

Joff Brown (a city)

Brandon Bryant (Band of the Red Hand)

Jonathan Burt (Whitecloak)

Helen Cousins

Jay Dauro (Deathwatch Guard)

Shaun Davis

Gavin Doyle

Natalie Doyle

Daniel Egonsson

Kevin Fanshier

Jacob Figler (Band of the Red Hand)

Craig Foster (Borderlander; does not live long.)

Filis [Emery?] (Green Ajah)

Shani Gamble

[?] Gilbert , son of Chris

Courtney Gliszczynski (First name used.)

Cindy Goodman

Michael Gonzalez

Mione Haak

Laura Hayden

Laura Hepburn

Hugh Hill

Andrew Holcombe

Steven Karam

Rion Kinosaki

Einar Laastad Kjosavik (Asha’man who is balefired by a Forsaken.)

Sean Little

Nils Loodin (Aiel scout)

Glen MacDonald (Deathwatch Guard)

Sandip Mehta

Mikayla Micomonaco ( damane )

Robert Moreau

Bach Payson (Borderlander; does not live long.)

Eric Peters

Eleanor Pettener (Wise One, or perhaps an apprentice.)

Alex Prescott

Bryan Ragon (Borderlander; does not live long; dies well.)

Sally Rankin

Kimberly Readdy (Wise One, or perhaps an apprentice.)

Kris Ring (Seanchan Blood)

Anna Roberts

Nikhil Rode (Aiel scout)

Robert Rose

Angela Ryddingwood

Maureen Sampson (Aes Sedai)

San D’ma Shadar (Group referenced by Mat which fought in a historic battle; translates to “Slayers of the Shadow”.)

Michael Sarcone (Darkfriend, on request.)

Nathan Sawyer

Eric Silva

Shane Spears (Aiel, of course.)

Leisha Springer

Margaret St. John (Maiden name [not tweeted] will be a Seanchan general.)

Caitlin Sullivan (White Ajah)

Roger Trask (Aiel fighting in Last Battle)

Lindsey Turnbow (wolf)

Neil Tweed (Some woods, named after the original owners.)

Pia Maria Vaajakallio (Aes Sedai)

Kurt Wagoner (Two Rivers man)

Eyal Weinstock

Jordan White (wolf)

Shiv Whorra

Harm Wieringa

Savannah Rose Young (Seanchan general)

Jason Zigmont

Brandon Sanderson (5 October 2011)

Do you want your name to appear in A Memory of Light ? Click here .

SHAWN J

Not sure if you wish to defend yourself: http://www.reddit.com…

BRANDON SANDERSON

Thanks for the heads up.

PETER AZP

“The auction will be through eBay and 10% of the proceeds will go to the Mayo Clinic” Wait, 10%? What about to the other 90?

BRANDON SANDERSON

To Jordancon, a non-profit. (It’s all there in the blog post.)

BRANDON SANDERSON

On the A Memory of Light name drive: this is PRIMARILY a fund raiser for Jordancon, which Harriet and I believe deserves support.

BRANDON SANDERSON

For a while, I’ve been wanting to do this to help Jordancon make ends meet, as I think it is a great way to honor RJ’s name and legacy.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Please note that Jordancon HAS applied to be tax-exempt as a 501(c)3. This means you will probably be able to deduct your donations.

BRANDON SANDERSON (10 OCTOBER)

Cindy Goodman, just drew your name to be in A Memory of Light .

BRANDON SANDERSON

Jason Zigmont, I just used (a variation of) your name in A Memory of Light . Details, for those confused, here .

BRANDON SANDERSON

Glen MacDonald, welcome to the Deathwatch Guard. ( Explanation )

BRANDON SANDERSON (13 OCTOBER)

Running on too little sleep; I’m having trouble getting A Memory of Light written on the plane. Instead, I’m going to start filling in name placeholders.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Shane Spears , you are first. Yes, you will be Aiel. There’s really no way I could pass that up. Steven Karam , you are in A Memory of Light too.

AUSTIN MOORE

So everyone who donates gets their name in? Or are you just selecting a few?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Selecting semi-randomly, I’m afraid. Everyone is in ‘spiritually’ but I won’t have enough names for all.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Eric Peters , you’re in. Kimberly Readdy , you are wise, are you not?

ALCHEMIST

Can you say approximately how many names you will be needing? just so i know just how small my chance is… :)

BRANDON SANDERSON

Maybe a hundred.

NATHAN SMITH

What do you have in as placeholders?

BRANDON SANDERSON

I use “***” to placehold in books, sometimes with one letter at the end to keep different placeheld people straight.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Eleanor Pettener , you are soon to be wise. Laura Hayden , you’re in. Shani Gamble , are you a boy or a girl? Name websites can’t decide.

JAMES STARKE

Have you started drawing names for the JordanCon auction? Also, there’s no clear date as to when the drawing really “ends” …

BRANDON SANDERSON

Yes, this is for the JordanCon deal. I’m pretty sure that the first cutoff is right. Anyone before then has a chance.

SHIVAM BHATT

How do you decide which names you’re going to pick? is it based on sound or?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Sometimes, I draw. Others, I just scroll, then stop at a name and work on it a moment. See if it works.

FANTASY AUTHOR

(waving hand wildly) How about dropping in a fellow author? Granted, an indie author, but an epic fantasy indie author.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Nothing wrong with being indie. But, in this case, I’m only using people who donated.

BRANDON SANDERSON

For all still wondering what’s up with these names, and how to join in the fun, here is that link again.

CHAD ROSENTHAL

Is there a spot where you post the names? Just in case we miss the tweets?

BRANDON SANDERSON

I will try to post them all at the end.

ZACAJ

What are the chances of a name getting used if you donate?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Hard to say. It will depend on number of donators and number of names needed. Between 1% and 10% maybe?

BRANDON SANDERSON (18 OCTOBER)

Eric Allen , you’re in the Tower Guard. Someone just swore at you, but he swears at lots of people. ( How to get in )

BRANDON SANDERSON

Einar Laastad Kjosavik , the good news is you’re an Asha’man. The bad news is that one of the Forsaken just balefired you.

SELENE O’ROURKE

So if half my name is a Forsaken’s alias, and the other half is an Aiel chief, should I even think about going on the list?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Ha. Well, I do change most of the names, so anything can theoretically be used.

JALIL JAMES

Hey man, so If we donate to the good cause we are guaranteed a spot in the book or names get pulled off the list at random?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Mostly random, I’m afraid. There is one ‘sure shot’ auction coming up, but last time that went for A LOT of money.

COEN ZUIDERVAART (20 OCTOBER)

How many names do you still need in the book? And how many new names are there actually? Was just curious to those numbers.

BRANDON SANDERSON

I’ll use around a hundred in the book, I think. Still need to choose most of those.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Mikayla Micomonaco , congrats! You’re in A Memory of Light . I hope you don’t mind being a damane . Details .

BRANDON SANDERSON

Margaret St. John , you are a Seanchan general. (Using your maiden name; thanks for providing that. It worked great.)

BRANDON SANDERSON

Joff Brown , I drew your name next. I made you into a city, actually.

JEFF WEISSBERG

A “city” in the Blight?

BRANDON SANDERSON

A Memory of Light will reveal it for sure.

BRANDON SANDERSON (21 OCTOBER)

People are asking how many more names I’ll use, as the book is 80% done. I left placeholders in dozens of names earlier that will be filled.

DAMIEN BAUMGART

Are you just dropping names in as is or will they be “Wheel of Time-ified”?

BRANDON SANDERSON

WoT-ified.

BRANDON SANDERSON (24 OCTOBER)

Alex Prescott , you are in A Memory of Light .

BRANDON SANDERSON

Jonathan Burt and Jonathan Brockelman , you two are a pair of Whitecloaks.

BRANDON SANDERSON (25 OCTOBER)

Need a name for a sister from the Green Ajah. And…the name chosen was David Emery, who entered the name of his late sister, Filis .

BRANDON SANDERSON (1 NOVEMBER)

The A Memory of Light name auction has begun. One winner. Or enter the drawing , multiple winners.

BRANDON SANDERSON (3 NOVEMBER)

I am still picking names to go in the book, as per this blog post . Should be more of those tonight.

BRANDON SANDERSON (4 NOVEMBER)

The “Get your name in A Memory of Light “ charity auction had to be restarted due to ebay issues. Here’s the new link .

BRANDON SANDERSON

Enough people have asked, so it bears repeating. The name auction and the name drawing are different. Explanation here .

BRANDON SANDERSON (29 NOVEMBER)

Thursday is the final day to enter the drawing to get your name in A Memory of Light . Details here .

BRANDON SANDERSON (1 DECEMBER)

Today’s the final day to enter the drawing (& support JordanCon) to get your name in A Memory of Light . Last chance.

BRANDON SANDERSON

The drawing to get your name in A Memory of Light closes to entries in 4 hours. I still have a lot of names to draw.

DAN GOLDMAN

How many more names are left to draw?

BRANDON SANDERSON (2 DECEMBER)

Still a good fifty, I’d say.

REBECCA LOVATT

Have you been using people’s names for characters? Haven’t seen any posts/updates with that in a long time.

BRANDON SANDERSON

I’ve been putting in placeholders, and will be drawing out names over the next few months to replace them.

BRANDON SANDERSON (28 DECEMBER)

Shaun Davis , I just used your name in A Memory of Light .

BRANDON SANDERSON

Shiv Whorra , I needed another name, and you’re in too.

KELLY

Is there a running list somewhere of the reader names you’ve used? And I hope you’re feeling completely well soon. : )

BRANDON SANDERSON

We’ll post them all once I’m done.

BRANDON SANDERSON

For those asking about names: this was done as a fund-raiser for JordanCon, so I’m no longer taking names. (Sorry.)

BRANDON SANDERSON

Explanation follows . (I do this sort of thing for all of my books, though, so there will be chances for other books.)

BRANDON SANDERSON

Robert Moreau and Robert Rose , you two are next. Welcome to A Memory of Light .

SIMON ST. ERIC

It is so exciting to see you pulling the names out of the hat… how many do you think you’ll end up using? :)

BRANDON SANDERSON

Still many more.

BRANDON BALLENGER

Since you’re not taking names anymore and have a full rough draft, could you make a guess at our odds of being drawn?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Really hard to guess. I have about 1,000 placeholders in the book, as told to me by Word, but…

BRANDON SANDERSON

Most of those are not “replace a name here” notes, but instead “Look this up” or “describe this better” or “continuity check.”

BRANDON SANDERSON (29 DECEMBER)

Brandon Bryant , welcome to the Band of the Red Hand. (Unfortunately, we’re not accepting new names. Details )

CHRISTOPHER SKINNER

I know no new names—for those of us who put ours in the hat before, how many spots approximately are left? What are our chances?!

BRANDON SANDERSON

I have no idea, I’m afraid. There are about 2k people in the drawing. Maybe a hundred names? Rough guesses.

BRANDON SANDERSON (3 JANUARY 2012)

Daniel Egonsson , I drew your name for A Memory of Light . (Unfortunately, we’re not accepting new names. Details: http://www.mistborn.com/blog/1021/)

HUNTER SESTREN

But for those of us in the drawing we still have a shot right?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Yes.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Gavin Doyle , you’re in too. (Yes, I will eventually post a list of all of these.)

BRANDON SANDERSON

Jacob Figler , you’re next. (Sorry, ladies. I’ll draw some female names soon.)

JACOB FIGLER

Hey that’s me!!! Are you saying my name is going to be in A Memory of Light ???

BRANDON SANDERSON

Yup. You’re in the Band of the Red Hand.

JACOB FIGLER

YES!!! Check out the shirt I got yesterday hahaha! Perfect! And THANKS!!! http://yfrog.com/ob7i2zpj

BRANDON SANDERSON

Useful picture. Now I can describe you. :)

JACOB FIGLER

haha, well if you need any details let me know!

BRANDON SANDERSON

Okay, here’s a woman: Jesamyn Angelica , you’re in A Memory of Light .

BRANDON SANDERSON (4 JANUARY)

Kevin Fanshier , I only needed one name for A Memory of Light today, but yours is it.

BRANDON SANDERSON (12 JANUARY)

Kurt Wagoner , you’re in A Memory of Light as a Two Rivers man.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Laura Hepburn , I have chosen your name for A Memory of Light .

BRANDON SANDERSON

Leisha Springer , your name came up next.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Nathan Sawyer , you were drawn next.

ROBERT ROTH

Do you or your assistant keep a list of drawn names? Can you post them?

BRANDON SANDERSON

I do keep a list, and will post them eventually.

SEAN RYAN

When you write a book do you fill the less important names in later?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Often I do just that. It can break the flow of writing to develop the right name, particularly when I might cut that scene.

BRANDON SANDERSON (13 JANUARY)

Angela Ryddingwood , I have drawn your name.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Bach Payson , I put you in A Memory of Light , but immediately killed you. Sorry ‘bout that.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Oh, and Bryan Ragon , same goes for you. You died well, though.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Craig Foster , you round out the trio of dead Borderlanders I needed for this scene.

GREG LINDSEY

Just curious Brandon, are the names coming out of the proverbial hat, or do you look for names that can be easily WOTified?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Most things are pretty easy to wot-ify. And, since I can use either first or last, I haven’t yet found any that don’t work.

SEAN CORSON

Are you changing the names of people you put in A Memory of Light to make them more “Randland” appropriate?

BRANDON SANDERSON

They are changed.

BRANDON SANDERSON (16 JANUARY)

Michael Gonzalez , your name came up next. (Yes, I am wot-izing all of these.)

BRANDON SANDERSON (20 JANUARY)

Mione Haak , I drew your name for A Memory of Light .

BRANDON SANDERSON

Neil Tweed , you too.

NEIL TWEED

Who am I? Dark or light? Do I die well?

BRANDON SANDERSON

I try not to use fan names for the shadow very often. I actually named some woods after you.

BRANDON SANDERSON

You would have been one of the original owners of the land where the woods were, I should think.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Nikhil Rode and Nils Loodin , I needed two Aiel scouts.

BRANDON SANDERSON (23 JANUARY)

Kris Ring , you’re a member of the Seanchan Blood.

BRANDON SANDERSON (24 JANUARY)

Johnnie Lee Barrington, Jr. and Jay Dauro , you are members of the Deathwatch Guard.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Paul Benish , hope you look good in the hadori .

DANIEL NELSON

I’m confused. You are still using names but won’t take anymore? So my name may still come up assuming you aren’t done us …

BRANDON SANDERSON

It very well might. If you are on the list, there is a chance.

BRANDON SANDERSON (25 JANUARY)

Pia Maria Vaajakallio , you are Aes Sedai.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Maureen Sampson , you’re in the White Tower too.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Natalie Doyle , your name came up for A Memory of Light .

BRANDON SANDERSON

Melissa Bergevin , your name came up next.

BRANDON SANDERSON (26 JANUARY)

Harm Wieringa , your name came up next.

SHAUN DUQUETTE

Taking a long time to add the names hehe

BRANDON SANDERSON (27 JANUARY)

I’m doing the first revision, and running across places where I left placeholders instead of names.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Jordan White , you’re a wolf.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Lindsey Turnbow , you too.

M. KLOMPENHOUWER

Is anyone keeping track of the names that are being drawn for A Memory of Light ?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Yes, they are. We’ll post them eventually.

BRANDON SANDERSON (30 JANUARY)

Savannah Rose Young , you’re a Seanchan general.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Sally Rankin , your name came up too.

ZACHARY NORTH

They all get changed. Some as little as Thom or Mat (if appropriate.) Some to things very different.

ADAM GOUCHER

How many names got submitted?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Three thousand, I think.

BRANDON SANDERSON (6 FEBRUARY)

Anna Roberts and Andrew Holcombe , I drew your names most recently for A Memory of Light .

BRANDON SANDERSON

Caitlin Sullivan , you’re in the White Ajah.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Courtney Gliszczynski , your name came up next. I think I’ll adapt your first name, not your last, if that’s all right…

BRANDON SANDERSON

Michael Sarcone , you asked to be a Darkfriend for some reason, and I obliged.

BRANDON SANDERSON (7 FEBRUARY)

Chris Gilbert , you entered your son’s name into A Memory of Light and it has been used.

BRANDON SANDERSON (8 FEBRUARY)

Drew a bunch of names I didn’t report. Eric Silva , Hugh Hill , Sean Little , Rion Kinosaki , Helen Cousins , Eyal Weinstock .

SEAN LITTLE

This is Sean Little, the guy that emailed you previously regarding putting in a group name. Did that entry have…

SEAN LITTLE

San D’ma Shadar as the name?

BRANDON SANDERSON

Yes.

SEAN LITTLE

Thank you very much.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Trying to figure out the San in that phrase, though. Is the “San” a name, or a word in the Old Tongue I’m missing?

SEAN LITTLE

The translation used on the site (made by our Old Tongue experts) is Slayers of the Shadow. I could ask for the exact translation.

BRANDON SANDERSON

That works for me. I actually put the name in a place where it could refer to a group, so I’ll tweak it to do so.

ANTHONY AZIZ

Your favorite Two Rivers man, Azi al’Thone, back to bug you again :D I had put in an entry for SDS as well… and since…

ANTHONY AZIZ

…I’m a member of SDS of TV.Net , I’m wondering what (if any) possibility there is of making Azi part of it?

ANTHONY AZIZ

Of course, I understand if that’s complicated or doesn’t fit with the story—had to ask anyways.

BRANDON SANDERSON

The group is referenced by Mat as being part of a historical battle.

ANTHONY AZIZ

Oh okay! Yes, that would be really hard to make work then :P Thanks for the response, Great Lord :)

BRANDON SANDERSON (14 FEBRUARY)

Working on one of the big, climactic sections at the end of A Memory of Light right now. Not many names left to draw, I’m afraid. A handful, maybe.

BRANDON SANDERSON

Remember, there is a special group of Dragonsworn in the Last Battle representing all who donated, so even if you aren’t named, you’re there.

BRANDON SANDERSON (15 FEBRUARY)

Roger Trask and Charlie Bachelder , turns out I needed two more Aiel to fight in the Last Battle.

Contributing

If you are viewing this on github.io, you can see that this site is open source. Please do not try to improve this page. It is auto-generated by a python script. If you have suggestions for improvements, please start a discussion on the github repo or the Discord.