Brian McClellan

Brian McClellan, born in 1986, is an American author specializing in epic fantasy. His writing journey began at age fifteen, initially on Wheel of Time role-playing websites, and he progressed to crafting short stories and novellas in his late teens with encouragement from his parents. He pursued English with a focus on creative writing at Brigham Young University, where he connected with author Brandon Sanderson and participated in his writing workshops.

Driven by a desire to make writing his full-time profession, McClellan attended Orson Scott Card's Literary Bootcamp in 2006 and received an honorable mention in the Writers of the Future Contest in 2008. His debut novel, "Promise of Blood," was published in 2013, launching the Powder Mage trilogy, which concluded with "The Autumn Republic" in 2015. He followed this with a sequel trilogy, "Gods of Blood and Powder." In 2014, "Promise of Blood" earned him the Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer. McClellan also has a forthcoming series, "The Glass Immortals."

Brian McClellan's literary path commenced at the age of fifteen, finding an early outlet on Wheel of Time role-playing websites. During his late teenage years, he dedicated himself to writing short stories and novellas, a pursuit actively supported by his parents. His academic journey led him to Brigham Young University, where he majored in English with a specialization in creative writing. It was during this period that he encountered fellow author Brandon Sanderson and became involved in his writing classes. McClellan's ambition was clear: to establish writing as his primary career, a goal he further pursued by attending Orson Scott Card's Literary Bootcamp in 2006. His early recognition came in 2008 with an honorable mention in the Writers of the Future Contest, signaling his emerging talent.

McClellan's professional writing career launched in 2013 with the publication of "Promise of Blood," the inaugural novel in his Powder Mage trilogy. This series continued with "The Crimson Campaign" in 2014 and concluded with "The Autumn Republic" in 2015. He subsequently penned a follow-up trilogy, initially considered "Goddess of the Empire" before being released as "Gods of Blood and Powder." His debut novel, "Promise of Blood," received the Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer in 2014. Tor Books announced in 2019 their intention to publish his new series, "The Glass Immortals." Beyond his major series, McClellan has also released novellas and short stories, many set within the Powder Mage universe.