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Brandon Sanderson explains that, unlike his other Secret Projects, this book was written knowing how the Kickstarter might present them. He recounts writing Tress as a gift for his wife, then experimenting with Frugal Wizard, and creating Yumi also as a gift for her.

Seeking a fourth book for the Year of Sanderson, Brandon aimed for a more mainline Cosmere story with faster pacing and a wanderer-western vibe. He wanted a character central to future events and a narrative that advanced Cosmere lore, not just tangential worlds.

He traces Sigzil/Nomad’s roots to two older ideas: an immortal warrior named Zellion from an unpublished novel, and an early Cosmere concept about a worldhopper assessing new magics. He notes Hoid wasn’t the right fit for the chase-driven premise, and briefly considered Shai, before aligning the concept with Sigzil’s Dawnshard history.

In late 2021, Brandon realized it was time to write this story, marking his fiftieth novel and echoing his fifth. He cannot promise more Sigzil-focused books but affirms Sigzil’s future Cosmere relevance.

He closes by dedicating the book to readers, emphasizing that stories live when read and shaped by each reader’s imagination, and offers sincere gratitude for their role in bringing the Cosmere to life.