# Robison Wells > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robison_Wells > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robison_Wells.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robison_Wells > Source revision: 1356055199 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American novelist (born 1978)}} {{Infobox writer | name = Robison Wells | image = | pseudonym = | birth_name = Robison Earl Wells | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|4|4}} | birth_place = [Utah](/source/Utah) | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Author | nationality = American | education = [University of Utah](/source/University_of_Utah)
[Brigham Young University](/source/Brigham_Young_University) ([MBA](/source/Master_of_Business_Administration)) | period = 2004–present | genre = [Science fiction](/source/Science_fiction), [young adult](/source/young_adult_fiction) | subject = | movement = | notableworks = ''[Variant](/source/Variant_(novel))'' | influences = | influenced = | signature = | website = {{URL|http://www.robisonwells.com}} }} '''Robison Wells''' (born April 4, 1978) is an American [novelist](/source/novelist) and [blogger](/source/blogger). ==Personal life== Robison Wells, the brother of author [Dan Wells](/source/Dan_Wells_(author)), was a reluctant reader as a child. He did not become interested in writing until he was in college. He graduated from the [University of Utah](/source/University_of_Utah) in 2003 with a degree in [political science](/source/political_science), emphasizing in [international relations](/source/international_relations), with a minor in [history](/source/history), and earned an [MBA](/source/MBA) in [marketing](/source/marketing) at [Brigham Young University](/source/Brigham_Young_University) in 2009.[http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/49908-fall-2011-flying-starts-robison-wells.html Fall 2011 Flying Starts: Robison Wells] Publishers Weekly Wells lives in [North Salt Lake](/source/North_Salt_Lake%2C_Utah), [Utah](/source/Utah), with his wife and three children. He previously lived in [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico), which has been the setting for four of his novels. Wells is a practicing member of [the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](/source/the_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints).[http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment/53116930-81/adult-book-brother-brothers.html.csp?page=1 "Brothers By The Book", Salt Lake Tribune] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021204558/http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment/53116930-81/adult-book-brother-brothers.html.csp?page=1 |date=2013-10-21 }} ==Career== Robison Wells first began writing as part of a writing group with [Dan Wells](/source/Dan_Wells_(author)) and [Brandon Sanderson](/source/Brandon_Sanderson).{{cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/62746-ya-anthology-to-benefit-author-robison-wells.html|publisher=Publishers Weekly|title=YA Anthology to Benefit Author Robison Wells|author=Lodge, Sally|date=June 5, 2014|accessdate=April 5, 2017}} Wells's first three books were written for the [LDS fiction](/source/LDS_fiction) market. The first, ''On Second Thought'' is a romantic comedy set in New Mexico, and the second two, ''Wake Me When It's Over'' and ''The Counterfeit'' are political thrillers. In April 2010 it was announced that Wells had signed a 3-book [young adult](/source/young_adult_fiction) deal with [HarperTeen](/source/HarperCollins). The first novel ''[Variant](/source/Variant_(novel))'' is a [young adult](/source/young_adult_fiction) [science fiction](/source/science_fiction) novel set in a [boarding school](/source/boarding_school) in New Mexico. It has one sequel, ''Feedback''; it is not a trilogy. Wells's third book with HarperTeen, ''Blackout'' was announced in Publisher's Marketplace as being the first of a series, including two novels and a [novella](/source/novella), and was released in Fall 2013. The sequel, "Dead Zone" was released a year later. Wells's latest book with HarperTeen is titled ''Dark Energy''. Wells also indie-published a novel, ''Airships of Camelot''. It was the product of a successful [Kickstarter](/source/Kickstarter) campaign. It is described as "alternate-history, steampunk, old West, King Arthur." In 2019, Wells released a novel cowritten with [James Patterson](/source/James_Patterson), titled ''The Warning''. The book was a ''New York Times'' bestseller.[https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/trade-fiction-paperback] New York Times In 2020, Wells shifted his focus from writing novels to maintaining a popular [wargame](/source/wargame) hobby website, The Wargame Explorer, which he ran for four years. He has stated he is working on a [memoir](/source/memoir) about his experiences with mental illness, but it is not under contract.[https://www.wargameexplorer.com] Robison Wells Annual Update ==Critical reception== ''Variant'' was released to much critical acclaim, receiving starred reviews from ''[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)'' and [VOYA](/source/Voice_of_Youth_Advocates). It also received favorable reviews from Booklist and Kirkus. ''Publishers Weekly'' also named ''Variant'' as one of their Best Books of 2011, and featured Wells as one of their "Flying Starts".[http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2011/childrens-fiction#book/book-21 Publisher Weekly's Best Books of 2011] Publishers Weekly ''Feedback'' has received mixed reviews. Kirkus referred to it as "An absorbing read that won't let fans of the first down",[http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/robison-wells/feedback/#review "Kirkus Review of Feedback"] Kirkus Reviews while Booklist said "the claustrophobic tightness of the first book is replaced here by a loose series of threats that never solidify into something worth rooting against." ''The Warning'' was a New York Times bestseller for five weeks.{{fact|date=September 2024}} ==The Whitney Awards== In the spring of 2007, Robison Wells began work on the [Whitney Awards](/source/Whitney_Awards), an awards program for [LDS fiction](/source/LDS_fiction). He has stated that this idea came from a conversation with friend and fellow author Brandon Sanderson. The Whitney Awards are sponsored by Storymakers, an authors guild that holds an annual conference in May. Robison Wells served as president of the Whitney Awards Committee for three years, ending in 2010.[http://www.meridianmagazine.com/arts/080328whitney.html "First Annual Whitney Awards Highlights Books, Authors", Meridian Magazine] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202052745/http://meridianmagazine.com/arts/080328whitney.html |date=2010-02-02 }} In 2018, Robison received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Whitney Academy. ==Mental health== Wells has several mental illnesses, including [OCD](/source/OCD) and [schizophrenia](/source/schizophrenia), and is an outspoken advocate for those with [mental illness](/source/mental_illness). In 2014 Wells, joined by [Brandon Sanderson](/source/Brandon_Sanderson) and [Dan Wells](/source/Dan_Wells_(author)), edited ''Altered Perceptions'', an anthology of essays from popular YA writers about their struggles with mental illness. He also contributed to the mental illness anthology ''Life Inside My Mind'', with an essay called "Twenty Pills." He writes and speaks extensively about these topics.[http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2012/08/how-mental-illness-tried-and-failed-to.html "How Mental Illness Tried and Failed to Ruin My Life"]Teen Librarian's Toolbox {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909181751/http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2012/08/how-mental-illness-tried-and-failed-to.html |date=2012-09-09 }}[https://www.deseret.com/2013/2/20/20448477/mormon-author-talks-about-his-mental-illness-and-faith/ "Mormon Author Talks About His Mental Illness and Faith"]Deseret News {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207193027/https://www.deseret.com/2013/2/20/20448477/mormon-author-talks-about-his-mental-illness-and-faith |date=2021-12-07 }} After experiencing a rollover accident in May 2021, in which he had a major concussion, Wells has spoken openly about his experiences with grief counseling and therapy to work through feelings of guilt.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvZBBeLxovA "A Tale of Two Tales"] Havoc & The Society ==Bibliography== * ''On Second Thought'' (2004), {{ISBN|1-59156-430-1}} * ''Wake Me When It's Over'' (2005), {{ISBN|1-59156-721-1}} * ''The Counterfeit'' (2006), {{ISBN|1-59811-116-7}} * ''[Variant](/source/Variant_(novel))'' (2011), {{ISBN|0-06-202608-9}} * ''Feedback'' (2012), {{ISBN|0-06-202610-0}} * ''Going Dark'' (Sept 2013) * ''Blackout'' (Oct 2013) * ''Dead Zone'' (Oct 2014) * ''Altered Perceptions'' (Oct 2015) co-editor and cover artist * ''Airships of Camelot'' (2015) * ''Dark Energy'' (March 2016) * ''Life Inside My Mind'' (April 2018) contributor * ''The Warning'' (Aug 2019) co-written with [James Patterson](/source/James_Patterson) * ''21 Pills'' (June 2021) Non-fiction Essay * ''The Dirty Half Dozen'' (April 2024) Game ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== * {{MormonLit author|4638|Robison Wells}} *[http://www.robisonwells.com Robison Wells' author website] *[http://www.wargameexplorer.com Robison Wells' personal website] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Wells, Robison}} Category:1978 births Category:21st-century American novelists Category:American male novelists Category:American Latter Day Saint writers Category:Brigham Young University alumni Category:Living people Category:People with mood disorders Category:People with obsessive–compulsive disorder Category:People with schizophrenia Category:University of Utah alumni Category:Novelists from Utah Category:Latter Day Saints from New Mexico Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah Category:People from North Salt Lake, Utah Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers Category:American male non-fiction writers Category:21st-century American male writers Category:American writers with disabilities --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robison Wells](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robison_Wells) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robison_Wells?action=history)). 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