Hello, Dear Readers!

I’m writing from Sweden with happy news: North! Or Be Eaten won the 2010 Christy Award for Young Adult Fiction. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness was nominated last year and didn’t win, but North!, in the words of Glimplesby Thwack, “emerged triumphant among worthy and formidable opponents, may they live long and eat well.”

As I said, I’m in Sweden right now, land of my great-grandfather, playing a week of concerts with my partner-in-crime Ben Shive. I’m actually writing this from a train as it glides across the countryside, and I can’t help but think of the Hogwarts Express. I’m craving a chocolate frog about now. There’s no magic here, but there is Wi-fi, which allows me to call home, check email, and–wonder of wonders!–discover via Facebook that North! won the Christy Award. Hopefully, at the least, it means more people will learn of the horrors of bovine toothiness and Gnag the Nameless’s ruthless plot to be evil, evil, and evil.

All kidding aside, I’m deeply grateful. Many thanks to Waterbrook Press and whoever else went to bat for the book.

Now, I need to answer three questions I keep getting:

1) The audiobook for North! Or Be Eaten is in the queue. I’m not sure who’ll be narrating it. I’d love to hear Peter Sandon’s deep British baritone again, but if I can’t get him I may do it myself. But it won’t be nearly as awesome.

2) Yes, I’m working on book three. I’ve been in Music World lately, gearing up for the release of my new album Counting Stars, which has left little creative energy for writing. But as of about two weeks ago my kind neighbor agreed to let me use part of their 140-year-old log cabin as a writing studio/office, which will hopefully allow me better focus. It’s a great setup–all I have to do is climb the hill behind the Warren, thank God for the beautiful (and convenient) writing space, and spin the tale. The plan right now is to release the book in early 2011.

3) No, it’s not a trilogy. Since the beginning I’ve imagined a five-book story. I’m not too meticulous, so I don’t have it mapped out exactly–I know the general story arc and have certain scenes planted firmly in my noggin, and I’m doing my best to follow Madeline L’Engle’s sage advice to “serve the work”. That means the story will morph a bit, and key events may appear un-looked for.

For example, I thought Kalmar’s transformation was going to happen in book three. When I sat down to write North! I thought the Igibys’ journey to the Ice Prairies would be story enough, but, true-to-character, Kalmar started behaving unpredictably. I didn’t know Sara Cobbler would appear all blue-eyed and desperate in the Fork Factory. And I thought Janner would spend a few weeks in a cowl and cape, terrorizing the Fangs in Dugtown with the Florid Sword a la Batman and Robin. (I still think that would’ve been cool.) But the story didn’t want it.

All that to say, I’m engaged in a tricky dance with the tale, learning when to lead and when to follow. If all goes as planned, there will be five books. But who knows? Maybe there will be twenty-seven.