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.
11 Comments
Hey Andrew, I live here in Xenia and my In-laws go to Emanuel Baptist Church where you have performed on at least two occasions, of which I’ve sadly missed both. Last year I had the tickets and everything and one of our children got sick and that is how I missed out. In consolation my wife (who still attended) got me “On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness” and I enjoyed it very much (especially since I was in the middle of writing a short fiction myself) and now am a couple chapters from the end of “North! or Be Eaten.” Being an avid reader of the Lord of the Rings, Chronicle of Narnia, and the Earthsea series your book fits right in, without stepping on any toes either. Keep up the good work on both books and music (I love “Behold the Lamb of God” ), I eagerly await the next book. By the way 27 might be a bit much, I got to book 6 of Robert Jordan’s “Wheel of Time” series and finally gave up, too much book for little little information and too many holes.
27?!??!
*faints in happiness*
Huzzah! Three Cheers! Congratulation on the award!
Maybe finally more people will hear about your most excellent book.
I was fairly certain even before N!ObE came out that it had the feel of a 5-7 book series. Just wouldn’t work as a trillogy; clearly there’s too many things that need to happen, too many places to go, to many ways the characters still have to grow! Now, 27 would be great, only I would have to learn to live with the torture of waiting for the next one every day for that long … Owch! And then what would all your dedicated fans do with their lives once the series ended? I thought I felt a hug letdown when the Lord of the Rings films finally all came out, and there were no more first midnight showings to go to! What would 27+ years of that kind of tension do to a person? I think 5 or whatever works best for the story sounds great.
Waiting for you to finish music stuff before getting back to writing is a bit like… waiting for Christmas, which has to come before Easter. I wouldn’t want to skip either one for the other.
I just pre-ordered Counting Stars, and have been too excited about it recently to grow woeful waiting for the next WS installment.
Though, of course, I am awaiting it.
Hey Andrew! Congratulations on the Christy! Thanks for sharing here how you served the work — it apparently paid off quite well.
To whomever said that the Wingfeather Saga feels Southern — I agree! Though perhaps the first inhabitants were more Cockney than Low Country, I think Flannery would love the depth and redemption in this world you’ve created, AP.
Have fun riding the rails! See you at Hutchmoot!
Hi there,
Congratulations on the book award! It certainly deserves the honor!
My husband and I took our boys (and a nephew and niece) to see you sing at Salem Allliance Church a year or two ago. It was a great performance, by the way. …And we also bought your Dark Sea of Darkness book that evening.
Well, my husband read it to the boys, and they were hooked! …So as soon as North! came out, we purchased that one and they devoured it as well.
Upon finishing the last book, I commented to my husband that he should contact you and offer to read these books for an audio version! He has a phenomenally wonderful reading voice, giving each character their own voice and reading with so much expression. It really is a gift that he has and I have been wondering if God will use that is some way. He is from Australia, so his accent often gets mistaken as British.
You may already have your audio plans underway, and your reader picked out by now, but when I read your latest blog entry, I felt compelled to post a comment anyway. If you were open to considering someone to read, I’m sure that Tony (my husband) wouldn’t mind “trying out.” I don’t think he would be bold enough to contact you himself, as he is pretty humble about his talents. …But others who know him have even commented to him about his voice – and how he should be using it for something like this.
…Just thougth I would throw this idea out there. I will not be offended in the least if this goes no farther than this comment. I would be remiss not to at least mention it though.
Good luck (or I should say “God Bless”) as you continue your writing and singing! It’s always fun to see and hear what God is doing with your talents.
–Kristy Ryan
Keizer, OR
This is great news.
Re: audio book. The first one was really good and I dug the narrator (he reminded me of Borris Karloff’s performance of the “Grinch Who Stole Christmas” : ) Anyhoo, I know you said before that you did not want to narrate it as you wrote it with a British accent in mind but let me tell you…
This may be a fantasy tale set in another world but as it is you who is telling it, Airwear is marinated in the southern U.S. and while they may be heir to a great kingdom, Tink, Janner and Leeli could also be characters in a Mark Twain story. In my minds eye, Glipwood forrest is covered in Spanish moss and hums with the sound of cicadas. The home and hearth you describe in “Dark Sea” at the Igiby cottage seems informed by a place you remember or the place you dream that the Warren is or will become. And cheesy chowder is most definitely a southern dish.
All that to say, your voice would make an excellent narrator for this story. And my family will enjoy it no matter who reads it. And right now, that’s me. : )
LOL 27 books. That would be scary. I love my characters and my storyworld, but I must admit, I’m getting a bit tired of writing them. Maybe I should write shorter books and that wouldn’t happen. But I’m just itching to write another book altogether. Alas, book three must be finished first. I will face the beast called procrastination and I will triumph or perish.
I’m glad there will be five of yours, though. I just love them. Congrats on your Christy! Go fantasy!
Congratulations on a well deserved award!
Andrew, 27 would be fine with just about all of us. And btw, WHEN you return to the prison, you can read or tell stories or do whatever you want!
Seriously, I was just thanking God for providing you and your family with the financial wherewithall to have the time and space to be able to communicate Him to our world. The Christy Award should surely help more books get purchased, which will help you keep using this beautifully articulate artistic streak God has given you in His service. Thank you very much.
Congrats Sir Peterson!!! You also get Brownie Points Award from this fan for referencing Hogwarts.
I am going to move there some day. And I will have an owl. Can’t wait for the Counting Stars and the 3rd book!
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!! Do twenty-seven books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrandulations on the Christy Award!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!