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Behold the Lamb of God tour 2015

Andrew's annual Christmas tour starts on Wednesday! This is one of the biggest, funnest things Andrew does every year. He got to meet some of you last year, and we're both hoping he gets to meet some of you this year, too. Bring along your books (he loves that!), or some drawings (we both love that!). His tour schedule is on his music site.Here's a video from the 2011 tour, just to get you started.[embed]https://youtu.be/49Bnx6-Su2U[/embed]

This week, Madame Sidler will be reading chapters 81-86 of The Warden and the Wolf King. Check back on Friday for an excerpt, and to share one of your own! See you in the forum. :-)

Bonifer Squoon and the Cat Hair of Doom

Last week's book club reading involved a super creepy scene in Throg. If you've read that far, you might be wishing for some way to reassure yourself that you are not in immediate danger from a certain skittering horror. Joe Sutphin has just the thing to redirect your angst. If you haven't read this far yet, you can feel safe clicking through anyway—it's not spoilery.

This week, Madame Sidler will be starting Part Four of The Warden and the Wolf King! Join in with her in reading chapters 74-80, then come back on Friday for an excerpt, and to share one of your own.See you in the forum!p.s. Reminder: The giveaway at Into the Book ends this Friday!

The Chapter House door

If you follow Andrew on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you have already seen this—the latest update on the Chapter House. But in case you haven't, and because we're so excited, here are those photos again! In the words of Andrew Peterson (in the captions):On the way to Blake BergstromChapter House door progressChapter House door finishedIsn't that door gorgeous? One can imagine stories inside it as well as behind it.

This week, Madame Sidler's reading will start in chapter 71 and continue through the end of Part Three. Check back on Friday for an excerpt, and to share one of your own!See you in the forum!p.s. Did someone say giveaway?!

Cheesy Chowder

“You’ll be wantin’ some of my cheesy chowder and butterbread, won’t you, my little warriors?” [Podo] said. “It’s been simmering all evening, along with a thousand prayers that ye’d make it back to yer Podo safe and uneaten.”Janner joined Leeli and Tink at the table to gobble down the cheesy chowder. After the day he’d had, this seemed the finest meal he had ever eaten. A vat of steaming soup filled the kitchen with a rich, buttery smell, and a fresh loaf of butterbread had been sliced and set on the table. Janner got up to refill his bowl (Tink had already eaten three).—From On the Edge of the Dark Sea of DarknessWell, little warriors, the secret recipe is finally revealed: Andrew's mom's legendary cheesy chowder, which is so good that its deliciousness cannot be contained in one reality but must be enjoyed in multiple worlds. Thank you, Mrs. Peterson!Tips: Double this recipe, if you want a vat (and you do)! And don't forget the butterbread. :-)Cheesy Chowder2 c. water2 c. diced totatoes1/2 c. diced carrots1/2 c. diced celery1/4 c. diced onion1 t. salt1/4 t. pepperFor white sauce:1/4 c. butter (half of a stick)1/4 c. flour2 c. milk2 c. cheddar cheese, grated1 c. cubed hamCombine water, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, salt, and pepper in large kettle. Boil 10-12 minutes. Meanwhile, in small saucepan, make white sauce by melting the butter. Add flour and stir until smooth (about 1 minute). Slowly add milk and cook until thickened. Add grated cheese to white sauce; stir until melted. Add white sauce and cubed ham to vegetables and liquid. Yields 6 servings.Cheesy chowder

This week, Madame Sidler will be reading chapters 62-70 of The Warden and the Wolf King. Check back on Friday for an excerpt, and to share one of your own!Any other recipes you'd like to try? We're collecting ideas in the forum!

Costumes!

Several creative young readers put together awesome Wingfeather costumes for Halloween this year. It's so fun to see you guys get into the series and see yourselves in the characters. And we love the costumes! Here's a smattering of photos for you all to enjoy along with whatever candy you still have left. (For more details, just click the photos to enlarge.)Thanks, everyone, for posting these photos. They made our day.clay whistleharpWingfeather kids costumesJanner costume Leeli Baxter Kalmar Maraly costumesLeeli costumeTwo Wingfeathers costumes               

This week, Madame Sidler will be reading through chapter 61 of The Warden and the Wolf King, starting with the interlude before chapter 55. Check back on Friday for an excerpt, and to share one of your own! Until then, we'll see you in the forum!Did you dress up as a Wingfeather character this year? Send your photos to Andrew. He'd love to see them. :-)

The Stone Keeper and other drawings

Here are a few fantastic drawings from Bridget. Bridget, I love Peet's ragged haphazardry, and agree with you regarding the Stone Keeper as nightmare fuel. And those Fangs are very fierce. Very well done.WS--Stone KeeperWS--Snakeman-FangWS--Gray-Fang

This week, Madame Sidler will be reading chapters 50-54 of The Warden and the Wolf King. Check back on Friday for an excerpt, and to share one of your own! Meanwhile, here and here are a couple good forum threads to check out. When you're finished there, just go exploring. :-)Have you had a chance to catch up with Andrew on his tour? Check out his music website to see if he'll be near you. He loves to meet readers!

Into the Monster (a review)

Andrew Joyce over at Into the Book wrote a review of The Monster in the Hollows, and it sounds like he was really into it. Thankfully, nobody (that we know of) literally ended up in the gullet of said monster. Here's a snippet of the review.

The Monster in the Hollows is the third of four, and it lifts the entire series to new heights. Strong characterization and a plot that reaps the seeds of the two previous books makes for a riveting read that ratchets up the tension in the series as a whole. There are few stories that surpass The Wingfeather Saga.

Thank you, Mr. Joyce! Readers, you'll find the rest of the review here. (You may want to check out his reviews of books one and two as well.)

This week, Madame Sidler will be starting Part Three of The Warden and the Wolf King, reading from the opening interlude through chapter 49. Check back on Friday for an excerpt, and to post one of your own!

Totato Soup

This last weekend was Hutchmoot, and one of the meals Chef Lewis Graham made was Totato Soup. It's too good not to share, so here you go—and since the recipe makes such a very lot of soup, invite a few friends to help you eat it. While you're all eating, read to them. :-)

Ingredients:
  • One 3-5 lb. bag of small Yukon gold potatoes
  • Two boxes of chicken stock
  • One package sausage with sage
  • One whole roasted or rotisserie chicken
  • Three ears fresh corn (or one bag frozen corn)
  • Two whole carrots
  • Three stalks celery
  • Two medium yellow onions
  • One large can of whole, peeled tomatoes (or two small cans diced tomatoes).
  • Seasonings: Fresh garlic, dried thyme, sprig of fresh Rosemary, two dried bay leaves, kosher salt, cracked black pepper, and a healthy pinch of red pepper flakes
 Directions (in Lewis Graham's words):
1. Two or three glugs of good olive oil in Dutch oven. Make warm, add sausage. When the sausage is done, remove from pan but save the grease.
2. Cut potatoes in half, and rub well with sea salt (About one tablespoon is plenty for the batch). Heat the saved grease up in the pot, add potatoes. Let them sit awhile, frying the skins a little.
3. When potato skins have browned a little, add fresh veggies, chopped up of course. Cook them a little; when the onions are translucent and celery pliable, add chicken stock.
4. Add chicken, pulled from bones, sausage, tomatoes, and everything else.
5. Let that bad boy cook awhile. When it boils, reduce the heat and let it simmer.

The rule with soup is the longer it sits, the better it gets. Mind it occasionally, stirring to keep anything from burning in the bottom. Fresh bread is always good. Be sure, absolutely sure, to do a little celebration dance after each taste, each seasoning.

This week, Madame Sidler will be reading chapters 38-45 of The Warden and the Wolf King. Check back on Friday for an excerpt, and to share one of your own! Meanwhile, go see what's up in the forum. :-)p.s. Andrew's album release tour kicked off on Friday, and will be in full swing later this week. If he's near you, he'd love to say hi.

The stories are true.