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Hardbacks! New covers! New illustrations! Exclamation points.

Greetings, folks!

I'm long overdue for a post, and right off the bat I need to say a huge thank-you to Madame Sidler for the stellar job she's done moderating the site and the forum and everything in-between. Isn't she awesome? And so...helpful?

As some of you may have seen on Instagram, a new edition of the Wingfeather Saga will be released on March 10. To be precise, the first two books will be released then, and the second two will release later in 2020. I don't know if you realize it, but this is a proper Big Deal. Some of you may know that the first two books were released by Waterbrook, a division of Random House, and then, thanks to some restructuring of the company, they let books three and four go, so to speak. After my agent shopped books three and four for a few months we discovered that, sadly-but-understandably, it's hard to find a publisher to buy half of a series. Rabbit Room Press was up and running, so the logical solution was to publish them there. That was a huge blessing, and it allowed us to put on the big Kickstarter campaign for book four (THANK YOU), which gave us the full-color map by Justin Gerard, tons of interior illustrations by Joe Sutphin, and the limited hardback editions of those books.

Well, bibliophile that I am, it pained me a little that books one and two would (seemingly) never get a hardback edition to match three and four because they were owned by another publisher. I wished we could do an omnibus, or a cool slipcase for all the books, or a redux with new covers. None of that was possible as long as the series was split in two.

Enter Waterbrook/Random House again, who took note of the fact that you guys spread the word and demonstrated the passionate following the Wingfeathers had found. Earlier this year we moved books three and four back to Random House, and we hired the amazing Nicholas Kole to illustrate brand new covers. You may remember Nicholas from the Wingfeather film project (more on that in a minute). He read all four books and brought his formidable imagination to bear on the character and world design, giving the Wingfeathers a look and feel that I thought was spot-on, making him the obvious choice for the new covers. Not only that, we hired the one-and-only Joe Sutphin to come up with ten gorgeous new illustrations for each book--two-page spreads full of the masterful detail and heart we all love him for.

You guys, this is an author's dream come true: four brand new hardbacks with all-new illustrations. The best part about all this is that these new editions will bring the Wingfeathers to a whole new audience—and the hope is that the books will sit on the shelf at Barnes & Noble, alongside Harry Potter and Redwall and Percy Jackson. Can you believe it? I'm giddy. I'm not sure of the release date for books three and four, but as I said, the first two will be released in the spring.

A lot of you guys have asked about Pembrick's Creaturepedia and Wingfeather Tales. Well, folks, I have MORE GOOD NEWS: these will also be released by Random House sometime in 2021, after three and four--also with new covers and artwork. I've already talked to Aedan Peterson (I know his dad, after all) and he's game to re-draw the Skreean critters for that when the time comes. I'm so grateful this story is going to get a burst of fresh wind, and am thrilled at the thought of more people going on the adventure with Janner, Kal, and Leeli, all the way from Glipwood to the Shining Isle.

Finally, you guys deserve an update on the movie. There's not much to say except that we're still working, still pushing the ball further down the field. Making a movie, it turns out, takes a long time and a LOT of money. We're still meeting with studios and investors, and good things are happening. If you don't mind, pray for Chris Wall and the rest of the team as they fight to make this happen. I really believe in the power of a good story to wake people up to the great goodness that is coming and, indeed, is already here, and am so grateful to be able to serve in this way. None of this fun stuff would be happening if it wasn't for you and your enthusiasm for these books. Thanks for reading, for spreading the word, and for all the emails and letters of encouragement.

You can pre-order the first two on Amazon or at the Rabbit Room store. That's it for now. Thanks, all. For everything.

The stories are true.

AP

Preorder links:
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (Amazon) (The Rabbit Room)
North! Or Be Eaten (Amazon) (The Rabbit Room)
The Monster in the Hollows (Amazon) (The Rabbit Room)
The Warden and the Wolf King (Amazon) (The Rabbit Room)

Happy, hard-earned progress from Mr. Jay Myers

I know it has been a long time since the Animated Series Kickstarter. Some of you have been waiting forrrreeevvvverrrrr for the marvelous thing I am about to show you, and some of you have joined us since that campaign and will be seeing this for the first time. Either way, I am giddy to post a new progress shot from Mr. Jay Myers, who is—get this!—drawing a Florid Sword and Shadowblade comic book. WOOT!

This comic has been a long time coming because first Andrew had to write the story and then Mr. Jay had to go through and lay it all out, imagine what it should look like, try out a few different things and ask Andrew for feedback, and spend hours penciling and inking and coloring (and mind you, they both have day jobs). But it is COMING. And it's coming along so well. Check this out:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0fIB1QBUNm/

Did you catch a certain book on that shelf? And who can identify the creatures depicted in those excellent bookends?

Fan art: Not just for kids

"Who says only kids got to draw?" said John when he sent in this excellent Leeli-likeness, and we agree. Drawing is for everyone. Everyone, send us your drawings. :-) And thank you, John, for sending yours!

This particular drawing is striking—it's a totally different style than any fan art I've seen yet! Does anybody out there remember the Music Machine? Adventures in Agapeland? It kind of reminds me of that, which probably means I am old. I like the attitude in our Lizard-kicker's stance here. She's got this. Bring it on. Fangs beware.

Tolkien, Hopkins, Peterson

Last week on a mission for our producer, Chris, I discovered a whole spate of Wingfeather reviews we haven't posted (or in most cases even seen) yet—some hearkening back to the Warden and the Wolf King Kickstarter or earlier. It's always a thrill to read heartfelt words about these books we all love. Here's one of those old reviews. More are coming. :-)

Glenn McCarty, contributor at Story Warren and author of The Misandventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson, finds great value in the fantasy worldview of the Inklings, and sees Andrew as walking in that tradition as well:

Fantasy tales, for Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and the other Inklings of 20th-century Oxford, are actually a grand celebration of our own world, providing fresh eyes to see its familiar elements.

In such a manner does Andrew Peterson’s The Warden and the Wolf King, the fourth and final volume in the award-winning Wingfeather Saga, celebrate our world, though it takes place in the fictional world of Aerwiar. ...

Peterson’s talent for storytelling is only surpassed by his command at providing a story which celebrates God as Maker, literally “one who makes.” In Aerwiar, every created thing, from fields of wildflowers, to songs accompanied by the whistleharp, even mutated, misshapen creatures, rings with the indwelt power of the Maker.

To read the whole review, click here. Thanks, Glenn, for these thoughtful reflections.

This week, Andrew's playing in Oxford—the Inklings Oxford!—and there are tickets remaining for those who dare. Visit his music site for more info!

To participate in our ongoing Bookbindery Guild project, click here.

UK concert; Bookbindery guild project

European Featherheads, rejoice! Andrew's heading to the UK later this month and has one show in Oxford that's open to the public. You can find out more about that on his music page (andrew-peterson.com).

Meanwhile: Back in November several of you were a great help to our producer, Chris, when he needed some lore-collectors to help the animation team figure out how to tell a stronger, more suspenseful, more satisfying tale on screen. Now Andrew is looking for a little help with a separate task, one that involves finicky attention to detail (and I know you Bookbindery guildlings are good with detail). If you're up for a close read of the books, come over to the Bookbindery study room and join us.

More delightful bookishness from Ariel

Last week we featured a news story (spoilers!) from Ariel, 12, who wrote that piece as part of a book report for school. This week we get to see another part of that project: A handmade book jacket! Check out her cover of North! Or Be Eaten.

Is that not the fiercest and meanest looking dragon, and a most determined Nugget? And look at the N in North! Great job, Ariel!

I love that she included blurbs on the back, too. If you're a bookbindery guildling, what quotes would you have chosen to promote the book? If you're an illustrator, what scenes or characters would you have included on the jacket?

There have been lots of new comments in the forum this week! Welcome to all new participants! If you'd like to get involved in the conversations, please come on over. We'd love to meet you. :-)

News bulletin from Ariel

Breaking News!

Ariel, 12, was on the ground when a major development occurred in the Igibys' story. Here to report on events from North! Or Be Eaten chapter 14 (SPOILERS!) is our newest investigative reporter.

DOG DIES PROTECTING FAMILY

By: Ariel Priebe
Neilson Grove Press

It was a shocking afternoon for the Igiby family. While fighting a big group of lizard type creatures known as Fangs at Miller’s Bridge, their family dog, Nugget, died protecting them. Nugget was biting and scratching the Fangs while trying to protect the family. The Fangs began to fight back and seriously injured the dog, eventually pushing him off the cliff which led to his death.

The eldest child, Janner, describes the incident like this: “Nugget died knowing he did good because of the way he saved our sister. We are glad to have had a dog who was courageous and willing to put Leeli’s life before his own.” Leeli was too sad and devastated to talk about what happened. Podo explains that when Nugget fell from the cliff he was heartbroken, but he knew that they couldn’t wait around for too long or the Fangs would catch up to them again. When the Fangs were asked to comment on the incident they replied: “The dog was biting us and we were all annoyed so we decided to kill him.”

The family left the scene unharmed and the Fangs left feeling like they had accomplished something. The Igibys found a place to stay the night and fell asleep defeated.

Thanks, Ariel, for covering that shocking and sad story. Wow. What will the Igibys do now? Correspondent Andrew Peterson has been assigned to follow the family and keep us all updated. Andrew?

The stories are true.