Happy Thanksgiving, Skreeans, Hollowsfolk, Annierans, and all those longing for a home. Enjoy each other. Name your blessings. Glory in forgiveness. Rejoice with feasting. Thank the Maker for this good world—and know that it is only a shadow of the one to come. The stories are true.This video, featuring the original Tink, was recorded live at the Rabbit Room this week.
A recipe most foul (fowl?)
Thanksgiving is coming up, and you may be wondering what to serve your Fang guests/oppressors. This recipe is sure to please. It takes a few days to prepare, but if you start it today it'll be ready on Thursday!Nia Igiby’s MaggotloafTwo slabs hen meat1 c. firebugs3-4 c. earthwormsFingernail clippingsOne dash dog fur (any dog is fine; preferably not one recently washed)
Three days in advance, place the henmeat on a compost pile.1 On the second and third day, if there has been no rain, water the pile frequently. On the fourth day, the meat should be whitish, moist, and teeming with maggots.
Preheat oven to 350º. Mash the firebugs and earthworms with a mortar and pestle, or grind in a food processor for a finer texture. Bring the henmeat inside and chop finely. With your hands, mix henmeat, maggots, firebug-earthworm paste, and fingernails to taste. Place in a loaf pan and bake for one hour. Garnish with dog fur.Serves: One.
1 If you have no compost pile, prepare one a day in advance by mixing vegetable scraps, dead leaves, barnyard nuggets, eggshells, grass clippings, and shredded paper into a mound of dirt. Pour two cups of water over all, and then bake in a roasting pan at 150º for seventeen hours, stirring every hour. Then transfer the pan’s contents, and the henmeat, to a sunny place in the backyard or on the patio.
Storytime with Artham
Now you don't have to wait for the audiobook to hear Andrew read to you. Curl up with Sara's orphans and listen in as Artham and Armulyn talk about Anniera. Warning: This video may make you hungry for limpiny stew.
The Wingfeather Saga Release Party Video #2!
In this video you get to meet one of my favorite artists in the world, illustrator Joe Sutphin, and hear him talk about the process of making the pictures for The Warden and the Wolf King. Unfortunately, some crazy old man interrupts Joe's talk and makes some outlandish claims. Just ignore that part, please.
In case you missed the big release party...
Thanks to the filmmaking prowess of Jonathan Waugh, who contacted me the week of the release and drove all the way from Rhode Island, we can share the day's fun with you guys. It was an amazing day, and my only regret was that we didn't squeeze in tighter so the folks outside could hear. (I heard there were a few flabbits and a Florid Sword out there.) We just had no idea how many folks would come. Thanks for the massive support, everyone! Here's the first video.
RELEASE DAY!
The day is finally here. After years of work by a lot of different people (I'm looking at you, Pete, Kris, Christie, Carrie, Jessica, Joe, and all you Kickstarters), we're about to set The Warden and the Wolf King loose. Some of you have already read it. (Thank you!) Others of you may be sick of us promoting it. (Sorry!) But with this many people and this much work involved, it would be silly to not try and give these books the best possible shot at making it into the hands of the masses. I have long believed that Story (with a capital "s") is the language God wired our hearts to speak, and my hope is that this story is one that will stir your heart (no matter what you may believe).So, if you're a fan of the Wingfeather Saga and you're willing to help, here's what you can do:1) Come to Parnassus Books, 3900 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215 at 6:30 tonight for the release party! We'll have a book signing, a costume party, snacks (bibes!), and Skye and I will be singing a Wingfeather song.2) Tweet about the books. You can link to either Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or here at the Rabbit Room Store.3) If you blog, please write a review about book four--or about the series as a whole.4) If you're J. J. Abrams, please consider making a film.5) This is a big one: leave a review on Amazon! From what I hear, the number of these reviews is influential to buyers, so whether you just rate it or you have time to write a few words about the book, I'll be grateful.6) If you're Pixar or Dreamworks, please consider making a film.7) Pin it! We have a Pinterest page for the Wingfeather Saga.8) If you're a member of Goodreads, leave a review there, too!9) And, of course, there's Facebook and Instagram.10) Finally, one of the best things you can do is to recommend the books to your friends, schools, and homeschool groups. I can't tell you how often I've heard people lament that they don't know of any good books for their kids. The first three books are on the Accelerated Reader list (and the fourth will be soon enough), so we've made it as easy as possible for you to convince your skeptical, literary-minded kids to dive into the Wingfeather story.Thank you, thank you for reading the story. And thanks for helping other people to read it, too. I'll see you at Parnassus Books tonight, and I'll be sporting one of these:
Avast! A RELEASE PARTY!
Friends, Skreeans, and Hollowsfolk!The official release of The Warden and the Wolf King is in two weeks, and we’re throwing a costume party. On July 22nd at 6:30 PM, at Parnassus Books (one of the best bookstores in Nashville), we’re ushering into the world the conclusion of the Wingfeather Saga, and we’re pulling out all the stops. We’re loosing the thwaps. We’re—we’re—herding the toothies! In true Hollish style we’re having a rowdy time, and I’d love for you to come.Why would you want to come to such an event, you wonder?
- Because you’ll be able to try honeymuffins and sugarberry buns (and maybe some maggotloaf?).
- You’ll be able to sip Hollish bibes of many fruity flavors.
- You may want to to quote Oskar N. Reteep’s favorite books to one another.
- There will be a COSTUME CONTEST—the winners of which will receive mind-blowing prizes. (One prize for each age group.)
- My daughter Skye (the inspiration for Leeli Wingfeather) will be on hand to sing “My Love Has Gone Across the Sea” (from The Monster in the Hollows) with me like the Song Maiden that she is.
- I’ll read from the new book and answer as many questions as I can.
- Aedan and Asher Peterson will be there to autograph copies of Pembrick’s Creaturepedia, to which they both contributed vast amounts of talent.
I hope you can come celebrate with us. Beware the toothy cows.—APWHAT: Wingfeather Saga Book Release PartyWHEN: July 22nd at 6:30 PM.WHERE: Parnassus Books, 3900 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215 (615) 953-2243WHY: (See above list.)
New Pictures: Podo Helmer and a Fang of Dang
This is pretty cool. My buddy Joe Sutphin, who illustrated the new book, is constantly posting sketches and drawings to his Instagram page. Every now and then his pen ends up spitting out a new Wingfeather Saga character. First was this Fang:
And then, to my delight, came the great Podo Helmer.
If you're like me and you draw inspiration from watching other artists at work, be sure and follow his Instagram page here. Thanks, Joe!