Yellow cheek water

"I don't care what color it is!" This exchange cracks me up every time I read it.

“So why did you come?” Claxton asked Jimbob, though his eyes were still fixed on Maraly.“The Fangs say they need our help.” Jimbob’s voice trembled. “They say that if you don’t come and fight, they’ll treat us like all the other Dugtowners.”“Is that what they said,” Claxton muttered, turning his attention back to Jimbob.“But you told us we didn’t have to fight nobody!” one of the Stranders said. “We don’t fight for nobody but ourselves! You told us that!”“Aye, you said we just had to hide here until the fightin’ was over! We ain’t nobody’s soldiers.”“And you said we’d get some cupcakes!”“Quiet, all of you!” Claxton roared. “First of all, the cupcakes were fer the ones who came with me to Snoot’s. I said I’d try to bring ye back a few.  I’d try. Ain’t that what I said, Poggy?”“Exactly,” Poggy said. “And even us that went didn’t get none.” Maraly noticed her face was smeared with bright yellow icing.Others noticed it too. “What’s on yer cheeks?” one of them shouted.“It ain’t icing. It’s—it’s water.”“Sticky yellow water?” said the second man. “Poggy, that makes no brains!”“Quiet, I said!” Claxton bellowed. “Forget the cupcakes! If ye want some, we can get ’em tomorrow after the Fangs have run of the place again. Second of all, no, we don’t have to fight. Jimbob here’s going to send word back to the Fangs that he found us fighting the Dugtowners out in the mudfields to the north. It’s all part of me plan. He’s gonna tell ’em how brave we are, aren’t you, Jimbob?”“If it means I can get one of those cupcakes tomorrow, then yeah,” Jimbob said, rubbing his hands together. “I’ll tell ’em anything.”“Can I have a dip of some of that yellow water on your cheeks, Poggy?” the first Strander asked.“Nobody’s eatin’ cheek water!” Claxton shouted, banging his fist on the wall. “I don’t care what color it is! Now listen,” he continued in a conspiratorial tone, “we just have to hide here and keep quiet. The Fangs will do their battling, my mammy will keep bringing me soup, and in the morning”—Claxton thrust out his chest and beamed—“I’m the King of Dugtown. Actually, I would like a nibble of that goop on yer cheek, Poggy.”—From chapter 32, "The Weaver Family Reunion."
What about you? Do you have a favorite excerpt this week? We'd love to hear it—just post it in the comments!Thoughts, questions, gripes, wild speculations, and Florid Sword impersonations are all welcome in the forum. Head on over, and bring a friend. I'll see you there. :-)i had a dream that i was wakingBy the way... this is happening today. :-)

The Chapter House and a fall tour

Behold, the Chapter House takes shape.Chapter House in progressGlorious!Also: Andrew's album release tour starts next week! If he'll be anywhere near your city, he'd love to meet you and sign your beat-up old (or shiny new) Wingfeather books. Check out his tour schedule at his music site.

This week, Madame Sidler will be reading chapters 32-37 of The Warden and the Wolf King. Check back on Friday for an excerpt, and to share one of your own!We've got great discussions brewing in the forum on lament, Wingfeather songs, and more—and you're always welcome to dig up an old thread or start a new one. See you there!

Refuge

In Dugtown, that villainous hive of scum and wretchery, Sara and her orphans have made a cozy home. Sometimes we find ourselves in villainous places, and we are powerless to change the villainy. But we don't have to live in fear. And a cozy place where we can love and be loved can push back that fear so that it stays in the street outside.
Sara hurried through Dugtown with Borley at her side, feeling less safe than she had in months. It was as if everyone she saw was a Strander in disguise, as if every wall or trashbox or alleyway was in fact the entrance to a burrow into which anyone could be abducted at any moment. As if the Fangs on the other side of the Blapp weren’t dangerous enough, now Gammon said there were spies and treachers right here in Dugtown.Sara and Borley passed the Flabbit’s Paw, then made their way up Grimppity Avenue to the barracks where Sara’s orphans stayed.The building had once been a linen factory called Thimble Thumb’s Threads. Fangs had made a wreck of the place in the years after the inva- sion, but the orphans had made quick work of cleaning it out and cutting sheets and blankets from the piles of discarded linen in the basement. The children were well used to hard work in the Fork Factory, and had been so desperate for a place to call their own that in a week’s time Thimble Thumb’s had been transformed into the coziest spot in Dugtown.As Sara climbed the front steps she heard singing inside—this wasn’t unusual, except that the children’s voices were now accompa- nied by the soaring melody of a whistleharp skillfully played. Borley smiled at Sara and opened the door.
Something to think about: How can we make welcoming places for each other?What was your favorite snippet from this week's reading? Post it below! And if you'd like to share your thoughts about what you've been reading, come join us in the forum. We'd love to get to know you.

Andrew and the Song Maiden

You've seen Andrew and his Song Maiden Skye sing this song before, and you've downloaded the recorded version. You may have even seen them play it live! But here is a new video, recorded just a couple of weeks ago. It features Skye playing a hauntingly beautiful accordion solo. Give it a listen, and have a pocket-handkerchief handy; you'll need it.By the way, the last of Andrew's prerelease StageIt shows is tomorrow night (9/29). They've been a lot of fun so far. You should come. :-)[embed]https://youtu.be/dAhHcavkcdU[/embed]

This week, Madame Sidler will be starting Part Two of The Warden and the Wolf King, reading from the opening interlude through chapter 31. Come back on Friday for an excerpt, and to share one of your own!Meanwhile, you can come hang out with us in the forum. We've got a whole thread about sad songs, and another about Wingfeather songs, and we'd love to hear your thoughts. There are a ton of other great topics as well. See you there!

The Houndry Corps fights back

This is such a stirring scene. I recall hearing that single woof from our snug house that night, and wondering what it meant. Professor Sidler and I are so grateful for those dogs and their fearless mistress.
Leeli made her way downstairs in the quiet of the house. She knew there were wounded Hollowsfolk in most of the rooms and didn’t want to disturb them. When she reached the bottom floor she heard the murmur of voices and the clink of dishes being cleaned in the kitchen. Oskar stood at the door and smiled when he saw Leeli.“Leeli! I’m glad you got your rest. It was a day to write about, I say!” He bowed, which made his swoop of white hair flop from his bald head. When he straightened, the white strands stood up like a plume of feathers until he palmed them down again. “Someone is here to see you.”
He opened the door and Leeli stepped out into the cold night. First she saw Thorn O’Sally standing beside Kelvey and their father, Biggin. They smiled proudly at her, then stepped aside so she could see beyond them.
Dogs had congregated in the front yard of Chimney Hill—it seemed that every dog in the Hollows had come. They sat at attention, tails wag- ging furiously, though their faces were grave. Baxter limped forward and barked once. Hundreds of dogs answered with a single woof.Leeli smiled so wide her lips cracked and she grunted with pain. Baxter cocked his head and whined at her in answer. She stepped down from the entrance and moved through the dogs, patting heads and scratching behind ears. There were so many that they made a pool of warmth in the cold night.“I don’t know dogspeak half as well as you, but it was pretty clear they wanted to see you real bad,” said Biggin. “They wouldn’t leave us be until we marched straight here from the houndry.”“They’re waiting for orders,” Thorn said.“And they’ll only take them from you, Miss Wingfeather,” Kelvey added.“I don’t know what to say.” Leeli stood in the sea of dogs and looked to Biggin for help.“Tell them what they’re supposed to do next,” he said.Leeli felt one of the dogs licking her ankle. She knelt down and found Frankle, the rowdy pup. Leeli clapped her hands and he jumped into her arms. She stood up with Frankle as still as a sleeping babe in her arms and looked around at the Houndry Corps, feeling a pleasure that made her proud and humble all at once.“We fight back,” she said. Then she whistle-clicked the same words in dogspeak.Frankle raised his head and howled with all his might—which wasn’t much. The rest of the dogs joined him. Their howls rose into the night and the Hollowsfolk who were awake to hear them were glad.—From chapter 24, "Visitors at Chimney Hill."
What scene this week stirred your heart, or made you laugh, or just felt right? Share it below in the comments! Then join us in the forum for bibes and friendship. There's been a flurry of activity this week. Here are a few good conversations to get you started: Andrew's sly sneakery; fruit (FRUIT!); ridgerunners and trolls; Turalay; guilds; sadness and lament; recipes; and the hope for a Wingfeather CD. :-) See you there!

Happy 13th Birthday, Leeli!

So today is the first day of autumn, which is also my daughter Skye's birthday, which is why her first name is Autumn, and since Skye's nickname since she was a baby was Leeli, I also named the sweet little Wingfeather girl Leeli, which is why I'm writing this post here. Got it?Skye is one of the most interesting, delightful, beautiful people I know, and she has a lovely singing voice. I thought today would be a good day to give you all a little birthday present in her honor. A free download of "My Love Has Gone Across the Sea," sung by the original Leeli Wingfeather--featuring me on guitar, as well as accordion legend Jeff Taylor, fiddle legend Stuart Duncan, and guitar legend Nate Dugger on lap steel. (You may also recall a dog in Ban Rona named Dugger. That dog, supposedly, could also play a mean lap steel.)If you're new around here, or haven't read the books, this song is from the end of The Monster in the Hollows--Leeli sings it over a certain dying monster during a battle. This recording was a reward for the folks who contributed to the Kickstarter campaign for book four last year, and I think it's time to release it to the world. It's about a wife whose husband has sailed away on some mission, and when he loses his way, she decides to go and find him--even if it kills her.When you listen to it, say a prayer for my girl. I'll be eating mounds of cake.Many thanks to the finest readers in the world,APCLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SONG.

Leeli and Baxter

Here's a sweet picture of Leeli and Baxter. Faith (now 13) drew this when she was 11 and still waiting for The Warden and the Wolf King to come out. I love that little doggy's face, and Leeli's freckles. Thank you, Faith!Leeli and Baxter

This week, Madame Sidler will be reading chapters 19-24 in 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! :-)

Janner Acts

When it comes to making decisions, are you more like Janner, or like Tink?
The leader drew an arrow with one hand and discreetly uncapped the bottle of poison with the other.“That’s a bad idea, Grouzab,” Janner said. “I won’t let you kill this troll.”“Have you any fruit?” Grouzab asked.“Not for you, I don’t.”“Then Gnag’s offer is better than yours. Go, boy. Leave us to our mischief.”Grouzab dipped the arrowhead into the bottle. Janner felt panic rising in his chest. He should be running for Ban Rona. He should be busy making a shelter in the falling light, or tending to Baxter. Instead he was surrounded by ridgerunners, in defense of a troll. A troll! This was what he got for acting without thinking first—like Kal always did.Then again, Kal, who always managed to get himself into trouble, also managed to get himself out of it. So what would Kalmar do next? One thing was sure. Kalmar wouldn’t stop and consider all his options. He would simply do. Kalmar followed his instincts, and somehow it worked out.But Janner didn’t trust his instincts. As soon as he felt one, he questioned it. So what was his heart telling him to do? Not his fear, not his brain, but his heart.No, that wasn’t right either. It wasn’t his heart he needed to listen to—it was the love in which his heart rested. That was what he needed—the love of Nia, Kal, Leeli, Podo, and the love of the Maker who had kept him safe thus far. He rested in that—and he acted.—From chapter 15, "Janner Gets Carried Away."
What was your favorite excerpt this week? Post it in the comments! Then, come hang out with us in the forum. I'll get the tea started, and we can talk all about trolls, ridgerunners, fruit, and other exciting topics.

The stories are true.