Andrew Peterson's Blog, page 55

The Eight-eyed Slog, by Asher Peterson

Like I said, art begets art. When Asher (10) saw Aedan's tree crab, out came this horrible thing. It's eating a bird. Kudos to Asher for capturing the beast in mid-gobble.

A New Creature: Tree Crab

We just got back from the film How to Train Your Dragon, to which the five Petersons gave ten thumbs up, and the first thing Aedan (11) did when we got home was break out his sketchbook. Art begets art. Here's a little sketch he did tonight of a creature he calls the tree crab, a native of the Jungles of Plontst, which lies in the southeastern corner of the Dark Sea of Darkness. I hope the Igibys don't run into one of these. But they probably will.

Another Wingfeather Song: "Barefoot and Beggarly"

I just got this email today from a fella named Daniel:

Hey! I was just reading through some of my favorite parts of Dark Sea of Darkness and was reminded of what a fan I am of Armulyn the Bard! I hear all sorts of whimsical, dorian-mode whistleharp tunes in my head when I read about him. Here's one that I tried recording. Unfortunately I don't own a whistleharp, so I had to just use a regular harp and a piccolo, but you'll get the general idea of what I was going for. Just for fun I also made...

N.D. Wilson: Killing Dragons

Greetings, dearest readers.

I just posted a review and recommendation of N.D. Wilson's 100 Cupboards at the Rabbit Room. If you haven't read the series, it'll be something to tide you over until the next Wingfeather book releases. Pick up a copy (and support the Rabbit Room) here.

In other news, I'm finishing up my new album Counting Stars this weekend! It's set to release on July 27th, so between now and then we'll be finishing up artwork, doing a photo shoot (ugh), and releasing a single (I t...

A Wingfeather Song

So there I was, checking email late one night. I got one with a song attached, which isn't out of the ordinary. The sender made a disclaimer, saying her friend heard this little song she wrote and told her she should email it to me. It's not a finished song or anything, she said. Just something funny and dreamy she came up with on the fly after reading On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.

And at that moment I crossed a literary threshold. I thought immediately of Leonard Nimoy singing...

"AHH!": New Art by Readers

Well, in this case the art is by listeners. My sister is an elementary school teacher in Jonesboro, Georgia (yes, the one from Gone with the Wind) and read On the Edge to her students last year. She let them draw while she read the chapter "The Catacombs Below", about Janner and Tink's foolhardy adventure to–and beneath–Anklejelly Manor. Visit the Art by YOU section to see the students' handiwork.

I have quite a few more pictures by young readers. I'll post them as soon as I can.

Thanks for...

My Favorite Question of the Day

This won't be a long post, Readers. I just finished a delightful visit with the third and fourth graders of Sylvan Park Elementary (Nashville), thanks to librarian Joyce Claassen. I have just a few minutes before I need to be at Opryland Hotel for an interview at the National Radio Broadcasters convention. It's been a busy, busy year so far, and I'm excited for three days of adventure this weekend (to find out what, you'll have to keep reading).

So what does a school visit look like?

1. Walk...

A Kind Review

Thanks, Cris Jesse. So glad you enjoyed the story.

Free, New, Exciting, and Sepia-toned Wingfeather Wallpapers

That's right, Dearest Readers. All your desktop/wallpaper dreams have come true. Click on the images to download the .zip file for each free, new, exciting, and sepia-toned wallpaper.

A Postpartum Funk

Dear Listener,

I'm writing from the Warren, my little house on a Tennessee hill. My dog is barking outside at what I'm pretty sure must be a skunk. I suspect this because Moondog has reeked of skunk for a few weeks now, and today it smelled like he got a fresh spray of it. We don't pet him much these days. My children and wife are fast asleep, and I'm experiencing a sort of postpartum depression.

The creative process is in some ways like a birthing. Jamie is quick to remind me that writing a...