First of all, I spent the last four hours or so reading all your reviews, and I’ve cried about four times. That’s partly because I’m a crybaby, and partly because I prayed almost every day of the writing of The Monster in the Hollows that the book would connect with you, Dear Readers. What a joy it is to see that, in at least your cases, it did.
Second of all, it was HARD to choose a winner. There were so many well-written and thoughtful posts to read, and even after I narrowed it down to five reviews it wasn’t easy. At the bottom of this post you’ll find a list of all the blogs, and I encourage you to visit them when you get a chance. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for telling your friends and relations about these books.
Now. On to business. The winner of the blog contest is eleven-year-old Will Silander, whose stop-motion Lego trailer pushed me over the edge. My sons went through a phase of making videos like that so I can attest to how much time it takes to make one. I loved it. Check it out:
Congratulations, Will! Send an email to andrew@wingfeathersaga.com and let me know what you want me to draw. I’m no Justin Gerard, so I can’t make any promises, but I think we’ll come up with something pretty cool.
Second place goes to Jim Hamilton. Jim and his kids were among the first to review the book, and have been enthusiastic about the story since they discovered it. In fact, they emailed me an uber-cute video earlier this year in which they pleaded with me to send them an advance copy. Thanks, Hamiltons! Will gets the original, but I’ll send you and the other runners-up a signed copy of the drawing.
Here are the rest, in no particular order:
Nathaniel Miller (good writing, Nathaniel)
Carrie Luke (with a GREAT picture of her daughter reading in a treehouse)
Jeanne ? (includes hilarious “happy dance” pictures)
Joe Thacker (kudos for the copious Scripture references, Joe)
Sarah Sawyer (if Galadriel blogged)
Christina Szrama (complete with a reading guide–thanks, Christina!)
Brian Wilhorn (honored, especially in light of how many books you read)
Hot Dogs and Marmalade (an open letter that cracked me up)
Justin Hase (wow. Thank you, Justin)
Trish Hixon (great pictures!)
Amateur (you must be a librarian)
Honey and Locusts (“pogonophobia” = funny)
Abiding in Grace (thanks, Sarah)
Marshall Benbow (well done, Marshall)
The Pickwick Portfolio (more great pictures)
Dan K (movies would be fine and very fine)
Moriah Potter (thanks, Moriah)
Loren Warnemuende (includes a great list. I like lists)
Heather Rose (the Wingfeathers get their own page!)
Sarah Newell (I plan to steal the “book date” idea)
Jim Daniels (hilarious picture, Jim)
Mark Collins (well-written, thoughtful review)
Again, this was really difficult, you guys. I wish I had time to draw you all pictures. Thanks so much for writing these.
Next up: the Amazon review contest. This was much more random, since there were so many reviews.
I chose Kelly Fulcher, because she mentioned Where the Red Fern Grows, Narnia, AND orcs in one review. To be included in that company was a fine compliment. Well, not the orcs, but you know what I mean. Kelly, send me an email at andrew@wingfeathersaga.com and let me know what you’d like me to draw. There was a tie for second place at Amazon with reviews by Jeri Tanner (for describing the books as “heinously awesome” and saying that a picture of Artham on her wall would be “trollin”, a word I’m troubled that I’m too old to know) and Nora Wait. Kelly and Nora, you’ll each get a signed copy of the picture.
Thank you all so much! Hopefully the contest and your reviews spread the word about the books. I couldn’t do this without you.
Andrew Peterson is a singer-songwriter and author. Andrew has released more than ten records over the past twenty years, earning him a reputation for songs that connect with his listeners in ways equally powerful, poetic, and intimate. As an author, Andrewโs books include the four volumes of the award-winning Wingfeather Saga, released in collectible hardcover editions through Random House in 2020, and his creative memoir, Adorning the Dark, released in 2019 through B&H Publishing.
16 Comments
Loren
Yay! Good choice! Congratulations, Will; I hope my kids are as creative when they get to be your age ๐ .
And Andrew, thanks for listing the blog posts again (with fun comments). I’ll be able to scroll through them easily and see if there were any I missed.
…And while I wait for the final book I am steadily infecting more friends with Wingfeather-itis.
Julie Silander
Friends – Thanks so much for all of the encouragement. Loren and Carrie in particular. A little boy went to bed with a very grateful heart tonight. “Well done” to all, and “Soli Deo Gloria!” – Julie (on behalf of Will)
As a side note: Will’s little brother, Sam (9), played “Matthew’s Begats” for his first guitar recital in May. Will accompanied him on the keyboard. We do love the Rabbit Room!!
Jeri Tanner
Hi Andrew,
I’m Jeri Tanner, mother of Jennie Tanner, who is actually the girl who wrote the 2nd place winning review on Amazon.com. It is she who can combine adjectives like “heinously awesome”! Thanks on her behalf, she is thrilled. She wasn’t mentioned as receiving a drawing, so just wanted to clarify that. Fun stuff.
We’re looking forward to reading the other reviews. I’m looking forward to reading the books!
This is Jennie informing you that while “trollin” has a certain meaning in the murky and slightly terrifying depths of the internet, I use it for my own purposes as a dorky way of saying “awesome” or “righteous.”
Carolina
This has been a great contest! Congratulations to all the winners! I hope there will be another contest in the future. ๐
Sally
Congrats, Will! When I watched the video, I knew no one else stood a chance. Great job!
sallie kate
I love this wonderfully nerdy community. Makes us feel right at home!
Carolina
Yes Sallie Kate, this is a very nerdy community…its great. Btw Mr. Peterson, I can’t stop thinking about your book! I’m going to go nutty till 2012! Not that I’m rushing you…at all. ๐
Becca
Will, that was blocktastic. Great work, fella!
Canaan Bound
Wow. That review from Jim Hamilton made me want to weep. So glad there are such elloquent people promoting truly good art.
“We pray that the Lord will continue to cause his gaze to pierce into the way things really are.” If I had written a review, I would have wanted to say the same.
I am a little surprised that Dawn Marie didn’t offer a video review. Hoping there will be one in the near future.
Heather Rose
Thank you for mentioning me even though I technically didn’t review Monster in the Hollows. I have read it since then, and I must say BEST WINGFEATHER SAGA BOOK EVER!!!! (I totally saw the cloven thing coming. ๐ ) It was EPIC!!!
SarahN
Thanks for the acknowledgement! This contest was great–I liked reading what everyone else had to say, too. Wish I could have gotten a drawing!! but the winners were well-deserving. Congratulations, guys.
Andrew Peterson–please do steal the book date idea. I feel like it’s something that needs spreading around.
Canaan Bound
….Seriously….Dawn Marie….Where are you???
(Don’t tell me she’s off taking care of little Goodgames. That’s simply no excuse.)
Fellow Traveler
Justin Taylor of TGC has given you a plug!
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/06/20/summer-reading-for-kids/
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