Andrew Peterson's "The Warden and the Wolf King"

(Photo : Rabbit Room Press)
Andrew Peterson - The Warden and the Wolf King

Andrew Peterson isn't just a talented (and Dove-nominated) singer and songwriter, he's also an award-winning author. When he set out to write the final installment of the Wingfeather Saga, he turned to fans to help fund the project. In a little over a month, they donated over $118,000 to his Kickstarter campaign, which was over $100,000 more than the original goal of $14,000.

In a press release, he talked about his surprise when the final numbers came in. Peterson said, "This outpouring of support was one of the most gratifying moments of my life. The night the campaign ended felt like a countdown to New Year's Eve, and there was much dancing in the Peterson house. I hoped that these books would connect with readers, but the way this unfolded just kind of blew my mind. This was my first Kickstarter campaign, so I had no idea what to expect, but I love the sense of community it allows between artists and the people who support their work. Now the pressure's on to end the story well-if I don't I'll have a lot of angry kids on my hands."

The unbelievable success of the campaign will allow Peterson to produce an exclusive hardcover edition, more illustrations, an original song from the books that fans can download, and more. The Warden and the Wolf King will hit stores in April of next year.

The Wingfeather Saga series began almost 10 years ago when Peterson began writing On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, which was published by Waterbrook/Random House in 2008. The second book, North! Or Be Eaten, released in 2009 and won the prestigious 2010 Christy Award for Young Adult Fiction . The third installment, The Monster in the Hollows, released in 2011. The epic tale has become a favorite of families around the world and has been compared to The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter.

Synopsis of The Warden and the Wolf King:

Rallied behind Kalmar Wingfeather, the Wolf King of Anniera, the people of the Green Hollows are prepared for war. But high atop the Killridge Mountains in Castle Throg, Gnag the Nameless broods over dark secrets and those secrets may prove more than a boy, even a boy king like Kalmar, can bear. While Leeli, Podo, and Nia, fight to save the Green Hollows, Sara Cobbler and the wildy transformed Peet the Sockman strive to overthrow the Fangs of Dang and liberate the long-enslaved people of Skree. But Kalmar and his brother Janner, the Throne Warden of Anniera, will be driven into darkness to face a nameless evil (that has no name). Dragons will rise. The Jewels will shine. And in the end, an Annieran will die.

Tags : Andrew Peterson