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Posted by Meg

We’ve had a TON of incredible Etsy-style fan art with a big theme on apparel & accessories ever since The Daylight War came out in February. On Peat’s U.K. tour, fan Christie showed up to one of his readings with a Keep Calm and Draw Wards tote bag complete with the warded circle, designed by Lauren K. Cannon. Lots of fans followed suit with warded necklaces, demon T-shirts and cat collars.

So, for our next big fan art contest, there’s only one rule: It has to be wearable. Interpret as you will. Clothing, bags, scarves, jewelry, cosplay, headbands, wallets, temporary tattoos, scabbards, doggie sweaters, horse saddles, coreling costumes, warded heels, etc. All are valid. Wards not necessary, any Demon Cycle-themed imagery or inspired fashion is fair game.

Get your entries in by May 25th, 2013 by 11:59pm. You can send pictures, videos and comments to contest@www.petervbrett.com

We will be giving away 3 original Warded Man hardcovers with the brand new cover.

We will also be giving away covers on their own. You can wrap them around your hardcover Warded Man to match the other two books.

And, of course, the freshly minted The Great Bazaar and Brayan’s Gold from Voyager. This beautiful little book was made to look like a messenger’s journal from Thesa.

All books will be signed!

You can always check out Peat’s favorites on Deviant Art for the latest fan art awesomeness.

I hope you guys are as psyched as we are. Bring on the DIY spirit!

The Daylight War is now out in multiple countries! U.S., U.K. (Waterstones or Amazon), German and Poland editions are now available for purchase.

Want yours signed? Peat signed a stockpile of his books at each bookstore he visited. Even if you are not local, most of these will deliver. In the U.K.? Peat did the same for all the bookstores he visited as well.

Posted on April 30, 2013 at 8:00 am by megelizabeth
Filed under Contests, Wear Your Wards
1 Comment »

Posted by Meg

I just can’t stop watching this hilariously awesome fan video by the Bit Life. I’m pretty sure Peat tweeted it a total of 3 times the weekend it came out.

Awesome! Suddenly, I REALLY wish I had some magical wards sharpied on the palms of my hand right about now. Can’t wait to see more from these guys!

If you haven’t picked up your copy of The Daylight War yet, what are you waiting for? The U.K. versions is available at Waterstones and Amazon. Americans, check out the Random House page for all the appropriate buy links. Or go out and support your local bookstore. The German version of The Daylight War is now on sale! Check out the link to buy it here.

Weren’t able to make it to a U.S. event? Peat signed a stockpile of his books at each bookstore he visited. Even if you are not local, most of these will deliver. In the U.K.? Peat did the same for all the bookstores he visited as well.

Posted on April 29, 2013 at 8:00 am by megelizabeth
Filed under Fans, Meg, Warded Art, Warded Man
Comments Off on Awesome Warded WoMan Video

Posted by Meg

Composer fan Will M. sent in his incredible soundtrack to the final battle in The Warded Man entitled The Battle of Cutter’s Hollow. Dramatic and exciting, this composition feels like a Warded Man movie soundtrack.

Posted on April 28, 2013 at 8:00 am by megelizabeth
Filed under Fan Art, Fans, Meg, Warded Man
6 Comments »

Now that the tour is over, I’ve been spending a lot more time with Cassie. She’s nearly five now, reading quite fluidly, though she is frequently frustrated with hard to pronounce words. “Just keep practicing,” I tell her. “You can get better at anything, if you practice it.”

She’s growing as a listener, too, handling more complicated books at bedtime like Alice in Wonderland, Charlotte’s Web, and my personal favorite, The Hobbit.

I don’t think Cassie had any idea how meaningful it was for daddy to be able to spend a half hour each night reading his little girl The Hobbit. I put on my best Jongleur’s act, making up different voices and singing the songs, using the music set to Tolkien’s words in the beloved Rankin/Bass Hobbit cartoon adaptation from the 70’s. My Smaug impression was pretty badass, if I do say so myself.

She seemed to really like the book, especially the elves and Beorn, the man who turns into a bear. Every time I mention elves, Cassie asks me to specify if they are wood elves or high elves. She reminds me that elf singing is silly.

We have a rule in our house that once you finish reading a book, you are then allowed to see the movie. Book first, always. We immediately went on to the aforementioned Hobbit cartoon, and Cassie loved it. My heart swelled, hearing her singing “Chip the glasses, crack the plates! That’s what Bilbo Baggins hates! That’s what Bilbo Baggins hates, So carefully! Carefully! With the plates!”

She had all sorts of questions about the ring, causing me to break my own rule and let her watch the first part of Peter Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring to explain the ring story. Now, Cassie will happily recite all the ringbearers from Sauron to Frodo, and tell you whether they were nice with the ring or bad with it.

Ye gods, how much can a nerdy dad take?

And yet, for all my pride in getting to share a mutual enjoyment of things I love with my child, none of it could make me nearly as proud as what happened this afternoon.

I had been writing, and as usual, worked right down to the wire before leaving to pick her up from school. I ran out the door so fast I realized I’d forgotten my keys… just as the door latched shut.

In all my life, I have NEVER locked myself out. Is this what getting old is like? Creator, I just turned 40. Stay back, Reaper!

Anyway. It was actually quite nice out, so we hung out on the stoop across the street with the neighbor kids while we waited for the landlady to swing by with the spare key. Cassie was playing badminton with this 5 year old boy she’d just met. I was teaching them how to hit the birdies, but they were struggling to manage. The boy got frustrated and yelled, “I’ll never figure it out!”

Cassie looked at him and said, “You just need practice! You can get better at anything, if you practice!”

If I never teach this kid another thing, dayenu. Because that’s the keys to the castle, right there.

Posted on April 26, 2013 at 3:00 pm by PeatB
Filed under Cassie, Craft, Musings
2 Comments »

Tons of great haikus

Damn, my readers are so cool

Not enough prizes

I always love the haiku review contests, because the form gives a low bar of entry for people who don’t have a lot of free time, but can still come up with amazing results.

Of course, the entries pile up as a result, and sorting them all is a challenge. There were so many great poems it was really hard to narrow the number of winners down to something manageable. I’ve been reading them over and over, slowly culling, all morning. I think I have developed a rare medical condition, HIOH (Haiku-Induced Occular Hemorrhage).

Two winners will receive signed Daylight War hardcovers. Ten runners up will receive Daylight War promo buttons.

Without further ado, here are the winners:

Runners up:

(to receive Daylight War buttons)

Posted by Bernie:

Characters unfold,
Perspective is everything,
Love you, Daylight War.

Posted by Joe:

Sentences so smooth
Characters with heart and soul
Writer Brett matures

Posted by Leanne:

the end the end no
Peat caused me to love them all
throw the bones again

Posted by Ste:

Done it again peat!
Unputdownable indeed!
Counting days once more.

Posted by Miko:

Demons rise again
Desert and Hollow mingle
All ends with a crush

Posted by Alfred:

A tale of stories
Subjective morality
Who should I root for?

Posted by Melissa:

Epic fantasy
How long until the next one?
Please write faster, Peat!

Posted by Andrew:

Battle lines are drawn.
The coreling princes rise up.
Humanity stands.

Posted by Jenny

Find Kaji’s true heir
by the Hora’s glowing throw
or just make him so? 

Ral wrote seven haikus, one for each pillar of heaven. Here are my favorites:

In the new moon’s nights,
The foulest creatures arise,
Mind control their claws.

The Krasian warrior
And Par’chin, his ajin’pal,
The bones called them both.

The Song of Waning,
Its ancient power revived,
Kills demons in night!

Winners:

(to receive signed copies of Daylight War)

There were lots of amazing choices, but in the end, haiku is the art of simplicity, as Jason shows:

Sink full of Dishes
My fiancee yelling at me
Blame Demon Cycle

The other winner, Dan, really brought it to the contest, with over a dozen entries. Here’s just a sampling of my favorites:

Princes of the Court
Besiege the surface people.
The Consort commands!

When demons attack,
Resist! People large and small,
Deliverers all.

Renna, in the wild
Stealing power from demons
He won’t fight alone!

Brave Arlen Bales.
Some call him Deliverer;
He calls them the same.

Couzi grants courage
For those fighting the demons.
Tastes like cinnamon

Paper women cut
The pride of a great Cutter.
He’s no idiot! 

Huge thanks to everyone who entered. Meg should be getting in touch with the winners shortly, but if you see your poem listed above and want to lend a hand, please email your mailing address to: contest@www.petervbrett.com

Posted on April 26, 2013 at 8:00 am by PeatB
Filed under Contests, Daylight War, Fan Art, Fans, Reviews
3 Comments »