Happy New Year!

I am in the midst of revising Eldest. It’s a relief to have reached this stage. Though quite a bit of work remains, I can finally view the book as a whole. I am grateful to have the advice of my wonderful editor Michelle Frey. She points out what would be blindingly obvious if I weren’t bound so tightly to this epic that adjectives cling to my eyelashes and adverbs lodge beneath my fingernails. Her comments help me refine the story, distill it to its essence, and guide me back on track when I stray from my original intentions. To put it another way: editors clarify.

It took until January, but at last we received some true winter weather in Montana. The temperature dropped to –20° F a few times before climbing back to 58° F today. The mountains are blue and white from top to bottom, as was the valley floor until it grew warm again.

Just yesterday, I looked out my bedroom window to see a mule deer standing by the corner of the house, rooting for grass underneath the drifts. The deer have their winter coats, so as the wind blew, the doe’s shaggy hair rippled like fields of grain.

The movie adaptation of Eragon by Fox 2000 continues apace. I will soon have exciting news to share on this.

All the best. . . .

And may your swords stay sharp!

Christopher Paolini

For more information and news about Eragon, visit Alagaesia.com.