Andrew Peterson Reveals How C.S. Lewis Sparked His Vision for ‘The Wingfeather Saga’
The author of The Wingfeather Saga – a bestselling children’s series now a popular Angel Studios project – says he was inspired to write his own stories after reading C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series and realizing there weren’t enough “epic” fantasy adventures for kids.
Singer and author Andrew Peterson’s The Wingfeather Saga was a four-book series released from 2008 to 2014 that has discovered a new audience thanks to an Angel Studios animated adaptation of the same name.
Season 3 debuted this month on Angel platforms.
The Wingfeather Saga follows three siblings who uncover long-hidden secrets about their family in a fantastical land as they battle evil and seek to unite a fractured kingdom.
Peterson rose to popularity within the Christian music world for his singing and songwriting, but said he felt compelled to write a fantasy series after reading The Chronicles of Narnia to his children. He grew up reading books and writing stories, and still laughs as he describes himself as a “nerdy art kid.”
“I always had in the back of my mind that I would love to try writing a book someday,” he told Crosswalk Headlines.
Peterson remembers reading Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to his children and growing emotional, even crying, as he contemplated the symbolism of the lion.
“I was so moved all over again by how powerful stories are,” he said. “My kids were the real impetus. They were the first audience.”
Realizing there were few “big, epic fantasy series” in the market for children – “as a Christian, I was careful with what my kids were reading” – he set out to write his own.
He describes The Wingfeather Saga as landing somewhere between Lewis’ novels and J.R.R. Tolkien’s epics. The series lacks the one-to-one allegories of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but still weaves in powerful Christian themes.
“I'm 75 percent on the Tolkien side of things,” he told Crosswalk Headlines. “I wasn't trying to write a Christian fantasy series. I wanted to write the very best adventure story I could write. And as a Christian, I knew that the Holy Spirit would do His work.
“As a friend of mine put it, The Wingfeather Saga isn't overtly Christian, but it is deeply Christian.”
Peterson’s novels – once confined to his mind – now reside on bookstore shelves alongside the Harry Potter franchise, The Lord of the Rings, and even Captain Underpants – as well as through the growing reach of the Angel Studios franchise.
Meanwhile, Peterson is currently working on his next book – a young adult adventure story.
“I'm not ready to tell people about it yet,” he said with a smile.
Related Articles
7 Christian Influencers for Believers of All Ages
C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published November 18, 2025.
