To celebrate his 70th year on Earth, and the 50th Anniversary of selling his first novel, Peter S. Beagle has set himself an extraordinary creative challenge — writing a brand-new poem or song lyric every week for 52 consecutive weeks. These new creations will be delivered to subscribers by email each Monday, with special explanatory notes from Peter included.

The cost? Only $25 — which means that for less than 50 cents a week you can join Peter on a unique creative journey...and we do mean join, because along the way Peter is basing 10 of these creations on subscriber suggestions. [Got an idea you'd like to see Peter work on? Then sign up now, and email your suggestion at any time afterward to 52-50@conlanpress.com.]

In addition, all 52 songs and poems are going to be recorded (sometimes by Peter, sometimes by singers and musicians of his choice) and released starting in spring 2010. Project subscribers will get MP3 files of all 52 release for FREE, and a 50% discount on any future CD, songbook, or book releases of this material.

The project started on 4/20/2009 (Peter's 70th birthday) with a new song lyric, "The Alien," and has continued weekly from there. Personally, we can't wait to see what he comes up with!

Note: all subscribers will get everything, no matter when they sign up.

Your first email will contain everything written for the project up to when you subscribed, after which you will get each new weekly release on schedule.

THE PROJECT SO FAR:

04/20/2009: "The Alien" (lyric)

04/27/2009: "Physics Teacher Gunch" (lyric)

05/4/2009: "The Perfect Beer" (lyric)

05/11/2009: "Lovely Lo" (lyric)

05/18/2009: "Wolves Are Cool" (lyric)

05/25/2009: "The Saints Want Justice" (lyric)

06/1/2009: "The Pirates of the D" (sea chanty, based on a subscriber suggestion)

06/8/2009: "For Lisa Atkinson" (sonnet)

06/15/2009: "At My Age" (poem, based on a subscriber suggestion)

06/22/2009: "The Lady Made of Flowers" (a Sirit Byar song)

06/29/2009: "When I Get My Shit Together" (blues song)

07/06/2009: "Mister Harris" (poem)

07/13/2009: "The Last Song of Sirit Byar" (song)

07/20/2009: "Song for James D. Houston, 1933-2009" (elegy)

07/27/2009: "Reflections" (poem)

08/03/2009: "The Pigeon and the Dog" (song)

08/10/2009: "Hello, You" (song)

08/17/2009: "Survivor" (poem, based on a subscriber suggestion)

08/24/2009: "Rhythm Section" (song)

08/31/2009: "Werewolf Blues" (song)

09/07/2009: "Singing for Grandpa" (song)

09/14/2009: "Mantra" (song)

09/21/2009: "The Ballad of Eleanor Roosevelt" (song)

09/28/2009: "The Egg Cream Song" (song)

10/05/2009: "I Want to be a Club Singer" (song)

10/12/2009: "Aggravating Woman" (a Captain Cully song based on a subscriber suggestion)

10/19/2009: "What I Carry with Me" (poem)

10/26/2009: "She's My Gibson J-45" (song)

11/02/2009: "All I Know (Two Friendly Strangers)" (poem/song, based on a subscriber suggestion)

11/09/2009: "Irving the Goldfish" (song)

11/16/2009: "Margaret 1960" (poem)

11/23/2009: "Bears Bears Bears" (poem/song, based on a subscriber suggestion)

11/30/2009: "Dark Water Down" (a Sirit Byar song)

12/07/2009: "Wintersong" (poem/song)

12/14/2009: "Getting It Wrong" (song)

12/21/2009: "Willalou's Lullaby" (Innkeeper's World song, based on a subscriber suggestion)

12/28/2009: "Mom on the Street" (song)

01/04/2010: "Song for the Seattle Princess" (song)

01/11/2010: "Matsev" (song)

01/18/2010: "Naps" (song)

01/25/2010: "The Long Way Home" (poem/song)

02/01/2010: "Grace" (poem, based on a subscriber suggestion)


UPCOMING:

11 more, including 3 additional original works sparked by subscriber suggestions!