Drawing their swords

Two literary legends cruised down the Newport Peninsula on Tuesday morning to promote their newest children’s novel.

Humorist Dave Barry and thriller writer Ridley Pearson have spent several years collaborating on a bestselling series of children’s prequels based in the Peter Pan universe; their latest book, “Peter and the Sword of Mercy,” was released last month.

Kids at Newport Elementary costumed as Peter Pan, Davy Jones and everything in between swarmed the school’s blacktop for their chance to check out the authors’ custom SwordMobile, get books signed and ask questions.

The authors said writing for a young audience has been an enjoyable process.

“Kids ask questions like, ‘When will the crocodile get off the island?’ — not ‘Will there be a film version,’” Pearson said.

“They’re much more enthusiastic readers than adults,” Barry said. “You wouldn’t get adults to dress up as pirates out here on the beach for something like this.”

The series was inspired by Pearson’s daughter Paige (he has another named Storey); she asked him once how Peter Pan met Captain Hook, and the rest was history, he said. Pearson developed the series with Barry, with whom he plays in a rock band made up of other writers like Stephen King, Matt Groening and Amy Tan.

— Candice Baker