Full Cast Audio gave me another tremendous gift recently--enna burning on audio. This has become a hallowed experience for me, to listen to the books I wrote and be transported into the story via a new medium, so that the story doesn't seem like my words anymore. It's been the only way that I think I get to experience my books like any reader would. It's really magical. And the production of enna burning was just tremendous. The narrator is Cynthia Bishop, who also narrated the goose girl audio book, and her voice feels like home to me. The actor playing Enna is particularly outstanding. I'm very impressed with her, and pleased to hear that the same actress played Dashti in their just-completed recording of book of a thousand days (which will be out this spring, I imagine). And for you book nerds out there (like me), you'll get a kick out of hearing that authors Tamora Pierce and Bruce Coville both lent their voices to a couple of characters. It's an outstanding production. FCA received an Audie Award for their production of goose girl, and I think (dare I say?) they even topped their performance here.
I hadn't read enna through since the final proofing pass back in early 2004. I've skimmed it, looked up parts to fact check, but I hadn't just gone through the story, through Enna's struggle, from start to finish. And I was amazed. I'd forgotten so much, and the experience of that story is sometimes quite intense. I don't think I would write enna burning now, not the story that it is. I don't think it's something I could've or would've written after having children. And by that I don't mean that I'm sorry for the story I wrote then, nor that I don't think I'm capable of writing with intensity now. I'm just different. Since I wrote enna, I've had two children and lost one sister, and my soul is more sensitive, and my eyes see things differently. I found myself flinching from time to time. I'm so glad that I got the chance to write that story then, before I changed and didn't get the chance. I find it interesting that so few people have had any issues with the violence in that book, and those who have reported it to me have been mothers. The kids I know love the action and don't internalize any of it. It's not the least bit graphic to them--in truth, I don't think the descriptions are graphic, just the images a reader might visualize for herself. I remember being very careful with that. It's been over six years since I finished the first draft, so it's hard to remember what I was thinking at the time.
If I wrote the goose girl now, it wouldn't be the same story either. For one thing, it would be much shorter, and I don't know that that's a good or bad thing. I hope to keep developing as a writer, I hope to keep changing. I hope in twenty years I'm writing completely different things. I want to keep challenging myself, pushing myself in new ways. I'm very pleased with enna burning. I'm happy it exists. And I don't feel like I wrote it--which is precisely the way I like things to be.
Thanks for the post, Shannon! I'm currently listening to The Goose Girl for the first time, and am excited to listen to Enna Burning later on. I love seeing insights into the writer's mind, and how things have changed for you, and why. Thanks so much!
Posted by: Celes | January 03, 2008 at 11:00 AM
I originally "read" Goose Girl on cd...so the stories are always in those voices to me now when reading. I have to say it's pretty cool, Cynthia does have a great voice.
Posted by: brianna | January 03, 2008 at 12:11 PM
I always wondered what it would be like to walk into a bookstore and see your name on a book. I'm sure it's thrilling and amazing, and i hope i get there someday. But is it weird sometimes? that people are reading words and characters and worlds that came out of your mind. Is it like thousands of strangers staring into your soul?
Sorry, that was kind of melodramatic. your post just made me wonder.
Posted by: Chelsea | January 03, 2008 at 12:16 PM
I love Full Cast Audio. I haven't listened to The Goose Girl or Enna Burning, but they're on my list of books to get from audible.com.
And Tamora Pierce is in Enna Burning??! That's wicked cool! (I'm rereading Trickster's Choice at the moment...)
Posted by: dragonfly | January 03, 2008 at 12:19 PM
I loved Enna Burning. It was the first book of yours I read after Princess Academy (the library didn't have Goose Girl at the time), and as soon as I read it I knew I had to buy a copy of my own. I loved Enna's stubbornness and determination, and I fell for Finn like a ton of quietly smouldering bricks. It is a harrowing book, to be sure (and I read it as a mother of three boys), but in a good way, a powerful way.
I gave away three of your books to my nieces this Christmas (GG and EB to one, BoaTD to another) and I can only hope they love them half as much as I did.
Posted by: R.J. Anderson | January 03, 2008 at 12:26 PM
That's fascinating; I love hearing how you would change your books if you wrote them now. I see what you mean, too. At the time of writing each book seems so monumental, but then several years later it's in the past and it's hard to even recall all the characters' names or the finite little movements of the plot.
Posted by: Caryn | January 03, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Yeah, I can safely say I am glad that you wrote it too. I didn't think it was very violent but then again I am a sixteen year old so...an overly sentimental sixteen year old but still.
Posted by: Shelby | January 03, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Well, I know I'm glad that you DID write Enna Burning and The Goose Girl (and River Secrets and Austenland and Princess Academy and Book of a Thousand Days : )
Posted by: Bohae | January 03, 2008 at 11:05 PM
I'm so glad to read this post. I just finished Enna Burning after reading and loving Princess Academy and The Goose Girl. Like Shannon, I was disturbed by the violence and intensity of the story; maybe because I am also a mother. I did love the ending, which brought me to tears, and Finn's steadfastness and goodness were wonderful.
But I'm glad you have moved on from Enna Burning; I'll move along with you!
Posted by: Emily | January 04, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Full Cast Audio does a great job. I loved The Goose Girl on cd. It surprised me with how good it was. I can't wait to hear Enna Burning.
Posted by: Calliope1of9 | January 04, 2008 at 02:03 PM
I'm starting to get excited for EB on audio; I'm due for a reread as it is. Listening to books on audio that I know really well on paper is different even for me, the non-author reader, I think because you hear everything at the same pace -- no skimming or slowing down -- so I catch some new details that I don't remember from half a dozen rereads, somehow!
Here's to the perfect actress for Dashti -- may she be found!
Posted by: cuileann | January 04, 2008 at 03:37 PM
My mother had a problem with the rather gruesome nature of some of EB, but I adore it. I love how hard she struggles, and not how much pain she has to go through, but how real she seems as she goes through it. If that spoils anything, delete it, but I don't think it does.
Posted by: Q | January 04, 2008 at 03:51 PM
I love the intensity of the story. I didn't even think about it being gruesome. It added depth and struggle to the story that wouldn't have been there if you had made it painless and happy.
Posted by: Chelsea | January 04, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Enna Burning was my favorite book out of the series, I felt like the nature of Enna was much more connected to my personality. This book was in no way disturbing to me, it was full of determination and power. That being said I think I liked this book because of the struggles, and emotional pain. When I first read this book I was borrowing it from my older brother. I have looked for it ever since in the book stores. It was just today that I finally picked up a copy. I hope someday to be as good of a writer as you (I still have a long way to go as I am only 15). I have to say you are probably my favorite author. =b
Posted by: Jessica | January 04, 2008 at 07:57 PM
Interesting to hear your words from another's mouth. And cool on the author voices!
I just finished Book of 1000 Days last night, and it's my new favorite. Great job!
Posted by: Rose | January 05, 2008 at 12:12 AM
When I read Enna Burning I thought it was full of adventure. Maybe a little gruesome, maybe, but I thought that only made it all the more war-like. I didn't mind it in the least. And if one thinks of it the Bayern books are set in a time period very much like the Middle Ages. In those times cruelty and barbarism and gruesome acts were-- how do I put it-- as common as reading. (As reading is like breathing to all squeetusers ;) ) Although River Secrets is my favorite, Enna Burning was simply fabulous!
And I'm completely glad that you wrote the books you did in the way you wrote them Shannon.
Posted by: Ellenboro | January 05, 2008 at 01:54 PM
when is the next book coming out?
i cant wait!!!!!
Posted by: Nisa | January 06, 2008 at 02:26 AM
Hi Shannon! It's interesting to hear you say that about Enna -- I read it earlier this year and really, really enjoyed it, but I was really struck by how dark it was, and how much death there was in it, after having read Goose Girl and Princess Academy. It didn't make me like it any less, but did think it was quite different.
Also, I'm thinking of making the trip up to Seattle in a few weeks to hear you and Libba speak -- I would love to say hello in person and get you both to sign my books! If I make it, you will know me by my pink hair :-)
Posted by: Laini | January 06, 2008 at 05:50 PM
That's really clever, I like how you examine how experiences can change how you write about things. Because your books are really written very intensely from your own world. They're very beautiful. I love the books, and I'm happy you wrote them that way (Enna Burning was my favourite).
Posted by: Marta | January 08, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Enna Burning on audio? That's so cool! I'm STILL reading River Secrets. (Whick I love very much by the way!) Razo is my favorite charactor. All this time I've been picturing Enna with brown hair and all of the sudden it's black. It's weird for me. I'm still wondering if Dasha is good or bad though. Part of me likes her, the other is very sucpicious. Haha. Oh, and also I want to tel you how much I love the Prince! He's such a great character!
Are there going to be anymore books in this series, after River Secrets I mean?
I hope so.
Thanks for listening.
Posted by: Kelsey | January 08, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Huh--I guess I'd never thought about the way that the author's current life impacts the story, but of course it does! I'm still not sold on the whole audio book idea, because for me there's something so natural and relaxing about sitting down on the couch with the familiar weight of a book in your lap. But maybe someday I'll come around--we'll just have to see!
Posted by: Gretchen | January 08, 2008 at 08:07 PM
It's fascinating that as you review Enna Burning you realize its violence rather then when you were writing it. I'm glad to hear you now see it from the perspective that I read it in. Enna Burning is the only book that I don't own (besides Austenland). I agree with everything Bohae wrote (on the 3rd of January).
My favorite thing about your books is how well you develop the male character. Great job showing depth of character!
Posted by: Shennie | January 16, 2008 at 01:59 PM
oops...what Emily wrote on the 4th
Posted by: Shennie | January 16, 2008 at 02:01 PM