An abundance of Sharons

Hello from the road! Whew, it's been uber-busy, but of course really great. I started off at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. There was an author reception in the Jefferson Building. My first time in DC, and I was breath-taken. That building! Gorgeous! Amazing! And filled with 70 writers I love all eating highly intriguing finger food. I got to meet up with old favs like Holly Black, Toni DiTerrlizzi, Mo Willem and family. David Shannon pointed out that if we got married, I could be Shannon Shannon. I thanked him for his offer but told him I was happily married. His wife on the other side of the table waved pleasantly.

Saturday was the festival. Huge. Awesome. 130,000 people came. It was so well organized and everyone seemed ecstatic to be there. First I did a panel with some members of the Exquisite Corpse Adventure team. Jon Scieska and Kate DiCamillo sat on either side of me, and I could not stop laughing. I want to go back to school and sit in the back of the class with those two. It's so wonderful to love someone's books, then meet her and be able to report that she's just as fabulous, funny, clever, and subversive as you could hope. I'm speaking, of course, of Kate, because Jon is nothing but trouble and I resoundingly warn you all away. Far away. Okay, maybe not that far.

Nikki Grimes, Megan MacDonald, and Steven Kellogg rounded out our crew, and I

adore them all. The first episode of the Adventure is up now on read.gov, with a new episode going up every two weeks. We were asked to give hints about our episodes, and I told about writing a certain villain. When I was drafting my episode, I was writing with my five-year-old next to me, and I knew he was reading along as I typed, so I was trying to amuse him and described a villain as "his face was where his rear end should be and his rear end...spoke." or something like that. Max asked me what that meant, and I said, "Basically, he has a bum head." Max laughed and went off to draw that picture himself. He did a pretty good job. I'd planned to cut that obviously disgusting and highly morally objectionable detail later, but after Max got such a kick out of it, I just couldn't. Steven Kellogg drew some pictures from the Adventure for our audience, and he chose to do that one as well. So awesome.

Next I spent some time in the Utah tent and then on to do my own presentation,

followed by a signing. I was astounded when my one hour time slot spilled over into two so they didn't have to turn people away. It was raining! Pouring! And people still waited in line. Amazing, humbling, and so exciting too that there are thousands of people so passionate about books. Here's my awesome escort Amy, and Bloomsbury publicist Deb and I model our plastic bag wraps.

I was delighted to have my photo featured in the SLJ's write up of the festival, and even more delighted when I read the photo credits beneath my photo and the one of Jon Scieska and Nikki Grimes. I like to imagine the article was written by someone in love with a woman named Sharon, and he just can't get her out of his mind. Soon, every woman looks like her, sounds like her, his imagination filled with Sharon, Sharon, Sharon! [EDIT: looks like someone discovered the error and corrected it. Originally I was listed as Sharon Hale and Nikki Grimes was Sharon Grimes. I kinda miss that Sharon.]

The next morning we were supposed to fly from DC to Albany then drive to Vermont, but due to circumstances beyond our control, we missed our flight. So we had to rent a car and drive to Vermont. Did I mention I'm traveling with my two-year-old? We were in the car for 10 hours that day. She was so, so, SO good...for a two-year-old. I was only, oh, three and a half hours late to my event at Northshire Books. UGH! I'm so sorry, anyone who came by! By an amazing serendipity, a family that had driven over from Conneticut happened to come by the store again when I was there, so at least I could talk to those girls and sign their books. Northshire is an awesome book store.

Monday was the Flying Pig book shop. I love you, Josie and Elizabeth! I had two school event with the most awesome kids ever. One of them put together a video presentation on Rapunzel that I told them they must enter into the Rapunzel's Revenge Book Trailer Contest (notice how I put that all in caps to make it look official and title-y?). I'll link to their submission when I get it. Hooray for valiant librarians who find ways to connect the kids to books! Vermont is so beautiful, even in the constant rain. I swear, we had a cloud over our heads and couldn't escape the rain for two days straight.

On to Massachusetts the next day. I was looking forward to my first full night of sleep. I was getting pretty loopy at this point--late nights, early mornings, constant high energy. But at last, a chance to be in bed for eight hours straight! Then in the middle of the night, alarm goes off. I turn it off. Fall back asleep. It goes off again. I unplug it. Fall back asleep. It goes off again. I kid you not. There's no display, no power, and the alarm is going off! I discover a battery inside and dig it out. If it goes off again, there will be a reckoning.

In the Boston area, I do a wonderful event with Porter Square Books, and another at the Brookline Public Library with the Children's Book Shop. Such great readers everywhere! One six-year-old had a Rapunzel's Revenge for me to sign. I sign my name, and she asked, "Why did you just scribble in my book?"

Last night was a the flagship store for Barnes & Noble in Burlington. A brother and sister came from Montana. Hi Shiloh and sister! (sorry, forgot your name, Sister) Dee the event manager reminded me again of all the passionate, caring people in the book world. I love being part of this team.

I'll report more later. My little one is waking up and we're going to go walk out on the harbor. Boston rocks.

Comments

[Lessie]

Sounds like you are having a ton of fun. Hopefully, I will get to meet you someday. I finished Forest Born and can wait for the sequel ; ) It was awesome!

[Shannon Morris]

So excited for you, Shannon! What an amazing experience you get to share with your daughter!!! Take lots of pictures so she has something to hold to as she grows up!!! GO MOMS!!!!

[Amitha Knight]

Hi! I met you at Porter Square Books yesterday (my whole critique group came) and bought Rapunzel's Revenge. I started reading it at a dr's appt later in the day and then as soon as I got home, I tore through it--it was awesome. I think you mentioned there was going to be a sequel? If so, I can't wait!

[Christen]

I'm glad you're enjoying the East Coast! I wanted to go to the National Book Festival (I went a few years ago and it was AWESOME), but my church was having an event that day so I couldn't. But it sounds like you had a great time! :D

[myrna]

I can believe Kate DiCamillo is cool. Daxton and I giggled our way through her Mercy Watson series and went back for more!

The battery was an Energizer, wasn't it?

. . . keeps going and going and going and . . .

[Annie]

So glad you're having such a great tour so far! I love this: "Why did you just scribble in my book?"

[Anjanette]

Sasa and I really enjoyed meeting you at the Brookline signing yesterday! I did stay up to read Austenland last night and enjoyed it very much. I don't watch TV either (I have 3 other kids besides Sasa), but I may have to head to the video store-- my copy of Pride and Prejudice is well-worn but I have yet to see the BBC version and now I'm quite convinced I've been missing something :)

[Maren]

I just finished reading Forest Born and I had to come on here and tell you how much I loved it. I loved Rin's character and her search for self-discovery. It's the kind of book every teenage girl ought to read, and I will be buying it for my daughter, even though she won't be able to read it for about 12 years.

Thanks for your books and for all the encouragement and inspiration you give to aspiring authors. You are a delight.

[Sondy Eklund]

Meeting you at the National Book Festival was definitely the highlight of my day! And then all the authors (including you) ended up being incredible speakers. I can easily believe you that Jon Scieszka is nothing but trouble - in a way that's oh so much fun to watch! He and David Shannon looked like two little boys up to mischief when they presented.

I agree - Book people are wonderful! Where else can you meet a celebrity and have them give you time and attention and even remember when you've interacted before?! Of course, authors are way cooler than TV celebrities - because only those of us in the know recognize you! Thanks, Shannon, for being so nice to your fans!

[Shannon M.]

Wow, thanks for sharing. Now those of us who didn't get to go can feel like we didn't totally miss out. (*grumbles about the west coast's lack of cool book events*)

Feel free to keep updating us with pictures and anecdotes. I look forward to reading them.

[DaNae]

It looks like they've made the title of your post null and void. When I read the article yesterday I was wondering if Sharon Grimes was Nikki's daughter or sister or pseudonym. You looked lovely in the article.

[julie]

sounds like a busy time and glad that you are having fun.

[Andrea H.]

Oh, it all sounds so wonderful! Vermont and Boston and books? What could be better? Now, don't laugh, but I'm thinking your next tour needs to include Wyoming. I mean, okay, it's not like there are any bookstores within an HOUR of where I live (which is the main downside to rural living, in my opinion), but we do have great libraries. And lots of really nice cows. You would love it:).

[Megan]

My friend and I had a fantastic time at the National Book Festival!! The presentation in the morning was hilarious. You guys were all so spunky! Your presentation was great too! It was great to see you and get all my books signed - I'm starting Forest Born so I can see if everyone really dies! :)

When I got back to school on Monday, I was showing my students the books I got signed and all the cool stuff I got. They saw Rapunzel's Revenge, and they BEGGED me to read it. I was all ready to start The Witches by Roald Dahl because it's my favorite book to read for October, but they only wanted Rapunzel. I have a document camera, so I can put it up on my screen and they can see the pictures up close. I never thought to use a graphic novel for my read aloud book! They love it, and they're making inferences from the pictures. (that's one of our reading strategies, and they're doing it without being told to! yay!!!)

[Janssen]

LOVED seeing you at the book festival - definitely a highlight!

[Kylie]

that sounds like so much fun!!! Just a suggestion- You should come to Arizona. that would be amazing, and its that far from Utah. : )

[Shiloh]

Shiloh's sister's name is Katee...

Thanks for coming to the book signing so we could meet you!

We both loved "Forest Born"!

[Lisa]

Aack! I've been waiting and waiting for you to come to Boston--and I missed you! Glad you had a good trip, though. VT is gorgeous, even in the rain.

[mb]

Shannon, it was great to meet you at Porter Square. Unfortunately, I was so busy being flattered by your compliments that I neglected to tell you how much I enjoy your work. I think the Wild West setting of Rapunzel's Revenge was genius, especially with the whole theme of growth (too much/too little) going on. I loved the way Jane in Austenland kept comparing herself to Austen heroines, while completely ignoring the one Austen heroine she most resembled.
I also wanted to tell you that I trust you as an author -- not something I say lightly -- by which I mean that even if I don't always see where you're going in the early pages of a book, I always feel confident that the book will take me somewhere interesting and enlightening. You don't disappoint. It's a quality I value highly.
Apparently I'm not so articulate in person!

[Meg]

You've been so busy, Shannon! Just wanted to pop over and tell you how much I enjoyed your discussion at the National Book Festival! For such a rainy, chilly day, it was an absolute blast. Your story of writing since you were young -- and being ready to hit the big time when all the rejection letters started pouring in -- definitely hit home. I'm off to grab Austenland in the very near future!

[Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams]

So fun! I've read both Forest Born and The Actor and the Housewife this week, and LOVED them. When are you coming to Texas on a book tour? :)

[Katie-wa]

That six-year-old girl's comment about your scribbles reminds me of my little brother. That is totally something he'd say, poor literal thing. Funny, though.

I hate alarm clocks. Loathe them. They are only fit to be cast in a pit of hellfire and consumed, their evil racket forever engulfed in flame. Yep.

Get some rest! Hope the rest of the trip is uber fun, too!

[Je Reve]

Oh, I'm so jealous of the East-Coasters! (I don't think my parents would be willing to travel 3,000 miles to see you though ;( )
Thank you for the post, "Sharon", and have fun in Boston!
P.S. There's a seafood place by Copley Square that's worth checking out for their berry pear pie!

[Christine]

I live in DC and was so bummed that I was going to miss your appearance here. I'm in the Navy Reserve and had duty that weekend. I'm glad you had a good time on your book signing rounds here in the East. I hope you come again soon, because I want you to totally "scribble in my book".

By the way, I'm giving my 9 year old niece 'The Princess Academy' for her birthday. She's obsessed with reading and princesses. Thanks for writing such a great book about finding and being true to who you are. I know she'll love it as I did.