Oh my, what a birthday surprise! Today the Writer's Almanac mentions me in honor of my birthday. And to up the surreal coolness, Garrison Keillor is the host and he actually talked about me on NPR this morning. What does this mean? I'm a tadpole compared to the other two writers mentioned (Benjamin Franklin and Ellen DeGeneres). I'm...I'm...currently juggling two babies and sleeping on top of a pile of laundry and trying to slosh my post-parnum oatmeal brain into a workable mess. I'm flabberghasted and tickled peach. Wow!
I'm excited to learn I share a b-day with the most-awesome Ellen DeGeneres. I've loved her since her standup days. My sisters and I had her airplane bit memorized. ("Get those away from me! Six peanuts…") We don't have television at home (i.e. cable or antennae) so it's always a treat for me when I'm touring and staying in a hotel and get to watch her show on TV. She is for me the new Carol Burnett. So, happy birthday, Ellen!
Did I mention, if you listen to the podcast, you can actually hear Garrison Keillor say my name? Thank you, Garrison Keillor, for the birthday wishes! And a shout out to to Betsy Allister, staff writer. After reading her bio I suspect she is the person responsible for including me in today's almanac. She's a fan of children's literature. Maybe Betsy read Goose Girl, maybe she liked it, maybe when January 26 came around she recognized my name on a list of "famous" people born today and she said, hey, let's feature her today. What a strange thing, what things I never imagined when I was ten and wishing fervently to be a writer. What a thing life can be.
EDIT: I'm sure no one cares but me, but I just have to clarify one thing about the article. It says Dean was "one of her high school flings." I didn't have any high school flings, though I'm sure I wouldn't have minded. Dean was one of my best friends for seven years before he was my boyfriend. And ten years into our marriage, he's still my best friend. Hey honey, we never got around to having a fling together. Maybe it's not too late? Text me later...
Happy Birthday! That's so cool!
Posted by: Madeleine | January 26, 2011 at 01:59 PM
May this year be even better than the last on every level!
Posted by: Sakuraember | January 26, 2011 at 02:00 PM
Happy birthday!
Posted by: Q | January 26, 2011 at 02:03 PM
Wow! That's awesome! Happy Birthday!!!
Posted by: Maija-Liisa | January 26, 2011 at 02:03 PM
Happy birthday to you! And what a fun way to celebrate. I don't know how you could top last year (I mean, really, twin babies? What could possibly top that?), but may this year bring everything you hope and all the good desires of your heart.
Posted by: Nancy | January 26, 2011 at 02:05 PM
Happy Birthday! yes, very cool!
Posted by: Becky | January 26, 2011 at 02:18 PM
Awesome!! Happy birthday! :)
Posted by: Savagediana | January 26, 2011 at 02:22 PM
Happy Happy Birthday!!
Posted by: chali519 | January 26, 2011 at 02:22 PM
What a lovely birthday present, Shannon. And what a nice write-up. Your brains will rise above oatmeal level eventually, and you will write more wonderful stuff, and we're all looking forward eagerly to that.
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury | January 26, 2011 at 02:30 PM
Happy birthday from the Logsdon girls in Hagerstown, MD! :D
Posted by: Christen | January 26, 2011 at 02:34 PM
Happy Birthday! What an awesome present!
Posted by: Rebecca F. | January 26, 2011 at 02:35 PM
Happy Birthday! We're in birthday mode here, too - it's my husband's big day. I'll have to tell my daughter it's your birthday, too. I'm afraid she'll be more excited about that... ;)
Posted by: kirsten | January 26, 2011 at 02:36 PM
Congrats to you! And Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Alyson | January 26, 2011 at 02:43 PM
Happy Happy Day of Your Birth! You also share your day with my older, lovely sister, and the best english teacher that walks the earth, Mrs. Luoma!
Posted by: Je Reve | January 26, 2011 at 02:50 PM
Happy Birthday! You don't know me, but I'm a big fan, and I'm re-reading Goose Girl right now, for the third or fourth time.
It never gets old.
Have a happy birthday!
Posted by: Bookworm :) | January 26, 2011 at 03:10 PM
Happy, happy birthday! In honor of my 2 year old's current understanding of birthdays, I hope you get to eat cake and wear a birthday hat!
Posted by: Libby | January 26, 2011 at 03:20 PM
What a fabulous thing to happen on your birthday! Hope the rest of the day has been just as amazing. :)
Posted by: Katie | January 26, 2011 at 03:26 PM
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
I didn't know today was your birthday!!
Happy Birthday, Shannon!!!!
(happy b-day to you, happy b-day to you, happy b-day dear Shannon, happy b-day to you!!!!)
o=)B3B3) (b-day cake with candles- the 'o' is the flames, the '=' are the candles, and the ')'s, 'B's, and '3's are the layers :) )
Posted by: beasbeth | January 26, 2011 at 03:27 PM
Happy birthday! And how cool that Garrison Keillor acknowledged him. I LOVE him! World's most soothing voice, and such a wonderful story teller.
Posted by: Caryn | January 26, 2011 at 03:39 PM
Maligayang Kaarawan! :) Sending you birthday greetings from the Philippines.
Posted by: Chachic | January 26, 2011 at 04:26 PM
Happy Happy Birthday!!!
Posted by: Lizzy | January 26, 2011 at 05:17 PM
Happy Birth day!
You don't know me either, but I'm a fan of your writing, loved (!!!!!!!!)the Books of Bayern. I'm currently reading Book of A Thousand Days.
Anyhow, Happy Birth day!
Posted by: Kelly C. | January 26, 2011 at 05:21 PM
Happy Birthday! Keep writing terrific books! (Hint: Sequel to Princess Academy... ;) )
Posted by: Dassie | January 26, 2011 at 06:59 PM
Wow! That's really exciting. And you got such a sizable chunk of it dedicated to you.
Happy Bday!
Posted by: megwrites | January 26, 2011 at 07:33 PM
Wow! Cool! My four year old daughter shares a birthday with one of my fav authors. We celebrated this day with a hot lava castle cake and a volcano. Hope your day was just as grand! Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Wendi | January 26, 2011 at 07:35 PM
Happy birthday!!!! Hope you have a lovely day and a wonderful year ahead! :D
Posted by: Maidoflorien | January 26, 2011 at 08:35 PM
No WAY! Garrison Keillor?! He's, like, a legend! What a serious honor. Him saying your name means your books have made it into classic status.
Congratulations and Happy Birthday.
Posted by: Susanne | January 26, 2011 at 08:50 PM
Fantastic! It is also my daughter, Jane's birthday. She's four and already wishing she was still three because "she wants to be cute still."
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Emily | January 26, 2011 at 09:14 PM
Awww I'm a day away from sharing my birthday with a super cool author! Happy Birthday!!
Posted by: Joanna | January 26, 2011 at 10:50 PM
Happy birthday and congrats on the uber cool Writer's Almanac spot! If I were you I wouldn't be able to wipe the stupid grin off my face all day. :-)
"One of her flings" makes it sound like you were something of a teenage Alexis Carrington. Ooh la la!
Posted by: andalucy | January 27, 2011 at 01:20 AM
- belatedly - Happy Birthday. I would be squeeing all over if Garrison Keillor mentioned me, ever, for any reason.
I am snickering about the idea of you having a "fling," though. Do let us know how that goes...
Posted by: tanita | January 27, 2011 at 02:43 AM
Happy Birthday!!!
Posted by: Kate | January 27, 2011 at 02:44 AM
Happy Birthday Shannon! I wish my post-partum oatmeal brain could write such great blog posts. Your writing is just so well done no matter what you are doing with it. Don't be too hard on yourself. That brain is still working just find. :D
Posted by: MelissaPete | January 27, 2011 at 09:47 AM
That was supposed to say, "just fine." ;)
Posted by: MelissaPete | January 27, 2011 at 09:47 AM
Happy Birthday!! hope that it is awesome!
Posted by: Ruth | January 27, 2011 at 09:58 AM
Happy Birthday Shannon! It was my birthday yesterday too :) I was plesantly surprised to learn we have the same birthday :) I love your books! Did you know we also share a birthday with Paul Newman & Eddie Van Halen? :)
Posted by: Jolyn | January 27, 2011 at 09:58 AM
Happy belated birthday! May Dean take you on many cheap dates of appetizer/dessert combos. (Our family loves those outings-our latest restaurant favorite is Thai Siam thanks to the recommendations of the lovely Amy the Rich. The curry puffs and custard sticky rice alone are well worth the visit!)
Posted by: Jean | January 27, 2011 at 02:52 PM
Ha!! Funny, congratulations, Shannon, and Happy B-day!!
Posted by: gracie | January 27, 2011 at 06:01 PM
Happy Birthday, Shannon! What a fabulous birthday present!
Posted by: Melissa | January 27, 2011 at 09:51 PM
I wake up to Garrison Keillor quoting me poetry every morning. Happy Birthday--what an honor!
Posted by: Tiffany L. | January 28, 2011 at 05:04 AM
Huh, this about makes me want to take my name off the blog sign up sheet. I like Garrison, I like Ellen and I like NPR. Ok, I know it's cool to be mentioned in a national program, but a short blurb on your blog would be cooler, rather than the I AM AWESOME post.
Posted by: Jealous Writer | January 28, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Again may I say, what an honor, Shannon!! I'm loving Forest Born!
Posted by: Maddie | January 28, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Happy belated birthday! What a great present!
Posted by: Laura | January 28, 2011 at 03:09 PM
Happy Birthday! Hopefully it was great!
Posted by: Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen | January 29, 2011 at 06:52 PM
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Elisabeth | January 30, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Happy belated birthday! My own b-day falls shortly after yours, on January 27. I'd love to share a birthday with you, Ben Franklin, and Ellen DeGeneres, but instead I share it with Mozart (which is cool because I play piano) and various and sundry actors and actresses.
Posted by: Allegra | January 30, 2011 at 01:49 PM
OMG, SOrry!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, SHANNON HALE!!!!!!
Posted by: Rinna-girl | January 30, 2011 at 07:18 PM
I know this is a bit late, but Happy Birthday! Garrison Keillor actually is an alumni from my high school, although he graduated 50 years before me. He gave the entire student population a book in the summer before my senior year. He's awesome and so are you! Love your books!
Posted by: Rachel | January 31, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Sorry this is belated but Happy Birthday Shannon! You definitely deserved recognition from the Writer's Almanac and I'm glad that you got it! You share the same birthday as my brother who was born on January 26,1993, so it's a great day indeed.
Posted by: Callie the Strongbad Fan | February 02, 2011 at 01:58 PM
Well- thanks to Garrison K. and Writer's Almanac I discovered The Goose Girl with that entrancing 1st page. Fled to the library and have read it through. Delightful. If it hadn't been your birthday - I'd have missed you.
Love discovering new voices.
Posted by: Norma | February 02, 2011 at 02:13 PM