She wears glass slippers.
She sleeps in a tower.
She sings to birds.
She is the perfect princess.
And for a monster-fighting heroine, that is the perfect disguise.
Princess Magnolia is...
The Princess in Black!
The Publisher's Lunch announcement:
"From Newbery Honor winner and Eisner nominated authors Shannon and Dean Hale, a young chapter book series following the brave and exciting adventures of Princess Magnolia, a perfectly proper princess by day, but when trouble raises its ugly, monster-shaped head, she ditches her flouncy dresses and glass slippers and becomes THE PRINCESS IN BLACK! Sold at auction to Sarah Ketchersid at Candlewick Press."
These things take time to publish. They'll be full of illustrations, so I imagine a couple of years before we'll see the first one? I'm so excited about this series. We love writing them. They make me laugh. Can't wait to share!
Yay! Can't wait to read it!
Posted by: Emily's Reading Room | March 15, 2012 at 09:37 AM
Squee.
Posted by: Marcus Aurelious | March 15, 2012 at 09:38 AM
YAY! This sounds fabulous! I love everything from Candlewick. :)
Posted by: Enna Isilee | March 15, 2012 at 09:40 AM
Oh, and everything from you. :)
Posted by: Enna Isilee | March 15, 2012 at 09:40 AM
Awesome! I can't wait!
Posted by: Stacey | March 15, 2012 at 09:41 AM
This sounds awesome. Congratulations and I can't wait to read them.
Posted by: Julie Daines | March 15, 2012 at 09:41 AM
High fiving the internet right now!
Posted by: Meredith | March 15, 2012 at 09:43 AM
Is Dean Hale going to do the pictures??
Posted by: Jaya Lakshmi | March 15, 2012 at 09:44 AM
AWESOME!! This will totally be right up my daughter's alley. Too bad they aren't out right now - but I'm sure she'll still enjoy reading them in a year or two, anyway! Do you think they'll appeal to boys as well?
Posted by: Becky N | March 15, 2012 at 09:48 AM
This sounds wonderful!
I meant to tell you Tuesday that you look super skinny for the mother of one-year-old twins. Hole in the butt or not, you must be working that gym just right!
Posted by: Shelly Brown | March 15, 2012 at 09:52 AM
*gasp* I'm thrilled! Thrilled, thrilled! I've been looking for something good since we read Mercy Watson to death. :) (thanks for that recommendation by the way.)
So... will Nathan Hale illustrate? I imagine if you knew who will illustrate that would be part of the announcement.
Ooh, this is just too good.
Posted by: Alysa (Ruby Diamond) | March 15, 2012 at 09:53 AM
Hole in the butt was referring to your gym pants...I just realized how strange that might sound so some people...Actually I'm not sure that I cleared much up...I think I'll just log off and pretend I wasn't here...*whistling*
Posted by: Shelly Brown | March 15, 2012 at 09:53 AM
This sounds amazing! I love when you reveal your secret projects!
Posted by: Way | March 15, 2012 at 09:57 AM
LOVE IT! Can't wait to see it in print. Congrats Shannon!
Posted by: Annie | March 15, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Excellent!
Posted by: Sarah | March 15, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Sounds amazing!! Sounds like a series I would LOVE to illustrate! Can't wait to see how they turn out!
Posted by: Shawna JC Tenney | March 15, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Sounds fan-taaaaaastic! Congratulations, Shannon & Dean!
Posted by: Stephanie Perkins | March 15, 2012 at 10:23 AM
So stoked! And for one glorious minute I thought "Maybe it will be out in a few weeks!" Can't wait to read it!
Posted by: Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen | March 15, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Hurrah! Can't wait to read them! I'm also super excited to see the illustrations! I'm sure they'll be fabulous!
Posted by: Melissa | March 15, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Hoorah for chapter books! These sound so fun.
Posted by: melissa @ 1lbr | March 15, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Congratulations! These will be so so perfect for my wee girl is only 4...in a couple more years they'll be perfect for her!
Posted by: Erin Shakespear | March 15, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Congratulations! What wonderful news.
Posted by: wendy toliver | March 15, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Hey guys. Can't wait. Can't wait till Princess In Black. Peace dude.
Posted by: Flick | March 15, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Sweeet! I am so excited.
Posted by: Abby | March 15, 2012 at 11:27 AM
YAY! It sounds so cool! I can't wait!
Posted by: Debz | March 15, 2012 at 11:39 AM
You just made the day of me and my friend! Her daughter was born last year, and is named Magnolia.. and their last name is Black. My friend is pretty much THRILLED their will be an upcoming book written just for her daughter! ha ha! She's now anxiously waiting for the release.. good thing we have some time before little Magnolia can read!
Posted by: Karina | March 15, 2012 at 11:57 AM
I'm a big fan of your books and I got an e-mail from a friend today about your new book coming out. Can't wait to read it, especially because my 14 month old girl is named Magnolia Black! I can't wait to read the book to her when she's a bit older and show her that she can be a princess and fight monsters too!
Posted by: Katie | March 15, 2012 at 11:59 AM
Hurray hurray, callooh callay! :)
Posted by: Christen | March 15, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Reminds me of Nathan Hale's princess batman series a while back. Awesome.
Posted by: hwalk | March 15, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Sounds great! I'm sure my girls will love them!
Posted by: cheryl | March 15, 2012 at 12:48 PM
I am so excited!! Just read your new Midnight in Austenland and LOVED it. Not that I was surprised. I just love your writing style. You are truly one of my favorite authors and I recommend your books all. the. time.
Posted by: Tasha | March 15, 2012 at 12:53 PM
YES! I'm excited to hear more from Dean (and you, of course).
Posted by: Q | March 15, 2012 at 01:24 PM
Sounds AWESOME!!!!! I adore your work. (And would love to illustrate it!)
:)
e
Posted by: Elizabeth | March 15, 2012 at 02:32 PM
Oh, snap! That sounds like so much fun (and much like the girl I imagine myself to be!). Can't wait to read it!! You continue to amaze....
Posted by: MelissaPete | March 15, 2012 at 02:47 PM
Princess Magnolia sounds quite intriguing indeed. Can't wait to read about her!
Posted by: Julia | March 15, 2012 at 03:27 PM
Way to be awesome and help the world of intermediate literature along! These will be my go-to birthday gift for little girl readers.
Posted by: Jenny | March 15, 2012 at 03:30 PM
Oh yay! The world always needs more fun early chapter books (they always sell well at the bookstore I work out). Excited for the new series!
Posted by: Debbie (Celes) | March 15, 2012 at 03:40 PM
I'm so excited! I can't wait for it to come out >.<
Posted by: Nancy | March 15, 2012 at 04:15 PM
Perfect! We need your brand of fantasy at this reading level. Can't wait to sell these books to our young customers and their parents. :-)
Posted by: Meredith B. | March 15, 2012 at 04:53 PM
The title immediately reminds me of something Awesome. I cannot wait.
Posted by: Ani Brooke | March 15, 2012 at 05:18 PM
Yahooooooo! Sounds fantastic, Shannon! Hooray!
Posted by: Kim | March 15, 2012 at 10:39 PM
Sounds absolutely lovely! And even though it's going to take awhile (hopefully not two whole years), it's going to be perfect timing. My daughter is almost six and is just starting to enjoy reading. I'm hoping that in two more years she will be like her brother (age 8 1/2)who is so voraciously reading things like Fablehaven, Eragon and Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites. I love that my kids love to read! And I'm so excited to read your new stuff(because I've enjoyed it all so far).
Posted by: Becca | March 16, 2012 at 01:21 PM
I am so excited about this! I have twin nieces who will be just about the right age to enjoy these books when they come out. I can't wait to read all about Princess Magnolia with them!
Posted by: Seasodeep | March 16, 2012 at 01:44 PM
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!! Yay, yay, yay. I am so excited. Can't wait for it to come out. Congrats, Shannon! :):):)
Any more news about Palace of Stone? Cover maybe? :):):)
Posted by: Ashley R. | March 16, 2012 at 06:02 PM
What a great premise! I'm so excited to read these books, but even more excited for my kids to read them!
Posted by: Julianne Donaldson | March 16, 2012 at 07:21 PM
Woohoo! I'm so excited for it to come out! I absolutely admire your writings and stories,so I'm super ecstatic for this one to hit the stores. I'm also still counting down the days till Palace of Stone comes out. Can't wait!
Posted by: Kylie | March 17, 2012 at 06:15 PM
Another illustrated novel! How absolutely delightful :)
Posted by: Siera | March 18, 2012 at 01:39 PM
AAH! Can't wait! Read Book of a Thousand Days a few days ago (my first time reading it), and it was absolutely wonderful! :D
Posted by: McKenna | March 20, 2012 at 01:08 PM
I can't wait to read this!
Posted by: Linda W | March 20, 2012 at 01:08 PM
Woohoo! Also reminded me immediately of Nathan Hale's Princess Batman blog posts from a little while back. . . sure hope this is a sign that the writer/illustrator dream team is coming back together!
Posted by: Opaleyz | March 22, 2012 at 06:32 AM