Here's what's up

The Forgotten Sisters, the final book in the Princess Academy series, hits shelves one week from today. Preorder the book from anywhere and get a free poster.

Here are details of my upcoming appearances in Utah, Chicago, North Carolina, Wyoming, and Santa Monica. I need to focus more on writing and family than on trips and book events, so I will be cutting back wherever possible this year. Catch me while you can!

What am I currently working on? Nine things. Short stories, screenplays, a graphic novel, an adult novel, some middle grade and young adult novels. I honestly don't know which one will be finished and out first. I often hear non-writers muse that coming up with ideas must be the hardest part of writing. There are many things harder than coming up with ideas.

1. Sitting my butt down and writing every day
2. Ignoring the internet
3. Not letting myself get discouraged
4. Getting enough sleep at night
5. Eating healthy food
6. Ignoring the internet
7. Choosing which ideas to work on first
8. Staying with one book till it's finished and not getting distracted by all the other shiny ideas
9. Sitting my butt down and writing every day
10. Balancing work time with business/publicity and family needs

Today I took my four-year-olds to their indoor soccer class, stood outside the door, and had a phone interview with Sally from Publisher's Weekly about Princess Academy's tenth anniversary. The class pit the girls against the boys. My daughters had a stunning plan for victory: stand directly in front of the PVC-pipe-and-net goal and twirl their hair in eerie unison. And then when a boy kicked the ball anywhere near them, they picked up the goal and turned it around. I watched and laughed and gave my interview. A janitor overheard me on the phone and interrupted the call to ask, "Are you a writer? Do you have any books out? What are they? I love to read."

So do I, my friend.

Comments

[Sondy]

Love this! And I just finished -- and LOVED -- the Advanced Reader's Copy of The Forgotten Sisters which I got at ALA. I'll post my review around the day of publication... (It's glowing, as usual!)

[Anidori Kiladra]

Dear Shannon:
I'm a writer. The best thing anyone has said about my work is, "This is better than Shannon Hale." I can't believe it, because really, who is better than Shannon Hale?
I love your writing and your insightful outlook on life. You are my idol and I hope I can be half as successful as you. You are an amazing person, Shannon :)

[razofan96]

I have a few unrelated questions:
In Enna Burning Razo has a scar on his face, in River Secrets he laments that all his scars are on his torso. What's up?
Why is Isi wearing that ivory dress on the cover of the Goose Girl? Doesn't she wear bright clothes all year and a green dress to meet the king at Lake Meginhard?
Is that dress Enna wears on the Enna Burning cover the dark brown one Sileph gives her? And I thought all the Tirans wore white.
I still love your work, just a few things stuck out in my mind that I wanted to ask you about.

[Adelle]

I have a main character who's selfish at the beginning of the book and grows considerate by the end. I want to do a sequel, but if she's nice, what kind of inner journey will she make now?
I'm so happy about Forgotten Sisters, I've been waiting since you published Palace of Stone. That was my favorite book till I got Enna Burning. Love you Shannon.

[Adelle]

Please do another Bayern book. Please, please, please, I'm praying to the Creator God, the Ancestors.
I think Susena-Ofelienna would work nicely for a fifth book.
What would happen if someone learned all the gifts?
When Razo says Lady Megina is a widow of twenty years, does that mean she's twenty years old or she's been widowed for twenty years? I know Talone's an older man, but sometimes people aren't the same age, like Isi and Geric.

[Emily]

AHHHHHH!! I live close to Rock Springs!!! I am so excited to see you!!

[Emily]

I have nearly the same To-Do list as you! Arrgh! It sure is difficult getting to writing every day! I don't know how you manage to do all that you do!
I'm so excited for The Forgotten Sisters! Ahh! I need to catch up and read the first two books ASAP.
That janitor sounds so sweet. I hope you gave him the list of all the books you've written. Who wouldn't enjoy reading those?

@Adelle I was thinking the same thing just the other day. I like your idea to do a book on Susena-Ofelienna, but i personally think a prequel from the Queen of Kildenree's POV would be more interesting. I just find her character very mysterious. For example, she was the only people-speaker in the series who wasn't corrupted by her gift (or didn't seem to be), and it doesn't seem that she has tree-speaking. And those are good questions. I'm curious myself now...
Mrs. Hale, if you do decide to write another Bayern book, I'll take what I can get. It doesn't really matter who's POV it is (but the Queen's would be very interesting) :)

@razofan96 Now I'm wondering what the answers are. Good questions! Mrs. Hale, please answer them when you have the time.

[Petunia Krupnik]

I'm excited for Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters. I will be buying it. Good luck with your projects, Shannon!

[JoLee]

I just finished an ARC of The Forgotten Sisters. I loved it. So much. So, so much. I am spreading the word far and wide!!

[Adelle]

The queen of Kildenree is interesting but few YA books are about a forty-some-year-old woman. I would like to see more of Susena, or even Isi’s little brother Rianno-Hancery. If Isi has the ability with wind, fire, birds, and horses, and the Queen has people-speaking, surely the others have a gift too.
By the way, I’d love a sequel to Dangerous. Maybe you could explore a little about Maisie’s mom. P.S. why is the rebel group called the Yellow Flag? I like the name, just curious.
I like how Wilder is half Russian. The bad guys in American literature are always Soviet, Russian, Eastern Bloc, etc. and I think it’s great that you put a spin on it. Not all Easterners are bad.

[Anidori Kiladra]

One little question: Maisie is “shielded from R-rated language” and yet her expressions are a little strong. What’s up? Still love the book.

[Emily]

@Adelle No, I meant her when she was younger. It would be a prequel, of course, so I meant a book about the Queen of Kildenree when she was younger. But Susena-Ofelienna does sound interesting, too. I would also like a sequel to Dangerous. Tbh, though, I think we'll have to wait a while seeing all this work that Mrs. Hale is doing.
Speaking of the Queen, what is her name? She is never given a name in any of the books. I find that sort of sad. :(

Anyways, I came on here about your tumblr. I've submitted a few questions to your ask box. Was it meant to be open? I'm aware the asks are open on default, so I was wondering if that was it or if you actually have it open to answer questions. Not that you need to answer my questions immediately. I'm aware that you're very busy. Good luck with all of your work, btw!

[Enna-girl]

I’ve been reading the archives and I came across that post on the 2010 Halloween costume contest. Oooh, I would so like to do that. I love Enna-girl, I have dark hair, and I’m feisty like her. I don’t know how I’ll find Bayern-dyed clothes for that idea, darn, but I’ll think of something. Love your books Shannon!
By the way on the last post on the Dangerous cover “Awards, posters and new covers”, you posted in the comment section. I think it’s so cool that we both have that purple symbol beside our names. It’s like we’re both fire-speakers, or we have the same token mark. Wicked awesome.

[Enna-girl]

Shannon please publish another book of Bayern. Please, please, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Isi]

I love the story Palace of Stone but I think I would’ve called it Queens Academy, since the first book is Princess Academy.

[Isi]

I recently read Sherlock Holmes A Study in Scarlet by Conan Doyle and was outraged at his lack of regard for the Latter Day Saints. I’m surprised he didn’t get death threats from the Utah residents, that’s how brutal it was. I don’t think poorly of the LDS members even if their beliefs aren’t like mine. I think criticizing a group of people in literature, movies, etc. should be punished. Cheers to diversity.

[Emily]

Mrs. Hale, sorry that I'm crowding up your comments! I just come to check if you've posted anything every few days and when I see a comment worth replying to, I do!

@Isi, as a Latter-Day Saint myself, I was fairly disappointed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's portrayal of Mormons in his book as well. But, Doyle was influenced by writings of the time about the church, and his daughter even stated later, "father would be the first to admit that his first Sherlock Holmes novel was full of errors about the Mormons" and he, supposedly, apologized to Levi Edgar Young (a descendant of Brigham Young). I think we must take that into account. After all, we all make mistakes.
I personally think that sometimes criticism is okay, especially because I believe in free speech. It really always depends on how you take it: you can punch the person speaking and threaten death; insult or criticize them back; or ignore it, let the words slide off of you and forget them. The third is the most difficult, but the best option.

[razofan96]

Yeah, Conan Doyle also had something against one-legged men. But the LDS was going too far.
Shannon, River Secrets is a way better mystery than any Sherlock Holmes by a long shot.

[Ennagirl]

Keep on writing, Shannon, you're doing great!
By the way, please do another July book club for River Secrets, your Enna one was the highlight of my year!

[Delia]

Dear Shannon:
I want to use some excerpts of your work for examples in a how-to-write book, but it’s all copyrighted. Could you give me a permission to use them? I just want to show off some good writing, I’m not trying to get rich on it or anything, and I’ll cite my sources (of course).

[Alaina]

Me using the rules of diplomacy to get Shannon to write another Bayern book:
State the problem: We’re Bayern addicts.
Admit your own error: We are too pushy about writing another one and shouldn’t be telling you what to write.
State the error of the other party: But you are such a darn good writer that you leave us desperate for another book.
Propose specific compromises: If you write another Bayern novel, we will rave about it and tell every bookstore, library, and reading group what a great book it is.
Invite mutual acceptance: We’re willing to promote your work if you can create a piece of literature like your previous four Bayern books.
Illustrate the positive of acceptance and negative of refusal: Doing this will increase your fame, popularity, and wealth. If you don’t accept, we may be so glum that we can’t bear to read another book J ha-ha just kidding
Assert a deadline for acceptance: Please accept soon because we are running out of patience and I’m about to go nuts if I have to wait any longer for a Bayern book.
Otherwise, if you’re okay with it, I’ll write my own Book of Bayern and continue the series for the rest of us readers who love your fantasy world.
Not to sound bossy, but I think you should do the YA novels first. I love Bayern, Princess Academy, 1000 Days, Dangerous, and EAH (not old enough to read Austenland and A&H, but certainly eager).

[Emily]

@Alaina haha! From Princess Academy, of course! Nice! :D
Mrs. Hale, I agree with all of what she said. PLEASE?

[zoe jonson]

ennagirl its so ovios tht u r razofan96 & a few oters. if ur gonna troll us a diferent eamil 4 each so that it gets a diferent icon and u seem lik u r a diferent person. also post farter in tim from each. u postin minuts aftet each makes it mor ovios. same 4 u aliana/delia. i no how 2 troll.
goo luck sahannon

[Alaina]

Okay, Zoe, you caught me. I’m such a big Shannon fan and I didn’t want to look like I was hogging the comment section. I didn’t mean anything. I just love this blog soooooo much I HAD to keep posting.
I read Forgotten Sisters today in 4 hours. It was so good. I mean, on page 8 there’s an invasion! Cool. Out of the girls, I like Felissa because she’s like my friend. I’m more of an Astrid. Miri was her usual terrific self. My only gripe is that she didn’t meet Timon again. That would’ve been a nice scene.
I noticed Shannon reused some names, which is fine. Stora was Britta’s grandmother (Palace of Stone), Hanna was the girl from the Queen’s Castle (Palace of Stone), Sten was Rin’s brother (Forest Born), Sweyn was King Bjorn’s brother (Palace of Stone), and Katarina was the lady who starved the miller’s son (Palace of Stone). By the way, did Miri never cut her hair till she was 17? I think that’s how old she was in the book. I’m surprised she didn’t look like Rapunzel :)

[zoe jonson]

alaina sam 4 me but u gotta lern te tricks :P
-pos faar apart
-use diferent emals 4 each persona so it has a diferent icon
-use a difeerent voce 4 each (ex speal things wrong 4 1 and use slang 4 anoter whil keepin ur defalt normal)

and timomnn was a meenie y wood u want that
peder and miri 4eva

[Ashley]

I just read Forgotten Sisters and I love it! Love, love, love all things Shannon :) And about Alaina, she’s just a die-hard fan, I know her, and you shouldn’t pick on her.

[zoe jonson]

im not pikin on her im tryna help her out

[Kathleen]

#8. Oh my gosh, non writers don't even know how hard that is!

[Bookworm]

I agree, it's really hard to concentrate at times with having the internet around. The most random ideas tend to pop up, and there are times where I end up researching useless information, and waste alot of time.