Interview with Shannon Hale


Here it is! My interview with the fabulous, Shannon Hale:


I asked some of my blog readers what questions they had for you. Here are some of their questions...

1. Lindsey Leavitt asked: Will you be my best friend?


Of course. I’m wearing our BFF bracelet right now.

2. Olmue wants to know how you balance it all--writing, family, other responsibilities?

Ha! That’s my favorite joke. Umm…okay, really, I put my family first, grab writing time whenever I can, and try not to stress about anything else.

3. Sarah Johnson and her daughters asked how many more Bayern books there will be.

I’m writing a fourth right now. I have other books I want to do next, but I imagine I’ll always return to Bayern as often as a good story occurs to me.

4. Kelly R. Fineman would like to know how much research you did for Book of a Thousand Days and how you organize your research.

I’m not very organized. I do a good deal of research, before I write and while I write. I take notes, keep a folder of ideas, and always use much less than I’d like.

Okay, now a couple questions from me.

1. Austenland is very different from the rest of your published books. Do you plan to write any more books like it?

I’m writing another of the same ilk that may be out in 2009. I get bored easily and it’s nice for me to vary my writing (first person, third, contemporary, fantasy, graphic novel…)

2. Personally, I think Book of a Thousand Days is ONE INCREDIBLY WRITTEN book (sorry to yell at you). I've always been a fan, but this one is my favorite so far. If I were on the Newbery committee, I'd vote it to the top. Please tell us how you got the idea for it. Do you struggle for great ideas or do they pop into your head all the time?

Thank you! I get lots and lots of ideas. That’s not the problem. The struggle in writing for me is finding the story in the idea and the words to tell it right. This is based on an obscure fairy tale, Maid Maleen, and my desire to tell the maid’s story, as she was just mentioned and then forgotten in the original tale, which really chapped my hide.

3. What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

When I find just the perfect sentence.

4. What is the hardest part of being a writer?

When I know it’s not working but I don’t know how to fix it. And getting through a first draft.

5. And finally (because I know you are a fan of flattery), how does it feel to be witty, pretty and intelligent and basically an all-around Writer Rockstar?

What? I don’t know what you mean. I’m incredibly humble and modest, and my fabulous good looks are more a curse than a blessing. But if you insist…

Thanks, again!


I know, I know. It's kind of silly, but isn't she fabulous? She used to be a stand-up comedian. You couldn't tell, could you?


Don't forget to comment to be entered into the drawing for one of two signed Shannon Hale books. You can enter as many times as you want!

34 comments:

  1. Shannon is always so funny and great. (She's really good in person as well.) Great interview.

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  2. Cool interview! Thanks for coming by, Shannon!

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  3. Thanks for sharing the interview!

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  4. Found my my here via the Blue Board. Great interview. Love those book covers! Can't wait to read them.

    gail

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  5. I'm so glad you all enjoyed it. She's a riot, isn't she?

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  6. Great interview! :D

    Thank you for posting it!

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  7. Wow. You really asked the best friend question. And it really happened. I hope my former BFF/husband will understand.

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  8. Lovely interview! Shannon is so amazing. :)

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  9. I pink puffy heart Shannon Hale.

    She's made of awesome.

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  10. What a great interview! It's exciting to learn there's another Bayern novel in the works!

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  11. :D I like the interview. Shannon is so awesome. (I love it that I can hear her voice in my head when I read her stuff now :wink: )

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  12. No way, did she really used to be a stand-up comedian? That explains a lot...

    Great interview!

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  13. How very fun! Thanks for bringing us this interview.

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  14. Shannon's the best. If you ever get the chance to hear her presentation at a signing, do it! She's so entertaining and full of great spirit, that it's impossible to not be affected by it. My daughter and I have read all her books MGs except Book of a Thousand Days, and now I'm hooked to get into another Hale story.

    Thanks for taking time to interview her!

    shaunda

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  15. I can't wait to get my hands on these new books- especially Austenland! I'm so glad there are good author out there, writing the perfect books for us to read!

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  16. Thanks for the contest, I want to win a Shannon Hale book, too!

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  17. Fab interview! thanks! And what's this about winning books??

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  18. Hi Alysa. Welcome! I was able to get three books signed last night for giveaways. You've just been entered into the contest for leaving a comment. The more comments you make, the more chances you have of winning. Just keep them relevant to the posts. Thanks.

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  19. Is it Shannon Hale week here for real?

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  20. It sure is, Dasha-girl. If you click on the header where it says Deliciously Clean Reads, you can see all the posts about Shannon Hale and her books this week.

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  21. I love all of Shannon's books. Book of a Thousand Days was very good!

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  22. Great interview! Shannon Hale is so ingenius. I just finished Bk1000 and was hooked. Thanks for posting this!

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  23. I loved Austenland and can't wait to read Book of a Thousand Days. Shannon, thanks for letting us get to know you a little better.

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  24. Great interview, I love it :)

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  25. I just finished listening to the audiobook version of "The Goose Girl." It's marvelous! The narrator is perfect and the character performances are excellent! I highly recommend it to anyone with a long drive or a lot of chores to do. ;)

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  26. Hey thanks for the interview! It's always fun to read Shannon interviews--she's so funny.

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  27. Just finished book of 1000 days too. Loved it - was fun to read about Shannon and her ideas for it.

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  28. I love Shannon's books. I love the lyrical quality of the Bayern books and Princess Academy. Thank you, Shannon!

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  29. Thanks for the interview! Shannon Hale interviews make my day.

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  30. Thanks for the fun interview. So much fun!

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  31. Awesome interview! Shannon really deserves her own week :D

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  32. Thank you so much for posting this! I'm so happy there will be a fourth book! I read all three of the Books of Bayern in less then a week. Sorry for this late comment. I found this post through googling to see if a fourth book will be published! I'm way excited.

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