Holy cow. Holy holy cow. If there ever was a holy cow, I’m invoking said cow now.
So, at 5-something this morning, the phone rings. I was aware that today was the ALA (American Library Association) Mid-Winter meeting, where they announce the book awards. I knew my agent had left on Friday to go attend. So, phone call at 5 am, and I’m thinking, this is the meanest prank call in the world.
Me: He…hello?
Barbara (I hope I’m getting her name right, I had begun to shake and couldn’t hold the phone straight on my head): Is this Shannon Hale?
Me: Yes? (I was unsure myself)
Barbara: This is Barbara (last name? again, recall the shaking) and the entire Newbery Committee.
Me: (I’m not sure I said words, perhaps some sort of primitive grunt)
Barbara: (I’m paraphrasing, I’m sure she was much more eloquent) We are calling to inform you that princess academy has been selected as a Newbery Honor Book.
Me: Oh! Thank you so much. Uh…grunt, grunt…
Barbara: Are you crying?
Me: Uh, ya, um, I have to admit I’m crying. (I was pretty slobbery, and still with the shaking.)
I could hear now that I was on speaker phone, and the entire Newbery committee really was all there, listening, and they laughed at me, which I was so grateful for.
Barbara: We’re all looking forward to meeting you this summer at the annual meeting.
Me: Oh, do I get to go?
Again, more laughter.
Me: Thank you, I just want to thank you so much.
Barbara: No, we want to thank you for such a wonderful book.
Then they applauded. They clapped for me on the phone, on speaker phone, as I sat in bed in my flannel pajamas at 5-something in the morning. That was perhaps one of the most magical and strange and ethereal moments of my life. Not as glorious and transcendental as when Max was born, but something akin to it.
After the call ended, I lay down in bed, hugged my husband, and sobbed. For like ten minutes. Hard crying, like I haven't done since my sister died, as though my body was saying, "I can't process this, I'm not prepared to handle this." And then I felt like I needed to throw up so I went to the bathroom and dry heaved for a while, then I returned to bed and lay there with Dean until I stopped shaking and could stop saying, “I can’t believe it…” Now we could talk about it at last. Now we could laugh.
Me: I just want to assure you, now that I’m famous and adored, I’m not going to leave you.
Strangely, that idea never seemed to have crossed his mind.
And, later,
Me: Honey, this is crazy.
Dean: Well, you’re crazy, so it fits.
Of course, we couldn’t go back to sleep. We tried for about 10 minutes until it became ridiculous. I got up, said a prayer, checked my email (none), then watched the webcast on ala.org, just to make sure. I was nervous as I listened, half-anticipating that they wouldn’t really give princess academy a Newbery Honor. Then when they actually really did announce princess academy, they cheered for me! As if they’d heard of my book before or of me or something. It’s so weird. I’m just some schmo.
Deb called, my friend and publicity director at Bloomsbury, and we laughed and shook together, and she told me people would be calling me (they haven’t yet. Who will they be? And how will they get my number?).
Deb: Purely from a design standpoint, the silver sticker will look better on the princess academy cover than the gold would have.
Me: Oh, I’m so glad it’s an honor and not the medal. I’m not ready for that kind of pressure.
I need to call my family and friends, as soon as it’s not too early. And I’ll spend the day with Max, of course, reading and eating oatmeal and applesauce and running around the stool. I’m going to go rewrite a scene from rapunzel’s revenge before he wakes up. Keeping my head in the game, that’s what I’m going to do.
CONGRATS! Princess Academy was one of my picks for the 2005 awards! I'm glad the committee knew a great book when they read it!
Posted by: Mary Lee | January 23, 2006 at 07:19 AM
I can't believe it!!!! The Newbery Committee got it right! You really deserve this award. Congratualtions! I'm so excited for you.
Posted by: Stephanie Ford | January 23, 2006 at 07:40 AM
Congratulations!
We watched the webcast this morning, hoping, praying, and then . . . dancing!!
Okay, only I was dancing.
Posted by: Laura | January 23, 2006 at 07:42 AM
So happy for you-- congratulations!
Posted by: susan | January 23, 2006 at 08:00 AM
I KNEW IT!!! CONGRATS!!!!
Posted by: Stephanie | January 23, 2006 at 08:10 AM
de-lurking to say congrats! i've been reading this site for months and months now and you're such a sweet person and *excellent* writer. congrats!
Posted by: andrea | January 23, 2006 at 09:37 AM
Congratulations from the gang at Readerville!
Posted by: Isi | January 23, 2006 at 09:46 AM
Congratulations!!!!! I am not surprised -- it's truly an excellent book!
Posted by: Corrie | January 23, 2006 at 10:24 AM
Yippeee! Not bad for some goat herder from the backwoods. :D
Well done, Shannon. Here's to years more of well deserved accolades!
Show those punks to make fun of *me* reading Princess Academy on the bus! (Hello? Newberry Honor? Illiterate Philistines!)
Word up from your 'Y' chromosome possessing fan-base.
Posted by: Marcus Aurelius | January 23, 2006 at 10:38 AM
Congratulations! I think Princess Academy should have recieved the Medal but I'm glad that you are so happy you go the Honor. Good job and I know there are more to come!
Posted by: Esme | January 23, 2006 at 11:31 AM
Congradulations! I've been lurking here for months since Uncle Orson's reviews prompted me to read your books:) It's nice as an aspiring writer to see that, yes, things can work out in this challenging profession. Happy writing!
Posted by: Cindy | January 23, 2006 at 12:18 PM
That's awesome! Congratulations!
Posted by: Jill-sama | January 23, 2006 at 12:35 PM
CONGRATS!!!! You are such a good writer and a really nice person! You totally deserved it!
On a side note: when i got Enna Burning (at this little book shop about an hour away) i opened the cover and your autograph was/is in there! i was SO excited!
by the way the book store is in WI!
Kate
Posted by: kate | January 23, 2006 at 01:04 PM
wow- Congratualtions!! That's so amazing- not surprising though. It's such a well written book, and I love the characters!
Posted by: Jaclyn | January 23, 2006 at 01:28 PM
Congratulations! I've been waiting for this since The Goose Girl. I hope this starts a trend of shiny stickers on your book covers!
Posted by: Jenn | January 23, 2006 at 01:37 PM
What fantastic news! Congratulations!
Posted by: Kelly | January 23, 2006 at 01:44 PM
Congratulations!! I'm really happy for you, although I can't say that I'm surprised.;-)
Posted by: Julie | January 23, 2006 at 01:53 PM
I'm so happy for you. Congratulations!!!
Posted by: librarian in small utah town | January 23, 2006 at 02:07 PM
Congratulations! I am so excited and happy for you and feel a little teary as well! I have been a huge fan of your books since I read "The Goose Girl"-- I tell everyone I know about it!-- and I'd been hoping and hoping for awards for you. You are an excellent writer and should receive such accolades. This is the first time in my memory that I've loved an author's work and then been around when she's received an award. I'm so thrilled that I bought both "The Goose Girl" on audio for my library and "The Princess Academy" recently. :-) Again, congratulations, Shannon! :-)
Posted by: children's/YA librarian in MA | January 23, 2006 at 02:55 PM
I love all your books and I'm so glad you got honored for your hard work. I, myself, write stories and it is hard work.Oh, and I loved your reflect on the conversation when you found out over the phone...that was funny!!
~Sylvia
Posted by: Sylvia | January 23, 2006 at 02:56 PM
Wow! Congrats! That's so cool. You totally deserve it. I'm so happy for you. :-)
Posted by: Marie | January 23, 2006 at 02:57 PM
Wow! I am so happy for you! I can imagine how happy you are right now! Thank you for writing such a good book!
Posted by: Emily | January 23, 2006 at 03:19 PM
Shannon, You are by far my favorite author. You deserve this wonderful award. I'm sure that the Newbery loved talking to you on the phone because you are so real. You are who you are and that makes you great. You had better use gold colors in your next book so that the gold seal will look good on it!
I want you to know that I am not the only one in Mongolia that loves you books. Many people here are reading the ones I brought from the states. God bless you.
What a great Birthday present this is. Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Bonnie | January 23, 2006 at 03:31 PM
Shannon, You are by far my favorite author. You deserve this wonderful award. I'm sure that the Newbery people loved talking to you on the phone because you are so real. You are who you are and that makes you great. You had better use gold colors in your next book so that the gold seal will look good on it!
I want you to know that I am not the only one in Mongolia that loves you books. Many people here are reading the ones I brought from the states. God bless you.
What a great Birthday present this is. Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Bonnie | January 23, 2006 at 03:33 PM
...And this is your THIRD novel? This is so cool!
And about the design, I don't know. Post up a picture of Princess Academy's cover when it gets the Newberry sticker.
Robin McKinley won a Newberry Honor for the Blue Sword, so that makes it even cooler for you! (She also won the medal for The Hero and the Crown.)
Posted by: Jaya Lakshmi | January 23, 2006 at 03:53 PM
Good work, mate! You really deserve it! Congratulations!
Posted by: Julia | January 23, 2006 at 04:15 PM
Shannon-
I am an ELPer at West, (where you went,) and when they announced that you got an award I shot my hands up in the sky and said "YES!" Then everyone looked at me...
Anyway, I just want to say Congrats! You ROCK! Keep writing!
Your Great Fan,
Heidi
Posted by: heidi | January 23, 2006 at 04:27 PM
Cha cha cha, Shannon. Salutations, you are a marvelous writer indeed and congratulations to ye!
Posted by: EraLeti | January 23, 2006 at 05:07 PM
Congratulations! :-D
Posted by: Hannah | January 23, 2006 at 05:37 PM
Congratulations Shannon! What a tribute to all of your hard work!
Posted by: Sam fr Australia | January 23, 2006 at 08:18 PM
Who would have thought, as we set ourselves to the challenge of writing our first novel in the summer of 1999 that you would be a Newbery Honor winner? I did! I knew it, knew it, knew it! It is killing me not to talk to you or celebrate with you. Stoopid big continent! I hope you are up on every table tonight in your go-go boots, tiara, and feather boa because, honey, you DESERVE IT!!!!
Big hugs!!!
Posted by: Tiffany | January 23, 2006 at 09:30 PM
All I have to say is congrats and I'll give you a YAY!!
Posted by: Demi | January 23, 2006 at 10:36 PM
Way to go, Shannon!!!! Congratulations, dearest!!! You are a gem - a bright, shining gem!!! We are very proud of you and share in your joy!! I cried reading about your crying. You do convey good strong emotion!!! What a gift. Love to you and Dean and Max. What a team of great people you are!!
Posted by: Carol and Brian Moss | January 23, 2006 at 11:10 PM
Wow... I'm not entirly sure what to say! I had a hard time not crying myself when I heard that Princess Academy won the Newberry Honor Award! If there ever was a book that deserved it, this book does!
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 24, 2006 at 05:20 AM
CONGRATS!CONGRATS!CONGRATS! I absolutely LOVED Princess Academy, you so deserve the award!
Posted by: Holly | January 24, 2006 at 02:22 PM
You deserve it. Congrats.
Posted by: Biel | January 24, 2006 at 02:59 PM
Congratulations! And, thank you for sharing your experience with us. You brought tears to my eyes.
Posted by: Kim | January 24, 2006 at 03:10 PM
Wow... that's just- wow!! I'm so happy for you! You deserve it.
Posted by: Anna | January 24, 2006 at 03:18 PM
Congrats--I'm very happy for you.
Posted by: AM | January 24, 2006 at 03:39 PM
oh, wow. Congrats, congrats, congrats. I am so impossibly happy for you --- I most definitely cried myself when I heard. Well done, well deserved.
Posted by: elizabeth | January 24, 2006 at 05:25 PM
Congratulations on the Newberry honor! I look forward, with great delight and eagerness, to reading all of your books.
Thank you for sharing your experience on the Net. And for all the great information on your website as well. Appreciate it.
Posted by: rindawriter | January 25, 2006 at 09:45 AM
Everyone says congratulations, so, just to be refreshing i say....
SUCKS TO BE YOU!
but i don't mean it! you really are such a cool author.
Posted by: Isabelle Missbach | January 25, 2006 at 10:24 AM
This post made me cry!!!
This is the first time I've seen this blog - Was sent to me due to the award thing. Love it!
Posted by: Gina Ritter | January 25, 2006 at 01:54 PM
Woot! Congrats on the award! I sense more shiny stickers in the future!!
Posted by: Mary | January 25, 2006 at 02:19 PM
How FABULOUS!!! So very happy for you, Shannon. I LOVED Princess Academy and I look forward to your future publications. Your talents deserve this recognition! Just HAD to add my congratulations to the rest of the crew here.
Posted by: Mary T Mom of four | January 26, 2006 at 09:03 AM
Hi, this is my first time to your blog. Heard about your good news post from another blog and wanted to stop by and congratulate you!! Loved your account of the phone call and most importantly , I look forward to reading your book!
Posted by: roz | January 27, 2006 at 07:21 AM
aaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiii!
Oh what bliss! what glory! What splendiferous magnificence1 oooh, i'm thrilled! almost as thrilled as i would be if it were i...i gosh, i'm crying, this is wonderful! Fabulous! Stars! Fireworks! Rose petals!
Posted by: lix | January 27, 2006 at 07:20 PM
YAY!!!! Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. If any book deserves the award, Princess Academy does. And I really mean that.
Posted by: Jordan | January 28, 2006 at 08:03 PM
Hey Shannon, that's wonderful news, thanks so much for sharing. How cool. And well deserved, PA is such a delightful read. I totally loved it.
Posted by: Carson McComas | February 02, 2006 at 11:36 PM
That's so cool!! Congratulations on winning the Newbery honor! I can see how you were crying! Great job!!! I'll be sure to read it. :)
Posted by: Anne Marie | February 19, 2006 at 07:54 AM