And now...normal life

Yes, the austenland tour is over. I have one more event this Saturday in Provo, but no more airports or taxis until the book of a thousand days tour starts in October. It was fantastic. So wonderful to meet such fun, intelligent people everywhere, so great to tuck myself into all those wonderful bookstores. Truly the best way to travel is to hop from bookstore to bookstore.

Fun news keeps coming in...austenland mentioned in Newsweek, princess academy paperback on its third week on the NYT bestseller list, 9th (I think) on the Booksense list, Max brilliantly sweet and uber-active despite a fractured foot, Maggie winning all baby contests hands down. And someday here soon, I'm really going to tackle that Bayern 4 first draft. Seriously.

I have my camera at last! Thanks to Nikki for tracking it down. Here are a couple of photos from the King's English party:

My sister and I pose with the guest of honor. Yes, that is Colin Firth there in two-dimensional perfection. My friend Laura Middleton (of limerick fame) made him especially for the party. He now lives in my bedroom. Except when he's staring out the sliding glass door into the backyard. It's pure joy. I've taught Max to say "Hello Mr. Darcy" politely whenever he passes. Max has found nothing odd in this new housemate, has never asked a question about it. Makes me wonder just how normally odd our home is. And doesn't my sister look fantastic? She pulled off the Regency lady much better than I did.

Here's a scene from the karaoke fun. Jessica and Mark headed up the show. The only outfit we could find for Mark was a George Washington gig, but it included the essential breeches and gave him the appearance of a noble Regency servant. Which we then exploited all night. Such a good sport. See another gorgeous Regency lady on the left? She won a costume prize. It was quite a swingin' party, if I do say so.

Comments

[Nancy]

I was sad to miss the King's English party. However, I was not sad to miss dressing up in empire-waist gowns. Who can look good in those, I really want to know? (Looking at the pictures, apparently our fabulous Mrs. Hale.) I did get my copy of austenland and I love, love, love it. It made me think of a BBC show called Regency House Party. Of course, all the women in that show where bored to tears each day because the men got to go off and have adventures during the day and they had to sit and sew. bleh

[Callie the Strongbad Fan]

A great tour it was! Yeah, Mr. Darcy! It's cute how Max says Hello Mr. Darcy. When my younger sister was two years old, she would have also said Hello Mr. Darcy to the cardboard image of him.

[Mads]

Cool pictures! I love the dresses. I think they look very flattering on you, Shannon. Did you make them, or did you buy them? :o) They look handmade.

I, like Nancy, was very uspset to miss the tour. But thanks to LRRH, I got to see some more pictures, and other fun tidbits from the party. Is your B1000 tour up on your wbsite yet? It's a little early, but I don't know... *rushes off to check*

I can't wait for BB4!!!!! :o)

[Anidori-Isilee]

Great pictures, and I'm so glad your found your camera.

*echoes Mads* ;)

[Jenna]

sigh - I love costumes! That looks like so much fun!
...speechless...
Don't I just wish a tour was coming my way.
Yes.
I do.

[Enna Isilee]

I am perfectly happy to have been hit full force by this tour. YAY UTAH!

Shannon, you look a bit shocked in your Darcy picture with your sis. I suppose the awe of having him there was just too much eh?

Well, I am going to continue to take full advantage of you being around so see you on the 7th!

[Jaya Lakshmi]

Austenland was reviewed in my newspaper today. Nothing but praise. Awesome job, Shannon!

[Dante]

Normalcy is defined by the individual. If you feel it's okay to have a Mr. Darcy cutout in your house, go ahead. The effects on your children's upbringing are under your jurisdiction, although Max may be embarassed to have greeted cardboard like a human in a decade or so.

[Kelsey]

So psyched about B1000! And bummed I missed out on the Austenland gig. :(
So, where can I get my own Mr. Darcy? ;)

[Leanna]

I'm excited for B1000 too! Hope that you enjoyed your tour. The Austenland party was so much fun!

[australiangirl]

So Shannon, when are you coming to Australia? I am busting to see you in person and getting to Utah is a little difficult! The Austenland party looks like soooo much fun. And you looked beautiful in your dress. Just divine! (sigh)

[Burning]

Ok, so I had this eloquent comment all typed out and pretty, but the computer (his name is Larry) wouldn't let me post it. Urg, Larry, you annoy me! So, I'm sorry if this post isn't nearly as pretty as the one lost to cyberspace, but blame Larry, not me.

Mostly, I was just wondering if Colin Firth ever replied to your letter. And cut-out Darcy isn't that strange. Umm...your sister is beautiful, Shannon. She belongs in Regency dresses. That's it.

[Bohae]

Normally Odd? I love oxymorons, like "Silent Bohae".

I'm in Mississippi right now (NOT for vacation...), but I live in Illinois at the moment, but I'm moving half-way around the world in a a week or so (I'm NOT kidding. I really am serious). How's that for a tour? I just wish I could travel as a bookstore-hopper.

I'm glad that you found the camera. Oh, woe is me! Me is woe, oh!

And I congradulate Max for his utter politeness toward our Mr. Darcy, if you please.

[Q]

You both look amazing. I'm sure I never could have pulled off empire waisted dresses. I know because I currently own two of them. They're choir uniforms. I like the skirt, but empire waist does not work on me. :P

I hope to see you Saturday!

[Liesolotte]

Your sister looks vaguely familiar. Maybe She just reminds me of the movie's Elizabeth. Wait, no, I know who she looks like. Emma from version of Emma with Kate Beckinsale.

[Burning]

DID COLIN FIRTH EVER ANSWER YOUR LETTER, SHANNON? (Because I, for one, was banking on him using the wet shirt comment. I really, REALLY want to know what he said if he said anything at all.)

[Faith]

shannon, you and Jessica BOTH looked like you were Lizzie and Jane stepped out of the book.

'*mutters and wishes she'd gotten Shannon's camera*

[Enna Isilee]

I believe Shannon said something along the lines of:

"No [he hasn't answered me yet] but I know he will. I mean, how long can he ignore me?"

Did I mis-quote?

[frynza]

NOOOO!!! I could've gone to the Provo one, too! Oh, noOo0oOo0oOo0oOo0o!!

You get your own personal 2D cardboard Mr. Darcy?

*sinks even deeper into depression*

;D

[Burning]

Thank you, Enna-Isilee. Did I ever mention how much I like your name, your bouncy several-post-iness, but most of all your attentiveness to questions? Now I did. Okay...thanks again.

[Enna Isilee]

No problemo mi amor(thank you cuileann). Thank you very much. But, as some of you very well know, there is no hyphen in my name (*sigh* don't ask, it's just this weird fetish of mine. I may be 'bouncy' but I sure ain't sane). I try to be bouncy and answer questions, I will do so now:

Frynza! Fear not! The provo one hasn't happened yet! You can still go!
*struggles to lift you out of depression*

[Enna Isilee]

Oh Burning, you have made me smile. Thank you so much. I must say that you too have delightful comments and I'm typing really strangely. Oh well.

[Burning]

Sorry, Enna Isilee. No hyphen, see? I don't think anyone is very sane. I get annoyed over little things like that. None, of course, come to mind right now.

Hmm...I am out of things to say.

B1000 comes out in September, but does Forest Born have a projected date?

Probably not...I think Rin should be interesting. Any sister of Razo should be.

[Enna Isilee]

Yay! You really should join LRRH Burning. It's fun! And I get annoyed over little things all the time. But generally it's just playful annoyance, not angry or anything.

I don't believe there is a projected date for Forest Born. Shannon talked about it a bit, but I can't remember what she said.

[Burning]

I tried once or twice to join LRRH, but it didn't work. I'll try again though.

Poo. I wanted Forest Born to have a definite date so I could get all excited for it.

[Q]

You two look like you're having a fun conversation!

Is anyone else going to the Provo signing?

Just get excited about Forest Born without a publication date!

[Enna Isilee]

We were, but our conversation has moved to LRRH now.

I am! But I guess you already knew that, you you wouldn't have said anyone *else*

[Becky Levine]

Shannon,

I finally read Austenland. I loved it. You did it--I wondered, had hopes and worries, but it works so beautifully.

TINY review over at my blog--http://beckylevine.livejournal.com

[Q]

The Provo signing was awesome! It was great to meet so many other fans!

[Enna Isilee]

The Provo signing was amazing! So fun, so so so fun. It was great to meet you too Q.

Also Shannon, my friend and I went to the coffee shop in the store and got a steamed milk. It was SOOOO good.

[Enna Isilee]

Shannon! You're in the newspaper again! That was the cutest article! (Deseret News "Life is hectic for a novelist"). And If you'll just wait a few months, I'll be happy to be a hired hand.

;)

[Laura]

"Normal life." Heh. That's a good one, Shannon. It's had me chuckling all week.

[Ruby Diamond]

The signing was great Shannon! Thanks for helping make my birthday fabulous! And...thanks for telling everyone that Mr. Diamond and I hold hands... ;)

[Taiger]

I've read Austenland. I enjoyed it. Thank you for writing it, Shannon. :)

[Burning]

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I HATE WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING? People who ban books! How dare they ban a book? It's evil.

[Myrna]

What are people banning? Banned books are usually a great read.

[Burning]

EVERYTHING! They ban everything! They ban just to get the satisfaction of knowing they control us. Just for the record: they don't.

[Q]

I disagree with banning books because the people who try DO NOT KNOW the needs of every child in the world. Such decisions should be left to PARENTS who know what values they wish to teach their children.

However, I would be nothing short of flattered if I wrote a book that presented ideas controversial enough that people would consider banning it.

[Q]

Oh, and Shannon, you are also mentioned on Stephenie Meyer's website (http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/news.html) and if you haven't seen it yet, you should go check on it. :)

[Jas fr Aus]

I just bought Austenland on amazon.com (because no Australian publishers have bought it - fools!) It's my first amazon buy: yay! I'm so excited for when the package arrives! :)

[Burning]

Amen, Q!

[Enna]

I also would like my own Mr. Darcy-but the one that looked like Matthew MacFayden. I haven't read Austenland yet, Shannon, but I'm sure it'll be fantastic!