As the only member of the Hale household currently near an internet spigot, Shannon has asked me to post something for her information-hungry blog visitors. I asked her what, exactly, I should post, and she couldn't think of anything. Anything she felt confident I could convey, at least. I don't have a real good handle on why Mr. Darcy is so fascinating or why reading books shouldn't be painful, awkward and boring, so my skillz are limited.
News, though...let's see. Austenland and Princess Academy are both in Hollywood limbo, but it's still Hollywood. Nobody really knows if anything will happen. Shannon's given up worrying about it. We're both itching to see Rapunzel's Revenge bound and in print - it seems like it's been forever. We're still slogging through the sequel, and I think Shannon hopes I will magically produce a perfectly polished act 3 for the thing while I'm home and she's not. We'll see. Without rational oversight, I might actually be able to sneak in that gopher scene that we had to cut from Rapunzel. Here's a clip of dialogue from the first draft of RR that got cut:
It's dark. Jack is asleep, rock as pillow.
Voice: Psst.
Jack: Hmm?
Voice: You awake?
Jack, eyes still closed.
Jack: Er...uh...yeah. Of course.
Voice: Can I have some of those berries?
Jack: We're supposed to save 'em, aren't we?
Rapunzel: Jack! Who are you talking to?
Jack: Whuh?
Wee see a gopher-like face come up close to Jack.
Jack: Yai!
Gopher enters moonlight. Obviously small. You know, gopher-sized.
Todd: Hi. I'm Todd.
Jack: Um...um...um...
Rapunzel sits up.
Rapunzel: I'm Rapunzel. Can we help you, little beastie?
Todd: We were just wondering if we could have some of your berries.
Rapunzel: We?
From the darkness, we start to see little shapes emerge.
Todd: My family.
Todds 1-10: Hi. I'm Todd.
Rapunzel: Well hello there, everyone!
Jack: You're all named...Todd?
Todd: All of us here are, sure.
Jack: Isn't that a little, um, repetitive?
Todd: I don't know. Is it?
Rapunzel: Are you the Devourers?
Todd: The what?
Jack: Have you been taking Jasper's stuff?
Todd: The crazy man? Oh, certainly.
Rapunzel: He isn't happy about it.
Todd: He's not? I thought that was the game. We take his food, he tries to hit us with rocks.
Jack: Did he ever get one of you?
Todd: No, not so much. He's a pretty bad shot.
Rapunzel: Sounds like you won the game then.
So there you go. Shannon will be back late Saturday night, so she'll probably put something "real" up sometime after that.
-Dean
that was very entertaining.
Posted by: hwalk | August 08, 2007 at 12:19 PM
That was great! Thank you so much for keeping us at bay, until Shannon comes back. I didn't know that AL and PA were optioned for Hollywood though. That's cool.
Posted by: Leanna | August 08, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Wow. When I saw that Dean was posting I was expecting something dreadcrumbs-y. This was a nice surprise.
I'm SO excited for RR.
And they cut that scene? I don't see why. It seems really really good to me.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | August 08, 2007 at 12:44 PM
Dean, you did pretty well. Nobody REALLY needs to know why Mr. Darcy is fascinating. That's opinion, not fact.
You don't need movies of any novels, they mess it up and it is always better to have it the way you imagined it in your mind. Watching the film maker's view of it always screws up your vision of it and imagination.
Posted by: Dante | August 08, 2007 at 12:51 PM
I agree Dante. Imagination over television.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | August 08, 2007 at 01:22 PM
I agree. Video killed the radio star. Or killed the novel. Something like that. But you know, a good rendition of a favorite book can often allow for even more enjoyment. Take Pride and Prejudice for example.
Oh, and I can't wait to see RR in print either!
Posted by: Ruby Diamond | August 08, 2007 at 01:55 PM
I stayed up late last night finishing Austenland and really enjoyed it. I laughed and recognized myself and enjoyed the reminders of Austen's novels. It was a fun book to read...but unfortunately deep inside me there is an annoying purist. I just cannot get around my vision of Jane riding sidesaddle wearing a pink morning dress. See what I mean? She is wearing one of those slim little skirts from Jane Austen and has one leg hooked around the pommel of the saddle. Nope. It just doesn't work for me.
Posted by: Elaine | August 08, 2007 at 02:00 PM
Just finished Austenland - scrumptious read. My hubby kept glancing at me and lovingly shaking his head every time I laughed out loud. Charming, fun, satisfying . I feel less alone in the world knowing I am not the only married woman with my treasured DVD copy of Colin, I mean P&P. I knew I was going to like it as soon as I read the dedication. Thanks so much, and sally forth, pip-pip.
Posted by: Lalalaleesa | August 08, 2007 at 02:20 PM
Well, seeing as I don't know the story of RR, I couldn't see how the segment fit in, but I'm sure it will find a place.
Posted by: Q | August 08, 2007 at 04:35 PM
Why thank you, Dean, for that lovely, entertaining little snippet. Agreed with Q, no idea where it might fit in, but still. Made me laugh. Also makes me with I could read the book!!!
Actually this post wasn't that bad, I had no idea about the movie thing - as long as they don't mess anything up, we'll let them live...
In other words, I can't WAIT to read RR, and thank you for "keeping us at bay".
Posted by: Gretta | August 08, 2007 at 06:22 PM
Thanks for all that Dean! Cool, after I read Austenland I thought it would make an excellent movie. I'd love to see any of Shannon's books as films. Rapunzel's revenge looks like a great book. Good work Shannon and Dean!
Posted by: Callie | August 08, 2007 at 06:45 PM
Also, I saw Nanny McPhee the other day, which had Colin Firth and a child actress named (like, her real name) Eliza Bennett. It made me laugh. I don't know whether it's a stage name or her real name, but either way the connection is perfect.
Posted by: Q | August 08, 2007 at 07:58 PM
It is a funny scene, but it does not necessarily "need" to find a place in the book. You can't put in random junk because it sounds cool. This detracts from the story itself and is destructive to the overall effect of the novel. The only exception to this is Douglas Adams, but that is only because being random and parodic was the story and is part of why the HITCHIKER'S GUIDE is special
Posted by: Dante | August 08, 2007 at 08:34 PM
I loved how Colin Firth and Emma Thompson were in a movie together. Elinor and Mr. Darcy!
there's an eliza bennet playing Meggie in Inkheart!
I'll not be surprised when shannon gets back and tells us neither PA or AL are optioned for hollywood. For one thing, I'd go into mourning. For another... even AL has onyl been out for what, four months?
Posted by: Faith in skepticism | August 08, 2007 at 09:34 PM
Interestingly, as I read AL (on the plane, laughing aloud frequently, my husband wanting to know what was so funny), I thought, this would make an entertaining movie. It would be great if PA or AL were made into movies, but if they were, I would hope that Hollywood would make them right. I just recently tried to watch Eragon and couldn't make it through it because it was so disappointing compared to the book. Another one that was a disappointment was Ella Enchanted. In fact, I don't know if I'd want to go see PA as a movie. I would want to preserve all the imaginings I've done in my head after reading it 3 or 4 times. So I hope that if Hollywood decides to make the books into movies (they are both good movie material in my opinion) they better do them right!
Posted by: thegirlwhopaintedtrees | August 09, 2007 at 04:42 AM
Thanks for posting! This was amusing :)
Posted by: Biel | August 09, 2007 at 02:40 PM
My initial reaction upon reading the first paragraph: Oh, dear.
Then my thoughts after I finished reading the post were: Huh. That was kinda fun. I hope we get to see more of Jasper the crazy man/bad shot in RR.
Posted by: Gretchen | August 09, 2007 at 03:58 PM
Ha! I smiled the whole way through. I think it's good that Shannon is "sharing" her blog with her husband. Maybe next time, one of the kids could post something...:)
Posted by: Bohae | August 10, 2007 at 04:57 PM
You know, I'm still waiting for Maggie to write a bio...
Posted by: Q | August 10, 2007 at 07:35 PM
Nice blog, Dean. Shannon must be proud. Hollywood limbo is better than no limbo at all. I can't wait for Rapunzel's Revenge either. :)
Posted by: Calliope1of9 | August 10, 2007 at 10:19 PM
Well you know there was Maggie's lovely poem about toes.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | August 11, 2007 at 08:32 AM
Oh, Dean, thank you so much for posting on Shannon's blog. I very much enjoyed that tidbit, so I believe that a thank you is in order. I found it to be quite entertaining. :o)
Posted by: Susan | August 11, 2007 at 08:53 AM
It was indeed wonderful, but not quite the same...
Posted by: Q | August 11, 2007 at 11:10 AM
Good job Dean. That wasn't bad at all.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE!!! And I agree. Adding a scene such as that, you know, funny or whatever, but not necessary, does take away from the overall effect of the novel.
I'm so happy that PA and AL are in Hollywood limbo but watching a movie version of a book does ruin your own personal vision of it. If any of them are made movies I do hope they do them right. Ella Enchanted was a HUGE dissapointment. Still, I liked it.
Posted by: Ellenboro | August 11, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Ella Enchated was good almost because it was so unlike the novel you could look at it as a completely different thing.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | August 11, 2007 at 05:37 PM
I could not let go of the book. I loathed that movie.
Posted by: Q | August 11, 2007 at 08:08 PM
I am hoping that this is read directly by Shannon, or that her husband may convey this message to her.
This is the first book I have read that was written by Shannon. My mother came across it while at a local library.
I have to tell you, this book is the modernized reflection of Jane Austen. While your material was inspired by her novels, I am so astonished and relieved that I am not the only woman who fantasizes about that period in time. While Mr. Darcy conveys the epitamy of what you might want in a man, I believe the more Modern Mr. Nobley, is more similar to (I am not good with names) the man who plays Emma Thompsons sisters love interest in the end in Sence and Sensibility. The man that reads to her. They have more in common in Character. I think it's the whole idea we have fallen in love with, that there can still be restriction in life, while following a certain set of rules, and know we will end up with a husband and children after all. If that is indeed what you are looking for.
Fantasy is such a wonderful part of life. But this book I think is a little closer to reality than I think some of us would admit.
I really did enjoy this book, vey humorous.
I would have this, the one that should meet Hollywood head on.
Thank you for your skill and imagination;
Posted by: Sarah Darling | August 12, 2007 at 12:15 PM
Yes, Shannon reads the posts, and occasionally responds to them. You can also send her an email, but last I heard her inbox was swamped.
Oh, you mean Colonel what's-his-name? Alan Rickman? I love him too. He's such a great guy.
Posted by: Q | August 12, 2007 at 02:34 PM
It's true. Austenland is closer to reality than we would ever admit. In real life as you grow up there's always someone that tells you that you have to "grow up." Meaning to let go of foolish dreams and such. Yet, although foolish, a dream is a dream and they're important. To let go, as many do, is not, I think to grow up, it's to forget what it's truly like to be innocent. One has to accept reality and "grow up" but trying to not let go of those dreams. If you keep at least one of those dreams you'll be well off. You can't fall in love with a book character but to always remember what it was like to feel that way is still being innocent.
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