Yesterday I turned in a first draft (really a fourth draft) of my new book for adults to my editor. It's currently titled The Actor and the Housewife and is weighing in at 106,000 words. And I have no idea what genre to call it. I hope she'll know. Then not three hours later I received a UPS delivery of the fourth Bayern book ms with notes and editor letter. So for four hours I was free! Free!...and now back to work.
The new adult book has been fun. The fourth Bayern book has been hard. Really hard. I'm cringing to get back into it. So I'm going to just dip my toes in first, to feel the temperature, then slowly lower in my legs by reading the manuscript in paper form as quickly as a reader might. Take notes. Get the general feel. Then after all that, after I get a really good idea of what I want to do, I'll start the slicing and dicing. It needs much work. I need to be brave to face it. Bring it on, Scary Green Manuscript Monster! I've faced you before, and I'll be victorious again! HA HA HA!
(...yipes!...)
I am so glad you are working on another Bayern book. I have read all of them so far, and I love every one of them!
Today I just finished Book of a Thousand Days, which I couldn't put down, and which I never wanted to end. It was incredible. :) I love the romance put into your stories. They make every girl want to find a guy like Tegus. I am definately going to read it again soon. :)
Thank you for your wonderful stories and words!
Posted by: Lauren | March 26, 2008 at 08:57 PM
"The Actor and the Housewife?" It sounds terribly intriguing (and a little risqué for some reason right now). Is that a tentative title you are working with? Do you plan to have your editor or yourself change it later? 106,000 words is significant, good job. I'm very proud of you. And as far as the "dipping" goes - sometimes that is all you can do. I"m sure once you get in, you'll see that the water is fine. As always, I'm always excited for anything of yours to come out, so news of double works is even more thrilling. Any more news on Rapunzel's Revenge?
Posted by: Heather | March 26, 2008 at 09:08 PM
I can't wait for the fourth Bayern book! And The Actor and the Housewife sounds really intriguing. :)
Posted by: Leanna | March 26, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Yay! Congrats on the first/fourth draft of the new adult book. 106,000 words is ginormous!!!
Posted by: Calliope1of9 | March 26, 2008 at 09:33 PM
You inspire me, and intimidate my writing count. The highest word count I've ever gotten to was 20,325.
Can't wait to read the final score.
Posted by: Taiger | March 26, 2008 at 09:48 PM
What an achievement, Shannon! I am so impressed and equally excited as you! :D)
Posted by: Sylvia | March 27, 2008 at 02:21 AM
Can't wait for the new books! =)
Posted by: Sophie | March 27, 2008 at 03:34 AM
Hope you enjoyed your tiny slice of freedom. :)
As always, looking forward to your books!
Posted by: dragonfly | March 27, 2008 at 06:15 AM
I can't wait to read both! Hurry, hurry! SO excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Chelsea | March 27, 2008 at 09:11 AM
GO SHANNON!
Posted by: Miss Erin | March 27, 2008 at 09:29 AM
I'm so excited for Bayern 4. It seems so long since Razo had his story out... Good luck!
Oh, and CONGRATULATIONS for your win at the WHITNEY AWARDS! B1000 definitely deserved it. It's such a fabulous novel. I could not put it down when I read it, and finished it in record time for me.
My Dad is Coke Newell, who wrote "On the Road to Heaven," which won Best Novel of the Year at WHITNEY. When he told me he met you at the award ceremony on the 22nd, I swear I must've turned green with envy. Thanks so much for the two hugs you gave him to give to me! They were great! (lol =) My parents (Cindy Newell is my mother, I believe she said you joined in a conversation she was having with another author...?) had only good things to say about you, and I hope I can meet you myself someday!
I was going to ask, since B1000 won the award, will all the future printings of the book announce the award on the cover, like in the "Praise for ..." section?
I'm not an adult, but I'm sure The Actor the the Housewife will be great, since I devoured your other adult novel, Austenland (fab, by the way).
=D
Thanks for writing!
Posted by: Jillian Newell | March 27, 2008 at 01:50 PM
woohoo for the fourth bayern book!!!! i wonder who the main character will be!!!! any ideas on when it will come out?!?!?! WOOHOO!!!!
Posted by: taylor Larsen | March 27, 2008 at 03:50 PM
woohoo for the fourth bayern book!!!! i wonder who the main character will be!!!! any ideas on when it will come out?!?!?! WOOHOO!!!!
Posted by: taylor | March 27, 2008 at 03:50 PM
I am so excited for you! I am sure that it is going to turn out wonderfully--it always has before, after all.
Posted by: Q | March 27, 2008 at 03:52 PM
(Rubs hands excitedly). Oooh! Holly simply just can't wait for book 4! Wait... why did I just I refer to myself in third person? I've been writing too much... Anywhoo, that 106,000 words is quite an impressive number. (Looks gloomily at 41,564 words of own story) Ah, well. I'll get there soon enough!
I find it very inspiring that you can write so many books in so little time! I'm sure that I'd move slower than a turtle who just got off of laughing gas at the dentist. But I imagine that when you're a REAL author, it becomes so much easier. Probably because you get used to writing with deadlines, writing as much as possible, ect.
I wish you loads of luck getting all of these books done, even though I'm sure you hardly need it! Maybe just some sleep, if you are infected with the constant racing ideas at night, as I am. (Rubs eyes sleepily).
Love,
Holly
P.S. Is it just me, or do people write very properly in these threads? I felt pressured to read over mine a couple of times and erase all my 'lol's'. I think this is because we're all so anxious to impress the gorgeous writing guru Shannon. TEE HEE. (Notice no 'lol's').
Posted by: Holly | March 27, 2008 at 04:09 PM
I love when you discuss writing. And good luck with all of it.
Posted by: hwalk | March 27, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Good luck with the books! I'm just rereading the Bayern books and remembering why I love them so much. Good luck with the Scary Green Manuscript Monster. and get those toes wet! I'm desperate for another book!
Posted by: Emily | March 27, 2008 at 05:16 PM
I'm looking forward to reading the new adult book, it sounds fab! And good luck with those Bayern revisions.
Posted by: Biel | March 27, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Yay! Both books are eagerly being wished for by yours truly... ;)
Posted by: Bohae | March 27, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Yay for Miss Shannon!!! You are such a miracle! I know that Rin's story has been tricky for you so far, but remember that she is ever so worth it and I am cheering for you every moment! I have yet another question for you by the way...before the Goose Girl got published, did you give yourself deadlines for your writing? :) Thank you so much for plugging bravely away at your writing like you do! You will always be my favorite author! :)
Posted by: Olivia T. | March 28, 2008 at 09:03 AM
I can't wait until both of those books come out! I hope for all our sakes that you don't take too long feeling the temperature! ;)
Posted by: Hoho | March 28, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Good luck, Shannon, and have fun! I'm so curious about both books, and about how you get so much writing done, you madwoman!
Also, I just read your last book and conclude we must be the same age. I remember it all! We even had the same first computer. I was a sophmore in highschool! My first vote was for Clinton, but in high school, pre-voting-age, I actually campaigned for Bush Sr. AGH!
Posted by: Laini | March 28, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Oops. Meant to say I just read you last POST, not BOOK, though I did read that too, a few months ago now, and loved it SO MUCH!
Posted by: Laini | March 28, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Oh, come on, Shannon, you know that inching your way in just prolongs the torture. The only way to do it is dive in all at once. Even better, a cannonball!
Just be sure to avoid belly flops.
Posted by: Laura Z M | March 28, 2008 at 01:52 PM
The Actor and the Housewife? Sounds intriguing. So c'mon, Shannon, give us a little hint--is the actor anything like George Clooney or Johnny Depp? Not that I like those guys or anything. ;-)
Looking forward to Bayern 4!
(Hey Laini--my first vote was for Clinton, too. It was my first year of college.)
Posted by: Calandria | March 28, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Ahhh.. so much reading to do, so little free time. :)
Posted by: Kayla | March 28, 2008 at 03:24 PM
106,000 words?!?!? Wow. That's really long. I'm excited.
And even more excited for Bayern 4, I can't wait to hear more about Isi, Enna, Razo, and everyone. :D
Posted by: Maribeth Kayla | March 28, 2008 at 07:18 PM
Wow. I'm excited for "The Actor and the Housewife." You have to tell us what it's about, Shannon. You simply must!
106,000?
I don't mean to sound, like, cocky or anything but I think I can top that. I really don't mean to sound like I'm sayig I'm better or anything. In fact, my teachers all agree that it's bad that I use so many words.
And sometimes I agree.
But, still...MAN! 106,000 IS a lot.
Posted by: Ellenboro | March 28, 2008 at 09:34 PM
I definitely think it's best to take it a little at a time. Like a hot tub.... it kills you at first because it's so hot, but if you keep going in you think Ahhhhh. That's how it will be for you I think. It's amazing how much you can write. I'm totally stuck in this story I'm writing and don't quite know how to get out of it. I even left it for a while because it was so frustrating. So it's good to know I'm not the only one who dreads doing something that gives her so much pain and pleasure.
Posted by: Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen | March 29, 2008 at 12:57 PM
I just finished reading The Goose Girl and it was incredible! Probably the best fantasy book that I have ever read! Your writing is incredible and keep up the good work :)
Posted by: Rachael Brown | March 29, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Well.... Let me just say, I CANT WAIT FOR BAYERN 4!!!!! My-oh-myy....... " The Actor And The Housewife"...... sound great!!!!! Hmm... By the way Holly, ( if you are reading this) i completely agree with you. At first i type good but after five sentences, I give up. Plus YOU ALWAYS have to throw a few ll's in there to make it " PERFECT". so yeah!!!! BIBI
Posted by: taylor | March 29, 2008 at 03:02 PM
my bad... haha **lol's**
tehe
Posted by: taylor | March 29, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Good luck with the edits! I hope that once you get back into the story you remember what you loved so much about it and are able to enjoy it, despite the pain.
Posted by: Caryn | March 29, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Yay Shannon, you are unbelievable!
Posted by: Asha | March 30, 2008 at 04:08 PM
Make sure you come back alive and that the monster doesn't eat you. Good luck with all of that! :D
Posted by: Christen | March 30, 2008 at 07:04 PM
Watch out evil Manuscript Monster!! Shannon's going to TAKE YOU DOWN with yet another MARVELOUS book!!!!
Be afraid monster... be very afraid...
WAY TO GO, SHANNON!!!! :D
Posted by: Brinnaroo | March 31, 2008 at 01:52 PM
WHOO Bayern numero quatro!!! I can hardy wait!
I've recently re-read B1000, Princess Academy, Goose Girl, and am about four chapters into Enna . . . if only Bayern #4 (Is the title Forest-Born still in the running? It's so pretty!) was waiting for me . . . sigh.
Posted by: Sycamore | March 31, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Incredible. All I can say...I would be running scared.
Posted by: Carlie | March 31, 2008 at 08:11 PM
I'm looking forward to hearing more about your new adult book (I read Austenland a few weeks ago and wrote a review on my blog recently)!
Posted by: Stephanie | April 02, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Oh, is Finn going to be the main character in the 4th Bayern book? He has to be! I mostly love the romance between him and Enna, I really get into books and I want yours to keep coming :] Hurry up with the 4th one! *kisses* bye byez!
Posted by: Dream | December 19, 2008 at 09:24 AM
writing a book is like running a mile, first step are easy but once you dig in hurts!!! but when you finish its the best feeling in the world!! just do your best its the best thing to do!! love you
Posted by: AnnaBxox24 | August 18, 2009 at 01:24 PM
okay the ultimate question...drum roll please.....What Shannon Hale book is the best? bet you cant answer that!
Posted by: readingrunner | August 18, 2009 at 01:26 PM