Year at a glance

Here's a brief overview of upcoming events for this year:

March 12-13 -- I'm the guest author at the UVU Forum on Children's Literature in Orem, Utah, for writers, illustrators, librarians, teachers, parents, and anyone interested in children's lit. It's a two day conference and I've been hard at work on my keynote address. It makes me giggle.

June -- the actor and the housewife hits bookstores! I won't be touring for this book (too hard with two kids and two books!) but will do events around Salt Lake City. Check my events page closer to June for details.

September -- forest born releases! Also, look for a boxed set of the first three Books of Bayern and the paperback of book of a thousand days (new cover...I haven't seen it yet). I'll be doing local events in Utah and leg one of a short book tour, most likely to Vermont, Massachusetts, and perhaps elsewhere in that area.

November -- Second leg of the tour, most likely to Virginia and Philadelphia. As always, I'll list all my events on my site as soon as I know them.

And March-July -- I'll keep plugging away at a first draft of a new book. Super secret. I guess. Maybe not. Maybe I've blabbed about it. But I always feel shy talking about a new book this early in drafting. So far, it's totally different than my other stuff. Okay, I'll say this much--it's contemporary time period, technically science fiction, and first person. Possibly a trilogy. Wow, I revealed a lot. Now I'm shy...

Comments

[Q]

We're waiting in anxious anticipation!

[Georgie K. Buttons]

Could you post the times when you'll be around Utah? I'd love to come and see you sometime!

Also, the covers on your books are so cool to look at. Excited for you!

[Lois Moss]

Lots of cool stuff going on for you. My book club is doing Book of a Thousand Days this Friday. It was at my suggestion. I can't wait for our discussion.

[Enna Isilee]

Psh. Shannon Hale? Shy? Inconcievable! ;)

Super-excited to see you and your new books! Go fight win!

[Amanda]

Oh! You've just made my day! (And most probably my year with all these great books to look forward to! I'm so glad your publishers are cool with you not touring so that you can take care of your family.

Good luck on the new book! I'm sure we'll all love it!

[Heather Z.]

Don't be shy! (Not that I think you could be. I'm with Enna on this one).

And science fiction!? You're my hero, all over again. And a trilogy? You've just made my next several years, forget just one year. I'm so glad I live in Utah. I can't wait to see you again. You rock my world.

[anilee]

Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh. Philadelphia?! That is so so so so so completely doable. *screams*

[Liesolotte]

Will your shyness allow you to come to New York? Please?

[Enna-Rin]

I hope you come to Virginia!

[Jer]

Any chance you might consider posting your speech and/or your experiences at the UVU forum in Orem for those of us who would LOVE to be there, but can't make it because we live out of state? I would love it if you did, but no pressure...

I'm also looking forward to your upcoming books!

[Miss Tammy]

Two books? One year? Excellent!

[Donna]

Sweet!! Arizona is soooo close! I just KNOW you want to hop on down for a little visit. ;) Actually, I think it's great that you're balancing work with family. You're my hero in so many ways. And if you don't come down here to AZ, I'll drive up there to you! Going to a reading would so be worth the drive. :)

[L.T. Elliot]

Congrats on the book releases, conference, and new writing surprises. =]

[Stephanie]

I've been waiting for Book of a Thousand Days to come out in paperback and just received an e-mail from Amazon.com that it is ready to order today (and will be shipped in 1 to 3 weeks). Can this be correct?

[Jayluv]

Come on down farther South! Like...I dunno....North Carolina, maybe? :) We LOVE you down here!!

[Melissa]

I cannot wait!!

[Emilie]

I missed you last time you were in Seattle, and I haven't stopped kicking myself. Could you PLEASE come back sometime soon? I would really love it:) And I'm sure I'm not the only one:)

[Megan]

I'd also like you to come to North Carolina, since I'm not in Utah anymore to come to events! Plus, I've gotten my friends hooked on your books (they LOVED Austenland!) and they'd come too! North Carolina is close to Virginia, just add another date for an old fan! :)

[Olivia]

Yes, I second that! Seattle would be good for me too, but Vancouver would be better:)

I was wondering, will Forest Born be released with the new cover style or the old one? Because I would strongly prefer the old type, it would match all my copies of your books.

[Erin]

I wish you'd come to Arizona!!!! No pressure, of course. : P I'm looking forward to Forest Born like a little kid waiting for Christmas. And now you've gotten some mega-intrigue out of me with this sci-fi thing. Can't wait!

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

Shannon, doesn't this make you feel es-special? :) You're wanted all over the country, my friend. Lucky for me, we live in the same city. Don't be surprised if I track you down one time, I've got TONS of phonebooks, and you have to be in ONE of them. :) Okay, the stalker thing is over... I wanted to say I read The Host, the first sci-fi I've liked, and if you're doing one sci-fi... can I say how enthusiastic I am? Oh, the world is lovely.

[Biel]

Now I'm super-excited to learn about this new book. Can't wait to find out more!!!!

[Christen]

Can't wait to hear more about the new book! If I use my previous Shannon books litmus test, I can honestly say that I love it already. :D

[Tasha]

I am so excited - I just worked it out with my school to come to the conference!!! This is the first thing I've been this excited for in a LONG time!

[Miss Erin]

I CANNOT wait.
For everything.

[Frogster]

Yum! A new Bayern book just in time for my birthday!

Can't wait!

[Julianna]

Forest Born is coming out in September! Yay!!!
I am so thrilled it's not even funny.

[Christy]

It sounds to me, after reading the other comments, that you need to do a tour in the South. I'm in Tennessee and that's just a hop over from VA! Everything is closer together in the East, right?? :) I too am so happy to hear that more of your books are coming out soon. I've been sick for the last three months and that seriously cheers me up! That way, even if I continue to be sick, at least I'll have a good book to read! And I can't wait for a Sci-Fi book by Shannon Hale! It will be incredible. Yippee, you're awesome! Oh, and it is inspiring that you put your family ahead of everything else. It shows that you can be successful but still have the right priorities. I love it.

[Avery]

I totally agree with Julianna above.
I. Am. Freaking. Out.

Anyway, the Bay Area of California needs... something. Something like, oh, I don't know, uh, SHANNON HALE! When you came to San Francisco area last july, I almost died because we were on vacation. This made me cry. We live about an hour from SF... :'(

[Kylee Smith]

Looking forward to your new book. I wanted to let you know that we featured your book on our new site that encourages families to read and spend time together. www.onceuponagoodtime.com
I have had a blast reading your blog

[Georgine]

Please think of coming to the Chicago area when you can. You have many fans here too!
Looking forward to everything!

[Tiffany Trent]

You are finally coming to VA now that I've left! *woe*

[Amy]

I'm with Donna and Erin. Arizona, though dry, dusty, and far too ugly and cactusy, is a rather nice place to visit. You'll find the weather a pleasant 120 degrees which so effortlessly sucks all moisture from your skin as you bask in the shade of a saguaro. Come visit us soon!

[Sara Weiss]

yay! new books! cant wait! please come 2 NY!!!!!

[Shannon Morris]

Shannon,
I just read your most recent announcement, the sci-fi tri, and it honestly almost brougth me to tears. Good for You! I thnk it take a huge amount of courage to try something new, (even at the risk of losing fans). You have to stay true to who you are. After all, isn't that what life is all about? It is for me...that's why I did drama in high school, that's why I spent 18 months in Hong Kong speaking the craziest language I've ever tried to speak, that's why I got married and when it failed, I tried again (with a different guy) and it's made all the difference in the world. That's why I went to grad school, even thought undergrad was excruciating, and that is why, now, I try my own hand at writing. Something new...something I just want to experience for me. Not really for anyone else. For me.
Isn't that why you write? For you? I know that it is and that is why again I say GOOD FOR YOU! Can't wait to see what comes out of your brain next.
Truly,
The 'other' Shannon

[Nat]

What is Forest born about?
If I am trying to read the books of bayern, do I read that last?
I love the Books of Bayern!!
they are AMAZING!!
you are such a great writer...
I've read your books:
Goose Girl
Book of a Thousand days,
and I am currently reading Enna burning...
I can't wait to read River secrets...
you're books have so many details...it feels like you're actually there. I ♥ your books!!!