Rin's letter

My publisher requested I write a letter to my readers, to put in the ARCs of forest born. Here it is.

 Dear Reader,
I am both delighted and surprised to offer you another Bayern book. I wrote The Goose Girl as a complete story to itself and didn’t plan on a sequel. Except…
    Enna. She was such a vital, interesting, talk-to-me-non-stop character that I just had to give her a book of her own. Enna Burning challenged me and changed me, and this time I knew I would not write another Bayern book. Except…
    Razo. He popped up in Goose Girl as an unexpected but fully formed minor character. He wasn’t a part of my Enna Burning outline but ended up with a major role. Now he was filling my vulnerable little brain with ideas for his own story, which was hard to resist because he was a delightful character to channel. Okay, fine, Razo always gets his way. But River Secrets was absolutely the last book in this series. Except...
    The history of Bayern kept on stitching together in my mind. There was still growing to be done, dangers lurking, powers untested. My three girls--Isi, Enna, and Dasha--were poised for an adventure, and Razo’s little sister Rin was becoming a character of profound consequences. Okay, one more book, but sorry, Razo, your part is very minor. (Or so I thought. He is persistent!) So here is Forest Born, the final addition to this series. No really, it is. Seriously. I’m serious this time. I swear. (Leave me alone, Razo…)
    Keen gratitude for the readers who have embraced these books. Your love and enthusiasm for these characters enabled me to tell four books-worth of their stories. Thank you.
    xoxo, Shannon Hale

Comments

[Enna Isilee]

Uh. It'd better not be the last one. I could live in Bayern for the rest of my reading days. *happy sigh*

[Katie-wa]

Yeah, them medieval (or whatever) characters need to make way for your sci-fi ones, now. Times are changing buds, sorry. ;) Not that we don't love the Bayern gang, cause we do. It's just good to freshen things up and get into new fads; it makes falling back onto the previous stories such a joy.

Much luck! I'll be there to buy it fo' sho'! ^_^

[Danielle]

I have to say I've been reading Forest Born at a snail crawl pace because of that letter! I'm slightly terrified that this could very well be the last Book of Bayern, so I've been trying to relish this novel as much as possible. I am absolutely adoring it thus far :)

[Karen]

Okay...I can totally see another Bayern book after this. I mean no offense to the girls, but where are the guys with all the powers of speech? Don't get me wrong. I LOVE how wonderfully charismatic and charming, and handsome they are portrayed...but if you're ever in the mood to try just ONE more Bayern book (evil chuckle)...then let's hear it for the boys. :)

[Annie]

I'm so glad you've done a few Bayern novels. Although 'The Goose Girl' does feel complete, getting to see more of this world and these characters has been fantastic. I can't wait to read Forest Born!

[Rachel]

:-(

but

:-)

That pretty much sums it up.

[SpeedReader]

This is great! I am so looking forward to this book, these stories have been fantastic!

Here's to hoping that more "minor" characters won't leave you alone until their stories are told! Sorry, I know it's a "punishment" for you, but I just love your stories too much to hope that the characters will leave you alone. hehehe

[Madison]

I'm okay with FB being the last BoB. Every good thing has to come to an end, and for me, it would probably be weird for the old cast to gradually disappear and give way to a new generation. The only thing that does bother me is that if FB is the last one, it will be the only hardcover that doesn't match. ;-)

[Elizabeth]

When is the release date? I can't wait to get my hands on it. And how does one get to be an ARC person?

[Chelsey]

I'm sad to think FB will be the last Bayern book. But maybe the characters won't leave you alone, and you'll just HAVE to write another one. :) I can't wait to read it! I'm so excited!!

[Chelsea]

Looking forward to your new books...but I still want another Bayern book! I wish I could live in Bayern...(btw Razo is the best character ever. He' like one of my favorites from all the books I've ever read).

[Brianne]

What if we WANT you to write more!? haha I love your books and i just dont want them to end!!! haha love you!
♥Brianne Kirkby

[Laura]

I've spent so many happy hours in Bayern. I will be thrilled to have another portal!

[Kiera]

*tear, tear* Bayern was THE most wonderful place I've ever been to. So sad that's it's going soon... But, we don't know what the other books you're writing is like...
And you're still writing. Our good 'ol Miss Hale will still keep giving us books to eat, thank goodness!
~Kiera

[angela]

I (heart) this series of books. Thank you for writing them for us or rather me.

[Amanda]

I am so excited to read it!

[L.T. Elliot]

I'm looking forward to reading it!

[Amanda Lane]

you cant stop bayern until you give us finn's story!!! pleeeeeeeeeease?????????????

[Danyelle]

I can't wait to read this!

[Avery and the delicious Posie Nubbins]

Thanks!

(But, how could you abandon poor Tusken like that? And what about Kildenree? {Which I am sure has a role in FB} And what about the, umm, other Bayern-y stuff?)

[Rinna-Girl]

*Sigh* I'm so excited. And you absolutely can't stop writing Bayern Books after FB!A story about Dasha would be interesting. . .

[Sunstone]

Forest Born! Forest Born! I must get a copy before I become rabid (jk)

UMMM......... Hello? What about Finn's story? You must, and I mean MUST, give him a story. It's absolutaly necessary.

PS: please?

[Maribeth]

I am so amazingly excited. It's sure to be completely and utterly awesome. :)

[Cristina]

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! *ME SOBBING*

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! YOU HAVE TO WRITE THE BAYREN BOOKS UNTIL THERE'S AT LEAST TEN TRILLION OF THEM!

You just ruined my day!

[Calliope1of9]

What a sweet letter. I wish Finn would pester you a bit. ;)

[Calliope1of9]

P.S. Woah- just clicked on the cover and noticed Stephenie Meyer's blurb. Very nice!

[Mindy]

yay! forest born!!! though, i think one or two more books aboiut bayern would be nice... you need to fill in the places on your map, like Kell... does anyone interesting live there?

I hope my love Razo pesters you somemore so that you'll do another book... ♥

[Erin]

So excited for Forest Born! Hopefully there will be another Bayern book (Finn? Please? : ) ) It's good that Razo lets you work on other books, though. I'm looking forward to your sci-fi books almost as much as Forest Born!

[Annie]

thanks fir everything, Shannon. I love these Bayern books do, do much. So if anyone else pops up, I'll always be happy.

I just love them so so much...

: )

[Nicole]

Ack!! SO excited for this!! (and really all your upcoming stuff!!) Thanks for being true to yourself. I loved being constantly surprised by and authors versatility! :)

[Hillary]

I hate finishing a book (or series) and realizing my adventure therein is over and I have to come to grips with reality once again. AND your books are twice as bad as the rest! You're my hero.

I'm more excited for this book than I am for my birthday in September!

[Ali]

I am so glad you did keep writing the Bayern series! They are my favorite books.

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

Yippee! I love that the characters talk to you, and give you ideas, and want their own stories told. To me, it means that they are real, telling the story all on their own... although you do all the work. :) I'm so excited for FB!

[Emma H.]

I remember reading The Goose Girl for the first time. It's the kind of book you set down and your thoughts just sort of swirl back to, makes you marvel and wonder. There's nothing else I'd rather read- they are amazing.

[Asha]

i love that letter and I CAN"T WAIT FOR FOREST BORN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(keep going , Razo...C;)

[Christen]

Hee hee... I can see why writing those books would be 'necessary.' Anything to make Razo be quiet! :D

[Hannah]

I wouldn't mind if you wrote 10 more books merely about Bayern. Of course, I do see how easy it can be to exhaust a topic until it's been rendered unwriteable, but I would absolutly love it if you worte another novel similar to the books of Bayern or Book of a Thousand days. I really can't wait for Forest Born.

[Rachel Danielle]

Razo, I agree with Asha. KEEP GOING!

[shannon hale fanatic (aka RLJ)]

Write more! I love Bayern! I just finished reading Enna Burning and I'm about to read River secrets. I've also read Princess Academy and Goose Girl. I am totally in love with your books and every book report I do is on your books! I am obsessed!!!!!!!!!

[Clairictures]

I'm so excited for Forest Born! Your books are great, some of my absolute favorites. I'm glad Razo is so persistent because he's got a whole lot of character that deserves the spotlight.
Thank you for sharing the world of Bayern with us!

[Rhinoa]

I love this series and can't wait to get hold of this. Razo won a place in my heart early on as well and I am glad he has stuck around.

[Elizabeth Kula]

oh I'm sooo(!!!) excited!! I started reading your book Princess Academy for school and now I LOVE your books!!!

P.S. Pleeeaaassee read this ! + maybe write back?

:-)

[Maya]

You absolutely CANNOT stop there. We need to hear Finn. *prays that Shannon starts hearing Finn's voice in her head*

[LaurenDaisy]

are you sure thats the last one???? Finn's gotta have a story! Razo should pester you about Finn! And are Enna and Isi in Forest Born? Sheesh, and to think I had the whole series...

[LaurenDaisy]

HEY, who said FB was already OUT!?*faints*

[quinn]

you should really write a book about Conrad or Finn because I'm DYING for another Bayern book!!!!!!! I've re-read all of them several times and I can't help but wonder abut Conrad or Finn!!!!

[quinn]

P.S. I've read all of your other books too!!! Is Forest Born out yet?

[LaurenDaisy]

idk if fb is out. I checked on amazon.com and it had a pre order.It said it was coming out in september of THIS YEAR!!!!! :(

[LaurenDaisy]

im readin river secrets and ennas all weird. Razos a tree rat... lol

[LaurenDaisy]

I dont want to stop reading your books shannon!!!!!!!! I want to be showered with bayer books!(although it might hurt)