Blerg. Sinus infection. Can't get myself to do much all week. Feel half buried. A&H release party photos still coming...
So when I spoke at BEA a couple of weeks ago, I was talking about the hope fairy tales inspire, and I showed my long, laminated roll of rejection letters. My publicist Deb was modeling the roll and while she struggled with it, I started talking to fill in time, things I hadn't planned to say. I said something like, "Nine of those rejections are for The Goose Girl, and in fact, some of the editors who rejected Goose Girl might be in this very room." This got a laugh from the audience, so I said, "I want you to know, I'm a very forgiving person," and I blew a kiss. I wouldn't have said that if I'd thought about it in advance, but out it came anyway. Cheeky minx.
Well, I just found out that at least one of the editors who rejected GG was in fact in that room! Ha!
Truthfully, I don't fantasize about stickin'-it-to-'em. I found a publisher eventually who I adore and is my home. The years of rejections were helpful, a way to weed through indifferent or wrong editors for my stories and find the one who would be passionate about what I do. But still...I have to admit, for the sake of my younger forlorn self, that that moment is kinda a little bit cool.
Oh my gosh, that totally sounds like something I would do. Just allow something to accidentally slip out at exactly the wrong time... perfect.
Posted by: Emily B | June 26, 2009 at 01:29 PM
Love it!!! BTW I just read The Actor and the Housewife. I loved, loved, loved it!!! I'm telling everyone to read it!
Posted by: Lisa Hunsaker | June 26, 2009 at 02:25 PM
Hahaha! You crack me up!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 26, 2009 at 02:57 PM
Hahaha! You crack me up!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 26, 2009 at 02:57 PM
I wish I could put my foot in my mouth as gracefully. When I do it it's generally catastrophic, leaving me wondering if it wouldn't be better to just never talk again.
Your comment had just the right amount of humor and bite--I doubt anyone was bothered.
Sorry about the sinus infection. Summer colds are the worst. There's just something wrong about having the sniffles when the sun is shining. Get some rest and feel better! Thanks for the post.
Posted by: Shannon | June 26, 2009 at 03:36 PM
Anyone who rejects your books is an idiot. But, I guess its all part of writing!
By the way, have you ever read Snoopy? I love him! When you wrote about those rejection letters it reminded me of him. He's always sending his stories to editors and getting rejected.
Posted by: Emma H. | June 26, 2009 at 04:11 PM
This is one of the things I love so much about you! Way to show us how long-suffering, perseverance, and stick-to-it-tive-ness is all about. Thanks for sharing such a priceless moment with us!!!!
Posted by: Shannon Morris | June 26, 2009 at 05:09 PM
Man, you totally rock. My socks, my world, books... everything.
I finished A&H today. I started Wednesday night, and didn't put it down, except to take an occasional bathroom and food brake, which were very annoying. Personally, I think the Actor and the Housewife is probably one of the best books by Shannon Hale. Clever dialogue (seriously, I was amazed) and plot. I laughed out loud, cried with affection, and left the book sorry that it was over. But I couldn't put it down. Not once. Even if I wanted to. But I've learned I'm very good at surrender, so I snuggled up in my bed, propped up with pillows, and let the story surround me. It was a treat I intend to renew several times. I know Shannon doesn't like to read reviews, but here is mine. I know in ratings, you can give up to five stars for things like this. I give Shannon twenty. Or more. :)
Posted by: Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen | June 26, 2009 at 07:04 PM
What an awesome moment! I am sure they are all kicking themselves!
Loved A&H!! I swear Becky was me-aside from her being a really good mom, writer and BFF with a movie star..oh and she was much wittier than me, too! But seriously, it rang very true to me! I laughed and cried A LOT!! I think it is now my favorite! Thanks for all your hard work!
Posted by: Mindi | June 26, 2009 at 07:43 PM
I love that you have a laminated roll of your rejection letters. That is so inspiring to me.
Also, I love that you were cheeky and silly. That's part of your charm!
Posted by: L.T. Elliot | June 26, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Hey! Sinus colds unite! I've been fighting it all week.
Those publishers may have lost a golden chance, but I love that you ended up with Bloomsbury, they're my favorite publisher. They just seem to keep publishing my favorites!
Posted by: Enna Isilee | June 27, 2009 at 07:48 AM
Well, I'm grateful for the publisher for getting Austenland and A&H out there. I am halfway through A&H and absolutely love it. I hardly ever laugh out loud (it's one of my bad traits), but I was cracking up by the first 6 pages! Thank you for another fabulous read!
Posted by: Amy W. | June 27, 2009 at 08:11 AM
Hello Shannon dahling! You ARE so sassy, aren't you! I'm sure no offense was taken. And I'm glad to get to share your little laugh. Finished reading your latest last night -- astounding, my dear! You've done it again, only better!
Posted by: Ruby Diamond | June 27, 2009 at 08:52 AM
Classic!
Posted by: Wonderwegian | June 27, 2009 at 09:10 AM
Hahaha I love it! I totally would have done and said something similar. I bet you have giggled a lot since then. lol
Posted by: Carrie L. | June 27, 2009 at 09:36 AM
This made me grin. :D
Posted by: Miss Erin | June 27, 2009 at 11:20 AM
You go girl! I hade to laugh when you said that!
Posted by: Kirstyn | June 27, 2009 at 12:28 PM
That's awesome. Good for you! :D
Posted by: Maribeth | June 27, 2009 at 03:43 PM
Wow, way to go! :D That made me laugh.
I finished The Actor & The Housewife while on vacation--hurray, Tennessee!!--and I was completely blown away. I didn't really understand what people meant when they read it and said "it wasn't what I expected" but now I do. Not because I started reading the book with preconceived notions of what I would get out of it and how the story would change me, but because of your mastery with words and your ability to stir emotions inside people with your fantastic FANTASTIC writing.
When I read your other books, they were something I could escape into but keep my feet firmly planted in my small town on the East Coast and not get totally swept away to Bayern or Mount Eskel or England (or the Wild Wild West :D). I enjoyed them immensely and I was affected by them definitely (The Goose Girl made me reflect on what it was that made me different and unique, Austenland made me question if I was the one holding myself back from having successful relationships, etc.) but I didn't feel like I was living within the book. My experience wasn't vicarious, and while I had some things in common with your awesome characters, it simply was not the same as reading realistic fiction by you from a main character I could relate to.
This book HOOKED me. I could not put it down because from the very beginning, when I first met Becky Jack (it seems like years ago), I was transported. This book took me on a journey--for the eight hours I spent reading this book, Becky and I were connected through the heart. We laughed together, we were hurt together, and we cried together.
A good book is easy to remember, but a great book is impossible to forget. No lie, The Actor and the Housewife might just be the best, most realistic work of fiction I have ever read.
Who am I kidding? Might? It is. :)
Posted by: Christen | June 27, 2009 at 09:21 PM
I have a saying that, it seems, I live my life by. It's even hanging on my wall (my mother gave it to me). "Speak your mind and ride a fast horse." It's kinda fun to live that way now and then!
Posted by: Jill | June 28, 2009 at 07:49 AM
Oh, man. That is totally something I would do. I love you, Shannon. Such a free spirit! ^_^ They had it coming to them. ;)
Posted by: Katie-wa | June 28, 2009 at 02:10 PM
I'm sorry about your sinus infection! Get Well Soon!
Thanks for the fun post, too. I really want to attend BEA in 2010, so this was great.
Posted by: Je Reve (avery) | June 28, 2009 at 02:58 PM
I think it is great that you stuck it to them! way to go!
Posted by: Bonnie | June 28, 2009 at 05:45 PM
ha ha stick-it-to-the-man!!!i should do that sometime you know have fun!but im too self concious (or however you spell that word!) i guess i just have a plain boring life!!!(like its going to change!)ha!
Posted by: Sara Weiss | June 28, 2009 at 05:58 PM
That'd so be me. I'd be like done and walking away going, "Did I just say that? Whoops!" lol :)
Posted by: Chelsea | June 28, 2009 at 06:50 PM
Jill, that is a really great saying! :D
Posted by: Christen | June 28, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Haha! Way to get em' Shannon! I can't wait to read A&H. I don't think it's reached libraries in Houston yet, but from the reviews that people have been posting I'm beginning to think that I should just go out and buy it! Thanks for keeping up with your blog. I wish my blog (though it's pretty random) had this many loyal followers. :) Btw, I noticed that you have a facebook...are you willing to accept friend requests from fans?
Posted by: Laura | June 29, 2009 at 07:39 AM
Whoops. At least it was an entertaining slip-up. :D
I stumbled across your blog recently, and I'm wondering if you have an RSS feed or any way to follow on Livejournal or Google Reader. I'd love to keep up that way, since I'm a soon-to-be-published YA novelist who's still mastering the art of an author's blog.
Thanks,
Karen Kincy
Posted by: Karen Kincy | June 29, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Making jokes like that does good to ease tension and make people laugh. Thats funny that someone was in there that rejected you. BEA sounds like fun :0)
Posted by: julie | June 29, 2009 at 05:45 PM
Are you a 30 Rock/Liz Lemon fan?
Posted by: joe | June 30, 2009 at 09:06 PM
Haha... bet they were sorry about rejecting you :) You really are very forgiving...
Posted by: Miriam | July 01, 2009 at 09:18 AM
It's more than a little bit cool. :) And quite satisfying, I bet. (Like the scene in You've Got Mail when Meg Ryan finally says what she wants to say to Tom Hanks!)
Posted by: Katie | July 02, 2009 at 08:33 AM
Oh my gooseness, that is hilarious. Bloomsbury is my favorite publisher, since they publish nearly all my favorite authors and books :)
Posted by: Danielle | July 07, 2009 at 08:30 PM