No jackwads allowed

My agent, Barry Goldblatt, holds a retreat every year for all his clients. I understand this is unique among agents. Some told him apparently that he would regret it. He never has. Instead of jealousy and fighting and cliques, imagine a room full of supportive creative people, sharing ideas on the craft and the business, cheering for each others successes, laughing and teasing and eating bucketloads of candy. That was my weekend. How did I ever get so fortunate as to not only have my dream job, but be surrounded by kind, passionate, giving authors? The theme from the weekend was:

1. Write a really good book
2. Don't be a jackwad

("Jackwad" is my replacement word for another, slightly harsher, but more descriptive word. They have the same number of letters. You can probably guess...)

I'm involved in the Exquisite Corpse Adventure. Read about the details here, since I should be working on my episode now, not blogging about it. But let me just say that, as a book geek, I've had a few minor heart attacks recently upon opening my email and seeing my inbox full of email from such people as Katherine Paterson, Kate DiCamillo, Daniel Handler, Susan Cooper...(book geek HEAVEN)

I put up a small section for forest born on my site. Not much there now, but I do have the first chapter. Just a month away now!

Comments

[Marcus Aurelius]

Mothwad isn't that bad of a word, really.

And I think I want to go to the Treehouse Museum thing.

[Katie-wa]

Oh, yummy, yummy first chapter!! I loved it, my eyes were GLUED to the computer screen. I forgot to breathe a couple times, too. Why worry about functioning when the words are there? Exquisite language and roiling emotions, all caught up in the words. Me want...

[Amanda Norr]

I am a book geek, too. One day I will be in e-mail heaven.

[Shannon]

Were they mostly young adult and children's authors at the retreat? Because in my-albeit limited-experience with children's writers it's generally a friendly, open, ego-free bunch. Maybe it's because they're all trying to do something more important than making money--getting kids to read. Or maybe you have to be a certain kind of person to write young characters all day. (Or maybe I've only met the nice authors, yourself included). Either way, I applaud you all and hope to someday join your ranks.

Thank you for the first chapter of Forest Born--it was amazing, as expected. How much would we have to bribe you to post another chapter? :-)

[Kathy]

Both of your links (including the one that's supposed to go to the Exquisite Corpse Adventure) go to your Forest Born page. Just FYI.

[Wonderwegian]

I'm green over your e-mail list!

[squeetus]

Kathy - thanks for the head's up. Link is now fixed!

[Rachel]

Oooh, lovely chapter. I have to say that I find Rin's trick of falling into the habits of whoever she happens to be with far more intriguing than the forest-speaking.

[Frogster]

Mmm, I love the first chapter. It's like a good dinner that you have to leave in the middle of--you just can't wait to have more! I'm so glad that this book will be out in less than a month, because I don't think I could wait much longer! Very intriguing, delicious first bite.

[Megan]

I'm so excited for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure!! I read about it on the festival website.

I'm trying to get a few ladies from my book club to do the weekend in D.C. so we can take in the festival. (It's only 6 hours away!) I've talked about you a lot from when I met you in Utah. They're excited about the festival, but a lot of them said they're excited to meet YOU Shannon! :)

[Je Reve]

I love book nerds! Oh, wait... I'm a book nerd. Duh. I'm really jealous of those e-mails. Thanks for the post, Shannon!

[Christen]

This is exciting! :D

I'm starting to get those pre-book-release chills. Woohoo!

[Jena]

Sweetness!

[Chelsea]

That sounds awesome :] I'm already a total book geek (seriously, my sister calls me a book nerd ALL the time) and I love to write (stories, novels, poems) so I hope one day to be in email heaven with you and Amanda Norr up there on the comment list :]

[MamaBug]

Have I mentioned before that you are living my dream, Shannon? Good for you!!

[Ali]

Oh my goodness-I am so excited for Forest Born! I am a book geek too, but one of my friends also is so we talk about books together.

[julie]

Oh yes I'm a book geek to all my friends and to be in the same room with them would be fun. off to check that first chapter.

[Calliope1of9]

Isn't Barry Libba Bray's agent too? Or something else? *racks brain*

[Shayla Smoot]

OMG!!!! I am soooooooo super excited for the new Forest Born! I can't wait!!! And Shannon I read the review thingy about the Bayern Books...What about Finn??? He doesn't get a book???? Come on. Just one more Bayern book with Finn. Just one more...
please!!

[Lily Dideno]

Susan Cooper??? SUSAN COOPER??? Aaahhhhh, the jealousy!

[Libbi]

I have decided, after reading the first chapter of Forest Born, that it is going to be a book I finish in one day. And that it might be your best book yet. And that I might even like it better than Princess Academy. You never cease to wow me, Shannon. Yay!!!!!

[NerdyEm]

KATHERINE PATERSON and SUSAN COOPER!???

That, dear Shannon Hale, is just disgusting! Have your feet touched ground yet?

That those two women consider you on such a level as common acquaintance, or "yeah, Shannon, my respected writing buddy," is just juicy. I am aglow for you.

My secret dream, and it is (insert mental italics here on the word "is") secret, as you don't know me from Eve, is to be considered your own good writing buddy by the time I'm seventy.

Wish me luck, I'm doing my best to make it there with four kids and a paragraph a day!

[Jessica]

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed FOREST BORN. It was one of the best in the series (which are all wonderful) and beautifully written. If you have a chance, here is the link to my review: http://www.chicklitteens.com/2009/08/forest-born-by-shannon-hale.html

[Emma]

Um, first I'm going to say that you are awesome and I adore you.

Then I'm going to say that I can swear like a sailor when I want to, but jackwad is a word that sounds really yucky to me.

Urban Dictionary says that it's a person who is both a Jackass and a Dickwad.

Jackass = an actual old fashioned word for donkey. Ass is in the Bible and stuff.

Dick Wad: um, yeah, ew.

Plus when you put Jack with Wad...you think Jack off...

Perhaps Jackass is the replacement word, and not the other way around.

[Amber (Davis) Johnson]

OK, if I got an email from Kate Dicamillo or Susan Cooper I would probably pee all over my pitiful little folding office chair. In fact, it's a possibility if you respond to my comments as well. . .but don't let that stop you. I can rent a rug doctor. :)

[Megan]

Hey there,
I can't wait to buy Forest-Born! Its unfortunate my library only has Enna Burning and River Secrets, but that's okay. I just wanted to say thank you so much for writing clean books I can enjoy without having to skip pages due to gruesome or "explicit content." It's been refreshing to read your books. :D My best friends and I have been keeping up with your books, and they assure me Forest-Born will not disappoint. I read the first chapter on your website, and I can't wait to see what happens! I have a few guesses about Rin, but my friend tells me there's a plot twist. I'm so excited! Have a Happy New Year, and Happy Writing!