Autumn home

My first book, the goose girl, was published seven years ago, fall 2003. That fall I did some local appearances as well as traveled to NYC and Denver to promote the book. Every fall since I've had a book tour and conferences. Autumn is book trip season, so it's quite a change to be at home all autumn this year, holding my two babies and not even writing much at all.

Last year at this time I was promoting forest born. What an interesting journey that book was. I wrote it over a three year period from an idea I'd had years before. It was probably the single most difficult book to write that I've ever done. It's hard to explain why some books are harder to write than others. I don't think anyone could tell from finished product. Some characters are more elusive adn it takes me longer to figure out who they are and why their story matters. By the time I was done with forest born in December 2008, I was so sick of it, so exhausted by it, I couldn't stand the book anymore. I couldn't look at a page without experiencing PTSD. I knew intellectually that I had done right by Rin's story but emotionally I was drained. I didn't think I would ever love that book.

I love that book. THe memory of the labor pains have faded, and now I'm so proud of it. When I think of its characters and scenes, I get a thrill. I hope when I'm 80 I'm still writing books and writing books like that. I love Rin. I love her adventures, I love where she begins and where she arrives. I love the language of the book. Lines will pop into my head occassionally and make me feel warm and content. I'm so grateful I was able to recognize that her story had to be different from Enna's and Isi's. I'm grateful Razo got to play a significant part. I'm happy we got to know Ma and see Isi from Rin's eyes. I loved the journey and Castle Daire and the woods. I'm so lucky I get to do what I love.

People ask authors, what's your favorite book you've read? I can't ever answer that because there are too many. But truthfully, I love my own books. I have to be careful saying that because it sounds so vain. I certainly don't think that I'm the greatest writer ever and that everyone should love my books. But really, if I'm going to be a writer, why wouldn't I write the kinds of books that would be my favorites? The secret, pocketed goal with every book I write is, write a book that you could read dozens of times adn find something new, whose characters could be your best friends, whose worlds make you long to live there--a book that could be your very favorite. People often assume a writer is their main character. I'm not any of mine. But this much is certainly revealing: I want to be best friends with them. I hope they would like me. Like I like that Rinna-girl.

Here's another fan art piece, this one inspired by forest born, done by grey-daydreams.

The artist chose text from the book that was significant for me and has ideas in it that I stole from writings I did 25 years ago. Interesting how no writing is ever wasted. It says:

How did these things happen? How did living become dagger-sharp and dangerous and everything so murky and cold, no way home, no light, just wandering and wandering and being locked up and killing and dying and pain?

The weight of the world hung above her head, threatening to crush her, promising the end of everything.
She wanted to be far away. She could not run, she could not let herself scream, and in desperation she sought out the one thing she could to survive the moment.

She remembered the calm of a tree.

Comments

[Enna Isilee]

:)

you'd better still be writing when you're 80. I say you go for the record.

[Amber Argyle]

Honestly, I usually hate my current WIP the most. After it's born, I forget all about how hard it was to write--that is, until I start the next one.
:)

[Elinor]

I'm glad you're not one of those too-modest people: "Ugh, I'm a terrible writer, but thanks for the compliment..." That kind of thing.
Forest Born may be my favorite Bayern book.
You have definitely succeeded in making characters that readers want to be best friends with! I love Enna and Razo especially.

[Jaclyn Weist]

I think Forest Born is one of my favorite because of her vulnerability. My sister warned me when I read that it was heart-wrenching from the beginning and that I would cry. It didn't help that I was pregnant at the time... I loved it!

You do an amazing job with your writing! Enjoy your autumn at home with your little ones!!

[Chanelle]

I haven't read Forest Born, but I just might, now. ;) And I think it is great that your own books are some of your favorites. I'm similar to you in a way because even though I haven't written a book, my favorite blog to read is my own. LOL Honestly, I love to reread old posts and remember what inspired them and relive the adventures I had. I have been playing around with the idea of writing a book and I know if I did I would be its greatest fan! :)

Good luck to your next adventure and have fun holding those babies! {BTW ~ I loved Princess Academy}

[amelia]

that is beautiful.

[Alexandra Wood]

That was beautiful. I love your books. I've read them all except you adult novels and the graphic novels. They are some of my favorite books. I personally love Dasha and Razo. Enjoy the babies.

[Maria]

Beautiful, beautiful art.

More baby pix, please. ;)

[Ali]

I loved Forest Born. And that art is amazing.

[Abby Minard]

That was beautiful. That really should be the reason everyone writes- because it's a book they would read a million times over. And that's what I'm doing- I am writing exactly what I would have read as a teen (still would read now).

[Dominique]

Forest born was amazing. I really respect Shannon Hale for being able to write quiet, insicure characters like Rin, and I love how she found herself in the end. I especially loved the description, of, how would you put it? getting lost in the trees, I guess. Anyway, it was beautiful :-)

Congrats on your stay at home baby-autumn!

[Laura]

I loved forest born! when is it coming out in paperback?

[Carly]

I think you SHOULD love your own books. Why would you write them otherwise?

And I must say, I LOVE Forest Born. I remember you saying how hard it was to write, and so I was sad when it was over--afraid you might never write another in that series. I loved Rin's story.

And, for the record, I've read that series at least three times (minus Forest Born, which I've sadly only read once since I don't own it... yet). It is one of those sets of books I turn to when I'm feeling at odds or haven't read anything really good in a while. I know I will always be satisfied with the Goose Girl books. So thank you.

[Anna]

I like that you like your books.

[Mae]

Please tell grey-daydreams that I loved her art! I'm not usually moved by art, but trees move me and your text that she chose coupled with her artwork moved me. I'd like to contact her and see if she'll allow me to make a print of it to frame (my dad's a printer so I can make high-quality prints...)

[Lauren G]

I really appreciate that you write the kind of books you would want to read over and over again.

and let me tell you. I have read your books over and over again.

[Ali]

Your books to me are exactly how you descibe them. I love them. They take me to a place I wish could be real. Especially with Goose Girl and Princess Acadamy. :) Thank you for writing good books in the young adult fiction world.

[Shawna JC Tenney]

I really understand what you are saying about how some books are so much harder to write than others- even though I am not a writer. But I am an artist- and it works the same way. Some illustrations just come so quickly- the compositions, the characters just randomly come out in one sketch. While there are others that I struggle and struggle over. I draw one sketch after another. I tweek and revise. But somehow it never seems to work...until one day it finally falls together. And somehow you just know when it is finally starting to work. I'm glad you like your own books. Really you should love your own work! Otherwise, what's the point of investing your whole heart and soul into the thing!

[MelissaPete]

I need to do a Shannon re-read. I haven't done that yet, but I, too, love your stories. If they aren't YOUR favorites, what fun would they have been to write?? The more I read, the harder it is to find a favorite author/story. It's a tough, tough question to answer.

I'm so happy that you get to be home with your babies, and I love hearing how much you are loving them. :D

[nerdyem]

I've been checking Squeetus for days now to see if you've had time to post anything. Thanks for making the time to thrill us, even with those bebinhos taking most of your time to thrill you!

I'm also finding that I write because I have a story within that I want to read--something that hasn't yet been written by anybody else.

Who says all the great ideas have already been taken?

The impetus or spark of an idea for a story may be recycled after millenia of storytelling, but the spin every author puts on her tale can be fresh and unique.

Take your Book of a Thousand Days...A maiden trapped in a tower? Yes, but the maiden is the maid-servant and not the princess. And in an exotic land laden with pungent spices wafting through the mind's air to boot!

As writers, we do have the fun of satisfying our reading demands: write what we want to read!

[Asha]

what's the secret project??! PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE!

[Rachel]

One of the things I love most about all of your books is that they are so re-readable. They're great to listen to on audio, and they're equally great to snuggle up with. They're a good balance between escape fiction and self-improving, thought-provoking literature.

I'm glad you like them so much, because I feel the same way.

[Small Rock]

Forest Born was my favorite book I think because of the huge development and changes that Rin's character went through. It relates to me a lot and in ways that few other stories have.
I think it's great that you love what you wrote! If you can't be passionate about what you've accopmlished, how is anyone else going to love it?

[Je Reve]

I love Forest Born. Anyone who knows me knows that. But I have to say something a little less substantial...

I saw James Dashner in Menlo Park at Kepler's last night (my first author event!!!) and he says hi to you and Dean. He was presenting The Scorch Trials, which are FREAKIN' AWESOME!!! I told him I'd say hi on your blog, and that he was bragging about being your best friend.

[Christen]

If you are still writing books like FB when you are eighty, I will be one very happy sixty four year old. :D

That fanart is fanTASTIC...

[born4books]

Congrats on your books and beautiful babies, Shannon! Hope you have a wonderful autumn!

For those people who have always wanted to write a book, but never managed to do it ... I found something really cool the other day. National Novel Writing Month. http://www.nanowrimo.org/ It's coming up just next week!

[Miriam]

which are you more proud of, Rin or Wren and Dinah?

Has to be asked, though I'm sure I know the answer ;) But Forest Born was definitely worth it- and it was worth my waiting until this summer to finally get my hands on a copy when it appeared across the water.

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

Forest Born really struck home with me. I connected so much to that book, and it completes the Bayern books beautifully.

[cathy]

I enjoyed all of your books, but none of them touched me the way Forest Born did. Maybe I just found it at the right time in my life. I thought it was absolutely beautiful in every way.

[Miranda]

I guess I haven't told you this yet.. I loved all your books (that I've read), but Forest Born truly is my favorite. I love Rin; I love the Fire Sisters- but honestly, it's my favorite because Rin is a little like me, particularly since we're the same age (lol). Her imitation of other people, the thoughts that go through her head, the worries she has about whether her family really knows her and whether she is a real person- that struck chords. Nice ones, too, probably in E-minor.
I'm glad you're doing well, and I hope it continues to be that way. I can't imagine how wonderful it must be to have two newborns! Plus be home during fall for once.. :)

[Michelle V]

Quick questioned do i have to read the bayern in order to get them or do i have to read them in order???

[Michelle V]

i mean or can i read them any way i want to????

[micah]

Shannon Hale, if you read this comment (I hope you will), have you thought about writing a book in Finn's perspective? if so will you? i can not get ENOUGH of your books!!!
:)

[Heidi]

I haven't been on here for a few weeks and I just wanted to say congrats on the babies! They are so so cute! Love the pictures:) And I'm glad you're doing well and no longer pregnant! (Not a fan of being pregnant either but I do so love the babies). I love your books and I love your blog so I'm glad you're still finding time to post.

[Paige]

Shannon, please know that Goose Girl accomplishes exactly what you were hoping for when you write books. I have read Goose Girl 5 times over, and I love it each and every time. I want Isi to be my best friend! I want to adventure with Enna. Geric still gives me butterflies. Thank you for sharing your writing.

[Molly]

You are so amazing! Thank you for sharing that some books are difficult to write. So much so that you don't even LIKE them at some points. That helps so much! Thank you for the gift of your writing, and for sharing your process with all of us.

[Juli]

Forest Born is my personal favourite of yours, though I love them all!

[Barefootsong]

Forest Born isn't my favorite Bayern book, but it is the one I can connect to most. I love Rinna and I love the idea of tree-speaking. If I had a gift, I'm sure that's what mine would be. I love trees and I love "listening" to them. (I am so much of a tree lover that I am photographing and cataloguing trees for the library I work for.)

[Rebecca]

"A book that you could read dozens of times and find something new, whose characters could be your best friends, whose worlds make you long to live there"
Do you know how many times a day I wish I could leave real life and go to Bayern?! It is a place that feels like my home even if I have never been there. Thank you so much for writing your books! Your books are my favorite too! ;) I love the prespective Rinna brought to the world I love so much, and how she saw Isi. Isi is my favorite person ever! Everything you write about Isi makes me want to be her! In some ways Isi and I are the same, except not the wind-speaking or the Prince Geric part (yet!). Lol! Thank you for your amazing writing and characters! It makes my real world a better place! :) Isi has inspired me to be a better person in reality and you, dear Shannon Hale, have inspired me to being a writer and writing my best! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!!

[Rebecca]

Btw, will we ever be able to go back to Kildenree? I'd really like to see what happens to Calib-Locris ;) and the rest of Isi's sisters!

[Jen D.F.]

This post. This entire post is why I love your books. This is also why I want to write things that I would want to read. I have gotten comments along the lines of "why don't you read 'adult' books"....this is why. (not that I don't EVER read 'adult books'....but not so often as I read "J" and "YA" ones!

[gracie]

Isn't it so interesting when your words in a book hang over you, but they also enlighten you? This may seem hard to understand, but it's also very true. Just today I felt the weight of the world, and then my family comes along, and says, "We're in this together!" and helped me carry this heavy, spiritual object. Nothing is so much of a burden but so much of an enlightenment. I feel like I owe my family the whole world, now that they're helping me carry it.

[Rachel]

I LOVED Forest Born SO much! Thank you for sharing your gift for writing with us!

[Paula]

I loved Forest Born. It was a wonderful book. My 13 year old daughter loves the books too. There is so much trashy literature (if you can call it that) for teens. It's so refreshing to have books where the heroes and heroines are real people with unusual gifts. I try to teach my daughter that she has many wonderful gifts that she can share for good. Your books reinforce that idea. Thank you and please keep writing but don't let it get in the way of loving those sweet babies.

[Anna P]

i love forest born. i love it equally as i love goose girl, enna burning and river secrets. i think it completes your series beautifully. rin's character was such a touching character. i loved seeing her grow while i read. i am inspired by ALL your characters. ESPECIALLY isi and enna. those girls rock. i'd want to be friends with them for sure!

i think its important to like what you write. why wouldn't you?

[Windnut]

I love Princess Academy! Oh, how I so wish you could make another one, even though the back pages of that book sort of vow that you never will. But if you ever get the idea that you should, (which you should), PLEASE make another one and tell me immediately! I loved Princess Academy so much and I miss Miri already even though this is the only day I've been without her!

[Youngha Kim]

I Love your Baryen Series! I read the whole series about 3 times! The book has details that embrace me in a way that I feel like I am actually there! Please let me know if you will write another book in that series???!!!! Please!! Also I have to admitt, you are one of my all time favorite authors! I am not really trying to flatter you but I have read a lo of books, and I mean a lot! I can finish a 200 page book in about 2 hours. So if I can have all the time in one day to read I can read 12 200 page books! But still you're my favorite author! Please write more books please! I have read every book you wrote that is age appropriate! I have already emailrd you but you didn't response! Still I want to ask if you will write more for the Baryen Series!!
Your Forever Fan!!

[Dassie]

Forest Born was amazing. When I read that Selia was still alive and was the queen of Kel, I swear I screamed and jumped three feet in the air. That takes talent, and I applaud you for it.

[true religion outlet]

So, watch this clip and pay extra special attention at :14 and 1:10 in. When I was a kid we used to rewind the VHS over and over to watch this greatness. Unlike the rest of the film, it never gets old.