Bam.
Yes, you wonderful squeaky wheels. You asked for it, you got it! The Forest Born hardcover special edition, featuring gorgeous cover art by Alison Jay. So now those of you collecting the US hardcovers can have a matching set. Yay! I'm so excited about this. This edition will come out in October. The Forest Born paperback will also be released in October with the photograph cover.
Also, for those of you in the area, Stages Theater Company in Hopkins, Minnesota is now playing Princess Academy, the first ever stage adaptation of the book. I wish I could see it! But...twin babies. You know.
P.S. This announcement was not the Super Secret Project. So, so much more to come...
HAPPIEST PERSON EVER!!!!!
Posted by: Enna Isilee | March 10, 2011 at 12:42 PM
That's not Bam! That' Sha-ZAM!!! Oh, you have no idea how deliriously happy this just made me. ^_^
Posted by: Heather Z. | March 10, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Dangit Enna, you beat me to the first comment. >_<
Posted by: Heather Z. | March 10, 2011 at 12:45 PM
I love Alison Jay's artwork. Beautiful!
Posted by: Alyssa Goodnight | March 10, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Awesome! Thanks for the great news!
Posted by: Jena | March 10, 2011 at 12:49 PM
YESS!!! thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!
:D It's beautiful
Posted by: Susanna | March 10, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Heather,
Doesn't really count because my comment was shorter. Let's call it a tie.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | March 10, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Alison Jay is freaking talented.
End transmission.
Posted by: Marcus Aurelius | March 10, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Oh, that's gorgeous! Wow!
Posted by: Melissa | March 10, 2011 at 12:52 PM
So, so, so happy! I can hardly stand it.
Posted by: Audrey | March 10, 2011 at 01:00 PM
I....LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Posted by: Lexi | March 10, 2011 at 01:02 PM
I am so so so so so happy right now.
Posted by: faith/geekspawn | March 10, 2011 at 01:02 PM
I absolutely love the Alison Jay covers. I thought it was a lost cause. I just might have to give away my paperback copies as gifts so that I can own the beautiful hardcovers.
Posted by: JoLee | March 10, 2011 at 01:19 PM
off topic here, but when I click on the books link up top, Calamity Jack isn't shown. Odd. It comes down in the drop down menu, but isn't featured if you just click on Books.
on topic: LOVE!
Posted by: Ruby Diamond | March 10, 2011 at 01:22 PM
love the cover! hoo rah.
Posted by: kt | March 10, 2011 at 01:35 PM
I love it! It's wicked amazing!!
Posted by: abby (your biggest fan) | March 10, 2011 at 01:44 PM
That is so gorgeous, I immediately went to amazon and put all four books in my cart. Why I don't already own them is a mystery to me. Problem: solved.
Posted by: Janelle | March 10, 2011 at 01:53 PM
Send many many thanks to your publisher! I was THRILLED when I saw this! It's beautiful and I'm so happy. I kind of want to pre-order, like, FIVE!
Posted by: Debbie Barr (Celes) | March 10, 2011 at 01:58 PM
:D Yay! You just made my day! Thank you soooooooo much to anyone who helped make this come true! and Alison Jay, your style is breathtaking!
thank you! thank you! thank you!
Posted by: o | March 10, 2011 at 01:58 PM
Looks cool :D. I already have the whole photograph cover set though. I want to know what the Super Secret Project is!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Alexandra Wood | March 10, 2011 at 02:12 PM
Woo hoo!!!!!! Gorgeous!!!!!! I love the rich colors. Just awesome...
Posted by: Karen Adair | March 10, 2011 at 02:18 PM
It's beautiful! I just squealed at my computer screen.
One of my classmates who I recently lent Actor and the Housewife to came in today with a birthday cake for me. I wish I was savvy enough to post a picture, but it did say "Happy Birthday, Liver!" in blue frosting. A Shannon Hale quote on chocolate cake. Heaven.
Posted by: Savannah | March 10, 2011 at 02:20 PM
http://www.amazon.com/Forest-Born-Special-Shannon-Hale/dp/1599906910/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299795646&sr=8-1
Posted by: me | March 10, 2011 at 02:23 PM
Now that makes the set look much better. Thank you to the publishers!
Posted by: Nana | March 10, 2011 at 02:34 PM
Love it!!! :D
Posted by: Chantele | March 10, 2011 at 02:40 PM
OH MY GOODNESS. MUST HAVE BOOK. As soon as I know my address for next year I'm preordering.
Posted by: Q | March 10, 2011 at 02:44 PM
Awesome! I <3ed this series! Forest Born & Enna Burning were my favs!
Posted by: Sublimeromantic.wordpress.com | March 10, 2011 at 02:54 PM
YEAH! So happy! :)
Posted by: Danielle | March 10, 2011 at 03:00 PM
Yay! I have never ever liked photograph covers. Not on any book.
Posted by: Melody | March 10, 2011 at 03:03 PM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) | March 10, 2011 at 03:04 PM
Oh my gosh, that cover is BEAUTIFUL. I'm really tempted to buy another edition of the book...
Posted by: Franki | March 10, 2011 at 03:12 PM
YAY!! Thanks Ms. Hale! And thanks Ms. Jay! This is great!
Posted by: Madeleine | March 10, 2011 at 03:16 PM
SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!
Posted by: Stephanie | March 10, 2011 at 03:27 PM
Eek! So exciting! I love her artwork AND complete sets. =)
Posted by: Kelsey (elizabethbennett) | March 10, 2011 at 03:33 PM
Ah! I live in MN
Posted by: Princess Loucida | March 10, 2011 at 03:36 PM
I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!!!!
It is the prettiest thing I've seen all day, sooooooo beautiful.
Ms. Jay does AMAZING things with covers! And Ms. Hale, you are amazing for writing it! A beautiful combination. Simply beautiful. Today is a memorable day!
Thank you both so much!
Posted by: Kelly C. | March 10, 2011 at 03:39 PM
i literally clapped my hands when i saw this. i have been holding off purchasing forest born because i was hoping an artistic cover (like the one above) would be released so that i could have a matching set with my others. the photograph covers are great and all, but i'm kinda partial to the drawn ones as they are nostalgic for me.
thanks for this exciting news!
Posted by: Anna P | March 10, 2011 at 03:49 PM
BEAUTIFUL!!!
Posted by: Ing | March 10, 2011 at 03:51 PM
Any chance there will be a box set? I didn't buy the others in hardcover bc I couldn't stand them not matching...now I can't find those to buy anywhere.
Posted by: Lindaey | March 10, 2011 at 04:05 PM
so excited!!!! I am so happy that the voice of the people was heard!
Posted by: superCa | March 10, 2011 at 04:37 PM
Wow, I just asked about this earlier today. Talk about fast service. :)
The new cover is fabulous and I'll probably end up buying this even though I already have the original. Well, lunch is overrated. ;P
I was wondering if there's anything else besides the lovely cover and ribbon bookmark that makes this a "Special Edition?" And how did the whole thing come about?
Posted by: steph | March 10, 2011 at 04:48 PM
OMG. you have made my week!!!!!!!! PLEASE WRITE ANOTHER BOOK OF BAYERN!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Estefania Lahera | March 10, 2011 at 04:49 PM
GORGEOUS. I already have Forest Born... that you signed... but I think I might just have to get another one anyway. And you can sign this one, too. :)
Posted by: Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen | March 10, 2011 at 04:57 PM
oh! and also..... the cover art of SO amazing that i set it as my screen saver... (wow, im weird!) THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Posted by: Estefania Lahera | March 10, 2011 at 04:57 PM
I was just talking to someone this weekend about how my books don't match. This is GREAT news.
Posted by: Emily's Reading Room | March 10, 2011 at 04:59 PM
Oh My Gorgeous!!! YAY for Alison Jay!!! And you too Shannon.
Posted by: Chels | March 10, 2011 at 05:11 PM
LOve it, love it, love it! I love that cracked egg shell look.
Posted by: Elinor | March 10, 2011 at 05:25 PM
I keep coming back to your website to look at it, it's that fantastic. :)
Posted by: abby (your biggest fan) | March 10, 2011 at 05:43 PM
To be honest, I like the paperback covers better...but the other covers are nice, too. :)
Posted by: Emma | March 10, 2011 at 05:47 PM
So pretty! Two very different covers but both really cool!
Posted by: Abby Minard | March 10, 2011 at 05:58 PM