The press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMSBURY CHILDREN’S BOOKS TO PUBLISH THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED SEQUEL TO THE NEWBERY HONOR WINNER AND BESTSELLING NOVEL PRINCESS ACADEMY
To be published August 2012
“Shannon Hale’s books blow me away. When I read them I get lost in the magic—her stories are magic.”
—Stephenie Meyer
Ever since the publication of Princess Academy in 2005, fans and booksellers have been clamoring for a sequel. Now, Bloomsbury is delighted to announce the Fall 2012 publication of the as-yet-untitled second Princess Academy book.
The new novel picks up where the 2006 Newbery Honor winner Princess Academy left off. Miri and a few of the academy girls travel to the capital city of Asland to help the princess-to-be. But while continuing her studies, Miri befriends some other students who seek to overthrow the crown. Torn between her friendship with the princess and her belief in her new friends’ daring ideas, as well as an old love and a new crush, Miri struggles to find her place in the larger world.
“We are thrilled to bring Shannon Hale’s fans this all-new story about Miri the mountain girl, her royal friends, and her dangerous new acquaintances,” says Victoria Wells Arms, Editor-at-Large at Bloomsbury, who has acquired all of Hale’s books, including Princess Academy and her 2003 debut The Goose Girl. “Shannon proves once more her talents for setting readers directly into a unique fairy-tale world, where a touch of lyrical magic and a hint of humor always shine through.”
Melanie Cecka, Children’s Publishing Director of Bloomsbury in the US, agrees: “Shannon Hale is that rare author whose books read like timeless classics but are always fresh and unique. She has been a part of our children’s books family from the very beginning, and we are especially proud to be publishing this sequel to one of her best-loved novels as we mark our ten-year anniversary in the US.”
Hale is just as pleased about the upcoming release of Princess Academy 2. “Initially I intended to write a sequel to Princess Academy,” she says. “But after a time, the reasons not to outweighed the urgency of the story in my mind. I had decided I never would when I got an idea—a new, shiny, irresistible idea, one that wouldn’t leave me be. I let it gestate for a year, two years, until I couldn’t bear to put it off any longer. It has been a pleasure to return to Miri’s story.”
Princess Academy 2 is Bloomsbury’s lead title for Fall 2012, which marks the ten-year anniversary for Bloomsbury Children’s Books in the US, and will be supported with an extensive marketing campaign including a multi-city tour, appearances at BEA, and national advertising. Bloomsbury holds World rights and will publish this simultaneously in the US, UK, and Australia. Film rights are held by agent Barry Goldblatt.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Since the publication of her first book, The Goose Girl, in 2003, Shannon Hale has become a beloved author to young readers as well as booksellers and educators. Her third novel, Princess Academy, earned her a Newbery Honor and is a New York Times, Book Sense, and Publishers Weekly bestseller. Hale has also written three books for adults—Austenland (now in post-production to be a major motion picture starring Keri Russell), Midnight in Austenland, and The Actor and the Housewife. She lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband, the author Dean Hale, and their four children.
For further information/interview requests, please contact:
Katy Hershberger, Publicity Manager, Tel: 646-438-6070, email: katy.hershberger@bloomsbury.com
You're not also secretly developing the formula for world peace are you?
Awesome news.
Posted by: jenelcc | October 11, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Yay!! You have officially made my daughter's day! I can't wait to tell her.
Posted by: Nicolekrell_ | October 11, 2011 at 12:03 PM
YES!!!!! Thank you, Shannon! You're amazing! This made my day :)
Posted by: Liz | October 11, 2011 at 12:03 PM
I'm so excited! I love Miri and her story and I'm thrilled to read the sequal. You are such a good secret keeper. You must drive your family mad with the secrets at Christmas.
Posted by: Heather Muir | October 11, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Jaw on floor. Speechless. For rizzle.
Hopefully I'll have less of a psychotic dilemma with this book. ;)
Posted by: Enna Isilee | October 11, 2011 at 12:06 PM
SO excited for this!!! I think Shannon does sequels so well, and I'm thrilled for this one. Is it August yet?
Posted by: Annie | October 11, 2011 at 12:06 PM
YES!!! I am so excited! :D
Posted by: Christen | October 11, 2011 at 12:06 PM
Wow. You are just full of surprises! 2012 is going to be a big year for year. I hope you will tour the east coast some so maybe I can get a chance to meet you. Congrats on the new book!
Posted by: Lessie Bernshouse | October 11, 2011 at 12:08 PM
OOOHHH MYY GOOOD GOLLLYYYY GOOODDDNNNESSSSS!!!! This is better than..... I don't know, something super super awesome! This is super super super super awesome!!! I literally just squeed out loud. And got a very strange look from my mother ;)
Posted by: Libbi | October 11, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Oh. My. God. NO WAY!!!!!! My day just improved 100% (and it already rocked)!
Posted by: Shelby | October 11, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Wow. I'm amazed! Shannon, I know that I can trust you to create great, original, unique stories and I'm positive that you made the second Princess Academy great. I can't wait to read it next year.
Posted by: Callie the Strongbad Fan | October 11, 2011 at 12:12 PM
My heart just about jumped out of my chest when I saw the title of this blog post. And again when I read the content. I'm so excited!!
Posted by: TwigSnapper | October 11, 2011 at 12:13 PM
This is awesome news! I can't wait!
Posted by: BeckyB | October 11, 2011 at 12:22 PM
Oh how awesome! How do you have time for it all? Don't know how you do, but I'm glad you do!
Posted by: Stacey (AKA Aubrey) | October 11, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Yay!!!! I'm SO excited!!!!!
Posted by: Amy | October 11, 2011 at 12:26 PM
YAY!! I will be waiting with bated breath for that moment!!
Posted by: Bonnie Childress | October 11, 2011 at 12:37 PM
I'm listening to "Princess Academy" right now for the second time and I love it more than the first time! Congrats! I'm so excited to read the sequel.
Posted by: Hannah Clark | October 11, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Congrats!! That's fun to finally let the word out.
Posted by: Annalisa | October 11, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Land's sakes, you're a busy woman! I'm so excited!
Posted by: Janelle | October 11, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Yay! Yay! Yay!
Posted by: deb | October 11, 2011 at 01:00 PM
Yay! Congrats!
Posted by: Amber Argyle | October 11, 2011 at 01:02 PM
EEEEEEEEEE!!! I'm excited.
Posted by: Meredith | October 11, 2011 at 01:08 PM
O_O YES!!!!!!
*runs to go grab her copy of Princess Academy*
Posted by: Anna, ze #1 fan | October 11, 2011 at 01:28 PM
AAAAAAAAH!!! Can't wait
Posted by: Hannah | October 11, 2011 at 01:31 PM
YAY YAY SHANNON CONGRATS YAY!!!!
Posted by: Miss Erin | October 11, 2011 at 01:37 PM
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Cheryl | October 11, 2011 at 01:48 PM
Love it!
Posted by: Christina | October 11, 2011 at 02:04 PM
So so SO excited about this! You've just made my day. Bless your heart. :)
Posted by: Katie | October 11, 2011 at 02:10 PM
Hooray! I love Miri.
Posted by: melissa @ 1lbr | October 11, 2011 at 02:22 PM
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Posted by: MelissaPete | October 11, 2011 at 02:25 PM
This just made my entire week, possibly month.....possibly year.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SO EXCITED! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Posted by: camile | October 11, 2011 at 02:34 PM
Oooooooooooh! Great news!
Posted by: Laura | October 11, 2011 at 02:40 PM
I just got the shivers all over reading this!
Posted by: Annie Oldham | October 11, 2011 at 02:55 PM
I actually squealed out loud when I read this! Now I have an excuse to read Princess Academy for the 10,000th time now to get ready! Oh yay! You completely made my day!
Posted by: Grace | October 11, 2011 at 02:58 PM
WOO-HOO!!! It's going to be GREAT!!
Posted by: Emily | October 11, 2011 at 02:59 PM
How exciting to be the lead book in the Fall lineup from Bloomsberry. Congrats!
Posted by: Lalani | October 11, 2011 at 03:01 PM
:D :D This is amazing news!! Princess Academy was always my favorite Shannon Hale book and now there's gonna be a sequel! This just made my life!
Posted by: Amber J. | October 11, 2011 at 03:13 PM
YES! YES! YES!!!!!
Posted by: Katie | October 11, 2011 at 03:14 PM
Oh my goodness that is so exciting! I can't wait to read it!
Posted by: Alison | October 11, 2011 at 03:37 PM
AH! I love you! ;) Can't wait, Mrs. Hale! This will be awesome.
Posted by: Miranda | October 11, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Awesome! So excited. And I just reread it too! :)
Posted by: Holly | October 11, 2011 at 04:13 PM
I can't wait! I will be seventeen when it comes out, which regardless of that thought being scary, is kind of nostalgic considering I'll be able to return to the world of 'Princess Academy' which I first found when I was ten...I feel like crying I'm so happy.
As a very excited fan, I'll end by saying that I hope my copy of 'Princess Academy' doesn't fall apart before its sequel comes out.
'insert small squeals when needed'
:D
Posted by: Alexandra | October 11, 2011 at 04:20 PM
Excellent! Keep them coming!
Posted by: Sarah | October 11, 2011 at 04:21 PM
So much grinning.
Posted by: Q | October 11, 2011 at 04:33 PM
Midnight in Austenland AND Princess Academy sequel ALL in 2012!? Christmas has come early!
Posted by: Liz | October 11, 2011 at 04:37 PM
OH SNAP! Thanks for making my day!!! :D
Posted by: Abby | October 11, 2011 at 04:40 PM
I literally forgot to breathe for a moment there!
Posted by: Asha | October 11, 2011 at 04:47 PM
OHMIGOODNESS!!! I've been about to explode waiting for Midnight in Austenland to come out! At the same time I've been wondering (hoping) if you'd be writing any more fantasy! Yayyyyyy!!
Posted by: Savannah | October 11, 2011 at 04:53 PM
SOOOOO EXCITED! As soon as I read this I screamed a little and had to do a happy dance!
Posted by: Danica | October 11, 2011 at 04:57 PM
WONDERFUL NEWS! Looks like 2012 could be the YEAR of SHANNON HALE!
Posted by: Ruby | October 11, 2011 at 05:41 PM