Shannon Hale's Blog

I was presenting an assembly for kids grades 3-8 while on book tour for the third PRINCESS ACADEMY book.

Me: "So many teachers have told me the same thing. They say, 'When I told my students we were reading a book called PRINCESS ACADEMY, the girls said���'"

I gesture to the kids and wait. They anticipate what I'm expecting, and in unison, the girls scream, "YAY!"

Me: "'And the boys said���"

I gesture and wait. The boys know just what to do. They always do, no matter their age or the state th...

Our new novel The Legend of Shadow High publishes October 17. Get ready for the first ever mashup between Ever After High and Monster High! Come see us on tour:

Dean and I are invited guests this year at San Diego Comic-Con, and so we have a pretty robust schedule with lots of opportunities to sign, panel, and meet you. 

THURSDAY 

1:00 - 2:00 pm, Room 32AB

Panel: Stepping into Another World 

Authors share the magic of books to transport young readers via words and pictures to new worlds, sometimes fantastic and exotic and very different from our own, and sometimes comfortingly close.

Panelists: Shannon Messenger (Keeper of the Lost Cities 6: Lodestar), Judd Winick (Hilo: The Great Big Boom), Dan Santat (After the Fall), Shannon Hale (Real Friends), Dean Hale (Princess in Black), Lisa McMann (Dragon Captives) Moderator: Lucas Turnbloom (Nightmare Escape: Dream Jumper, Book 1)

2:15 - 3:15 pm: Autograph-Area Signing #AA09 

Signing with Shannon & Dean. Books sold by Mysterious Galaxy: Real Friends, Princess in Black, Squirrel Girl, plus the first time the repackaged Books of Bayern are for sale with their beautiful new covers!

6 -7 pm: Horton Grand Theater

Panel: Superhero Family Feud 

Bestselling, award-winning, comic-loving authors Margaret Stohl (Black Widow, Captain Marvel), Rainbow Rowell (Fangirl, Runaways), Jason Reynolds (Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Ghost), Cecil Castellucci (Tin Star, The Plain Janes), Shannon and Dean Hale (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World), Ryan North (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), Nick Lowe (Marvel Comics editor), and other special guests battle to the finish in this superhero-centric Family Feud -style game.

FRIDAY

Noon-1 pm: First Second/MCPG Booth #2802, 2800

Book signing for REAL FRIENDS, plus giveaway: bracelets & posters

SATURDAY

1:15-1:30 pm: Booth #2329/Marvel LIVE set/Marvel booth

Marvel Live interview with Lorraine Cink

3:30 - 4:30 pm: Room #8

Keepin’ It Real Panel 

Graphic novels featuring realistic stories about kids are burning up the bestseller lists and winning awards. Join some of the hottest comics creators who are working in this genre to discuss why their work is connecting with readers both young and old.

Panelists: Jennifer & Matthew Holm (Swing It, Sunny), Victoria Jamieson (Roller Girl), Shannon Hale (Real Friends), Nidhi Chanani (Pashmina), and Tillie Walden (Spinning); Moderator: Meryl Jaffee

SUNDAY

11am-Noon: Room 25ABC

Panel: Capturing Teen Angst Panel

Panelists: Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, Erica Henderson, Victoria Jamieson, Marjorie Liu, Scott Westerfeld, Moderator: Mark Waid

Noon- 1 pm: Room 4

Spotlight on Shannon Hale & Dean Hale

1:15 – 2 pm: Autograph-Area Signing #AA20

Signing with Shannon and Dean, books sold by Mysterious Galaxy

LeUyen Pham and I are about to hit the road to tour for our new graphic novel REAL FRIENDS, a memoir about the ups and downs of elementary school friendship. Are we touring near you?

TUESDAY, MAY 2 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA

4:00pm Launch Event @ Kepler’s Books
Location: 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Contact: (650) 324-4321
Link: www.keplers.org/upcoming-events-inter...

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3 · DENVER, CO

12:15pm Public Meet n’ Greet @ Second Star to the Right
Location: 4353 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212
Contact: (303) 455-1527
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-sha...

THURSDAY, MAY 4 · WICHITA, KS

11:30am Ticketed Event: Lunch Meet n’ Greet
Location: Watermark Books & Cafe, 4701 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS 67218
Contact: (316) 682-1181
Link: http://www.watermarkbooks.com/event/s... 

SATURDAY, MAY 6 · ST. LOUIS, MO

4:00pm Public Event @ St. Louis County Library
Location: St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Frontenac, MO 63131
Bookstore Contact:  (314) 738-9384
Link: https://www.slcl.org/content/shannon-... 

SUNDAY, MAY 7 · ST. PAUL, MN

3:00pm Public Event @ Red Balloon Bookshop
Location: 891 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
Contact: (651) 224-8320
Link: http://www.redballoonbookshop.com/eve... 

FRIDAY, MAY 12 · TORONTO, CANADA

Toronto Comic Arts Festival - Library and Educator Day
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: http://www.torontocomics.com/whats-ha...

11:15am Shannon Hale Presentation to Librarians/Educators
Title: No Boys Allowed: The subtle ways we gender books and cut boys off from reading
Location: Epic Room, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2G8

12:15pm Librarian/Educator Lunch
Participants: Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham
Location: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2G8

SATURDAY, MAY 13 · TORONTO, CANADA

Toronto Comic Arts Festival - Kids Programming Day (free and open to the public)
MORE DETAILS: http://www.torontocomics.com/whats-ha...

10:00am REAL FRIENDS Presentation @ TCAF
Location: St. Paul’s Church, 227 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON M4W 1C8, Canada
Participants: Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham
Description: The dynamic duo of Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham are teaming up again for the new book REAL FRIENDS! Join them as they explore the emotional roller coaster ride of friendship, from navigating the tricky waters of cliques and bullies to her never-ending struggle to stay in “The Group.” Come help kick of Kids Day!

11:00am REAL FRIENDS Book Signing @ TCAF (following presentation)
Participants: Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham
Location: St. Paul's Church, 227 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON M4W 1C8, Canada

12:00pm Draw-Along with LeUyen Pham
Location: Beeton Auditorium, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2G8
Participants: LeUyen Pham
Description: Come and draw with LeUyen Pham (REAL FRIENDS)

12:15pm Prose to Comics/Comics to Prose PANEL @ TCAF
Location: High Park Ballroom, Marriott Bloor-Yorkville, 90 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON M4W 1A7, 
Participants: Scott Westerfeld, Shannon Hale, Ryan North, Cecil Castellucci 
Description: The biggest names in YA books talk about how what they love about comics, the challenges of writing in a new medium, and if they think it'll change the way they connect with their audiences.

2:00pm First Second Booth Signing - REAL FRIENDS
Location: First Second Booth @ TCAF, Toronto Reference Library
Participants: Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham

SATURDAY, MAY 20 · SALT LAKE CITY, UT

5:00pm talk and signing @ The King’s English

and, 7:00pm talk and signing, in conversation with Megan Whalen Turner @ The King’s English
Location: 1511 S 1500 E Salt Lake City, UT
Contact: http://www.kingsenglish.com

Hey friends! Like me, many of you were horrified by this news report:

 We want to show love for this school and their outstanding robotics team in the form of a book drive. This is a Title 1 school with a very diverse population. Authors, you can sign books to Pleasant Run. Anyone else who can donate is much appreciated! Picture books, early readers, chapter books, and middle grade books most welcome, especially those written by and featuring people of color. Also early readers in Spanish would be a bonus as they have dual immersion language program for some kindergarten classes.

Mail books to:

Pleasant Run Elementary

1800 N Franklin Rd

Indianapolis, IN 46219

If you have books more appropriate for middle or high school, this diverse district would love those too! Mail to:

Metro School District of Warren Township

975 N. Post Road

Indianapolis, IN 46219

ATTN: Kathy Disney

Thank you! And congrats to the robotics team at Pleasant Run. You inspire us!

This year is a busy one for me career-wise. My breakdown:

Feb 7: 

+ book tour Feb, March, and April. This middle grade novel is fun fun fun

May 2:

+ book tour, BookCon, & SDCC. This graphic novel is my heart.

July/August:

New covers for the Books of Bayern (wait till you see them in print--gorgeous!)

Fall will bring two more books: the 5th Princess in Black and a super secret middle grade novel that will make some of you very happy. Titles and covers TBA.

I’ll post tour schedules here as soon as they’re finalized. Thanks to my readers for allowing me to continue this crazy career. I’ll see you on the road!

I want to tell you a quick story, with permission from who told it to me, of the unexpected ways books connect us. A few years ago I did a photographic essay of men and boys reading Princess Academy to illustrate that, yes, this does happen and yes, it is okay for heaven's sake. One of the participants is this man, who I've known for years:

He is a family man. He has many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and is hands-on involved in their lives in an active, loving manner. He's a treasure. A few years ago one of his grandchildren gave up her two precious children for adoption. As is often the case, even though it was for the best, it was still very hard for the whole family.

The two kids, a brother and sister, joined a loving family. And not knowing that their birth grandparents knew me, they apparently became fans of my books. One day the grandson is reading through my past blog posts and sees the above picture. He recognizes "Papa." And so the boy has his mother take a picture of him reading Princess Academy in the same manner, recreating the photo. His adoptive mother sends the picture to his birth mother, who shows the birth grandparents. And today, with tears, they showed it to me.

I've been blogging here since 2002 but this past year I haven't been keeping it up regularly. I'm active on twitter, please follow me there for all the news, rants, and adorable things my 5yos say. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the gorgeous covers the Books of Bayern will be getting in 2017.

BOOK, FILM, AND COMICS PEOPLE

Our community is coming together to raise money for charities serving the refugee community, most likely UNICEF or Save the Children (we're still researching). We are organizing an online auction to raise money that can literally save lives and change lives. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: 

Donate goods and services! Email us at admin@writingforcharity.org with the following info:

1. What you are auctioning with a short description.

2. Minimum bid (as well as the normal value if applicable)

3. Any location restrictions for those bidding who may not live close by. 

4. A short note about your qualifications.

5. Please use a separate comment for each item.

Examples:

1. A full novel critique, YA or adult, SFF, mystery or contemporary, maximum of 100,000 words, minimum bid $300. I have been an editor of YA fiction at Bloomsbury for 10 years.

2. A dinner with your and/or your book club (up to 10). Within 100 miles of Salt Lake City, Utah. You pay for the dinner. I bring copies of books for everyone involved, their choice. Minimum bid $100. I am an Edgar-Award winning author of 8 novels.

What kinds of goods and services? Anything you think people would want to buy! Manuscript/query letter critiques, Skype visits, phone calls, original art, book cover designs, logo design, website help, beta reading a manuscript for feedback unique to your experience of a minority group, naming a character or place in next book after the highest bidder, etc. These types of things tend to make more $ than signed books, which are also welcome, but note that anything material you offer you will be responsible for mailing to the winner.

If you have nothing to donate, you can still signal boost once the auction is up and bid, bid, bid! THANK YOU!

It's the social event of the season! Who is invited to Princess Magnolia's birthday party? Here's the exclusive guest list.