Interview with Shannon Hale

Here it is! My interview with the fabulous, Shannon Hale:

I asked some of my blog readers what questions they had for you. Here are some of their questions...

1. Lindsey Leavitt asked: Will you be my best friend?

Of course. I’m wearing our BFF bracelet right now.

2. Olmue wants to know how you balance it all--writing, family, other responsibilities?

Ha! That’s my favorite joke. Umm…okay, really, I put my family first, grab writing time whenever I can, and try not to stress about anything else.

3. Sarah Johnson and her daughters asked how many more Bayern books there will be.

I’m writing a fourth right now. I have other books I want to do next, but I imagine I’ll always return to Bayern as often as a good story occurs to me.

4. Kelly R. Fineman would like to know how much research you did for Book of a Thousand Days and how you organize your research.

I’m not very organized. I do a good deal of research, before I write and while I write. I take notes, keep a folder of ideas, and always use much less than I’d like.

Okay, now a couple questions from me.

1. Austenland is very different from the rest of your published books. Do you plan to write any more books like it?

I’m writing another of the same ilk that may be out in 2009. I get bored easily and it’s nice for me to vary my writing (first person, third, contemporary, fantasy, graphic novel…)

2. Personally, I think Book of a Thousand Days is ONE INCREDIBLY WRITTEN book (sorry to yell at you). I've always been a fan, but this one is my favorite so far. If I were on the Newbery committee, I'd vote it to the top. Please tell us how you got the idea for it. Do you struggle for great ideas or do they pop into your head all the time?

Thank you! I get lots and lots of ideas. That’s not the problem. The struggle in writing for me is finding the story in the idea and the words to tell it right. This is based on an obscure fairy tale, Maid Maleen, and my desire to tell the maid’s story, as she was just mentioned and then forgotten in the original tale, which really chapped my hide.

3. What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

When I find just the perfect sentence.

4. What is the hardest part of being a writer?

When I know it’s not working but I don’t know how to fix it. And getting through a first draft.

5. And finally (because I know you are a fan of flattery), how does it feel to be witty, pretty and intelligent and basically an all-around Writer Rockstar?

What? I don’t know what you mean. I’m incredibly humble and modest, and my fabulous good looks are more a curse than a blessing. But if you insist…

Thanks, again!

I know, I know. It's kind of silly, but isn't she fabulous? She used to be a stand-up comedian. You couldn't tell, could you?

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