Shannon Hale Week was a success. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. Many comments were made. I wish I had books to give all of you....but, alas, I only have three signed books.
And the winners are...(as chosen by my lil guy)...
Bohae
Sarah (from Iceland)
Dasha-girl
If you are one of these lucky people, email me at emykate03 *AT* yahoo *COM*. I need your street address. I also need you tell me which book you want most. I have a hardcover of Book of a Thousand Days, and softcovers of The Goose Girl and Princess Academy. All three have been personalized by Ms. Hale.
Winners have a full week to email me. If any of the winners do not email me during that time, I will choose another winner to take their place.
If you didn't win, click on a bookcover to buy it on Amazon.
Remember, if you purchase books through DCR, a portion of the money comes back to us and helps fund giveaways. Thanks.
PS...I'm low on reviews again! If you have read a delicious book lately that is free of sex and profanity, please email me a review! Thanks.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Winner Winner Winners!
Friday, November 9, 2007
Shannon Hale: Austenland and Book of a Thousand Days
I didn't get a chance to blog about Shannon Hale yesterday, because I was too busy driving out to meet her. Yesterday, she spoke and signed books at All Tucked In in the Salt Lake area. This was the second time I had the opportunity to hear her and have books signed (you can read about the first here).
Yesterday, Shannon told us about her two latest books, Austenland and Book of a Thousand Days (reviewed here). Following will be my notes from yesterday.
In 1996, the world changed. Do you know what happened? The BBC version of Pride and Prejudice was released on VHS. (Some of you young people probably don't even know what that is....) Shannon was first exposed to the movie when her little brother was supposed to read the book for high school. Although Shannon loved the book, her brother got caught up on words like "clergy" and wasn't really seeing the magic of it all. So, they sat down to watch, along with Shannon's boyfriend (who later became her hubby). She didn't understand why the movie made her feel sweaty and nervous. She only hoped the boys wouldn't notice. After a couple hours, the guys went outside, and Shannon, saying she wanted to rest, stayed in to finish the movie...and then re-watch the best parts.
Upon talking to some friends, she found that she wasn't alone in her love of the movie. One friend in particular had to ground herself from Pride and Prejudice, get it out of the house even.
Because of Shannon's past in acting, she thought about how fun it would be to go to a place where she could be immersed in the world of Jane Austen. So she wrote the book.
Austenland is the story of Jane Hayes, who is completely obsessed with Mr. Darcy, and more specifically, Mr. Darcy as played by Colin Firth.
Just making sure you're still awake...Anyway, Jane's Great-Aunt dies and leaves her an all-expense paid to Austenland. Jane decides to use it as one last obsessive act, and drop her beloved BBC addiction forever...but, on her dream vacation, will she find a Darcy of her own?
When Shannon wrote Austenland, she kept showing it to her first test audience, her supportive husband. For five years, she worked on it, and he wasn't too impressed. Finally, she realized he really wasn't the ideal audience, published it, and the rest is history, as they say.
Book of a Thousand Days is loosely based on a Grimm Brothers fairy tale called Maid Maleen. She didn't choose to write the story because she loved it, she chose it because it made her want to slap the Grimm Brothers. After all, there was a maid locked into a tour with a lady for a very long time, and she hardly got any attention in the original tale. In fact, the Grimm Brothers completely dropped her halfway through the story.
Shannon asked herself lots of questions about the 3 page story. Eventually, after lots of research, she knew it had the potential to be a full novel. A diary-style novel from the maid's point of view.
In researching, she found a few nuggets of gold. She discovered that Mongolians believed in strong powers of song, that when you hold someone close, you can smell the scent of their soul, and that the ultimate humiliating, debasing act is for someone to be in public without clothes on.
I suppose that's all I'm going to share. I recommend that if you ever have a chance to hear her speak, you take it.
After her speech, a long line formed to have books signed. I had THREE books signed for giveaways! A hardcover of Book of a Thousand Days, a softcover of Princess Academy, and a softcover of Goose Girl. She wrote a brief, unique message in each. Be sure to leave a comment (or many comments) on any of the Shannon Hale posts this week to be entered into the drawing. I will close the drawing at midnight MST on Sunday, November 11th. 3 winners will be announced Monday.
I had my ARC of Austenland signed. It was the first ARC I ever received, so I was happy to have the opportunity to have it personalized. When I told Shannon who I was, she stood up and hugged me. I was so flattered. In fact, I was so happy about the whole evening (except the fact that my kids knocked over her life-sized Mr. Darcy with an I Heart SH button on his lapel)
that I actually dreamed I went to a museum with her and another LDS celebrity of sorts last night (I probably shouldn't have admitted that)...but don't worry, it's not an obsession...I promise.
And, if you are LDS and wondering who in the world went to the museum with us, it was...
...Random...
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Interview with 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.
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…
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Shannon Hale's Books on Amazon
I've been playing around with Amazon's widgets. This one shows all of Shannon Hale's published books.
Remember, if you purchase books through DCR, a portion of the money comes back to us and helps fund giveaways. Click on any of the book covers to see its Amazon page. Thanks.
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
PRINCESS ACADEMY by Shannon Hale
Review by Emily, Head Mama of DCR
My other blog: Whimsy Books
I believe Princess Academy was my first experience with Shannon Hale's books. I expected a typical novel about a normal girl who falls in love with a prince, becomes a princess, and lives happily ever after. I was wrong.
What I discovered, instead, was something fresh and unique, something different than all the other princess books I had ever read.
Miri wishes to be helpful in her small mountain community, but her father will not let her work. Miri assumes it is because she is so small. The people of her community work very hard in the quarries to make a meager living.
Soon, their whole world is turned upside-down. The king's priests determine that the prince's bride will come from their little town of Mount Eskel. All eligible girls are sent down the mountain to a makeshift princess academy, where they are to learn how to become princesses. At the end of their training, the prince will choose a bride from among them.
Miri has mixed feelings about the whole thing. Does she want to be the princess? Fierce competition ensues, but Miri is still battling with herself as well. At the academy, Miri finds herself, and, at the same time, is able to save the girls and the whole village.
I think what makes Princess Academy so different is the setting. A beautiful world of light fantasy that feels completely realistic. You won't find mystical creatures in Princess Academy, but you will find magic, magic that stems from the people of Mount Eskel and the mountain itself.
Miri is a well-developed strong female character. She is small in size, named after a tiny mountain flower, but big in heart and inner strength. Her relationships with her father, a mountain boy, her best friend, and the prince are complex and realistic.
I recommend this Newbery-honor book to readers of all ages. It was a pleasant surprise for me, and I have become the kind of fan that reads each new Shannon Hale title as soon as it is released.
PS...Don't forget to leave a comment on any (or all) of the Shannon Hale posts to be entered into the drawing for one of two signed Shannon Hale books!
PSS...We'll be posting the interview tomorrow. See you then!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale Review Giveaway
Today is the start of 100 Week! We are celebrating our 100th review by spotlighting Shannon Hale all week. We will be posting reviews, an exclusive interview, and a book group discussion.
And GUESS WHAT? If you comment on ANY of the Shannon Hale posts this week, you will be entered into a drawing for one of two signed books by Mrs. Hale. You may enter as many times as you wish, but please make comments that are relevant to the posts. THANKS. Winners will be announced one week from today, on November 12, 2007. (Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you, a blog link or email addy.)
BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS by Shannon Hale
Review by Heather Walker
Heather Walker's Blog
I have read quite a few good reviews of Book of a Thousand Days, by the wonderful Shannon Hale so I was expecting good thing.
It was better than I could have ever hoped for. It was perfect.
The book follows Dashti, a lady's maid, and Lady Saren as they are locked up into the tower for seven years and their subsequent adventures as they try to survive in a war-ridden land.
It was a story that made you forget every story you have ever read before. I had no idea what was going to happen with the characters–I was reading something new and raw, with no expectations. I read as if it were the only book that existed in the world.
Why? Because of Dashti. Dashti is the author of the book. The book is her journal. I usually end up understanding characters, relating to them, and liking them. I loved Dashti. I loved her as if she were my best friend, as if she were my sister. As if she were real. I've read many books and stories where the characters are real, but I haven't loved them as I have loved Dashti. I loved Lady Saren as Dashti loved her. I knew these people and I became a part of their world.
The setting was magnificent. Gone with the Western norm, this was set in a world based off of Asia. Gone was the cliched magic of fantasy books. It was Shannon Hale magic in its best: subtle, gentle, feminine, beautiful.
The voice and tone were Dashti. The words were so different from what many books are, but the newness and rawness of the words became part of me. There was beauty, and there was deep, deep sadness in the book. I have never read a book that so adequately portrayed the sadness of life and war–it could have been real. This never seemed like a world of fiction, ever, it was real. Instead of pretty heroines with feisty attitudes, the book offered something heartfelt, real, and full of inner beauty.
I love Book of a Thousand Days. Wow. Wow. Wow. Please read it. It isn't an enjoyable, fun read. It isn't something that you laugh through and are entertained. You do laugh, but it is the deep laugh that comes from sadness. You cry, but it is because you are happy. You see these characters and you join them and can weep for them, laugh with them, and rejoice with them. This book is what any book should aspire to be.
Recommended readers: 12 and up. Some of the material is somewhat dark, involving death and tragedy (there is some kissing as well).
The original review was posted at: http://heatherwalker.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/book-of-a-thousand-days/
Friday, November 2, 2007
100th Week is Coming Soon!
