Shannon Hale is the author of 10 books, including the best-selling Newbery Honor book “Princess Academy,” the Books of Bayern series, two adult novels, and two graphic novels that she and her husband co-wrote. Her latest novel is “Palace of Stone.” Below is a complete transcript of her interview with Cracking the Cover.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Definitely. I didn’t realize that just any regular living person could write a book till I was ten, the year I declared my authority intentions. But even before that, I was always making up stories, and writing/drawing/performing them.
Why do you write for young people?
I was an English major in college and went on to get an MFA in Creative Writing. While all the books I read those years were very well written and even important, they were so depressing! I got so tired of tragedy–books without adventure, romance, or even any hope. It seemed that to be an adult meant never reading for fun again. I thought back to when reading had still been captivating to me, and it was ages 10-16–the golden years of reading. When I began writing my first published book, The Goose Girl, I consciously tried to write to my adult self as well as to my younger reader self. I didn’t know then that I was writing Young Adult. So I fell into this wonderful world of children’s literature and am so glad I did.
Why did you decide to revisit Miri and her friends?
I always wanted to write another Miri book and go back to Danland. I had ideas of what happened next. But I wrote other books first and after awhile her story just wasn’t loud enough in my head for me to be able to turn off all the voices that warned I would fail if I tried. It wasn’t until I discovered a new layer and complication in her story that I couldn’t wait to write it out.
Was it hard to get back in Miri’s head?
Not at all. I was surprised how easy it was to remember Miri and how she thinks, even seven years later.
Miri is strong and independent. Where did those traits come from?
Perhaps from her mother, though she never knew her. Miri never felt legitimate on Mount Eskel. She had to be tough just to survive. And her sister and father are so quiet, Miri tended to fill up the rest of the space.
Linder once again plays a large roll in your book. Where did the idea for the stone and it’s unique properties come from?
While I was researching stone quarrying, I realized what a dangerous profession it is. I like to give my characters strengths–kinds of superpowers–that can’t necessarily be tested in school. When considering what talents the quarriers of Mount Eskel might have, I realized the ability to communicate despite the terrific noise of the quarry would be helpful. The details of this talent then grew out of the story.
“The Princess Academy” has fans all over the world. Were you nervous at all about continuing the story?
I was very nervous. By waiting until I had a strong story to tell, I was able to turn off those voices of doubt. I never thought about it while I was writing–I was able to just tell the story. But after delivering the final draft to my editor I had a panic attack, and another one after I got an ARC and realized they were out in the world. I’m not prone to anxiety, but this book has shaken me up for sure! But I feel a real peace about it too. After reading the proofs, I felt confident that this was exactly the story I wanted to tell. I think I did my part by Miri. The reaction at large is out of my hands.
How has the response been so far?
It seems to be quite positive. I’m expecting to hear “not as good as the first” often, but so far the readers seem pleased.
Will there be any more books in Miri’s world?
I think so. While writing Palace of Stone I had another idea that’s exciting to me. I’m working on another book right now but I’d like to return to Miri, and this time I don’t think I’ll wait for seven years.
Why do you think your books have such a universal appeal to them? Kids, teens, adults all seem to eat them up!
That’s so flattering. There’s not greater compliment than when I see how smart and diverse my fans are. I don’t feel like I can claim any credit. Like most writers, I write to my internal reader, and then I put the book out there and see if my reader and your reader are kindred spirits. It’s so lovely to discover how many kindred reading spirits I have. It certainly makes one feel less alone in this world.
Are you surprised by the success of your books?
Just today a librarian tweeted me about how my books circulate well in her library, and I had that jolt of surprise and glee all over again–my books are in a library! And people read them! It’s continually thrilling and humbling.
Looking back, how has your writing evolved?
I’m not sure I can verbalize it, but I’m sure it has. If I wrote The Goose Girl today it would be a different book. I’m a different person. In many ways I’m less patient, but I still seem to want to unfold a story slowly, paint it out.
Do you enjoy writing as much now as you did when you started?
I do. I love being a writer. It’s become even more important to me. When I wrote The Goose Girl, I was single and childless. When I wrote Palace of Stone, I was a married mother-of-four (with twin babies!). I love being a mother of small children. But I need that creative expression, that buoy, that place and those words where I can use my mind and explore. I think I’m a better mother for having books to write. I go into my room for 3 hours/day, 5 days/week and come out refreshed and ready to do mom stuff again.
Do you have a book that resonated with you as child?
Many. I was recently interviewed for a documentary on Lloyd Alexander and was able to ruminate on how important his books were to me as a child, and so became so important to me as a writer. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley was significant to me as well.
What are you working on now?
It’s a contemporary-setting, first person narrator, superhero adventure story with romance, science, and butt-kicking. I’ve got an eighth draft and still have a ways to go till it’s done, but I like it! It’s unlike any of my other books, so I’m curious to see how many kindred reading spirits I’ll find with this one.