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Shannon and Dean Hale

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Shannon and Dean Hale, authors of Rapunzel’s Revenge

What a delightful treat it was to meet Shannon Hale, author of Newberry Honor book Princess Academy, and her husband Dean! After their TV interview the day before with Al Roker on the Today show (go see it to get an idea of how they were at the bookstore), getting home Saturday morning at 1 am, and receiving little sleep they truly made my mom feel special by taking a trip to The Purple Cow Children’s Bookstore to “support independent bookstores” as they put it for a book signing of their release of Rapunzel’s Revenge.

That little guy in the front kept tapping Dean with his foot!
It’s hard to tell in the picture but there were people all the way back to the door!

Shannon and Dean spoke to the crowd of around 100 children, teens, and parents telling their adventures in New York the day before: seeing Kevin Bacon and Kenny Loggins in NBC’s green room, having to take the subway to the airport when their attempt to get a taxi failed, getting to wear a new dress (for Shannon) and getting their makeup done for the TV interview. They spoke about how they got the idea to write a graphic novel because of Dean’s own love with comic books growing up. And when it was announced that they were writing a graphic novel people were shocked thinking graphic meant risque. Shannon pointed out she has now written books about the only two girls in fairy tale history to be locked up in a tower (Rapunzel’s Revenge, Book of a Thousand Days).

slightly blurry but I loved how they would look at each other constantly while talking

Shannon and Dean are a great couple. They made jokes, played off of each others comments, and made those of us listening feel at ease in their company. Dean’s grandmother graduated from Tooele High School in 1939 so Shannon wore his grandmother’s sweatshirt to the book signing. I also love the two braids she did in her hair reminiscent of the ones in Rapunzel’s hair.

Caught these girls in a candid moment reading Rapunzel’s Revenge after getting them signed.

After they spoke Shannon and Dean answered questions from the audience.
* Her favorite book right now is an unpublished one that Dean wrote tentatively titled Scape Goat.
* The idea for Princess Academy came from a book that Dean read.
* Shannon is good friends with Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight series.
* There is a sequel to Rapunzel’s Revenge that is being illustrated right now.
* Shannon also has two other books that she is in the process of writing.
* It took seven years from conception to publication for Austenland to be published.

I would have remembered more if I had been taking notes instead of pictures. 😀

Shannon signing my book

When all the questions were done being asked everyone lined up to get their books signed. Shannon and Dean started signing books at 3pm and didn’t leave the bookstore until about 5:45pm! Pretty good for a small, independent bookstore signing.

Bon Bon getting her books signed

I’m so glad my girls were able to come and meet the Hales. A couple of the girls write little stories of their own filling notebooks upon notebooks. I hope they heard Dean when he said to “write for the love of writing and not for the hopes of getting published.”


The giveaway gift for one lucky participant of September’s Wordfull Wednesdays will receive three books signed by Shannon Hale: Rapunzel’s Revenge, Enna Burning, and Princess Academy. The rest of her children’s books – The Goose Girl, River Secrets, and Book of a Thousand Days were sold out so you missed having a complete set.

Comments

  6. How fun! That was great that they stayed so long. I love the photo of your family with them.

    I did notice Shannon’s dress on the Today Show. Very nice color for her.

    Reply

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