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Interview with Shannon Hale

Recently I had to chance to interview the awesome Shannon Hale about her new release, Calamity Jack. She is so super sweet and funny-I hope I get a chance to meet her in person someday.

1. Rapunzel's Ravenge and Calamity Jack are fairy tale retellings. What is your all time favorite fairy tale?
SH: Growing up, The Goose Girl was always my favorite. My first published book was a retelling of that tale, which, for me, felt like I could reclaim something precious from my childhood.

2. If you could live inside a fairy tale world, which one would you pick?
SH: Ooh, probably none! They’re scary worlds! Monsters and witches and sinister plots and bone-crunching giants. Are you trying to give me nightmares? But I like our version of Rapunzel. I wouldn’t mind stepping into her cowgirl boots.

3. You co-wrote Rapunzel's Ravenge and Calamity Jack with your husband, Dean. Is it easier to have a co-writer or is it easier to write books on your own?

SH: Good question, Sarah Bean. It’s always easier to work alone. Collaborating takes more time. But the advantage is a combination of creative energy and ideas you wouldn’t have had on your own.

4. The new year is here, so what books are you looking forward to in 2010?

SH: No one has asked me that yet! And I have good answers. A Conspiracy of Kings, by Megan Whalen Turner; White Cat, by Holly Black; and the third Hunger Games book, but I don’t know the title yet. Oh, and the new Jane Austen. It’s been, like, 200 years since her last publication. She’s so slow.
Thanks Shannon! And be sure to check out Calamity Jack-it's a great read!
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Comments

  1. AbbyJanuary 16, 2010 at 1:53 PM

    Nice interview! I love Shannon Hale. :)

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  2. CateJanuary 16, 2010 at 2:53 PM

    My favorite author. :) Thanks for the great interview!

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  3. JessicaJanuary 16, 2010 at 4:24 PM

    Great interview! I love it when you get to hear from an author and you actually have a little something in common with them. :)
    I can't wait to read the new Megan Whalen Turner book, too. Just found out it was coming out like 2 days ago! Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sarah StevensonJanuary 17, 2010 at 5:46 PM

    I'm really looking forward to Calamity Jack--I hope our library has it! Great questions and excellent interview. I especially liked your question about what it was like to collaborate--as I'm currently thinking about a similar type of collaboration with my husband on a graphic novel, I was VERY interested in Shannon's answer! :)

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  5. SamJanuary 17, 2010 at 10:37 PM

    OOH! I love Shannon Hale!! I squealed when I saw you have an interview with her. :D

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  6. Heather ZundelJanuary 18, 2010 at 11:50 PM

    I knew she was going to say A Conspiracy of Kings (it seems everyone is dying for that one. And with it being Megan Whalen Turner? Who could help it?). Utah is still mystically unable to get copies of Calamity Jack in (I think there is a force field around the state, personally).

    And I didn't know a new Jane Austen was coming out. :)

    Great interview Sarah!

    ReplyDelete
  7. sally January 28, 2010 at 10:44 AM

    I'm late getting over here, but what a fun interview. Great questions and great answers!

    ReplyDelete

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