The Tale of Shannon Hale and a . . . Zucchini (????)
Too much fun! Saturday I went to Rapunzel’s Roundup, a release party of sorts for Shannon Hale’s new book Rapunzel’s Revenge, co-authored with her husband Dean Hale and illustrated by Nathan Hale (no relation). The fun started with a reenactment from the book presented by Shannon, Dean and Nathan. Right before they start Nathan’s sister pulls out to Shannon’s surprise this HUGE wig! It was crazy. Shannon’s going to be on the Today show next month and the wig just might make an appearance as well.
After the funny reenactment, there was a Q &A panel presented by a few of our local Utah authors.
From left to right: Kimberley Heuston, James Dashner (who recognized me right off and quickly came over to say hello, yay!), Jessica Day George, Nathan Hale, Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, Sara Zarr (um . . . . I’m sure you didn’t miss my three day stint with Sara here, here and an author interview here, did you?), Mette Ivie Harrison, and Ann E. Cannon.
I’ve transcribed the Q&A from the panel and more about each author towards the end of this post. First, I have to get to my zucchini story. Because I’m sure you did notice the title of this post was The Tale of Shannon Hale and the . . . Zucchini.
First off, if you’ve never met Shannon Hale, she has got to be one of the most genuine people ever! She’s so funny, so happy, really nice (read my crying kids and book signing story here) and has this awesome energy about her. Basically, she’s just too cool.
Doesn’t her husband look cool too? And yep, that’s me. While I was chatting with Shannon, I talked about this blogging project that I’ll be doing the entire month of September. Shannon says, “Wow, I wish I had some extra books to send home with you right now.” She frantically looks around, and of course, doesn’t find any extra books. “I want to give you something.” Looks around some more, searching for something to miraculously appear. She reaches into her handbag sitting on the floor next to her and pulls out this HUGE ZUCCHINI (as if everybody carries around huge zucchini’s in their handbag) and gives it to me! She then pulls out her camera and takes a picture of me with the zucchini. So yeah, I went home with Shannon Hale’s home grown zucchini. We had some fun laughs.
Here’s a photo of my very excited little guy with the aforementioned zucchini. Maybe, I’ll make bread or some other yummy dinner.
I did get my Rapunzel’s Revenge book signed and am looking forward to reading it this next month. Shannon promised an interview! So stay tuned!
So what about that panel? I’ve tried to transcribe my notes as best as I could. If there are any mistakes, they are mine and not the exact words of the authors. It’s not perfect.
Question to James Dashner, author of The 13th Reality: What alternate reality would you live in if you could?
James Dashner: One where it was fall all the time but I could go skiing. One where I could watch football all the time, and not wear any clothes – oh my gosh, sorry, I forgot there were kids here – somewhere where people wear clothes all the time.
Question to Sara Zarr, author of Story of a Girl (my review) and Sweethearts (my review):
Sara Zarr: How do you balance emotions with humor in your books? It’s weird how I write about such serious things because I’m usually the comedian in the group. I guess I write about hard subject matter because being female and 5′2″ people don’t take you seriously, so it’s nice to have people see that side. I don’t think about humor in my books and how to balance it with emotions. I guess it comes through the dialogue. My next book is not funny.
Question to Kimberley Heuston, author of The Shakeress, Dante’s Daughter and The Book of Jude: Why historical fiction? And why did you choose to base Book of Jude in Berlin at the end of communism.
Kimberly Heuston - I recently lost my sister and I needed to find a place that would take me far away. I received a grant to Czechoslovakia and thought, well, that’s far away.
Question to Ann E. Cannon, author of The Loser’s Guide to Life and Love: Why did you base your book off of A Midsummer’s Night Dream?
Ann E. Cannon: The play is really funny, deals with the confusion of identity and has this great magic about it.
Jessica Day George, author of Dragon Flight, Dragon Slippers and Sun & Moon, Ice & Snow
Eeek! I don’t have anything written down to transcribe! So sorry Jessica! What was I doing to miss this one?
Question to Mette Ivie Harrison, author of The Princess & the Hound, Mira Mirror, The Monster in Me: How do you write a sequel? Do you know where the story is going?
Mette Ivie Harrison: I do not outline! I write straight out of my head. I’ve always wanted to write want I want to read and be entertained my it. I really want to be surprised by my own story and where it takes me.
Question addressed to all: Why write?
All: Because we love to read and we write to entertain ourselves.
Mette Ivie Harrison: I wrote a dragon story in kindergarten, that I drew out and my teacher wrote down what I told her. I wrote all the time. But then when I got to high school I got very intimidated by the classics. Dickens, Hemingway and stopped writing. When I was 25, I realized that I had stopped doing what I loved and went back.
Question addressed to Shannon Hale: Why choose the story of Rapunzel?
Shannon Hale: Rapunzel is probably the most irritating fairy tale of them all. How many times did the prince come and climb up the tower? What’s the first thing you think of when you hear that? Ouch! Did the prince think once of ever bringing a ladder? No!
Question addressed to all: Who do you find time to write with children?
Mette Ivie Harrison: Commit to a regular time and don’t be intimidated when you visit your neighbor’s immaculate house. Realize that’s her job. Your job is to write. I chose to wake up at 5 am and write. I also have made a decision to not vacuum my living room . . . this year.
James Dashner: Get a wife who loves kids.
Shannon Hale: With one kid, I used to write during naptime. With two it’s harder. My mom takes them once a week and I do exchanges with a writer friend.
????: Back in the early days, a man named Philo T. Farnsworth invented what we call the TV. It’s a great invention. And there’s the Disney channel.
Question addressed to all: The 13th Reality had a lot of quantum physics in it. What’s the hardest thing that you’ve ever had to research?
Nathan Hale: Drawing horses. I had to learn how to draw horses. I took my little sisters horse figures, lined them up, and had to learn how to draw. Hands down the hardest thing I’ve done.
Mette Ivie Harrison: The Arthurian period.
Shannon Hale: I love Jane Austen, so I thought, I’ll write a book about Jane Austen. Let me tell you, there are a lot of people out there that know more about Jane Austen than I do. And they’ll let you know it too.
Question to the Hales: How long did it take you to write Rapunzel’s Revenge?
Dean and Shannon Hale: From the idea to the script about ten months.
Nathan Hale: It took 18 months to illustrate it, sometimes working 16 to 24 hours straight. Everybody here needs to buy six copies of Rapunzel’s Revenge because my advance for the book ran out about a year and a half ago and I need to pay bills. Little kids? Yep, you too. Six books.
That’s all folks. Read my reviews of Austenland, Book of a Thousand Days, Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. Read my reviews of Story of a Girl and Sweethearts by Sara Zarr and an interview here. Stay tuned during the month of September for interviews with Shannon Hale, James Dashner, and Mette Ivie Harrison (and hopefully Jessica Day George, I haven’t asked yet). If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy my post on the Children’s Book Festival I attended a few months back as well as my Stephenie Meyer book signing post.
I’m now off to enjoy some zucchini!
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Category: Author Events
Tags: author panels, book signings, historical fiction, Kings English Bookshop, LDS author, Stephenie Meyer, Utah author
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I want to read this book! I’m hoping the local bookstores have the books out soon. And that’s one huge zucchini you’ve got there! Thanks for sharing with us, I’ve a great time reading it!
on August 25th, 2008 at 12:36 amSounds like a whole lot of fun!
on August 25th, 2008 at 7:20 amSounds like a really great day. I can’t believe she gave you a zucchini. That is too funny!
on August 25th, 2008 at 7:33 amWhat fun! I wish I could have been there, but it just didn’t work out this time.
I have about five zucchinis that look just like that on my counter right now. I’ve no idea what to do with them anymore. I’m all zucchini-ed out!
on August 25th, 2008 at 7:40 amThanks for the update. It sounded fun, and wow, a Zucchini!
on August 25th, 2008 at 10:26 amWow, that’s a big zucchini! My favorite thing to do with them is make zucchini chocolate chip cookies. Yum! But I don’t let them get that big. I pick ‘em when they’re smaller. I think they taste sweeter.
on August 25th, 2008 at 11:03 amI’m having a contest! Click on my name for more information!
on August 25th, 2008 at 1:53 pmthat sounded like you enjoyed yourself! lol. i was laughing so hard when i read about that part of zucchini!!!! lol. that was hilarious! do you know why she had it? did she go to the store resently? lol. that was very amusing! =]
on August 25th, 2008 at 2:22 pmYou are my literary hero! I was bummed that I couldn’t get to the event. (I live in Provo.) Also, did you go to Shannon Hale’s signing at the Provo Library in May? You look so familiar. Maybe it’s from that?
on August 25th, 2008 at 7:57 pmMelody – They released the book earlier than anticipated so hopefully many bookstores are rushing to get it.
Ladytink_54 – Fun’s the word!
Jeanette – Good thing I love zucchini.
Suey – My zucchini is only producing about one zucchini a week, which is pitiful. And it’s my favorite garden produce. I could eat it everyday.
Jeane – I’m with you. I love them smaller because I think the best way to eat them is steamed with butter, salt and pepper.
Ginger – It’s actually from her garden. She said she was hoping to be able to get rid of it. We were laughing so hard when she gave it to me.
Jessica – We have so many bloggers in this area we should do a blogger meet and greet. I did go to the one in May. I wrote an entire post with a lot of great pictures here:
on August 25th, 2008 at 8:13 pmhttp://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/05/20/childrens-book-festival/
That’s quite the zucchini. Got any plans to turn it into zucchini bread or grilling it or anything?
on August 25th, 2008 at 9:16 pmHa ha ha! A zucchini!!! I love Shannon Hale. It looks like that was an awesome get together. By the way, how cute is your son!!!!
on August 26th, 2008 at 8:56 pmWell, we should all be grateful to Philo T. Farnsworth at some point. Me, I’m just glad he’s my great-great-uncle.
on August 27th, 2008 at 9:53 pmOHmygoodness that is a giant zucchini!! I’ve been very envious of everyone’s beautiful produce lately. It’s too darn hot here to grow anything.
It looks like you had a great time with The Hales! I wish I had more time to be more active in the literary world–my little time blogging is all I can get right now.
I’m very envious of all your recent interaction with authors!!
on August 28th, 2008 at 9:22 pm[...] met Shannon Hale a couple of times, and let me tell you, she’s a riot! Remember the zucchini? Need I say more? Anyways, I thought that this time I’d make it your interview! So if [...]
on September 8th, 2008 at 8:51 pm[...] ran into James a second time recently at Rapunzel’s Revenge. As soon as he sees me, he immediately gets up from his book signing table and comes over to say [...]
on October 1st, 2008 at 4:59 pm[...] a fun book release party for Rapunzel’s Revenge. See my commentary on that fun day here. If you haven’t heard the story of how I ended up with Shannon’s garden zucchini, [...]
on October 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 am[...] on Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine PatersonRapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale on The Tale of Shannon Hale and a . . . Zucchini (????)Jupiter on Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine PatersonLadytink_534 on Interview with James Dashner, [...]
on October 2nd, 2008 at 10:13 am