Shannon Hale

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox writer Shannon Hale (née Bryner; born January 26, 1974) is an American author primarily of young adult fantasy, including the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy and The Goose Girl. Her first novel for adults, Austenland, was adapted into a film in 2013. She is a graduate of the University of Utah and the University of Montana. She has also co-written with her husband, Dean.

Early life

Hale was born on January 26, 1974, in Salt Lake City<ref name=":8">Template:Cite book</ref> to Wallace and Bonnie Bryner.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She is the middle child of five children; she has two older sisters, one younger sister, and one younger brother.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She enjoyed writing, reading, and acting as a young girl; she often created plays that she would act out with friends. She also began to write fantasy books at age 10, often featuring herself as the protagonist.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Her elementary school teachers encouraged her creative endeavors,<ref name=":8" /> and, in the fourth grade, Hale announced that she wanted to be a writer as an adult. In junior high, she participated on the school literary magazine. She then attended West High School, where she cultivated passions for English and drama.<ref name=":7" /> She took a creative writing class and worked as an editor of fiction for her high school's literary magazine.<ref name=":8" /> She participated in both school and community theater productions, including The Secret Garden. Hale also took part in drama competitions and traveled throughout Utah and the U.S. with an improvisational theater group whose productions highlighted a range of teen issues. She met her spouse, Dean Hale, freshman year at West High School;<ref name=":7">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he was also involved in theater.<ref name="hale official bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hale has said that her theater experience has improved her writing skills, particularly in character creation and world building.<ref name=":8" />

She attended the University of Utah, initially majoring in both English and Theater before deciding solely to pursue the former. She served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paraguay for 18 months<ref name="hale official bio" /> before graduating with a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1998.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She later earned a master's degree in Creative Writing from the University of Montana.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> While studying at the University of Montana, Hale wrote 100 short stories and submitted many for publication, but none were accepted.<ref name=":8" />

Writing

Hale began writing The Goose Girl while in her graduate writing program,<ref name="hale official bio" /> and worked on her drafts of it during her lunch break while working at her instructional design job.<ref name=":8" /> She originally planned to work in literary fiction, publishing short stories and teaching English, before writing young adult and children's books.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite journal</ref> The Goose Girl became her first published novel after being met with nine rejections;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hale received an offer in 2003 from Bloomsbury Publishing.<ref name="DeseretMorningNews">Template:Cite news</ref> She based the book on her favorite fairy tale of the same name.<ref name=":5">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was named an ALA Teens' Top Ten<ref name=":1" /> and became the first of many novels in Hale's Books of Bayern series.<ref name=":2" /> The Goose Girl also won the 2004 Josette Frank Award for fiction<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was reprinted by Bloomsbury in 2017.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Hundreds of thousands of copies of the novel have been printed in a total of fifteen languages.<ref name=":8" /> The other Books of Bayern include Enna Burning, River Secrets, and Forest Born.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Her novel Princess Academy was featured on The New York Times Best Seller list, as well as that of Book Sense and Publishers Weekly. It also received a Newbery Honor.<ref name=":0" /> Hale said that receiving the award was an "unexpected gift" that has profoundly affected her career.<ref name=artist>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After the positive response from readers and reviewers alike to Princess Academy, Hale wrote its sequel, Princess Academy: Palace of Stone.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2015 she continued the story with a third installment, Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters. Hale has remarked that the series is "a love letter to education."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Her first adult novel, Austenland, was also featured by Book Sense.<ref name=":1" /> Hale and screenwriter Jerusha Hess then wrote the screenplay for a film adaptation of Austenland, released in 2013 at the Sundance Film Festival. It was then bought by Sony Pictures for $4 million.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Twilight author Stephenie Meyer produced the film and Keri Russell starred as protagonist Jane Hayes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2012 Hale released a sequel novel, Midnight in Austenland.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Another adult novel, The Actor and the Housewife, was published in 2009<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and was named "the City Weekly readers' choice winner for best novel of the year."<ref name=":2" /> Hale has kept numerous rejection letters she has received from publishers, and has compiled them into one 60 foot long scroll.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" />

In 2017, Hale released a graphic memoir titled Real Friends, chronicling her struggles in grade school. It was illustrated by LeUyen Pham.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Its sequel, Best Friends, appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list for graphic books and manga in April 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018, her Princess in Black series—which she wrote with her husband, Dean Hale—made The New York Times Best Seller list for children's series.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The two also co-wrote the graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge,<ref name=":4" /> as well as two young adult novels for the Marvel superheroes Squirrel Girl and Captain Marvel.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hale ventured further into science fiction with her own YA superhero novel, Dangerous, in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Other work

Before becoming a full-time author, Hale participated in stage and improvisational comedy, studied in Mexico and the United Kingdom,<ref name=":0" /> and worked as an instructional designer.<ref name="hale official bio" />

She is an advocate for gender equality; she has noticed how her books are marketed only to girls, despite positive reception from both genders.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She has written a few articles about this subject.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Hale with husband Dean at the 2016 Texas Book Festival

Personal life

Hale is married to Dean C. Hale, with whom she has co-authored the Eisner-nominee graphic novels Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack, as well as The Princess in Black series and The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl series.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She stopped attending the LDS church in 2021, having disagreed with her community's apparent tolerance of misogyny and intolerance of LGBTQ people, but she still considers herself a Mormon.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In a 2014 interview, Hale said that she doesn't "consciously make storytelling choices based on the [LDS] Church."<ref name=artist/> In writing her graphic novel memoirs of her childhood, Hale decided to include visual references to her religious upbringing, like her family attending church. Despite being asked to remove the references (due to worries that it might affect sales), Hale decided to retain them, stating that "to erase [them] felt like a lie."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

She is the mother of four children: Max, Magnolia,<ref name=":1" /> and twin girls Dinah and Wren.<ref name="hale official bio" /> Hale has noted that her children give her new ideas for books "probably every day."<ref name=":7" />

Awards and honors

The Princess in Black was a New York Times bestseller, and Kirkus Reviews named it one of the best books of 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In February 2016, Hale was a Literary Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker at the 34th annual Life, the Universe, & Everything professional science fiction and fantasy arts symposium.<ref name="LTUE program #34">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2017, Real Friends landed on Booklist's "Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth" list.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn was a New York Times and IndieBound bestseller.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Awards for Hale's writing

Year	Title	Award	Result	Ref.
2003	Template:Sort	AML Award in Young Adult Literature	Winner	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2004		Josette Frank Award		<ref name=":3" />
	Enna Burning	AML Award in Young Adult Literature		<ref name=":6" />
2005	Princess Academy
2006	Princess Academy	Newbery Medal	Honor	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	River Secrets	AML Award in Young Adult Literature		<ref name=":6" />
2007	Austenland	AML Award in Novel	Finalist
	Book of a Thousand Days	AML Award in Young Adult Literature
		Cybils Award for Young Adult Speculative Fiction	Winner	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Whitney Award for Best Speculative		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	River Secrets	Teens' Top Ten	Top 10	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2008	Rapunzel's Revenge	Cybils Award for Elementary and Middle Grade Graphic Novel	Winner	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2009	Rapunzel's Revenge	Leah Adezio Award for Best Kid-Friendly Work		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2012	Palace of Stone	Whitney Award for Best Middle Grade	Finalist
2014	Dangerous	Whitney Award for Best Young Adult – Speculative
	Template:Sort	AML Award in Picture Book	Honorable
2015	Princess Academy	AML Award in Drama	Finalist	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2016	Template:Sort	Cybils Award for Early Chapter Books		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2017	Template:Sort	Cybils Award for Early Chapter Books		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:Sort	Whitney Award for Best Young Adult Speculative Fiction
	Friends Forever	Cybils Award for Elementary and Middle Grade Graphic Novel		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Real Friends	AML Award in Comics	Winner	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Cybils Award for	Finalist	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2018		Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth	Selection	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards: Best in Children's Books	Winner	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Great Graphic Novels for Teens	Selection	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Template:Sort	ALSC Notable Children's Recordings		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2020	Best Friends	Amelia Bloomer Book List		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Great Graphic Novels for Teens		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2021	Friends Forever	AML Award in Comics	Winner	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn	Cybils Award for Fiction Picture book	Finalist	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2022	Friends Forever	Great Graphic Novels for Teens	Selection	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Publications

The Books of Bayern series

• The Goose Girl (2003), Template:ISBN
• Enna Burning (2004), Template:ISBN
• River Secrets (2006), Template:ISBN
• Forest Born (2009), Template:ISBN

Princess Academy series

• Princess Academy (2005), Template:ISBN – adapted to a musical produced by Kensington Theatre in December 2016<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Princess Academy: Palace of Stone (2012), Template:ISBN
• Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters (2015), Template:ISBN

Austenland series

• Austenland (2007), Template:ISBN – premiered as a movie in January 2013
• Midnight in Austenland (2012), Template:ISBN

Rapunzel's Revenge series

The Rapunzel's Revenge series is co-authored with Dean Hale and illustrated by Nathan Hale (no relation).

• Rapunzel's Revenge (2008), Template:ISBN
• Calamity Jack (2010), Template:ISBN

Ever After High series

• Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends (2013), Template:ISBN
• Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All (2014), Template:ISBN
• Ever After High: A Wonderlandiful World (2014), Template:ISBN
• Once Upon a Time: A Story Collection (2014), Template:ISBN
• Monster High/Ever After High: The Legend of Shadow High (2017), Template:ISBN

Princess in Black series

The Princess in Black series is co-authored with Dean Hale and illustrated by LeUyen Pham.

• The Princess in Black (2014), Template:ISBN
• The Perfect Princess Party (2015), Template:ISBN
• The Hungry Bunny Horde (2016), Template:ISBN
• Takes a Vacation (2016), Template:ISBN
• The Mysterious Playdate (2017), Template:ISBN
• The Science Fair Scare (2018), Template:ISBN
• The Bathtime Battle (2020), Template:ISBN
• The Giant Problem (2020), Template:ISBN
• The Case of the Coronavirus (2020), digital booklet
• The Mermaid Princess (2021), Template:ISBN
• The Prince in Pink (2023), Template:ISBN
• The Kitty Catastrophe (2024), Template:ISBN

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl series

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl series is co-authored with Dean Hale.

• The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World (2017), Template:ISBN
• The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: 2 Fuzzy, 2 Furious (2018), Template:ISBN

Real Friends series

The Real Friends series graphic memoirs are illustrated by LeUyen Pham.

• Real Friends (2017), Template:ISBN
• Best Friends (2019), Template:ISBN
• Friends Forever (2021), Template:ISBN

Standalone novels

• Book of a Thousand Days (2007), Template:ISBN
• The Actor and the Housewife (2009), Template:ISBN
• Dangerous (2014), Template:ISBN
• Kind of a Big Deal (2020), Template:ISBN

Short stories

• "Bouncing the Grinning Goat" from Guys Read: Other Worlds (2013)

Diana: Princess of the Amazons series

The Diana series is co-authored with Dean Hale and illustrated by Victoria Ying.

• Diana: Princess of the Amazons (2020) Template:ISBN

Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn series

The Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn picture books are illustrated by LeUyen Pham.

• Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn (2021), Template:ISBN
• Pretty Perfect Kitty-Corn (2022), Template:ISBN
• Party Hearty Kitty-Corn (2023), Template:ISBN

Dream On series

The Dream On series graphic novels are illustrated by Marcela Cespedes.

• Dream On (2025), Template:ISBN
• Dream Big (2026), Template:ISBN

Articles

• What are we teaching boys when we discourage them from reading books about girls? for The Washington Post

Other

• Spirit Animals Book 4: Fire and Ice (2014) Template:ISBN

External links

• Template:Official website
• Little Red Reading Hood (fan site)
• Interview by Miss Erin
• Interview by Chris Rettstatt
• Q&A with Shannon Hale interview at Publishers Weekly
• Template:ISFDB name
• Template:LCAuth