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Carole Mikita ReportingA Utah author, Shannon Hale, has received the prestigious Newbery Honor. A thousand books were eligible for the Newbery awards. "Princess Academy" falls under the silver medal category. With this recognition, Shannon Hale, now has an honor that will remain with her for her entire career.
Shannon Hale, Newbery Honor Book Winner: "It's one of those things that you think, if I could imagine the greatest thing possible happening in my career, that would be it, but you don't ever think that it's going to happen."
But it did. Writer Shannon Hale has won the equivalent of an Academy Award for children's literature with her book "Princess Academy". Born, raised and educated in Salt Lake City, she began telling stories before she could write.
Shannon Hale: "Since I was in the fourth grade, it was the first year I started saying this is what I wanted to be."
The last ten years have seen a huge surge in book sales for young people. The credit, Hale says, goes to 'Harry Potter'.
Shannon Hale: "Before JK Rowling, there was no bestseller list for children's literature, which 'Princess Academy', once I won, the award has been three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list now."
Sarah Shepherd calls herself a fan, having just finished this latest book. And before that she read 'The Goose Girl' and 'Enna Burning'.
Sarah Shepherd, Shannon Hale Fan: "I just picked up 'The Goose Girl' one day and just fell in love with them. Once you get started, you can't stop ready 'til it's over."
Lest you think it has all been success for Shannon Hale, she has laminated her rejection letters. 'Thank you for sending along the tale of the Goose Girl, but I'm going to pass on this one.' And here's one that's a stamp, 'I'm afraid your material doesn't suit our needs and or interests.' Another quick handwritten note says, 'Sorry to say no'. And it just keeps going on and on.
She wants the young people to know, even after successes, writing remains her biggest challenge.
Shannon Hale: "It's tortuous, it's painful, it gives me a great deal of anxiety. I wake up in the middle of the night and I can't stop thinking of what I need to change, what I need to do. I don't do it because it's easy for me anymore; it's tough, but it's also the most satisfying thing I've ever done."
Her fourth book will be out this fall. It is a graphic novel she wrote with her husband. She also has a novel for adults that will be published in a year.
